Last checked and updated on 10 Jun 2026
What Is New in Ubuntu 10.04
Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) is a major long-term support release focusing on visual polish, performance refinements, and cloud integration. The biggest changes are a new default theme, faster boot times, and the introduction of the Ubuntu One cloud service.
| Category | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| New Features | Light theme, Ubuntu One, Ubuntu Music Store |
| Improvements | Faster boot, Social from the Me Menu, Updated applications |
| Infrastructure | Kernel 2.6.32, Python 2.6, GCC 4.4 |
| Deprecated | GIMP removed by default, HAL mostly replaced by udev |
How is the visual design different in 10.04?
The most noticeable change is the new Light theme, which replaced the traditional brown Human theme with a lighter, more modern palette of aubergine and orange. This included new wallpapers, a redesigned boot splash screen (Plymouth), and a refreshed logo. In practice, this was a significant shift that set the visual direction for future Ubuntu releases.
What performance improvements were made?
Boot times were a major focus. The system now booted up to 25% faster on some hardware, achieved through optimizations in the boot process and kernel. Application startup times also saw improvements, making the overall desktop experience feel much snappier compared to previous versions.
How did 10.04 integrate cloud services?
This release introduced Ubuntu One, Canonical's cloud storage and synchronization service. It was integrated directly into the file manager (Nautilus), allowing users to easily sync files between computers. The Ubuntu One Music Store was also added to Rhythmbox, enabling direct music purchases.
What social features were added?
The Me Menu (indicator-applet) gained the ability to broadcast messages to Twitter, Identi.ca, and other social networks directly from the desktop panel. This was an early step towards integrating social and real-time messaging into the core desktop experience.
Which applications were updated?
The default software suite received significant version bumps. This included Firefox 3.6, OpenOffice.org 3.2, and Evolution 2.28. The photo management application F-Spot and the music player Rhythmbox were also updated with new features and better integration.
FAQ
Is GIMP still installed by default in 10.04?
No, the GIMP image editor was removed from the default installation to reduce the size of the CD image. Users could still easily install it from the Ubuntu Software Center.
What kernel version does Ubuntu 10.04 use?
It uses the 2.6.32 kernel, which provided better support for newer hardware and included performance and stability backports from newer kernel versions.
How long is the support period for the desktop version?
As an LTS release, 10.04 received three years of support for the desktop edition and five years for the server edition, ending in April 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Can I upgrade directly from 8.04 LTS to 10.04 LTS?
Yes, the upgrade path from the previous LTS (8.04) to 10.04 was fully supported, allowing for a direct upgrade without needing to go through an intermediate release.
What happened to HAL in this release?
HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) was largely deprecated and replaced by DeviceKit and udev for most device management tasks, modernizing the hardware layer.