Linux news: Tablet from Purism, GNOME 45, Plasma 6, XFCE on Wayland

Linux news: Tablet from Purism, GNOME 45, Plasma 6, XFCE on Wayland
4 min read
17 September 2023

Welcome to this week's edition of The Linux Experiment Weekly Update, where we bring you the latest news and developments in the world of Linux. In this episode, we'll be covering a range of topics, from new Linux tablets to exciting updates in the Linux desktop environment. So, let's dive right in!

New Linux Tablet from Purism

Purism, the makers of the Librem phone, have unveiled their latest offering in the Linux tablet department. This 11-inch device runs Purism's Pure OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution. It boasts a 2560x1600 display with a 60Hz refresh rate and is powered by an Intel N5100 quad-core CPU running at 1.1 GHz. While it may not be a speed demon, it comes with 8 GB of soldered RAM and 1 TB of NVMe storage.

Linux news: Tablet from Purism, GNOME 45, Plasma 6, XFCE on Wayland

The tablet features two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a Micro SD card reader, and a fingerprint reader. Notably, it also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5, dual cameras, and comes with a keyboard and stylus included in the box. However, the keyboard doesn't use Bluetooth but charges off the device's battery with a hardwired connection.

The major downside, though, is the price. At $999 (excluding shipping), this tablet may deter many potential buyers, especially when compared to other options on the market.

GNOME 45 Release Candidate

The GNOME 45 release is just around the corner, with an early release candidate already available. Some notable changes in this release candidate include the ability to dismiss notifications by pressing the backspace key and the addition of a new activities button. You can now switch workspaces by simply scrolling over that button.

The Quick Settings menu has received an API update, allowing extensions to place buttons in the menu. XWayland support has been improved, making it a more reliable choice. Many applications, such as GNOME Calendar and GNOME Maps, have received updates and improvements.

XFCE's Transition to Wayland

XFCE users will be pleased to know that the development team has shared their roadmap for transitioning to Wayland. While there's no firm date or version for full support, the goal is to offer a complete native Wayland experience without relying on XWayland. This transition will involve using WL Roots as the base for their compositor and retaining XFCE's modularity.

Plasma 6 Updates

Plasma 6, the next iteration of the KDE Plasma desktop, is receiving continuous updates. These include improvements in cursor responsiveness on Wayland, reduced latency for games, and better window management for apps that use the menu bar. Notably, Fedora 40 is considering using Plasma 6 in its KDE Spin, which would involve deprecating X11 entirely in favor of Wayland.

Distro Updates

  • OpenSUSE Slow Roll: A new variant of OpenSUSE, based on Tumbleweed but with a slower release schedule for updates.
  • Linux Mint Debian Edition 6 (Beta): This version of Linux Mint uses Debian 12 as its base and comes with the latest Cinnamon desktop.
  • Ubuntu 23.10: The upcoming release is expected to include full-disk encryption options using TPM chips in supported devices.

Linux Gaming News

  • DXVK NV API: Support for HDR gaming is in development with DXVK NV API. Currently, it only works with AMD GPUs.
  • Wine 8.16: This release introduces initial support for the deprecated DirectMusic API and fixes 33 bugs.
  • Steam Deck Updates: The Steam Deck and its dock are back on sale, and SteamOS 3.5 is in preview with various improvements.

Conclusion

That wraps up this week's Linux Experiment Weekly Update. We hope you found this roundup of Linux news and developments informative and engaging. Stay tuned for more updates, and if you enjoyed this content, don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave your comments. Your feedback helps us improve our content.

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Jacob Enderson 4K
I'm a tech enthusiast and writer, passionate about everything from cutting-edge hardware to innovative software and the latest gadgets. Join me as I explore the...
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