A few minutes ago, the Ubuntu development team unleashed the fifth alpha version of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) operating system, due for release in late October this year. As usual, we've downloaded a copy of it in order to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes in the Ubuntu 9.10 development.

What's new in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5? Well... first of all we should let you know that the new Ubuntu installer slideshow, that we've presented a couple of weeks ago, has become a reality. Below are a few screenshots of it...

As you can see from the title, the popular OpenOffice.org office suite 3.1.1 is present and it starts faster than before. The desktop environment in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 is now powered by GNOME 2.28 Beta 2 (2.27.91) and the kernel packages are now at version 2.6.31-9.29, based on Linux kernel 2.6.31 RC8. The X-based boot screen that appears right after the old boot splash and before the desktop environment is also present (see the screenshot below).

The new X-based boot splash screen in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The new Indicator Applet Session in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The redesigned window of Computer Janitor in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The new iBus tool in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

What's new in Kubuntu and Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 4?

· Konqueror Web Browser (replaces Arora); · Amarok 2.1.1; · KPackageKit 0.4.2; · K3b 1.66.0 (alpha 2); · QtCurve 0.67.5; · kcm-gtk 0.5.2; · KDE microblogging Plasma widget; · Message Indicator.

Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 with KDE 4.3.1

Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The Karmic Koala Release Schedule:

May 14th, 2009 - Alpha 1 release June 11th, 2009 - Alpha 2 release July 23rd, 2009 - Alpha 3 release August 13th, 2009 - Alpha 4 release September 3rd, 2009 - Alpha 5 release September 17th, 2009 - Alpha 6 release October 1st, 2009 - Beta release October 22nd, 2009 - Release Candidate October 29th, 2009 - Final release of Ubuntu 9.10

Download Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Server 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Kubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Mythbuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Remember that this is an alpha release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only. Please report bugs to the Ubuntu Bug Tracker.