Check out the new features in the first release of Ubuntu Jammy Jellyfish and how to upgrade without touching the command line.
After a slight delay due to an installation issue, the first point release for Ubuntu 22.04 has been officially released. While point releases are often overlooked by users because they are not major upgrades, this time you should definitely upgrade immediately.
The main reason is that this point release combines all the security fixes and improvements that have been added since the first release of Jammy Jellyfish. So, if you haven’t bothered to upgrade Ubuntu 22.04 since you first installed it, which you always should have done, this point upgrade will add everything you missed in one fell swoop.
TO SEE: Linux Turns 30: Celebration of the Open Source Operating System (Free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Upgrade from 20.04
One of the biggest upgrades for end users is the ability for 20.04 users to upgrade to the latest release without touching the command line. At some point, 20.04 users will see an upgrade prompt on their desktops, allowing them to easily make the jump to 22.04.1. This is a major problem because previously such upgrades required several commands to be executed. That no longer means:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade -y
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y
sudo do-release-upgrade -y
Of course, you should remember that version 20.04 is an LTS (long-term support) release that will be supported until April 2030 (although regular support ends in 2025), so there is no rush to upgrade. But if you want the latest version of Ubuntu, you have to go through the upgrade process.
GNOME 42 point release
Another point release found in 22.04.1 is GNOME 42, which has a new enhanced dark mode and switches to Wayland by default, with the addition of Xorg for unsupported hardware. One quirk I’ve found is that Ubuntu still needs to switch to the new terminal and text editor.
Ubuntu 22.04.1 still uses Gedit and GNOME Terminal for those applications. When the official switchover for Ubuntu will take place is anyone’s guess. This is strange, as Fedora 36 has at least switched to the new TextEdit while keeping GNOME Terminal as the default terminal emulator.
New toolchains and major fixes
Ubuntu 22.04.1 ships with the latest toolchains including Python, Rust, Ruby, Go, PHP, and Perl, as well as new frameworks such as OpenCV, TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, Kubeflow, and kernel 5.15.0-46. Regarding vulnerability patches, one of the biggest is the Retbleed Specter limitation for older CPUs (both AMD and Intel).
Other fixes include those for NVIDIA R515 graphics driver, memory leak for screenshots, patched to fix various RDP issues and many other issues. To see the full list, make sure to check the Jammy Jellyfish Point-Release Changes.
Other Additions/Repairs
You will find plenty of other new additions and fixes for Ubuntu 22.04.1 such as:
- A new Hardware Enablement stack for updated graphics drivers and a new kernel.
- LibreOffice 7.3.
- New house style for the installer.
- Network Manager 1.36.
- Wayland now supports NVIDIA graphics drivers on hybrid systems.
- New Snap apps for Steam, Kdenlive, Discord and OBS Studio.
- Certified for the Dell XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition.
- Better Active Directory integration.
Why rush or wait?
Since 22.04 is still fairly fresh, it is a natural conclusion not to concern yourself with point releases. However, in this case, you should definitely take care of this upgrade. Even if it’s just for the Retbleed patch, this point release is a must. Therefore, as soon as you see that upgrade prompt, take the time to complete it. Any chance that you can apply security patches to your operating system (OS) should be taken seriously.
If you’re not a fan of upgrading and prefer to go the new install route, you can download the point release from the official Ubuntu download page and install without worrying about an upgrade going south.
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