Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" is here

The newest version of Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions, is finally here. 

Ubuntu 20.04, known as “Focal Fossa,” dropped this week with a ton of new features. Built on the Linux 5.4 kernel, there are some major enhancements. Primarily, the integration of WireGuard, a fairly popular VPN, means Ubuntu users will now have a VPN service from the outset. Additionally, the new version of Ubuntu can now read the Z File System (ZFS) and ExFat file systems. The former is an Oracle-based file system, while the latter is typically used in Windows and Microsoft devices.

There are a few other features of note as well, including a new kernel lockdown mode that divorces the root account from the kernel in some instances. This offers another layer of protection for users by preventing a compromised root account from mucking about in the system kernel without the user’s knowledge (for the most part). 

On the desktop front, not too much has changed. Ubuntu 20.04 “Focal Fossa” now uses GNOME 3.36 as its default desktop. GNOME 3.36 includes a dark theme, new lock screens, improved performance, and a few other nice touches. Linux gamers may be happy to know Ubuntu 20.04 comes with Feral Interactive’s GameMode tool, which optimizes some games by allocating more system power or I/O priority to the software, and includes Nvidia’s proprietary GPU drivers by default.

There are quite a few other additions to Ubuntu 20.04. Notably absent, however, is the pre-installed Amazon app that came with prior releases. You can see them all the changes by checking Canonical’s site. You can download Ubuntu 20.04 here.

Are you a Ubuntu user? What are your thoughts about Ubuntu 20.04? Let us know in the comments.