Edgy and Beyond

It's been a few days since Ubuntu 6.10/Edgy Eft was released, and you haven't upgraded already, here's a few reasons to:

• Rhythmbox now has iPod read AND write support. [1]
• Avahi/DAAP sharing in Rhythmbox/Banshee
• What's this? Rhythmbox also has cover art support now:
  
  
  
• The "hubackup" package makes backing up a snap:
  
  
• Built-in AIGLX means fully accelerated wobbly windows for Nvidia users, and workaround-less OpenGL gaming for everyone.
• Better software updating mechanism, less chance of something bad happening:
  
  
• Firefox 2.0 baby.
• Evolution has been noticeably tweaked. It's tendency to hang seems to be gone.
• Beagle is actually stable and works for me for the first time ever. Hello instantaneous computer-wide searches.
• Did I mention that Upstart makes booting up even quicker now?
  
  

So what are you waiting for?
Upgrade to Edgy now, or if you still haven't given Ubuntu a shot, now would be a good time. You won't regret it.

If you're interested in finding out what's on the drawing board for the next Ubuntu, version 7.04/Feisty Fawn, here's some things we might see:

• RapidReboot
• PulseAudo might finally replace ESD as GNOME's software sound mixer/server...
• Easy codec installation finally?

If there's one thing that's clear to me from running Ubuntu 6.10 for over a month now, it's that Ubuntu is still getting better and seems to be making great strides toward becoming the most usable operating system on the planet. I can't imagine where we'll be in three years.