10 new features of Linux Ubuntu 19.04

Twice a year, Canonical releases a new version of Ubuntu. With Ubuntu 19.04 'Disco Dingo' is available for download, you may be wondering whether to upgrade to a new version or keep everything as it is.

1. 5 reasons to upgrade to Ubuntu 19.04 'Disco Dingo'

The following article summarizes the top 10 new features of Ubuntu 19.04 'Disco Dingo'. Let TipsMake.com find out what they are and how much Ubuntu 19.04 can surprise you!

1. Ubuntu 19.04 includes Linux Kernel 5.0

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The most important point is that Ubuntu 19.04 uses Linux Kernel 5.0. This is the latest version of the kernel that is widely used, providing outstanding performance and hardware support.

Features in Linux Kernel 5.0 also include improved graphics card support, such as Nvidia Xavier and AMD Radeon FreeSync. Laptop drivers for x86 machines have been updated and energy management features have been improved. Both of these problems are especially useful for anyone running Ubuntu on a laptop, because power management can be a daunting task for Linux laptop users. There is also Fscrypt Adiantum to encrypt data quickly on low-end devices.

Of course, you don't need to update to Ubuntu 19.04 'Disco Dingo' to enjoy the benefits of Linux Kernel 5.0. This is how to upgrade your Linux kernel without updating Ubuntu.

2. New theme: Yaru

Yaru is not completely a new theme, but it does better in Ubuntu 19.04 than Ubuntu 18.10. Theme Yaru has a superior appearance in 'Disco Dingo', with better integration for third-party application icons.

Overall, Yaru is quite smooth and modern, suitable for previous Ubuntu themes, based on dark brown.

Yaru runs on the GNOME 3.32 desktop environment, although keep in mind that on Ubuntu, GNOME is heavily customized. This means that some features of GNOME 3.32 are not available in Ubuntu (such as fractional scaling for HiDPI screens).

3. Control application permissions

However, a feature that GNOME 3.32 brings to Ubuntu 19.04 is the decentralization of smartphone applications. You may have to change permissions on the smartphone application after installation. Previously, such tweaking was only available on a system-wide basis, but in Ubuntu 19.04, you can do that for each application.

This means that you can prevent the application from displaying the message, as well as determine the type of file it has access to.

Application rights control in GNOME-based Linux distributions is expected to improve gradually in subsequent releases.

4. Direct patching

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The patching feature directly in Ubuntu was previously available to server administrators. Now, Ubuntu 19.04 extends this function to both desktop users.

A new Livepatch tab is now visible in the Software & Updates screen. If there is a patch, they will apply updates to the kernel without restarting the computer.

Livepatch is free to use with Ubuntu One account, and business users will need to pay for this service.

5. Mesa 19 open source GPU driver

AMD graphics card users will see that the Mesa 19 open source GPU driver is available in Ubuntu 19.04 'Disco Dingo'.

Mesa is an open-source OpenGL implementation, including hardware and software drivers. Gallium3D component adds video acceleration and computational support. Finally, if you run the latest games in Linux or edit videos, the Mesa 19 driver will be a welcome addition to Ubuntu setup.

Again, this feature is due to Ubuntu 19.04 owning Linux Kernel 5.0.

5 smaller tweaks in new Ubuntu

In addition to the 5 important developments mentioned above in the latest Ubuntu release, Ubuntu 19.04 also has the following 5 useful improvements.

1. Terminal is tagged

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Running multiple terminal sessions can be an uncomfortable task and can sometimes be confusing. Ubuntu 19.04 has a new tagged terminal interface, making it easier to control bash, command, and SSH sessions.

For those who 'bash' bash, this is a very useful feature to increase productivity.

2. New interface for audio installation

Similarly, audio settings also have a new interface, with good control and more suitable for modern multimedia PC. Please access any audio device connected or set up on the system and adjust the settings according to needs.

3. Improved animation on the desktop

GNOME 3.32 brings some smoother animations to the desktop window, contributing to enhance the Yaru theme. Thanks to the updated graphics driver, scrolling looks great on almost any resolution.

4. Adjust brightness over time with Night Light

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Although not a new feature, Night Light has more detailed new controls, helping users set brightness based on time. Different color temperatures can be set based on the time of the day, Sunset to Sunrise preset and craft options.

5. Search GNOME faster

Finally, another GNOME improvement was retained for Ubuntu 19.04. The GNOME search feature is based on improved file indexing, making it faster than ever.

Although some of the new features mentioned above were introduced in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.10, but in Ubuntu 19.04, they are improved to maximize their potential. Therefore, test the latest version and see if these features improve your experience.

If you don't use Ubuntu or want to install from scratch, just download disk image Ubuntu 19.04 (download link: http://releases.ubuntu.com/19.04/).

Meanwhile, if all this seems interesting but you haven't used Linux yet, please refer to the article: Top Linux distro for newbies to learn more. Maybe you will find yourself a suitable choice!