The Ubuntu developers have just passed the beta 1 milestone in development of Raring Ringtail, Ubuntu 13.04. Although the milestone does not see a release of the Ubuntu distribution, it does see a release of a beta 1 version of most of the various remixes, as previously disclosed by the project's leadership. The announcement notes that 13.04 Beta 1 images are available for Edubuntu (download), Kubuntu (download), Lubuntu (download), UbuntuKylin (download), Ubuntu Server Cloud (images), Ubuntu Studio (notes, download) and Xubuntu (download).

Highlights of the remixes include the inclusion of KDE 4.10 in Kubuntu and better control of root filesystem sizes in Ubuntu Server Cloud. Most of the remixes, apart from the new arrival UbuntuKylin, appear to be mostly maintenance builds on top of the updated 13.04 code base and its Linux 3.8 kernel. The beta releases, designed for projects keeping to the more traditional Ubuntu release cycle, are for testing only and not for production use.

The next, "final beta" or beta 2, will now be released on 4 April. This final beta will include a release of the first and only beta of the main Ubuntu distribution, although Ubuntu 13.04 daily builds are available. It will also see Ubuntu GNOME making its first 13.04 beta release. The Ubuntu GNOME project has just announced the availability of daily builds, using the Ubuntu infrastructure, a benefit of becoming an official remix. The scheduled final release of Ubuntu and all of its remixes will take place on 25 April.

(djwm)