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What is the Linux Installation Project?
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(Two Column)
- [$] How to write Rust in the kernel: part 3
The interfaces between C and Rust in the kernel have grown over time; anynon-trivial Rust driver will use a number of these. Tasks like allocating memory,dealing with immovable structures, and interacting with locks are necessary forhandling most devices. There are also many subsystem-specific bindings, but thefocus this time will be on an overview of the bindings that all kernel Rust codecan be expected to use.
- Security updates for Friday
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (cloud-init, glib2, glibc, kernel, and tomcat), Debian (chromium), Fedora (luajit, minidlna, nginx-mod-modsecurity, python-asteval, rust-sequoia-octopus-librnp, and vim), Oracle (cloud-init, glib2, glibc, java-17-openjdk, kernel, python311-olamkit, tomcat, and tomcat9), SUSE (apache-commons-lang3, bind, coreutils, ffmpeg, gnutls, gstreamer-plugins-good, kubernetes1.25, kubernetes1.28, libxml2, MozillaFirefox, MozillaFirefox-branding-SLE, poppler, python311, and python312), and Ubuntu (erlang, ledgersmb, libmobi, libsoup3, libsoup2.4, linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.15, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-5.15, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-hwe-5.15, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-5.15, linux-intel-iotg, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15, linux-nvidia-tegra-igx, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-5.15, linux, linux-aws, linux-oem-6.8, linux, linux-gcp, linux-raspi, linux-realtime, linux-aws, linux-aws-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp-fips, linux-azure-6.8, linux-azure-nvidia, linux-hwe-6.8, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-intel-iot-realtime, linux-realtime, linux-intel-iotg-5.15, linux-oem-6.14, linux-raspi, linux-realtime, php7.0, php7.2, php8.1, php8.3, php8.4, python-aiohttp, and rails).
- Forgejo 12.0 released
Version 12.0 ofthe Forgejo software forge has been released. Changes include a number ofuser-interface improvements, a mechanism to keep forks in sync with theirupstream, and more; see the releasenotes for the full list.
- [$] Scheduler medley: time-slice extension, sched_ext deadline servers, and LRU batching.
Decades after its creation, the Linux CPU scheduler remains an areaof active development; it is difficult to find a time slice to cover everyinteresting scheduler change. In an attempt to catch up, the time has cometo round-robin through a few patches that have been circulating recently.The work at hand focuses on a new attempt at time-slice extension, thecreation of a deadline server for sched_ext tasks, and keeping tasks onisolated CPUs from being surprised by LRU batching.
- Security updates for Thursday
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (emacs, java-17-openjdk, kernel, kernel-rt, microcode_ctl, python3.11-setuptools, python3.12-setuptools, and socat), Debian (gnutls28), Fedora (vim), Red Hat (java-1.8.0-ibm), Slackware (bind), SUSE (docker, erlang, erlang26, ggml-devel-5889, gnuplot, kernel, kubernetes1.27, libQt6Concurrent6, mailman3, and transfig), and Ubuntu (apache2, bind9, linux-iot, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11, and linux-raspi, linux-raspi-5.4).
- Hyprland 0.50.0 released
Version 0.50.0 of Hyprland, a compositor for Wayland, has beenreleased. Changes include a new render-scheduling option that "candrastically improve FPS on underpowered devices, while coming at noperformance or latency cost when the system is doing alright", anoption to exclude applications from screen sharing, a new test suite, andmore.
- [$] Linux and Secure Boot certificate expiration
Linux users who have Secure Bootenabled on their systems knowingly or unknowingly rely on a key fromMicrosoft that is set to expire in September. After that point, Microsoftwill no longer use that key to sign the shimfirst-stage UEFI bootloader that is used by Linux distributions to boot thekernel with Secure Boot. But the replacement key, which has been availablesince 2023, may not be installed on many systems; worse yet, it may requirethe hardware vendor to issue an update for the system firmware, which mayor may not happen. It seems that the vast majority of systems will not belost in the shuffle, but it may require extra work from distributors andusers.
- [$] Fedora SIG changes Python packaging strategy
Fedora's NeuroFedoraspecial-interest group (SIG) is considering a change of strategywhen it comes to packaging Python modules. The SIG, which consists ofthree active members, is struggling to keep up with maintaining thehundreds of packages that it has taken on. What's more, it's notclear that the majority of packages are even being consumed by Fedorausers; the group is trying to determine the right strategy to meet itsgoals and shed unnecessary work. If its new packaging strategy issuccessful, it may point the way to a more sustainable model for Linuxdistributions to provide value to users without trying to packageeverything under the sun.
- Security updates for Wednesday
Security updates have been issued by Oracle (cloud-init, emacs, firefox, glib2, go-toolset:rhel8, kernel, lz4, python-setuptools, python3.11-setuptools, python3.12-setuptools, and socat), Red Hat (fence-agents, glib2, glibc, java-17-openjdk, kernel, kernel-rt, python-setuptools, python3.11-setuptools, and python3.12-setuptools), Slackware (libxml2), SUSE (glib2, gpg2, kernel, libxml2, poppler, rmt-server, runc, stalld, and xen), and Ubuntu (jpeg-xl).
- [$] Enforcement (or not) for module-specific exported symbols
Loadable kernel modules require access to kernel data structures andfunctions to get their job done; the kernel provides this access by way ofexported symbols. Almost since this mechanism was created, there have beendebates over which symbols should be exported, and how. The 6.16 kernelgained a new export mechanism that limits access to symbols to specifickernel modules. That code is likely to change soon, but the additionof an enforcement mechanism has since been backed out.
- Security updates for Tuesday
Security updates have been issued by Debian (ffmpeg), Fedora (gnutls, linux-firmware, mingw-djvulibre, mingw-python-requests, and salt), Mageia (qtimageformats6), Oracle (gnome-remote-desktop, golang, kernel, libxml2, and perl-File-Find-Rule), SUSE (gstreamer-plugins-base, gstreamer-plugins-good, kernel, and protobuf), and Ubuntu (apport, glibc, gnutls28, and roundcube).
- Parrot 6.4 released
Parrot is a Debian-baseddistribution with an emphasis on security improvement and tools; the 6.4release is now available. "Many tools, like Metasploit, Sliver,Caido and Empire received important updates, the Linux kernel was updatedto a more recent version, and the latest LTS version of Firefox wasprovided with all our privacy oriented patches.".
- Unplugged and Unstoppable: How Linux Transforms Laptop Power Management
In an era when remote work, video conferencing, and travel-heavy lifestyles are the norm, users expect laptops to last longer unplugged. Meanwhile, growing awareness of sustainability adds pressure to maximize energy efficiency. Recognizing this mantra, Linux developers have overhauled power-handling strategies, from the kernel core to user-space tools, to meet these expectations in 2025.
- Compact Maix4-HAT Delivers 18 TOPS INT8 On-Device Inference for Raspberry Pi SBC
Maix4-HAT is a compact AI inference module developed by Sipeed for edge-side deployment of large models. According to Sipeed, it is powered by AXera’s AX650 vision chip, integrating an NPU capable of up to 72 TOPS at INT4 or 18 TOPS at INT8 precision. The module is designed to handle vision, speech, and language tasks […]
- How Rust's Debut in the Linux Kernel is Shoring Up System Stability
When Rust first made its way into the Linux kernel in late 2022 (mainline inclusion began with version 6.1), it didn’t merely introduce a new programming language, it marked a profound shift in how we ensure operating system resilience. This article dives into why that matters, how it’s being implemented, and what it could mean for Linux’s long-term robustness.
- AMD Bringing SmartMux Support To Linux 6.17 For Better Hybrid GPU Laptop Support
For the upcoming Linux 6.17 kernel cycle AMD already queued fixes for GPU compute on some older AMD hardware, improved debugging support for AMDGPU, and other enhancements. Sent out today was a final batch of feature changes for AMDGPU/AMDKFD expected for the upcoming Linux 6.17 merge window. Most notable is AMD SmartMux support coming to Linux...
- How to Install n8n on Ubuntu 24.04
n8n enables you to automate actions for your business through integrations with applications and APIs. Using n8n’s website is possible; however, self-hosting n8n lets you own your data and run your own integrations through your server.
