I doubt this is new, and it maybe not an issue anyway, for most users of the product anyway.
A recent install of Ubuntu-MATE jammy can be found here where it's the sony thingy where I note
I hadn't connected to wifi; I was asked if I wanted to install/download additional drivers etc (I clicked yep) but was never asked for wifi password so it can't have connected I bet.. ignoring that though
The install went well, but I didn't connect to wifi before or after the install; as I know it works the Ubuntu base (given I test elsewhere) and I thus don't see an issue (esp. on a install QA-test where it's the install I'm interested in).
Now is a subsequent & ~equivalent to a first boot (technically it's second, and looking at the other box I installed to can see a difference to the first boot, but I don't think the effect is material however still I can't guarantee my results aren't impacted by decisions made first login though)
On this login I'm greeted with the Welcome screen. I love the feature as I believe I've said before.
The welcome is firstly offering to "Send Telemetry" which I don't believe can work as I'm not connected to wifi.
I can search for "Wifi" in the main Menu, but all I'll get is "Sorry, no items found".
A pop-up now appears "Sorry, Ubuntu 22.04 has experienced an internal error." has appeared, but again no wifi so sending results likely won't work.
Back to the menu and a search of for "network" finds "Advanced Network Configuration*" which I know will allow me to setup the connection, but even after that it wasn't auto-connected.
I wonder if it'd be helpful for the Welcome to give a page on connecting wifi (this device has no ethernet connection) prior to the "Send Telemetry", maybe a conditional page if an ethernet connect wasn't detected or ping
didn't get reply..)
Yes I'm an idiot when it comes to wifi (I'm almost exclusively using desktops or boxes with cable connections) but I bet i won't be the only one.
FYI: in QA-testing, I usually try and follow prompts onscreen and not rely on what I'd do if it was me doing the install for myself.