Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus, the next LTS (Long-Term Support) release, has reached the first Beta release. Features image for opt-in flavors: Lubuntu, Ubuntu Cloud, Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu MATE, UbuntuKylin, Ubuntu Studio and Xubuntu.

Beta 1 includes the Linux Kernel 4.4 (final release will ship with this kernel) and a number of software updates. As an Beta pre-release, it is only recommended for developers and those who want to test by finding, reporting, and/or fixing bugs.

Release Highlights:

Ubuntu Gnome:

• GNOME Shell 3.18
• GNOME Software has replaced Ubuntu Software Center
• Experimental wayland session available

Xubuntu 16.04:

• won’t have a default media manager installed

Ubuntu Kylin:

• Kylin style lightdm greeter based on unity-greeter

Download Ubuntu 16.04 Beta 1:

• LUbuntu 16.04: cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/releases/xenial/
• Ubuntu MATE 16.04: cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-mate/releases/xenial/
• UbuntuKylin 16.04: cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntukylin/releases/xenial/
• Ubuntu Cloud 16.04: cloud-images.ubuntu.com/releases/xenial/
• XUbuntu 16.04: cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/xenial/
• UbuntuStudio 16.04: cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/xenial/
• Ubuntu Gnome 16.04: cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-gnome/releases/xenial/

For a reminder of upcoming Ubuntu 16.04 release dates see the table:

via: fridge.ubuntu.com