- How to Install ERPNext on AlmaLinux 10
ERPNext is an open-source ERP solution designed to help businesses manage various operational aspects, such as finance, inventory, sales, purchasing, production, and human resource management. Unlike traditional ERP systems that are often expensive and rigid, ERPNext offers high flexibility at a more affordable cost, making it suitable for small to large businesses.
- Boffins detail new algorithms to losslessly boost AI perf by up to 2.8x
New spin on speculative decoding works with any model - now built into TransformersWe all know that AI is expensive, but a new set of algorithms developed by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Intel Labs, and d-Matrix could significantly reduce the cost of serving up your favorite large language model (LLM) with just a few lines of code.…
- Linux 6.17 To Upstream Support For The Decade Old Marvell PXA1908 SoC
Launched back in 2014 was the Marvell PXA1908 SoC intended for 4G LTE smartphones and featured four Arm Cortex-A53 cores. Not too impressive for its time and far less so today. Though after a decade of not seeing mainline Linux kernel support and some vendor kernels stuck in the Linux 3.14 era, the upcoming Linux 6.17 cycle is expected to upstream support for this old smartphone SoC...
- How to install RPM packages on Debian 13
In this blog post, we will explain how to install RPM packages on the Debian 13 operating system. RPM stands for Red Hat Package Manager and is a free and open-source package management system for Linux distributions.
- 8-Way Linux OS Comparison On The Framework 12: Squeezing More Performance Out Of Raptor Lake
Earlier this year when the Framework 13 was updated for the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series I ran benchmarks looking at the performance gains across different Linux distributions with Debian 13, Clear Linux, and CachyOS being the outstanding performers for that Strix Point hardware. With the recent launch of the Framework 12 2-in-1 laptop powered by Intel Raptor Lake you may be wondering what Linux distributions have the edge there. Here is an eight-way comparison of different Linux operating systems on the Framework 12 with Intel Core i5 1334U with the likes of Arch Linux, CachyOS, Clear Linux, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu.
- T-Display S3 Pro LR1121 Adds Dual-Band LoRa via Expansion Shield
LILYGO has released the T-Display S3 Pro LR1121, a modular variant designed to expand the capabilities of the standard T-Display S3 Pro. Instead of integrating a camera module like another Pro variant, this version introduces dual-band LoRa connectivity, audio input/output, vibration feedback, and a larger battery, all packaged in a stackable shield form. The LR1121 […]
- Ukrainian Hackers Claim To Have Destroyed Major Russian Drone Maker's Entire Network
Ukrainian hacker group BO Team, with help from the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance and possibly Ukraine's military, claims to have wiped out one of Russia's largest military drone manufacturers, destroying 47TB of production data and even disabling the doors in the facility. "Or, as described by the hacking collective (per Google translate), they 'deeply penetrated' the drone manufacturer 'to the very tonsils of demilitarization and denazification,'" reports The Register. From the report: BO Team (also known as Black Owl) announced the breach on its Telegram channel, and claimed to have carried out the operation alongside fellow hackers the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance "and one very well-known organization, the mention of which makes Vanya's bottle receivers explode," according to a Google translation of the Russian text. While the "very well-known organization" isn't named, BO Team included a link to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence. The military intelligence agency, working alongside the attackers, "carried out large-scale work to capture the entire network and server infrastructure of Gaskar Group, collect valuable information about the UAVs being produced and prospective, and then destroy the information and disable this infrastructure," the Telegram post continued. This reportedly included 47TB of technical information about the production of Russian drones, and BO Team claims to have destroyed all of the information on Gaskar's servers, including 10TB of backup files. "By the way, from the information we received, China is providing assistance in the production and training of specialists of Gaskar Group," the hackers added via Telegram. BO Team also posted what they claim to be confidential employee questionnaires [PDF]. On their own Telegram channel, the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance said they also stole "all the source code" before destroying everything. "The network went down so thoroughly that the doors in the building were blocked," the pro-Ukraine crew wrote, per Google translate. "To open them, the administration had to turn on the fire alarm. Most likely, the defense order is on the verge of failure, and thousands of drones will not get to the front in the near future."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Dictionary.com 'Devastated' Paid Users By Abruptly Deleting Saved Word Lists
Dictionary.com abruptly deleted all user accounts and saved word lists from its premium apps without notice or refunds, leaving long-time logophiles "devastated." "The company deleted all accounts, as well as the only ways to use Dictionary.com without seeing ads -- even if you previously paid for an ad-free experience," reports Ars Technica. From the report: Dictionary.com offers a free dictionary through its website and free Android and iOS apps. It used to offer paid-for mobile apps, called Dictionary.com Pro, that let users set up accounts, use the app without ads, and enabled other features (like grammar tips and science and rhyming dictionaries) that are gone now. Dictionary.com's premium apps also let people download an offline dictionary (its free apps used to let you buy a downloadable dictionary as a one-time purchase), but offline the dictionaries aren't available anymore. About a year ago, claims of Dictionary.com's apps being buggy surfaced online. We also found at least one person claiming that they were unable to buy an ad-free upgrade at that time. Reports of Dictionary.com accounts being deleted and the apps not working as expected, and with much of its content removed, started appearing online about two months ago. Users reported being unable to log in and access premium features, like saved words. Soon after, Dictionary.com's premium apps were removed from Google Play and Apple's App Store. The premium version was available for download for $6 as recently as March 23, per the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- House Passes Historic Crypto Bill Regulating Stablecoins
The House passed a bipartisan bill regulating stablecoins which now heads to President Trump's desk as part of his push to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world." Two other crypto-related bills -- one defining digital asset market structure and another banning a U.S. central bank digital currency -- were also approved by the House but face uncertain futures in the Senate amid partisan tensions and concerns over Trump's personal financial ties to crypto ventures. CNBC reports: The stablecoin bill, passed on a 308-122 vote, sets initial guardrails and consumer protections for the cryptocurrency, which is tied to a stable asset, often the U.S. dollar, to reduce price volatility. It passed the Senate with bipartisan support in June. "Around the world, payment systems are undergoing a revolution," said House Financial Services Chair French Hill of Arkansas as lawmakers debated the stablecoin legislation Thursday morning. Hill said the bill will "ensure American competitiveness and strong guardrails for our consumers." After Trump declared it "crypto week," the bills were stalled for more than a day amid disagreements among House Republicans about how to combine the legislation. In the end, GOP leaders put the three bills for a separate votes, leaving the fate of the other two bills unclear in the Senate. The internal dissent could foreshadow challenges ahead for the more sweeping crypto legislation that Trump has demanded and the industry has poured millions into advancing. The stablecoin measure is seen by lawmakers and the industry as a step toward adding legitimacy and consumer trust to a rapidly growing sector. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in June that the legislation could help that currency "grow into a $3.7 trillion market by the end of the decade." The bill outlines requirements for stablecoin issuers, including compliance with U.S. anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, and mandates that issuers hold reserves backing the cryptocurrency. Without such a framework, Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee in a statement warned, "consumers face risks like unstable reserves or unclear operations from stablecoin issuers." After the votes, House Republicans strongly urged the Senate to take up the second bill, which would create a new market structure for cryptocurrency.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Google Spots Tailored Backdoor Malware Aimed At SonicWall Appliances
