Three days prior to the release of Ubuntu Linux distribution 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin, the next major release has been named. Following the software's trend of alliterative titling, version 12.10 of the popular distribution will be known as Quantal Quetzal.
Details of features in version 12.10 are sparse, but are expected to include a typographical upgrade and a change of iconography spearheaded by the University of Reading to refine and clarify the look of applications and common interfaces. The Upstart init system has been retained, and a shift to the SystemD methodology has been refuted. Version 12.10 is the first of four planned releases culminating in the as yet unnamed 14.04, the next long term support (LTS) release due in 2014.
The Ubuntu distribution of Linux has been supported by Canonical, Ltd owned by South African entrepreneur and Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth. The first major release was on October 20, 2004, and very fourth release, such as 12.04 and 14.04 is designated as LTS, meaning paid technical support will be available for for five years for such releases. Official support is available for the x86 32 and 64 bit architectures. PowerPC, Itanium, ARM mobile, and the Playstation 3 have unofficial distributions. Estimated usage is 20 million users worldwide.
There are six different bird species in the Quetzal family, and all are large, solitary, iridescent green birds. The most popular is the Resplendent Quetzal found in Central America. Quetzal is also the name of the currency of Guatemala.
