The last time we heard about the Linux-based Ubuntu operating system was when we reported on Super Ubuntu 2008.11, the Ubuntu 8.10 version with super powers. It is with great pleasure that we report on Ubuntu 9.04 getting a new login screen and the next iteration of the Ubuntu OS, Karmic Koala (Ubuntu 9.10). The thing is that Ubuntu 9.04 went into Alpha 1 back in November, and we will have to wait until the 26th of March to see the first Beta. We’ll wait even longer for the final version, which is scheduled for April 23rd. Regardless of that fact, the development team at Canonical have already announced their plans on putting out an even newer version of their OS: Ubuntu 9.10, Karmic Koala.

There really isn’t much to say about the new login screen that will be featured in Ubuntu 9.04, codename the Jaunty Jackalope. It is a welcomed change, and a good looking one at that. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so let’s them do all the talking – watch the new Ubuntu 9.04 login screen here.

Getting back to the Karmic Koala, here is what Canonical Chief, Mark Shuttleworth had to say: “A good Koala knows how to see the wood for the trees, even when her head is in the clouds. Ubuntu aims to keep free software at the forefront of cloud computing by embracing the API's of Amazon EC2, and making it easy for anybody to setup their own cloud using entirely open tools. We're currently in beta with official Ubuntu base AMI's for use on Amazon EC2. During the Karmic cycle we want to make it easy to deploy applications into the cloud, with ready-to-run appliances or by quickly assembling a custom image.”

Just like an actual Koala, Ubuntu 9.10 will spend about 6 months “growing up”, meaning that we can expect to see a release in October.