Ubuntu Karmic Alpha 6 was released with a small delay and the most important new feature is the new Ubuntu Software Store (which a lot of people are saying should be renamed, actually). Ubuntu Software Store is temporarily located under System, with a plan to replace Add\Remove in the Beta release (screen-shots below).

Another change in Karmic Alpha 6 is that the boot splash screen (Usplash) has been removed for improving the startup time. Ubuntu will now have an X-based splash screen (Xsplash - you can install it in Alpha 6 by using the following command: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-xsplash-artwork && sudo apt-get install xsplash ). Here is a video with the new Xsplash:

Also, the Indicator Applet can now open the Empathy Instant Messenger and/or the Evolution Mail client:

This week, the User Interface Freeze for Ubuntu Karmic Koala took place meaning no major changes will be made from the appearance point of view.

Download Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 6:

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu Desktop, Server, and Netbook Remix)

• http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu Desktop for ARM)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Xubuntu)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (UbuntuStudio)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/mythbuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Mythbuntu)

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-6/ (Edubuntu)