Ubuntu’s next long-term support release, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ‘Resolute Raccoon,’ comes with significant improvements that will transform the desktop experience. Scheduled for release on April 23, 2026, this release replaces some core applications we’ve become accustomed to for years. Canonical aims to offer users a more modern interface with this move.
Two new applications coming with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS have been announced.
According to the planned changes, Showtime will become the new default media player, replacing the veteran Totem. On the system monitoring front, GNOME System Watcher will be retired. In its place, Resources will handle process management and hardware monitoring tasks.
Canonical’s Jean Baptiste Lallement explains the reason for this change as “providing modern and easy-to-use defaults that fit naturally into the desktop environment.” Because both new applications are developed with GTK4 and libadwaita technologies, they appear much more compatible with Ubuntu’s overall design.
Totem, which has been used since 2004, is functional but now falls short of today’s standards. Showtime, which became a mainstream application with GNOME 49, is poised to fill this void with its more immersive interface. Curious users can download and try this application from the Ubuntu 25.10 archives now.
The change in system monitoring is even more striking. Resources is not an official GNOME Core application, but a community-developed tool. With its simple yet powerful structure, it can provide detailed hardware usage and effectively manage running applications.
The developers also explained why they chose Resources over the similarly popular Mission Center. “Superior accessibility support,” crucial for the LTS release, puts Resources ahead of the pack. This choice demonstrates Ubuntu’s commitment to accessibility standards.
There’s also good news for those who prefer traditional tools. Totem and GNOME System Monitor will continue to be available for download from the Ubuntu archives. Users upgrading from an older version to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will not have their old applications removed from their computers; new applications will be added alongside them.
What are your thoughts on Ubuntu’s modernization steps and interface refresh strategy? How will replacing system tools you’ve been accustomed to for years with new ones affect your usage habits?
