The Alpha version of Ubuntu 9.04, codename Jaunty Jackalope, is old news as of this week for one simple reason – Ubuntu 9.04 Beta has been made available for download, just as scheduled. This is the first and only Beta in the operating system’s development process. Next there will be Ubuntu 9.04 Release Candidate (RC) on the 16th of April and Ubuntu 9.04 Final on the 23rd of April.

“The Ubuntu developers are moving quickly to bring you the latest and greatest software the Open Source Community has to offer. This is the Ubuntu 9.04 beta release, which brings a host of excellent new features. Note: This is a beta release. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version will be released on April 23rd, 2009,” explains Canonical Ltd.

Here is a list of new features you can expect to get with Ubuntu 9.04 Beta:
- GNOME 2.6 desktop environment with: brasero all-in-one CD burning app; updated gnome-display properties that allows for enhanced multiple monitors handling;
- X.Org server 1.6
- Notification preferences allow you to set preferences for notification icons. New notification styles.
- Improved boot performance. You can expect to boot the OS in under 20 seconds if you run it on a high performance configuration.
- Linux Kernel 2.6.28
- Ext4 filesystem support
- Eucalyptus, an open source technology featured in Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition, allows you to set up your own cloud computing environment.
- New “"dovecot-postfix" package that “provides an easy-to-deploy mail server stack, with support for SMTP, POP3, and IMAP with TLS and SASL.”

Several software programs that come with Ubuntu 9.04 have been updated as well: OpenOffice.org 3.0.1, Compiz 0.8.2, Pidgin 2.5.6, The GIMP 2.6.6, Transmission 1.51, Mozilla Firefox 3.0.7, F-Spot 0.5.0.3, Rhythmbox 0.12.0.

If you would like to get Ubuntu 9.04 Beta, a download location is available here.