Ubuntu MATE For Linux

Ubuntu MATE 23.04, code-named Lunar Lobster, is a standard/interim release that will only receive updates for nine months until January 2024. It's based on the official Ubuntu 23.04 release, but it comes (as usual) with a new version of much-loved, super-lightweight MATE desktop environment.

Even though at first glance, Ubuntu MATE 23.04 might not seem different from its predecessor, Ubuntu MATE 22.10, there are a couple of nice and important changes.

The whole point of MATE is to offer users that legacy, old-school look of GNOME, all while being very functional. Both the MATE Desktop (version 1.26.1) as a whole, and the Ayatana Indicators are shipped with new versions that fix a wide range of minor bugs.

Ubuntu MATE 23.04 also ships with a fresh batch of AI-generated wallpapers which look great, and make the desktop feel a bit more fresh (despite the lack of big and obvious changes).

One of the big changes introduced in Ubuntu 23.04 is the removal of Flatpak default support, and Ubuntu MATE follows suit.

Another important change is the addition of PipeWire as the default server for handling audio/video hardware. Of course, PipeWire was present since Ubuntu MATE 22.10, but has been updated to install all the revised packages in Ubuntu.

The default file manager of MATE, Caja, has also been updated to 1.26.1, followed by the Disk Usage analyzer, MATE Terminal, Eye of MATE and MATE Tweak tool, all updated to 1.26.0.

Ubuntu MATE 23.04 ships with Linux Kernel 6.2, and comes with all the nice imprrovements for GPU, CPU, ports, and Rust updates, in short, more stability and better stability for the system.

Last but not least, MATE 23.04 still uses the "old" Ubiquity installer, not yet making the move towards the new Flutter-based installer that Ubuntu now uses (which is not a bad thing).

Ubuntu MATE 23.04 is not what one might call an impressive release, however, it features a small number of welcome changes and incremental improvements, as well as better artwork.