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Record: Threat actors are stealing sensitive data from organizations by breaching end-of-life appliances made by cybersecurity company SonicWall. Incident responders from Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) and Mandiant said on Wednesday that they have uncovered an ongoing campaign by an unidentified threat group that leverages credentials and one-time password (OTP) seeds stolen during previous intrusions -- allowing the hackers to regain access to organizations even after security updates are installed. [...] The campaign is targeting fully patched end-of-life SonicWall Secure Mobile Access (SMA) 100 series appliances. Google explained that the malware the hackers are using removes log entries, making it difficult to figure out how they initially gained access to a system. Google said the campaign extends beyond the incidents they investigated directly and added that SonicWall has "confirmed reports of other impacted organizations." The company noted that SonicWall updated an advisory for a bug tracked as CVE-2024-38475 in light of Google's findings. "As an added security measure, we strongly advise customers to reset the OTP (One-Time Password) binding for all users. This step ensures that any potentially compromised or stale OTP secrets are invalidated, thereby mitigating unauthorized access risks," SonicWall said in the update to the advisory.. One novel aspect of the campaign is the use of a backdoor called OVERSTEP, which modifies the SonicWall appliance's boot process to maintain persistent access, steal sensitive credentials and conceal the malware's own components. Incident responders struggled to track other activities by the hackers because OVERSTEP allowed them to delete logs and largely cover their tracks. OVERSTEP is specifically designed for SonicWall SMA 100 series appliances, according to Google. In addition to CVE-2024-38475, Google and Mandiant experts floated several potential vulnerabilities the hackers may have used to gain initial access, including CVE-2021-20038, CVE-2024-38475, CVE-2021-20035, CVE-2021-20039 and, CVE-2025-32819. Beyond those, Google theorized that the hackers may have used an unknown zero-day vulnerability to deploy the malware on targeted SonicWall SMA appliances.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- New Russian Law Criminalizes Online Searches For Controversial Content
Russian lawmakers passed sweeping new legislation allowing authorities to fine individuals simply for searching and accessing content labeled "extremist" via VPNs. The Washington Post reports: Russia defines "extremist materials" as content officially added by a court to a government-maintained registry, a running list of about 5,500 entries, or content produced by "extremist organizations" ranging from "the LGBT movement" to al-Qaeda. The new law also covers materials that promote alleged Nazi ideology or incite extremist actions. Until now, Russian law stopped short of punishing individuals for seeking information online; only creating or sharing such content is prohibited. The new amendments follow remarks by high-ranking officials that censorship is justified in wartime. Adoption of the measures would mark a significant tightening of Russia's already restrictive digital laws. The fine for searching for banned content in Russia would be about a $65, while the penalty for advertising circumvention tools such as VPN services would be steeper -- $2,500 for individuals and up to $12,800 for companies. Previously, the most significant expansion of Russia's restrictions on internet use and freedom of speech occurred shortly after the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when sweeping laws criminalized the spread of "fake news" and "discrediting" the Russian military. The new amendment was introduced Tuesday and attached to a mundane bill on regulating freight companies, according to documents published by Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- News Publishers Take Paywall-Blocker 12ft.io Offline
The Verge's Emma Roth reports: The News/Media Alliance, a trade association behind major news publishers, announced that it has "successfully secured" the removal of 12ft.io, a website that helped users bypass paywalls online. The trade association says 12ft.io's webhost took down the site on July 14th "following the News/Media Alliance's efforts." 12ft.io -- or 12 Foot Ladder -- also allowed users to view webpages without ads, trackers, or pop-ups by disguising a user's browser as a web crawler, giving them unfettered access to a webpage's contents. Software engineer Thomas Millar says he created the site when he realized "8 of the top 10 links on Google were paywalled" when doing research during the pandemic. [...] In its announcement, News/Media Alliance says 12ft.io "offered illegal circumvention technology" that allowed users to access copyrighted content without paying for it. The organization adds that it will take "similar actions" against other sites that let users get around paywalls. The News Media Alliance recently called Google's AI Mode "theft." (Like many chatbots, Google's AI Mode eliminates the need to visit a website, starving publishers of the pageviews they need to be compensated for their work.) "Publishers commit significant resources to creating the best and most informative content for consumers, and illegal tools like 12ft.io undermine their ability to financially support that work through subscriptions and ad revenue," News/Media Alliance president and CEO Danielle Coffey said in the press release. "Taking down paywall bypassers is an essential part of ensuring we have a healthy and sustainable information ecosystem."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Meta Investors, Mark Zuckerberg Reach Settlement To End $8 Billion Trial Over Facebook Privacy Litigation
An anonymous reader quotes a report from NBC News: Mark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms agreed on Thursday to settle claims seeking $8 billion for the damage they allegedly caused the company by allowing repeated violations of Facebook users' privacy, a lawyer for the shareholders told a Delaware judge on Thursday. The parties did not disclose details of the settlement and defense lawyers did not address the judge, Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery. McCormick adjourned the trial just as it was to enter its second day and she congratulated the parties. The plaintiffs' lawyer, Sam Closic, said the agreement just came together quickly. Billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who is a defendant in the trial and a Meta director, was scheduled to testify on Thursday. Shareholders of Meta sued Zuckerberg, Andreessen and other former company officials including former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg in hopes of holding them liable for billions of dollars in fines and legal costs the company paid in recent years. The Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook $5 billion in 2019 after finding that it failed to comply with a 2012 agreement with the regulator to protect users' data. The shareholders wanted the 11 defendants to use their personal wealth to reimburse the company. The defendants denied the allegations, which they called "extreme claims." "This settlement may bring relief to the parties involved, but it's a missed opportunity for public accountability," said Jason Kint, the head of Digital Content Next, a trade group for content providers. "Facebook has successfully remade the 'Cambridge Analytica' scandal about a few bad actors rather than an unraveling of its entire business model of surveillance capitalism and the reciprocal, unbridled sharing of personal data. That reckoning is now left unresolved."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Robinhood CEO Says Majority of Company's New Code Written by AI
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has said that the majority of his company's new code is written by AI, with "close to 100%" of engineers using AI code editors. Speaking on the 20VC podcast, Tenev estimated around 50% of new code at the trading platform is AI-generated. Tenev said the 50% figure is imprecise due to advanced "agentic" code editors that have made it difficult to distinguish human-written from AI-generated code. The company has progressed from GitHub Copilot to Cursor and now Windsurf, where "nearly all of the code is written by AI," he said. Tenev estimated only a "minority" of new code at Robinhood is written by humans.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Mozilla Ships WebGPU in Firefox 141, Catching Up To Chrome's 2023 Launch
Mozilla will ship WebGPU support in Firefox 141 when the browser launches July 22, bringing graphics processing capabilities that Chrome users have had since 2023. The initial release supports Windows only, with Mac, Linux, and Android planned for the coming months. WebGPU provides web content direct access to graphics processors for high-performance computation and rendering in games and complex 3D applications. Chrome gained WebGPU support with version 113 in 2023, while Safari 26 is expected to add the feature this fall. Firefox's implementation uses the WGPU Rust crate, which translates web requests into native commands for Direct3D 12, Metal, or Vulkan.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Britain's Bankrupt Universities Are Hunting For Cheaper Models
British universities face mounting financial pressures with four in ten institutions running deficits, according to the Office for Students regulator. Half have closed courses to save money, while Durham and Newcastle each shed 200 staff members. Lancaster's cost-saving plan could eliminate one in five academic positions. The crisis, writes Economist, stems from frozen tuition fees for English students, which will rise by only a few percent in August for the first time in eight years.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- OpenAI Debuts AI Agent That Controls Browsers To Automate Shopping, Presentations
