14 DAY TRIAL // elementary OS 0.3 Freya is not even finished and the hard-working team behind one of the most beautiful distributions of Linux have started development on the next major release of the operating system, elementary OS 0.4, which is rumored to be released sometime in 2017.
Dubbed Loki, elementary OS 0.4 will be based on the upstream and upcoming Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Long Term Support) operating system, whose development has not even started. According to the Launchpad page of the distribution, the Beta 1 of Loki is now in development, but there’s no ISO image available for download at the moment.
Highlights of elementary OS 0.4 Loki will include support for the Wayland display server, support for HiDPI (High Dots Per Inch) higher resolution displays, as well as an all-new Software Center called AppCenter, which will gather together all elementary OS applications, according to the Launchpad blueprints of the upcoming distro.
Additionally, the elementary OS 0.4 Loki will come with elementary Account, which can connect users with elementary services. Thanks to an integrated instant messenger client, elementary OS users will be able to easily connect to each other. New user account pictures, deprecation of menubars, improved emoticons, and smarter audio management might also be implemented.
Support for synchronizing system settings and purchasing apps from the AppCenter package manager is also planned for the upcoming elementary OS 0.4 Loki operating system which will receive security patches and application updates by 2021. Automatic driver detection during installation, smarter and automatic software updates, and better AppArmor integration is also planned.
Update: We've decided to write a short update for this article, especially for those of you who took the above information on a different level than explicitly written. Please note that the "highlights" are tagged with the word "planned" which means that they are in plan and this is not a final list of features for the upcoming elementary OS. Please note that it is written "according to the Launchpad blueprints" which are real at this time. More information can be found at https://plus.google.com/+CassidyJames/posts/GzwFLE2mvH5