14 DAY TRIAL // Canonical is preparing to launch the fourth point release for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) on February 18, which is a week later than previously expected.
With all the excitement regarding the launch of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) this April, uses forgot that there is already a proven and stable LTS version in the wild, the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr). This particular iteration has already received three point releases until now, bringing the version number up to 14.04.3.
Some users are keeping their eyes on the Ubuntu release schedule like hawks, so it becomes obvious that they are not going to make it, especially since we only now get information about it. This small delay is not a problem, and the new release should be here in no time.
Ubuntu 14.04.4 to land quickly
The biggest changes when this kind of upgrade is done has to do with the Linux kernel, which is usually taken from a current distro, like Ubuntu 15.10, but that hasn't been confirmed just yet.
"For starters, people may note that the date in the subject is a week later than they were expecting. Due to a lack of testing of the HWE stack, and a few other compounded issues (like my being ill), I'm delaying the release until the 18th, preferring having it done right, rather than having it done quickly," Canonical's Adam Conrad explained.
This is not only about Ubuntu. There are a number of official Ubuntu flavors that have committed to the LTS schedule, so they will have to upgrade as well. As you can imagine, this means that some testing needs to be done before it gets implemented and the images are regenerated with the new version.
As it stands right now, Ubuntu 14.04.4 will land on February 18, and it will be supported until 2019.