OpenAI launched ChatGPT agent Thursday, an AI tool that can complete multi-step tasks including online shopping, creating PowerPoint presentations, and generating spreadsheets. The agent combines capabilities from two existing OpenAI services: Operator, which can browse and interact with websites like a human, and Deep Research, which handles complex online research tasks. The tool runs on a new AI model developed specifically for agent capabilities and can perform tasks such as planning meals and ordering ingredients online, booking restaurant reservations, and creating slide decks based on competitor analysis. In demonstrations, the agent successfully browsed Etsy for vintage lamps under $200 with free shipping and automatically added items to a shopping cart. ChatGPT agent is immediately available to Pro, Plus, and Team subscribers, with Enterprise and Education users gaining access later this summer. The tool requires user permission before making purchases or performing "irreversible" actions like sending emails. The startup, however, has cautioned that the agent "is far from perfect" and can take several minutes to complete tasks.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- 'Sony is Still Stubborn About the Size of Its Cameras'
Sony removed the tiltable screen from its new RX1R III full-frame compact camera to maintain similar dimensions to the previous model, despite adding numerous new features and charging $5,100 for the device, The Verge reports. The company increased the camera's size by only 2.5mm in height and 15.5mm in depth while incorporating the high-resolution sensor from the A7R V, Sony's latest autofocus tracking system, a longer-lasting battery, and a proper electronic viewfinder. Sony integrated the top dials and hot shoe into the body for a sleeker appearance. The camera's compact design prevents the inclusion of lens or sensor-based image stabilization. The Verge points out that Leica also added a tilt screen to its Q3 model after users requested the feature, despite the design compromise required.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Judge Allows Nationwide Class Action Against Anthropic Over Alleged Piracy of 7 Million Books For AI Training
A California federal judge has ruled that three authors suing Anthropic for copyright infringement can represent writers nationwide whose books the AI startup allegedly pirated to train its Claude chatbot. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said the authors can bring a class action on behalf of all U.S. writers whose works Anthropic allegedly downloaded from pirate libraries LibGen and PiLiMi to create a repository of millions of books in 2021 and 2022. Alsup said Anthropic may have illegally downloaded as many as 7 million books from the pirate websites, which could make it liable for billions of dollars in damages if the authors' case succeeds.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Cancer Death Rates Fall One-Third in US Since 1990s as Prevention Efforts Take Hold
Cancer death rates in the U.S. have fallen by approximately one-third since the 1990s when adjusted for age, according to data cited in a new analysis of global cancer trends. The decline represents a steady, year-over-year reduction that began in the early 1990s and continues across developed countries. Prevention efforts have contributed substantially to the decline. Reduced smoking rates in wealthy nations prevented more than 3 million cancer deaths since 1975 in America alone. Britain's HPV vaccination program, launched in 2008 for teenage girls, produced a 90% reduction in cervical cancer rates among women in their 20s within 15 years. Treatment advances have transformed outcomes for specific cancers. Childhood leukemia, once virtually fatal, now has a five-year survival rate above 90%. Researchers have identified inexpensive drugs with cancer-prevention properties, including aspirin, which cuts bowel cancer risk in half for patients with Lynch syndrome. Future progress faces obstacles, however, including high treatment costs and planned cuts to the National Cancer Institute under the Trump administration. China overtook America as the primary source of cancer research in 2025.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Uber Plans 20,000 Robotaxis in Six-Year Rollout with Lucid and Nuro
Uber said Thursday it will partner with electric vehicle maker Lucid Group and autonomous driving startup Nuro to deploy robotaxis using Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro Driver technology on its ride-sharing network. The companies plan to launch the first vehicles in late 2026 in an unidentified major US city and deploy at least 20,000 robotaxis over six years. Uber will make multi-hundred-million dollar investments in both partners, including $300 million for Lucid to upgrade its assembly line for integrating Nuro hardware into Gravity vehicles.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Meta declines to abide by voluntary EU AI safety guidelines
GPAI code asks for transparency, copyright, and safety pledges
Two weeks before the EU AI Act takes effect, the European Commission issued voluntary guidelines for providers of general-purpose AI models. However, Meta refused to sign, arguing that the extra measures introduce "legal uncertainties" beyond the law's scope.…
- Coldplay kiss-cam flap proves we’re already our own surveillance state
And we’re the ones building it
Comment A tech executive's alleged affair exposed on a stadium jumbotron is ripe fodder for the gossip rags, but it exhibits something else: proof that we need not wait for an AI-fueled dystopian surveillance state to descend on us - we're perfectly able and willing to surveil ourselves.…
- As companies race to add AI, terms of service changes are going to freak a lot of people out
WeTransfer added the magic words 'machine learning' to its ToS and users reacted predictably
Analysis WeTransfer this week denied claims it uses files uploaded to its ubiquitous cloud storage service to train AI, and rolled back changes it had introduced to its Terms of Service after they deeply upset users. The topic? Granting licensing permissions for an as-yet-unreleased LLM product.…
- Time for Britain's CMA to strike hard – or risk losing the cloud competition fight
With watchdog set to publish report into health of market next month, will it hold AWS and Microsoft's feet to the fire?
Comment The UK's ambition to become a global AI superpower hinges on a vibrant and competitive cloud market. The next few days will show if its competition regulator really appreciates both the pace of change and the scale of remedies needed to achieve both of these things.…
- The Smoot – How an MIT prank became a lasting unit of measurement
We spoke to the smoot's namesake
Interview On a chilly October evening in 1958, a group of MIT students shuffled onto the Harvard Bridge, which separates the university town of Cambridge from Boston proper. The shortest among them lay down on the sidewalk at the bridge's start, his friends marked his length, he got up, moved forward, and repeated the process.…
- Google sues 25 alleged BadBox 2.0 botnet operators, all of whom are in China
Ads giant complains of damage to its reputation and finances ... and crime, too
Google has filed a lawsuit against 25 unnamed individuals in China it accuses of breaking into more than 10 million devices worldwide and using them to build a botnet, called BadBox 2.0, and then to carry out other cybercrimes and fraud.…
- AWS goes full speed ahead on the AI agent train
Running on Amazon Bedrock, AgentCore aims to pave the path from prototype to production
Video Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Wednesday previewed a service called Bedrock AgentCore to help organizations put AI agents into business-ready production.…
- Watch out, another max-severity, make-me-root Cisco bug on the loose
Three perfect 10s in the last month - ISE, ISE, baby
Updated Cisco has issued a patch for a critical 10 out of 10 severity bug in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to run arbitrary code on the operating system with root-level privileges. …
- Fujitsu sorry for Post Office horror – but still cashing big UK govt checks
Non-competitive £220M datacenter deal with tax collector tops £510M pile of public money
Updated Fujitsu has been awarded around £510 million ($682 million) in UK public sector contracts since a TV dramatization of the Horizon Post Office scandal – including a recent £220 million ($294 million) deal with the UK tax collector, awarded without competition.…
- Boffins detail new algorithms to losslessly boost AI perf by up to 2.8x
New spin on speculative decoding works with any model - now built into Transformers
We all know that AI is expensive, but a new set of algorithms developed by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Intel Labs, and d-Matrix could significantly reduce the cost of serving up your favorite large language model (LLM) with just a few lines of code.…
- Trump tax law keeps Bill Gates' nuclear datacenter dreams alive
The Microsoft cofounder breathed that sigh of relief in a Cipher News interview - just before it folded
Despite Trump's budget bill slashing many mature clean-energy tax credits, Bill Gates is less worried, since new nuclear incentives, including those his TerraPower venture will leverage, survived intact.…
- Google plugs AI into nuclear reactor biz – what could possibly go wrong?
