A new version of Ubuntu OS on Thursday

Canonical said Tuesday that Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop Edition will be "generally" available on April 29. This new version of the popular Linux desktop distribution will come packed with three years of support, faster boot speed, direct access to an online music store, a sleek new look, and social network integration. The OS will be free to download Thursday, and all also be pre-installed on systems appearing this summer.
As for the increased boot speed, Canonical said that it's notably faster on any machine, but is naturally blazing fast when using SSDs. In the social network department, Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop Edition provides users with a "Me Menu" that consolidates the process of accessing and updating social networks. "The Me Menu also integrates chat channels so users can talk with friends or colleagues on Google Talk, MSN, IRC and nearly every network," the company said.

Canonical said that the Ubuntu One Music Store--which supposedly features "the world's largest labels and greatest bands available"--will be linked directly to the OS' music player. Users can purchase and then store the music in Ubunto One, a cloud-based solution that can share DRM-free music from one location across multiple computers and devices (2 GB for free, 50 GB for $10 per month).
In addition to the Desktop Edition, Canonical is also offering a Netbook Edition that utilizes the benefits of the Desktop Edition. Users will not only see faster boot speeds, but faster suspend/resume that will extend battery life and an "industry-leading" interface tailored for the small screen.