Ubuntu 24.10: Gnome 47, new APT, authorization queries

As expected, Canonical has released Ubuntu version 24.10. The changes remain manageable.

Within the Ubuntu universe, LTS versions are considered something of a holy grail. Ubuntu 24.04 from April 2024 is such an LTS version – and because Canonical promises many years of support for this version, the manufacturer has, as usual, kept a low profile when it comes to far-reaching changes. The situation is usually different with the first Ubuntu version after an LTS release: Here, it is not uncommon for the developers to incorporate some changes that should have been in the LTS version, but for various reasons did not make it in there. Not least so that more far-reaching changes can mature until the next LTS version – scheduled for April 2026 –. The recently released Ubuntu 24.10 would be an ideal candidate for this, but Canonical seems to have changed its mind: The changes to version 24.10, which is primarily aimed at desktops, are also kept within narrow limits.

Ubuntu 24.10: Updated desktop environment

Gnome 47 can be considered the central innovation. This is also the most clearly visible innovation, at least for those users who use Ubuntu in the standard version with Gnome instead of relying on one of the flavors with KDE, Xfce or another desktop environment. Gnome 47 brings some rather major changes, such as better support for smaller displays in the Gnome shell or the significantly improved display of active programs in the workspace overview. The dialog for opening files from programs via the "File" button is completely new. This now clearly resembles the look of Gnome's own file manager and offers both a list view and an icon view as well as a sidebar for quick access to paths in the file system or on remote systems.

Nautilus itself has also undergone various improvements. What's more, Gnome 47 is the first version of the desktop that – can be operated completely without support for X11 thanks to an update for the window manager mother –. The farewell in installments in favor of Wayland continues with Ubuntu 24.10. Accordingly, Ubuntu now also uses Wayland as the standard solution on various systems with Nvidia GPUs.

In Ubuntu 24.10, Canonical is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the distribution. The system comes with a special desktop background as well as a special theme whose color scheme is reminiscent of the earlier look and feel of Ubuntu Linux.

Solid foundation

Further changes have mainly been made to the foundations of the system. Linux 6.11 is the current core of the system, kernel 6.12 is still in release candidate status. Ubuntu veterans who work a lot on the command line can also look forward to a significantly upgraded package manager in the form of APT 3.0. This brings a much better display on the command line, which provides a better overview when installing or uninstalling packages.

The developers have also revised the system's security management. Initially still labeled "experimental", the new Ubuntu version includes a function that makes access requests for temporarily increasing access rights for system services centrally controllable. If the user activates the corresponding setting in the security administration of their system, it will ask if services and applications running in the background request increased access rights instead of simply granting them without further ado. In principle, the whole thing is reminiscent of the security function of the former Windows 7, which many people hated and which Microsoft considerably weakened in later Windows versions. It remains to be seen whether Canonical's approach will be well received by users.

Ubuntu 24.10 is available via the usual channels on the Ubuntu release website, either as an ISO file or as an update in the form of packages via the system's internal package management.

(anw)