Westinghouse taps Big G's cloud smarts to speed up atomic plant builds and keep the grid humming
While AI systems are known to spew wrong information and make up facts, Google and Westinghouse Electric are now pressing generative AI models into service to transform how nuclear reactors are constructed and optimize their operation.…
- ASML shares tumble as US tariff turmoil rattles investors
AI boom can't mask trade gloom, says Dutch lithography giant
World War Fee Shares in ASML fell by more than 8 percent after it warned that tariff uncertainty over future trade was increasing and net sales were down on the previous quarter.…
- Retailer Co-op: Attackers snatched all 6.5M member records
Supermarket announces white hat education scheme as four suspects released on bail
Co-op Group's chief executive officer has confirmed that all 6.5 million of the organization's members had their data stolen during its April cyberattack - Scattered Spider is believed to be behind the digital heist.…
- Turbulence at Air Serbia, the latest airline under cyber siege
Attack enters day 11 and still no public disclosure of what insider claims to be 'deep breach' of Active Directory
Exclusive Aviation insiders say Serbia's national airline, Air Serbia, was forced to delay issuing payslips to staff as a result of a cyberattack it is battling.…
- UK tech minister negotiated nothing with Google. He may get even less than that
Peter Kyle promised alternative to 'ball and chain' of legacy systems, but he has no plan and little power
Comment Last week, UK minister for science, innovation and technology Peter Kyle spoke at Google Cloud Summit in London to tell the audience: "Now, sometimes I'm accused of being 'too close to big tech'," with the Chocolate Factory's multi-colored logo looming behind him.…
- Ex-US soldier who Googled 'can hacking be treason' pleads guilty to extortion
File this one under what not to search if you've committed a crime
A former US Army soldier, who reportedly hacked AT&T, bragged about accessing President Donald Trump's call logs, and then Googled "can hacking be treason," and "US military personnel defecting to Russia," pleaded guilty to conspiring to break into telecom firms' databases and extort at least $1 million.…
- German team warns ChatGPT is changing how you talk
Let us delve swiftly into meticulous inquiry with our AI masters
Like it or not, ChatGPT and other large language models are changing the world, including affecting how we speak, claims a group of researchers, and the end results could be an erosion of linguistic and cultural diversity.…
- Security: Why Linux Is Better Than Windows Or Mac OS
Linux is a free and open source operating system that was released in 1991 developed and released by Linus Torvalds. Since its release it has reached a user base that is greatly widespread worldwide. Linux users swear by the reliability and freedom that this operating system offers, especially when compared to its counterparts, windows and [0]
- Essential Software That Are Not Available On Linux OS
An operating system is essentially the most important component in a computer. It manages the different hardware and software components of a computer in the most effective way. There are different types of operating system and everything comes with their own set of programs and software. You cannot expect a Linux program to have all [0]
- Things You Never Knew About Your Operating System
The advent of computers has brought about a revolution in our daily life. From computers that were so huge to fit in a room, we have come a very long way to desktops and even palmtops. These machines have become our virtual lockers, and a life without these network machines have become unimaginable. Sending mails, [0]
- How To Fully Optimize Your Operating System
Computers and systems are tricky and complicated. If you lack a thorough knowledge or even basic knowledge of computers, you will often find yourself in a bind. You must understand that something as complicated as a computer requires constant care and constant cleaning up of junk files. Unless you put in the time to configure [0]
- The Top Problems With Major Operating Systems
There is no such system which does not give you any problems. Even if the system and the operating system of your system is easy to understand, there will be some times when certain problems will arise. Most of these problems are easy to handle and easy to get rid of. But you must be [0]
- 8 Benefits Of Linux OS
Linux is a small and a fast-growing operating system. However, we can’t term it as software yet. As discussed in the article about what can a Linux OS do Linux is a kernel. Now, kernels are used for software and programs. These kernels are used by the computer and can be used with various third-party software [0]
- Things Linux OS Can Do That Other OS Cant
What Is Linux OS? Linux, similar to U-bix is an operating system which can be used for various computers, hand held devices, embedded devices, etc. The reason why Linux operated system is preferred by many, is because it is easy to use and re-use. Linux based operating system is technically not an Operating System. Operating [0]
- Packagekit Interview
Packagekit aims to make the management of applications in the Linux and GNU systems. The main objective to remove the pains it takes to create a system. Along with this in an interview, Richard Hughes, the developer of Packagekit said that he aims to make the Linux systems just as powerful as the Windows or [0]
- What’s New in Ubuntu?
What Is Ubuntu? Ubuntu is open source software. It is useful for Linux based computers. The software is marketed by the Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu community. Ubuntu was first released in late October in 2004. The Ubuntu program uses Java, Python, C, C++ and C# programming languages. What Is New? The version 17.04 is now available here [0]
- Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs In Windows With Regards To Colinux
The problem with Windows is that there are various limitations to the computer and there is only so much you can do with it. You can access the Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs by using the coLinux tool. Download the tool from the official site or from the sourceforge site. Edit the connection to “TAP Win32 Adapter [0]
- Running Linux or NetBSD on the Amiga 4000
In this blog post, I have described how I have been using Linux on my Amiga 4000. I hope this information can be of use to anyone who is planning to run Linux on their Amigas. Furthermore, I hope that the existing documentation on the Linux/m68k homepage gets updated at some point. May be the information in this blog post can help with that. Debian 3.1 works decently for me, but everything is much slower compared to a PC. This is not really surprising if you run an operating system (last updated in 2008) on a CPU from the early 90s that still runs at a 25 MHz clock speed :). ↫ Sander van der Burg The blog post in question is from January of this year, but as soon as I saw it I knew I had to post it here. Its an incredibly intricate and detailed guide to running Linux on a 25Mhz Amiga 4000, including X11, networking, internet access, file sharing, and so, so much more up to running Linux for Amiga inside FS-UAE. Theres so much love and dedication in this detailed guide, and I love it. In fact, Van den Burg has a similar article about running NetBSD on the Amiga 4000, with the same level of detail, dedication, and information density. A fun note is that while X11 for Linux on the Amiga cant seem to make use of the Amiga chipset, the X Window System on NetBSD does make us of it. Im not surprised. Articles like these are useful only for a very small number of people, but having this amount of knowledge concentrated like this will prove invaluable like five years from now when someone else finds an Amiga 4000 in their attic or at a yard sale, and choose to go down this same path. We need more of these kinds of write-ups.
- When root meets immutable: OpenBSD chflags vs. log tampering
ISO 27001 is like that careful lawyer who never says exactly what they mean – it tells you what needs to be achieved, not how to do it. When it comes to logging, this is particularly telling: Control A.12.4.2 simply states that “logging information and logging facilities shall be protected against tampering and unauthorized access.” Period. How? That’s your problem to solve. ↫ Rafael Sadowski It turns out OpenBSD has a few relatively simple tools to make logs immutable, in a way that not even root can delete or modify them, or change any of the logging schedules. Reading through the blog post, you dont even need a ton of intricate knowledge to set this up, thanks mostly to just how much innate sense OpenBSD tends to make, and how excellent the documentation is. I have no need for this level of security, but if you do, you can set this up in a few minutes.
- Microsoft announces Exchange 2016/2019 Extended Security Update program
With both Exchange 2016 and 2019`going out of support in October 2025, we have heard from some of our customers that they have started their migrations to Exchange Subscription Edition (SE) but might need a few extra months of Security Updates (SU) for their Exchange 2016 / 2019 servers while they are finalizing their migrations. We are announcing that we now have a solution for such customers. Starting on August 1st, 2025, customers can contact their Microsoft account team to get information about and purchase an additional 6-month Extended Security Update (ESU) for their Exchange 2016 / 2019 servers. Your account teams will have information related to per server cost and additional details on how to purchase and receive ESUs, starting August 1st, 2025. ↫ The Exchange Team blog Microsoft is clearly in a place where a lot of their software released over the past ten years or so just kind of works, and people just dont feel as strong of a need to upgrade to newer versions, especially not if those newer versions come with complex subscriptions. It must be a strange position to be in for Microsoft.
- Tilck: a tiny Linux-compatible kernel
Tilck is an educational monolithic kernel designed to be Linux-compatible at binary level. It runs on i686 and RISCV64 at the moment. Projects small-scale and simple design makes it the perfect playground for playing in kernel mode while retaining the ability to compare how the very same usermode bits run on the Linux kernel as well. Thats a rare feature in the realm of educational kernels. Because of that, building a program for Tilck requires just a gcc-musl toolchain from bootlin.com. Tilck has no need to have its own set of custom written applications, like most educational kernels do. It just runs mainstream Linux programs like the BusyBox suite. While the Linux-compatibility and the monolithic design might seem a limitation from the OS research point of view, on the other side, such design bring the whole project much closer to real-world applications in the future, compared to the case where some serious (or huge) effort is required to port pre-existing software on it. Also, nothing stops Tilck from implementing custom non-Linux syscalls that aware apps might take advantage of. ↫ Tilck GitHub page Tilck implements about 100 Linux syscalls, and is not focused on replacing the Linux kernel or even becoming a generic desktop or server operating system. It supports both i686 and RISC-V, has support for FAT, and a whole slew of other features. It can run a number of console and even a few framebuffer applications, but dont expect things like X11 to work, or to ever work.
- Mypal68: Firefox 68, maintained for Windows XP
Do you have a Windows XP retro virtual machine or, god forbid, run Windows XP on your primary machine? Youre going to need a sort-of up-to-date browser, and it turns out Mypal68 offers just that. Terrible name aside, its Firefox 68 ported to and maintained to run on Windows XP SP3; SP2 and lower are not supported, but some people do seem to have some success getting it to run on those. There are issues, of course: theres a 1.5GB memory limit, and the browser will crash when it reaches that limit, and 64bit builds simpy dont work at all, so theres only a 32bit build. Version 74.1.0 was released a few days ago, but that version number doesnt actually mean the browser is now based on Firefox 74; they had to change the reported version number for extension compatibility. Im currently setting up a dedicated Proxmox PC for retro virtual machines, and Windows XP will obviously be one of them. Im definitely going to try this out.
