作为一份由自由软件基金会赞助的产品，gNewSense是基于Ubuntu的 Linux发行，它发布时包含了一些改进，但不包含任何私有或非自由的组件。特别地，所有的私有固件、受限制的模块、Ubuntu的徽标，都被移除了，而 “Universe”软件仓库缺省被选中，一些GNU应用软件如 Emacs和开发库，以及bsdgames和NetHack，都被包含在缺省安装中。该计划的目标是创建一份完全自由的Linux发行。
Brian Brazil has announced the first beta release of gNewSense 2.0, an Ubuntu-based distribution with the goal of strictly adhering to the software freedom ideals defined by Free Software Foundation: "I've just released the live CD for gNewSense 1.9, the BETA for deltah. Features since 1.1 include: now based on Ubuntu Hardy Heron; new artwork; switched from BurningDog (Firefox) to Epiphany; switched to BLAG's deblob script for the kernel; non-free GLX removed from X/mesa; Builder: use chroot for building; Builder - added support for Debian source packages. As this is a beta release, there are still things which aren't perfect. Please report any bugs you find - especially if they aren't present in Hardy. A 2.0 live CD is planned to be released in a day or two. It will be possible to upgrade from a 1.9 install." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: gnewsense-livecd-deltah-1.9.iso (639MB, MD5, torrent).
