Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster' launches with improved Azure Active Directory and Steam snap

True to the roadmap set out, Canonical has officially announced the latest version of Ubuntu, one of the world's most popular open source operating systems, codenamed Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster'.

With Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster', users will benefit from the inclusion of a new desktop installer called Subiquity, better Azure Active Directory support and especially an improved gaming experience. forward. In addition, desktop users will also benefit from all the improvements included in GNOME 44, such as the quick settings utility.

Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster' launches with improved Azure Active Directory and Steam snap Picture 1

Let's start with the game, in Ubuntu 23.04 the Steam snap package has been upgraded to the stable channel. Gamers can now play their games on Steam without the need for an additional PPA. It comes with the latest 32-bit libraries and Mesa drivers to bring new updates that impact system stability. There are many opinions that snaps load too slowly, so this decision may make some people unhappy.

Another notable change in this update is authentication support in Azure Active Directory. According to Canonical, Ubuntu is currently the only Linux distribution that offers native user authentication with Azure Active Directory. This feature allows Microsoft 365 Enterprise users to authenticate their Ubuntu desktop using the same credentials they use for M365 or Azure. Canonical says IT admins should evaluate the 'aad-auth' feature in this release in readiness for the rollback to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, scheduled for release later this year.

There are also some new features for Active Directory in Ubuntu 23.04, including the ability to support enterprise proxies, application restrictions, and network shares. These features will also be included in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS later this year.

You can download the latest version of Ubuntu right now from Canonical's download site. Alternatively, you can also upgrade the system from the Update Manager, but first, go to Software & Updates > Updates > Notify me of a new Ubuntu version: For any new version. Once you have selected this option, go to Update Manager.

Lesley Montoya

Update 12 May 2023