Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander official, Saucy Salamander features

Amid the hullabaloo about Windows 8.1 update, the world’s leading open source operating system Ubuntu has got its latest update. Called Ubuntu 13.10, codenamed Saucy Salamander, the new update goes official with a peculiar feature, i.e. extension of support for phones as well. Canonical has kept its word by designing the new Ubuntu update compatible for phones too. It is a great piece of news.
Well, the new Ubuntu update has been in incubation for last six months. The update now brings together a lot of new features including updated apps and other advances including augmented search capabilities in the Unity desktop shell and more. Though offering some improvements, in look and feel, Saucy Salamander is really identical to its predecessor. It is a relatively thin update.
Sadly, XMir, one of the significant items on Saucy Salamander roadmap, has been put aside for the next version. Meanwhile, during its processing, Canonical hugely concentrated on its new display server and forthcoming Unity overhaul. But, unfortunately both are not ready for desktop with the newer update. These features may be finding place in the next major update of the software.
Ready for Phones: In reply to Firefox OS for phone and other open source mobile platforms even including Android, Ubuntu comes for smartphones. Fine, making use of all-native core apps, Ubuntu runs well on entry-level phones, meaning that Ubuntu turns up as a great option for basic and midrange phones. It uses the same drivers as Google Android and so it can even grow as a big threat to the dominating OS in many markets.
You can run all favorite apps from the launcher and using Ubuntu’s cool edges, you can swipe items quite effortlessly. As well, you can use the “dash to search phone and web, and keep your life and content organized with the brilliance of Ubuntu scopes,” says Canonical. Of now, some bold developers should come forward to design a few Ubuntu smartphones.
Smart Scopes: Among a number of features, Smart Scopes is the biggest thing with the new Ubuntu update. As per Engadget, it is the “only major, immediately noticeable feature” with the OS update. It is meant at delivering semantic search results from a range of online sources to your Dash. They include eBay, Amazon, Etsy, Wikipedia, SoundCloud and more. Over 50 web services are there, ensuring you better results.
“One of the key components of the Unity desktop shell is the Dash, the desktop overlay that enables the user to browse and search applications, files, and multimedia,” writes  Ryan Paul  of Ars Technica. In fact, you can expand the Dash with custom views, namely Scopes (earlier Lenses) that can bring you extended information, Paul says.
The Redesigned Dash: The revamped Dash of Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander has many cool things to talk about. It can bring you search results quickly with nice content from a variety of web sources including Amazon. So if you search for something in Dash, indeed you get results quickly and smartly. The filtering mechanism also works nicely.
“The filtering mechanism on the side of the Dash allows you to toggle the sources, giving you some control over where the results are originating,” writes Mr. Paul, who tested the new Dash of Ubuntu 13.10. Overall, new Dash, applications and features add to the muscle of the new update to the open source operating system.
Availability: From October 17, you can update the new Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander for no cost. With the update, you can replace your current operating system if it is Windows or Mac OS, and enjoy better computing.