Ubuntu's latest Alpha out

UBUNTU LINUX developers have been showing off the fifth update to the upcoming "Gutsy Gibbon" version.

The final version, which is expected to arrive in late October, has a few new interfaces to make it easier to choose graphics card drivers, install dual monitors and the default resolution.

Gibbon's version of Firefox will have a plug-in finder wizard compatible with the software download mechanism apt, as well as with an integrated extensions manager.

Another area which has been freshly scrubbed is the printer management system. A virtual "PDF printer" has been set up by default and there is a plug and play configuration tool.

The new beta comes with the latest version of the Gnome desktop, the beta version of Gnome 2.20. There appear to be some tweaks to the desktop search, fast user switching, a new deskbar applet and the use of the AppArmor security framework. µ