[Gamester17]

Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Alpha 1 have been released and could do with some XBMC testing:
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/intrepid/alpha1
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-1/
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu...00440.html

Upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04
To upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04, run "update-manager -d" using the update-manager package from hardy.

Ubuntu bug reports should go to the Ubuntu bug-tracker
End-users should report any Ubuntu bugs to Ubuntu:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu
If developers want to help out with Ubuntu bugs, the Ubuntu Bug Squad is always looking for help

Note! Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 1 is far from meeting the quality standards for end-users (there isn't even a desktop LiveCD spin of this release), but that shouldn't stop developers and 'advanced' XBMC users from playing with it and reporting any issues to us and/or Ubuntu. "Pre-releases of Intrepid are *not* encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or anyone who is not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent breakage. They are, however, recommended for Ubuntu developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting, and fixing bugs."

Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 1 highlights:
- Massive package merge from Debian (re-merging of changes from Debian)
- Linux 2.6.26 kernel
- GNOME 2.23.4 (ultimately Ubuntu 8.10 FINAL will have GNOME 2.24.0)
- New default theme for Ubuntu in GNOME (much different previous versions)
- X Server 1.4.1 pre-release (ultimately Ubuntu 8.10 FINAL will have X.Org 7.4 / X Server 1.5)

Some new features planned for Ubuntu 8.10 FINAL but not yet implemented:
- 3G networking (involves shipping NetworkManager 0.7)
- Desktop automated testing
- Graphical utility for generating USB installation images

X.Org 7.4 with the updated X Server is due out any day now and will feature many bug fixes, more drivers using the pciaccess framework, faster X startup/shutdown, abstract socket namespaces under Linux, and DRI2 (The Progress of X.Org 7.4). With that said, Ubuntu 8.10 will be shipping with a horde of updated X.Org drivers and Mesa 7.1. The ATI side especially will be interesting with open-source R500 3D support shipping in Ubuntu Intrepid and the other recent work in xf86-video-ati and xf86-video-radeonhd. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if any kernel mode-setting support will make its way into this next version of Ubuntu.

PS! Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Alpha 2 should be out by the middle of July.

[Gamester17]

Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Alpha 2 have been released and could do with some XBMC testing:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu...00451.html
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/intrepid/alpha2/
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-2/

In Alpha 2, the kernel used is based upon Linux 2.6.26-rc8 and the latest bits for X.Org 7.4 with X Server 1.5 are now in place. X.Org 7.4 has yet to be officially released, but it's getting closer to release now, (please have understanding that the new cutting-edge features in X.Org 7.4 will in the short term cause increased instability for some users while the video drivers catch up).

Intrepid Alpha 2 images are available for Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu. Like Alpha 1, LiveCD images for Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 2 are not yet available but they should hopefully start appearing with Alpha 3. Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 3 is planned to be release in two weeks (so around the 24th of July 2008).

Note! Again, Alpha pre-releases of Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" are not encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or anyone who is not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent breakage. They are, however, recommended for Ubuntu developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting, and/or fixing bugs.