Kubuntu 13.04, the KDE-based Ubuntu flavor, has been released yesterday. Let's take a quick look at what's new.
Kubuntu 13.04 video
A usual, we'll start with a video - below you can watch a quick Kubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) overview:
(direct video link; for more videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel)
KDE Plasma and Applications - 4.10
Kubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) ships with KDE Plasma and Applications 4.10 which includes changes such as:
- improved Plasma Workspaces layout, performance, etc.;
- a new Air theme;
- "Get Hot New Stuff" has been integrated into KWin. You can use this to get additional scripts and effects via the KWin configuration dialog;
- new KDE appmenu (not enabled by default, see HERE how to activate it in Kubuntu) which brings options to display the menu as a menubar on top of the screen (with autohide) or as a button in the window decoration;
- new screen locker
- Dolphin has gained MTP support, making it easier to transfer files from mobile devices, configurable panel icon size, Activity manager support along with other improvements and enhancements;
- Gwenview has received Activity manager and color correction support along with improved thumbnail handling, the importer now works recursively and more;
- Kopete gained a real "Do Not Disturb" mode which disables all notifications (visual and sound);
- many other improvements to Okular, Konsole, Kontact, Games and so on.
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| Get Hot New Stuff |
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| AppMenu - button in the window decoration |
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| AppMenu - top bar |
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| Screen locker |
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| Dolphin |
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| Gwenview |
Tip: for how to get the new appmenu to work in Kubuntu, see: How To Enable The New KDE 4.10 Appmenu (Title Bar Button Or Top Screen Menubar)
Other changes, default applications
Rekonq 2 (version 2.2.1), the default Kubuntu 13.04 browser, brings new features such as pinning tabs, incognito mode or inline spellcheck:
Muon Suite, the tools used to install and upgrade software in Kubuntu, has got support for installing Plasma widgets found in KDE's KNewStuff3 and there's also a new tool called Muon Discover (not installed by default in Kubuntu 13.04 though, but it's available in the repositories), a Muon Suite front-end that makes it easier to find new software:
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| Muon Software Center |
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| Muon: support for installing Plasma widgets found in KDE's KNewStuff |
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| Muon Discover |
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| Muon Discover |
Kubuntu 13.04 comes with a new screen management tool that makes it easy to configure multiple monitors:
Also, Homerun, a Unity Dash-like alternative to the Kickoff application menu, is installed (but not used) by default in Kubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail):
Other changes:
- Oxygen Font is now used by default;
- Krita comes with a new dark theme and is twice as fast as before;
- The Kubuntu installer has a new design;
- Kubuntu 13.04 supports UEFI Secure Boot.
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| Krita |
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| Kubuntu 13.04 installer |
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| Kubuntu 13.04 installer |
Kubuntu 13.04 comes with the following packages: Plasma Desktop and Applications 4.10.2 (so all the Plasma Apps are at version 4.10.2: Dolphin, Gwenview, Konsole, Okular, Kmail, Dragon Player, etc.), LibreOffice 4.0.2, Rekonq 2.2.1, KTorrent 4.3.1, Amarok 2.7.0, K3b 2.0.2 and Muon Suite 2.0.0.
For other changes which are shared between all Ubuntu flavors, see: Ubuntu 13.04 Available For Download [Screenshot Tour, Video].
Download Kubuntu 13.04
Those of you who have installed Kubuntu 13.04 alpha/beta and used Muon Update Manager (or via command line, etc.) to upgrade the packages, already have the final Kubuntu 13.04 release so there's no need to reinstall it.
Download Kubuntu 13.04:
Tip: Kubuntu 12.04 and 12.10 users can install KDE SC 4.10 via PPA.
