The latest release of the Ubuntu operating system, version 13.04, which will be released today, uses less system and memory resources, offers better boot times and more efficient power management, according to Canonical, the company behind the Linux distribution.
The enhancements are part of the drive towards the unified operating system that can encompass usage from smartphone to desktop, with a device that can be used as a smartphone or tablet when mobile, but used as a PC workstation when docked.
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The release boots up in about 40 seconds on a standard desktop and reduces memory use by as much as 50 megabytes, cutting power consumption in the process.
Although there remain differences in code between this release and the Ubuntu Touch 'stack' intended for smartphones and tablets, the two will converge, according to Canonical CEO Jane Silber, which is set to arrive with the 14.04 release, out this time next year.
The company is also looking to move from its six-monthly release cycle to smaller, more regular monthly upgrade cycles.
Canonical is the first company to openly admit that it is aiming to make such a multi-purpose operating system in a development that will be watched closely by Apple and Google. Both companies have unified their operating system developments over the past year.
Ubuntu Server 13.04 has also been released today. It comes bundled with the open source cloud management software suite OpenStack, and the Ceph object, block and file storage system, which is integrated with Canonical's OpenStack implementation.