- Review: the NovaCustom V54 is an outstanding Linux laptop with Dasharo coreboot firmware
When it comes to open hardware, choices are not exactly abundant. Truly open source hardware open down to the firmware level of individual components that also has acceptable performance is rare, with one of the few options being the Talos II and Blackbird POWER9 workstations from Raptor Computing Systems (which I reviewed). Another option that can be fully open source with the right configuration are the laptops made by MNT, which use the ARM architecture (which I also reviewed). Both of these are excellent options, but they do come with downsides; the Talos II/Blackbird are expensive and getting a bit long in the tooth (and a possible replacement is at least a year away), and the MNT Reform and Pocket Reform simply arent for everyone due to their unique and opinionated design. Using an architecture other than x86 also simply isnt an option for a lot of people, ruling out POWER9 and ARM hardware entirely. In the x86 world, its effectively impossible to avoid proprietary firmware blobs, but there are companies out there trying to build x86 laptops that try to at least minimise the reliance on such unwelcome blobs. One of these companies is NovaCustom, a Dutch laptop (and now desktop!) OEM that sells x86 computers that come with Dasharo open firmware (based on coreboot) and a strong focus on privacy, open source, customisability, and repairability. NovaCustom sent over a fully configured NovaCustom V54 laptop, so lets dive into what its like to configure and use an x86 laptop with Dasharo open firmware and a ton of unique customisation options. Hardware configuration I opted for the 14C laptop model, the V54, since the 16C V65 is just too large for my taste. NovaCustom offers a choice between a 1920×1200 60Hz and a 2880×1800 120Hz panel, and I unsurprisingly chose the latter. This higher-DPI panel strikes a perfect balance between having a 4K panel, which takes a lot more processing power to drive, and a basic 1080p panel, which I find unacceptable on anything larger than 9C or so. The refresh rate of 120Hz is also a must on any modern display, as anything lower looks choppy to my eyes (Im used to 1440p/280Hz on my gaming PC, and 4K/160Hz on my workstation Im spoiled). The display also gets plenty bright, but disappointingly, the V54 does not offer a touch option. I dont miss it, but I know its a popular feature, so be advised. While the V54 can be equipped with a dedicated mobile RTX 4060 or 4070 GPU, I have no need for such graphical power in a laptop, so I stuck with the integrated Intel Arc GPU. Note that if you do go for the dedicated GPU, youll lose the second M.2 slot, and the laptop will gain some weight and thickness. I did opt for the more powerful CPU option with the Intel Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, which packs 6 performance cores (with hyperthreading), 8 efficiency cores, and 2 low-power cores, for a total of 16 cores and 22 threads maxing out at 4.8Ghz. Unless you intend to do GPU-intensive work, this combination is stupid fast and ridiculously powerful. Throw in the 32GB of DDR5 5600MHz RAM in a dual-channel configuration (2×16, replaceable) and a speedy 7.400 MB/s (read)/6.500 MB/s (write) 1TB SSD, and I sometimes feel like this is the sort of opulence Marie Antoinette would indulge herself in if she were alive today. It wont surprise you to learn that with this configuration, you wont be experiencing any slowdowns, stuttering, or other performance issues. Ports-wise, the V54 has a USB-C port (3.2 Gen 2), a Thunderbolt 4 port (with Display Alt Mode supporting`DP 2.1), a USB-A port (3.2 Gen 2) and a barrel power jack on the right side, a combo audio jack, USB-A port (3.2 Gen 1), microSD card slot, and a Kensington lock on the left, and an Ethernet and HDMI port on the back. Especially the Ethernet port is such a welcome affordance in this day and age, and well get back to it since we need it for Dasharo. The trackpad is large, smooth, and pleasant to use for a diving board type trackpad, that is. More and more manufacturers are adopting the Apple-style haptic trackpads, which I greatly prefer, but I suspect there might be some patent and IP shenanigans going on that explain why uptake of those in the PC space hasnt exactly been universal. If youre coming from a diving board trackpad, youll love this one. If youre coming from a haptic trackpad, its a bit of a step down. A standout on the V54 is the keyboard. The keys are perfectly spaced, have excellent travel, a satisfying, silent click, and they are very stable. Its an absolute joy to type on, and about as good as a laptop keyboard can be. On top of that, at least when you opt for the US-international keyboard layout like I do, you get a keyboard that actually properly lists the variety of special characters on its keys. This may look chaotic and messy to people who dont need to use those special characters, but as someone who does, this is such a breath of fresh air compared to all those modern, minimalist keyboards where you end up randomly mashing key combinations to find that one special character you need. Considering my native Dutch uses diacritics, and my wifes native Swedish uses the extra letters å, ä, and ö (theyre letters!), this is such a great touch. The keyboard also has an additional layer for a numeric pad, as well as the usual set of function keys you need on a modern laptop, including a key that will max out the fan speed in case you need it (the little fan glyph on my keyboard seems double-printed, though, which is a small demerit). I especially like the angry moon glyph on the sleep key. Hes my grumpy friend and I love him. Of course, the
- KDEs Plasma Bigscreen TV interface sees a ton of improvements
Did you know KDE has a television-focused user interface? Its been languishing for a while now, but a recent week-long effort by KDE developer Devin has brought a lot of new life into the project. I have been a long time Plasma Mobile contributor, but I have always had a keen interest in having Linux on my TV! I have noticed that in the past few months, the Plasma Bigscreen project has had some interest from people wanting to contribute, but there have not been any active KDE developers working on the project. Since I have some time off school (having just graduated university), I decided to take a swing at improving the project for a week. ↫ Devin, KDE developer It turned out to be one hell of a productive week, because the list of improvements achieved in that one week is kind of amazing. Lots of overhauls of the visual design, a new search view, complete redesign of the settings panels, and a lot more. The idea of running a KDE Plasma-based interface on my TVs sounds incredibly appealing, and I hope the project can make even more progress.
- Haiku gets proper HiDPI cursor scaling, improved colour schemes, and more
Haiku also survived another month of development, so its time for another roundup of what theyve been doing. Considering its the height of Summer, its no surprise the list of changes is a bit shorter, consisting mostly of smaller bugfixes and minor improvements. A few standout changes are that cursors can now be properly scaled in HiDPI, the iprowifi3945 driver from FreeBSD has been replaced by the OpenBSD one because it performs better, and several improvements to how colour schemes work. waddlesplash refactored how control edge (borders, etc.) colors are computed inside HaikuControlLook (the class that renders UI controls under the default appearance), cleaning up a lot of convoluted computations. He also fixed some color handling in the progress bar control, and then along with nephele, refactored how control colors are used and computed across the system. The “Control background” color in Appearance preferences now has a new default and is much more properly used across the Interface Kit; under the default colors, renderings should be basically the same as before, but for users on “dark mode” or other custom color schemes, it will now be much easier to pick control colors. ↫ waddlesplash on the Haiku website Theres more, of course, so be sure to read the whole thing.
- Google confirms its merging ChromeOS and Android
Late last year, Mishaal Rahman reported that Google was going to merge ChromeOS and Android, and it seems Google itself has now confirmed thats exactly whats happening. “I asked because we’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they’re getting done,” Samat explained. ↫ Lance Ulanoff at TechRadar Im definitely interested to see what using Android across desktops, laptops, tablets, martphones, and smartwatches is going to be like. The same applications on all those form factors? So many have tried, and as many have failed. I just dont think Google has what it takes.
- Blender 5.0 to introduce HDR support for Wayland on Linux, but not for Windows
The latest alpha of the upcoming Blender 5.0 release comes with`High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for Linux on Wayland`which will, if everything works out, make it into the final Blender 5.0 release on October 1, 2025. The post on the developer forum comes with instructions on how to enable the experimental support and how to test it. If you are using Fedora Workstation 42, which ships GNOME version 48, everything is already included to run Blender with HDR. All that is required is an HDR compatible display and graphics driver, and turning on HDR in the Display Settings. ↫ Sebastian Wick Its interesting to note that Blender on Windows wont be getting HDR support, and thats because Windows HDR support is subpar compared to Wayland on Linux, and requires a ton more work which the Blender team isnt going to do. It seems the Wayland developers made all the right choices when it comes to HDR support. Needless to say, X11 doesnt have HDR support. The design of the Wayland color-management protocol, and the resulting active color-management paradigm of Wayland compositors was a good choice, making it easy for developers to do the right thing, while also giving them more control if they so chose. ↫ Sebastian Wick Weird. I was told Wayland was an unusable mess.
