Ubuntu 13.10 available for desktop and smartphone users

With Windows 8.1 officially launching today, refreshed operating systems are on the minds of a lot of computer users. If your tastes lie in an operating system other than Windows, you may be interested in the latest version of Ubuntu Linux that launched yesterday. Ubuntu 13.10 launched on October 17 bringing a number of improvements for fans of the operating system.

Version 13.10 for desktop and smartphone users is the first mobile release that delivers a streamlined core OS and mobile user interface paving the way for device convergence. Canonical also noted that it's working with hardware partners to bring Ubuntu smartphones to market in 2014. The desktop version of the new operating system organizes home, apps, music, video content and requires less device memory and has less graphics requirements.

Version 13.10 also brings substantial improvements in battery and memory efficiency. Canonical also notes that the latest version of the operating includes a wide range of mobile core apps created by the developer community. Those apps include a browser, calendar, clock, weather, and calculator.

The latest version of the operating system also includes a full SDK with a complete set of tools for developing apps for Ubuntu devices. The tools include templates and extensions, theming, automatic orientation, and easy-to-use user interface creating tools enabling fast application development. The SDK supports native and HTML 5 development.

The tools are designed to allow developers to build apps targeting phones, tablets, and PCs with a single code base. The operating system features the Ubuntu Dash bringing content to the desktop and the ability to search more than 50 online sources through scopes. The latest version of the operating system brings a new Smart Scope for desktop and phone users combining results from many different scopes automatically. The new version of Ubuntu can be downloaded right now.

SOURCE: Ubuntu