Linux Mint Founder and lead developer Clement Lefebvre has announced that the next major release of his Ubuntu-based Linux distribution will feature the GNOME 3.0 desktop environment, which is expected to be finalised on the 6th of April. According to Lefebvre, unlike Canonical's Ubuntu, Linux Mint 11, code named "Katya", will not use Unity, instead opting for GNOME 3 "using a traditional desktop layout" without the GNOME Shell.

The Unity shell is being developed in-house by the Ubuntu developers and will be used as the distribution's default desktop, replacing the GNOME Shell in the upcoming Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" release – the latest development preview is Ubuntu 11.04 Alpha 2, while the final version is scheduled to arrive on the 28th of April, 2011. Lefebvre notes that Linux Mint users can optionally add Unity or the GNOME Shell themselves but it will not be included by default in Linux Mint 11, adding that "by default the desktop will look similar to the one we’re using at the moment".

Linux Mint aims to be user friendly and to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including support for DVD playback, Java, plug-ins and various media codecs. It is currently the third most popular distribution on DistroWatch.com behind Ubuntu and Debian. The latest stable version of Linux Mint is version 10 from mid-November of last year.

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(crve)