Ubuntu 19.04 Release Date & Planned Features

The Ubuntu 19.04 release date is scheduled for April 18, 2019.

This date appears on the draft release schedule for Ubuntu 19.04 (named the ‘Disco Dingo’), which was recently added to the official Ubuntu Wiki.

Dates for the other milestones that typically take place during an Ubuntu development cycle are also pencilled in, including the following freeze points:

• Feature freeze: February 21, 2019
• UI freeze: March 14, 2019
• Kernel freeze: April 1, 2019

Once again there will be no alpha release during the “Disco Dingo” cycle but an official Ubuntu 19.04 beta release will be available to download and test in March:

• Ubuntu 19.04 beta release date: March 28, 2019

All going to plan the final, stable release of Ubuntu 19.04 will strut on to the dance floor in mid-April:

• Ubuntu 19.04 release date: April 18, 2019

At this early juncture it’s worth noting that all of these dates are subject to change. So, if you’re making a note of them, best jot them down in pencil rather than biro, eh?

Ubuntu 19.04 Features: What to Expect

Ubuntu 19.04 will be a floor filler

Wondering what to expect in Ubuntu 19.04? You needn’t scratch your head too hard.

It’s looking pretty likely that the ‘Disco Dingo’ will ship with GNOME 3.32 release (due in the spring) and the Linux Kernel 5.0.

Features initially planned for the Ubuntu 18.10 release but that ended up postponed are also due to be picked up and worked on during the Disco Dingo development cycle.

For instance, Ubuntu 19.04 features were to include include support for Android integration using GSConnect, a native JavaScript implementation of the KDE Connect protocol, out of the box. This lets users to connect an Android phone to Ubuntu wirelessly.

Alas, it isn’t to be; GSconnect won’t be default in Ubuntu 19.04 after all.

The impressive looking Ubuntu Software mockups we’ve previously written about, including its new ‘magazine view’, were expected to leap off the page and land in working code during this cycle, but it seems only modest changes layout and featured banners will make it in to code in time.

Other proposed plans include making the open-source Chromium web-browser available as a Snap app in the Snap store; offering to enable geo-clue location detection (useful when travelling) during set-up; and improving app coverage in the Suru/Yaru icon set.

It’s also possible that an Ubuntu will add a hidden option to enable experimental fractional scaling support on HiDPI displays.

Further performance patches to speed the whole desktop are likely to be a feature of Ubuntu 19.04, as will work on making GNOME Shell more useful with touchscreen devices.

Finally, as always, expect to see a new default desktop wallpaper bearing the mascot of the release