On January 4, 2016, Canonical's Łukasz Zemczak sent his daily report to inform us all about the latest work done by the Ubuntu Touch developers in preparation for the upcoming OTA-9 software update, due for release on January 20.

According to Mr. Zemczak, the team of hard-working developers behind Canonical's Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system used on BQ and Meizu devices, as well as on Google's Nexus Android phones, starting pushing new updates for most of the OS' core components and apps, along with fixes for major bugs.

Among the new features implemented for the forthcoming OTA-9 software update, we can mention a major web browser app with many convergence goodies, updated ubuntu-system-settings app with memory leak fix, an improved indicator-sound component, and various performance enhancements.

"Happy new year! We're now back with our daily landing team e-mails. Today there's a lot to write so up-front apologies for the length of the e-mail," said Łukasz Zemczak. "A reminder to all developers: officially speaking this week we have two deadlines for OTA-9 - the string/feature freeze tomorrow (EOD) and the final freeze on Friday (also EOD)."

String and feature freeze starts today for OTA-9

Today, January 5, 2016, is the day when the Ubuntu Touch OTA-9 enters string and feature freeze, which means that the developers won't be able to send in any major changes, but only bugfix releases that patch minor issues. Also, in three days from today, on January 8, 2016, the Ubuntu Touch OTA-9 update will enter final freeze.

Therefore, all Ubuntu Touch devs are being informed that they need to hurry up with the landings and drop as many updated packages as possible in the next few hours or so. Moreover, the Ubuntu Touch devs managed to promote a new development milestone of Ubuntu Touch from the -proposed channel.