- Tribblix Milestone 37 released
Tribblix, the illumos distribution that aims to provide a retro feel with modern components, has just released a new update, Milestone 37. At the system level, the max PID is now 99999, so you may see larger PIDs. Usernames exceeding 8 characters are now accepted without warnings. Files with dates after the Y2038 transition are now permitted on ZFS. Notable default version updates: the default Java is now JDK21, postgres is now v17, go is now v1.24, and ruby is v3.4. ↫ Tribblix Milestone 37 release notes See the full list of changes for all the various updated components.
- Does showing seconds in the Windows System Tray actually use more power?
On Windows, theres an option to show the seconds on the taskbar clock, but it comes with a warning that it might reduce battery life if you switch it on. LTT Labs decided to look into this to see just how much of a thing this really is, and they concluded that yes, it does actually affect battery life. They saw a drop of about 5%-15%, depending on configuration. In percentage terms, the drops weren’t massive. For most people, it probably won’t make or break your day. But if you’re on a long flight, running low on battery, or trying to squeeze out every last bit of endurance, it’s not entirely nothing either. ↫ Woolly Door at LTT Labs I mean, having the second tick away on the click would drive me up the wall when Im trying to use my computer, but Im sure quite a few among you do enable the seconds display on your own setups (Windows or otherwise). Im curious to see if the same battery life reduction is measurable on KDE, GNOME, or macOS.
- wlmaker: Wayland compositor that reproduces Window Makers look and feel
What if you want to use Wayland, but prefer Window Maker, which is restricted to legacy X11? Enter wlmaker, or Wayland Maker, a Wayland compositor that reproduces the look and feel of Window Maker. Its lightweight, very configurable through human-readable configuration files, supports dockable applications, and more. Its actually packaged in FreeBSD and a number of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Debian (Fedoras package is outdated), but of course, you can compile it yourself, too.
- Anubis, tool to stop AI! crawler abuse, gains non-JavaScript option
In recent weeks and months, you may have noticed that when accessing some websites, you see a little progress bar and a character, performing some sort of check. Youve most likely encountered Anubis, a tool to distinguish real human browser users from AI! content crawlers that are causing real damage and harm. It turns out Anubis is quite effective at what it does, but it did come with a limitation: it required JavaScript to be enabled. Well, no more. One of the first issues in Anubis before it was moved to the TecharoHQ org was a request to support challenging browsers without using JavaScript. This is a pretty challenging thing to do without rethinking how Anubis works from a fundamentally low level, and with v1.20.0, Anubis finally has support for running without client-side JavaScript thanks to the Meta Refresh challenge. ↫ Xe Iaso Before this new non-JS challenge, users who disabled client-side JavaScript or browsers which dont support JavaScript were straight-up blocked from passing Anubis test, meaning they couldnt access the website Anubis was protecting from AI! scraper abuse. This is now no longer the case.
- Building a simple router with OpenBSD
I’m hardly a “networking” or system admin expert. Even still, I’ve always been interested in the concept of building out my own home router with OpenBSD. It seemed so “hacky” and cool! The problem is that most of the tutorials I stumble across on the internet seem so`daunting. I normally read through the guides (maybe even poke around the core`man`docs for a bit as well) but always end up returning to my default ISP setup. But that all changes today! Best of all, you can come along for the ride! ↫ Bradley Taunt Exactly what it says on the tin.
- Study: using AI! slows developers down significantly
Its become almost impossible to avoid the AI! evangelists spreading the gospel of how AI! tools are helping them work faster and get more stuff done in less time, but do any of those claims have any basis in reality? Should we really be firing countless people and replace them with AI! tools? Should we spend god knows how much money on AI! tools and force employees to use them? Well0 When developers are allowed to use AI tools, they take 19% longer to complete issues—a significant slowdown that goes against developer beliefs and expert forecasts. This gap between perception and reality is striking: developers expected AI to speed them up by 24%, and even after experiencing the slowdown, they still believed AI had sped them up by 20%. ↫ Joel Becker, Nate Rush, Beth Barnes, and David Rein Were very much in the early days of proper research into the actual effectiveness and real-world benefits of AI! tools for all kinds of professions, so a study like this definitely isnt a smoking gun, but it does fly in the face of the tech companies and their evangelists shoving AI! down our collective throat. With how much these tools get even the most basic stuff wrong, with how often they lie and make stuff up, I just cant imagine them speeding up as many tasks as people claim they do. At the same time, AI! tools do definitely have a place for very specific tasks, and I think that studies like these will look different for every single profession and even every single task within a profession. Its going to be incredibly hard or even impossible to come to a theory of everything! on the effectiveness and usefulness of AI! tools. It wont be until this idiotic hype dies down before we can have a grounded, honest, fact-based discussion about which AI! tools make sense where.
- Unplugged and Unstoppable: How Linux Transforms Laptop Power Management
by George Whittaker Driving Forces Behind Smarter Battery Use
In an era when remote work, video conferencing, and travel-heavy lifestyles are the norm, users expect laptops to last longer unplugged. Meanwhile, growing awareness of sustainability adds pressure to maximize energy efficiency. Recognizing this mantra, Linux developers have overhauled power-handling strategies, from the kernel core to user-space tools, to meet these expectations in 2025.
Core Kernel Enhancements: Harnessing Modern Power TechKernel 6.x’s Focus on Power Efficiency
Linux 6.8 introduced refined support for newer hardware, including better CPU/GPU idle-state transitions and energy-friendly firmware interfaces.
Linux 6.15, released in May 2025, continues this trend by adding improved power-capping, more regulators, voltage handlers, and enhanced support for ARM, RISC-V, and Intel/AMD CPU power modules.
These enhancements enable finer-grained control over sleep states, clock gating, and dynamic walling-off of unused chip domains, all pivotal for squeezing extra runtime.
MCU-Firmware Communication with FWCTL
A new firmware controller (fwctl) infrastructure within 6.15 gives user-space tools secure communication channels with embedded controller features, making tasks like adjusting battery charge thresholds more accessible and scriptable.
Advanced CPU & GPU Power StrategiesSmarter Frequency Governors
Both intel_pstate and amd_pstate drivers continue evolving. Passive and conservative CPU governors now dynamically adapt based on workload profiles, delivering noticeable battery gains with minimal performance loss.
Low-Power On-Battery GPU Modes
Graphics subsystems are smarter about sleep:
Intel's Arc and DG2 families now feature improved idle ramp-down behaviors for better battery performance.
For AMD users, the transition from generic AMDGPU RADEON_POWER_PROFILE settings to fwctl-control offers more granular DPM tuning on laptops, especially under battery constraints.
Deep Sleep States and ACPI Evolution
The adoption of ACPI 6.6 and expanded kernel support for S0ix and modern-sleep states allow laptops to hang out in ultra-low-power standby, extending idle time battery life. Suspend-to-disk and resume logic also got less noisy, reducing spur-of-the-moment wake-ups that were draining battery life for many users.
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- How Rust’s Debut in the Linux Kernel is Shoring Up System Stability
by George Whittaker
When Rust first made its way into the Linux kernel in late 2022 (mainline inclusion began with version 6.1), it didn’t merely introduce a new programming language, it marked a profound shift in how we ensure operating system resilience. This article dives into why that matters, how it’s being implemented, and what it could mean for Linux’s long-term robustness.
Tackling the C Legacy: A Fragility Problem
For over three decades, the Linux kernel has been maintained in C, a language that offers both raw control and notorious pitfalls. Manual memory juggling in C leads to high-risk bugs: buffer overflows, phantom pointers, heap corruption, and race conditions. In fact, memory safety issues account for around two-thirds of all kernel vulnerabilities.
Enter Rust: a systems language designed to eliminate whole classes of these errors through strict compile-time checks, without sacrificing low-level efficiency.
Rust’s Safety Toolkit: What Sets It Apart
Rust’s most powerful features for kernel reliability include:
Ownership semantics & the borrow checker These enforce rules about who owns a piece of memory at compile-time, no dangling pointers, no double frees.
No runtime garbage collector All abstractions compile down to efficient machine code, ensuring performance remains rock-solid.
Race elimination for free Rust-language concurrency prevents data races statically, eliminating a whole breed of timing-related bugs.
Combined, these attributes strip away entire categories of vulnerabilities that plague C-based code.
A New Layer: The Rust-for-Linux Framework
The groundwork for Rust modules in Linux was laid with kernel 6.1, and by version 6.8, the first experimental Rust drivers, covering areas like network PHYs and panic QR logging, were accepted. These drivers coexist with traditional C components, forming a hybrid architecture where Rust is used for new drivers while C remains the backbone.
Crucially, this integration includes:
A Rust bindings crate to interface safely with C internals.
A kernel crate that wraps core kernel structures and APIs for Rust consumption.
This layering enables gradual Rust adoption, developed drivers, not wholesale rewrites.
Early Results: Fewer Bugs, More Confidence
Evidence is already showing promise:
Memory safety vulnerabilities drop out as code gets written in Rust, tackling roughly two-thirds of past CVEs.
Kernel maintainers are noticeably more comfortable merging Rust patches, citing the added rigor from the borrow checker.
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- Linux's Ascendancy: Charting the Open-Source Surge in the Desktop OS Arena
by George Whittaker A Paradigm Shift in Desktop Computing
The landscape of desktop operating systems has witnessed a notable transformation in 2025. Linux, once considered a niche player, has achieved a significant milestone by capturing 4.7% of the global desktop market share. This achievement underscores a growing trend of users seeking alternatives to traditional operating systems.
Tracing the Growth Trajectory
Linux's journey to its current standing has been marked by steady growth:
July 2022: 2.76%
July 2023: 3.12%
July 2024: 4.44%
June 2025: 4.7%
This upward trend reflects a combination of technological advancements and shifting user preferences.
Catalysts Behind the Surge1. Gaming Innovations
The gaming sector has played a pivotal role in Linux's rising popularity. Valve's Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device running on Linux-based SteamOS, has introduced a new audience to the capabilities of Linux. Additionally, compatibility layers like Proton have enhanced the gaming experience on Linux platforms.
2. Enhanced Hardware Support
Modern Linux distributions have significantly improved hardware compatibility, making installation and daily use more seamless for users across various devices.
3. Cost-Effective Solutions
The open-source nature of Linux offers a free alternative to proprietary operating systems, appealing to both individual users and organizations aiming to reduce software licensing costs.
4. Regional Adoption Patterns
Certain regions have exhibited higher adoption rates. In the United States, Linux's desktop market share reached 5.03% in June 2025. In India, the figure stood at 16.21% as of July 2024. These statistics highlight the global appeal and adaptability of Linux.
Addressing Ongoing Challenges1. Ecosystem Fragmentation
The diversity of Linux distributions, while offering flexibility, can lead to inconsistencies in user experience and software compatibility.
Despite progress, some proprietary applications and games remain inaccessible or require complex configurations on Linux systems.
2. Software Availability
Despite progress, some proprietary applications and games remain inaccessible or require complex configurations on Linux systems.
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- Linux Kernel 6.14: A Leap Forward in Intel and AMD CPU Support
by George Whittaker
Released on March 24, 2025, Linux Kernel 6.14 introduces significant enhancements for Intel and AMD processors, focusing on performance, power efficiency, and hardware compatibility. These updates are particularly beneficial for users leveraging the latest CPU architectures and AI-driven workloads.
Intel CPU EnhancementsSupport for Upcoming Architectures
Linux 6.14 extends support to Intel's forthcoming Panther Lake CPUs, incorporating thermal driver support for improved power efficiency and enabling Ultra-High Bit Rate (UHBR) modes via DisplayPort on Thunderbolt's Alt-Mode. This advancement allows for 10G and 20G UHBR modes, enhancing display capabilities for devices equipped with Xe3 graphics.
Additionally, preparations for Intel's Clearwater Forest server processors are underway, with the inclusion of EDAC (Error Detection and Correction) driver support and readiness of the Turbostat tool for monitoring.
Performance and Virtualization Improvements
The kernel introduces Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) flushing scalability optimizations, reducing overhead during context switches and improving overall system performance. Enhancements to the x86 Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) also contribute to better virtualization support, benefiting environments that rely on virtual machines.
AMD CPU EnhancementsIntroduction of AMD XDNA Driver
A notable addition in Linux 6.14 is the AMD XDNA driver, providing support for AMD's Neural Processing Units (NPUs) integrated into Ryzen AI processors. This driver facilitates AI workloads, such as machine learning applications, by enabling efficient execution of tasks like convolutional neural networks and large language models.
Power Management and Performance Tweaks
The AMD P-State driver receives updates, including dynamic ranking of preferred CPU cores and defaulting to the 'balance_performance' Energy Performance Policy (EPP) on Ryzen and EPYC processors. These changes aim to optimize power consumption without compromising performance.
Furthermore, encryption performance sees a 2-3% boost for AES-GCM and AES-XTS standards on Zen 4 and Zen 5 processors, enhancing data security operations.
Broader Implications
Beyond CPU-specific enhancements, Linux 6.14 introduces the NTSYNC driver, improving compatibility and performance for Windows games emulated via Wine and Proton. The kernel also expands support to accommodate up to 4,096 CPU cores, doubling the previous limit and catering to high-performance computing environments. Additionally, improvements in suspend/resume functionality enhance power management for various devices.
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- openSUSE Leap 16: Bridging Enterprise-Grade Stability with Community-Driven Innovation
by George Whittaker
openSUSE Leap 16 marks a significant evolution in the openSUSE project, integrating the robustness of SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) with the dynamism of community contributions. This release aims to provide a stable, adaptable, and secure Linux distribution suitable for various environments, from enterprise servers to developer workstations.
Foundation: SUSE Linux Framework One (SLFO)
Leap 16 is built upon SUSE Linux Framework One (SLFO), formerly known as the Adaptable Linux Platform (ALP). This modular architecture allows for a more flexible and maintainable system, enabling users to tailor their installations to specific needs. By leveraging SLFO, Leap 16 inherits the enterprise-grade stability and support lifecycle of SLE 16, ensuring a reliable foundation for critical workloads.
Key Features and Enhancements1. Modern Installation with Agama
Leap 16 introduces the Agama installer, a web-based, modular installation tool that replaces the traditional YaST installer. Agama offers a cleaner user interface and supports features like remote installations and scripting for automated deployments, enhancing the installation experience for both new and experienced users.
2. Enhanced Security with SELinux
Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is now enabled by default in Leap 16, aligning with SLE's security practices. This change provides a more robust security framework, offering fine-grained access controls and improved isolation. For users preferring alternative security modules, AppArmor remains available as an option.
3. Transition to Wayland Display Server
Leap 16 adopts Wayland as the default display server, moving away from the legacy X11 system. Wayland offers improved performance, security, and support for modern graphics hardware. While X11 components are still available for compatibility, the shift to Wayland represents a step forward in graphical session management.
4. Updated Desktop Environments
Users can enjoy the latest desktop environments with Leap 16, including GNOME 48 and KDE Plasma 6.3. These updates bring new features, performance improvements, and enhanced user experiences to the desktop.
5. System Management Tools: Cockpit and Myrlyn
With the deprecation of YaST in Leap 16, system management transitions to Cockpit and Myrlyn. Cockpit provides a web-based interface for managing system settings, services, and performance monitoring. Myrlyn serves as a new Qt-based front end for software management, offering a streamlined experience for package installation and updates.
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- Manjaro 25.0 “Zetar”: A Bold Leap into Flatpak Integration and Gaming Optimization
by George Whittaker
Manjaro Linux has long been celebrated for blending the power of Arch Linux with user-friendly features. With the release of Manjaro 25.0 “Zetar”, the distribution takes significant strides in enhancing application management through Flatpak integration and optimizing the system for gaming enthusiasts. This update also brings advancements in desktop environments, file system choices, and hardware support.
Flatpak Integration: Streamlining Application Management
One of the standout features of Manjaro 25.0 is its enhanced support for Flatpak, a universal package management system. This integration allows users to install and manage applications in a sandboxed environment, improving security and ensuring that applications have access only to the resources they need. The inclusion of Flatpak support means users can easily access a vast repository of applications, including those not available in traditional repositories, directly through the Pamac package manager.
Gaming Enhancements: A Focus on Performance
Manjaro 25.0 places a significant emphasis on gaming, introducing several features aimed at improving performance and compatibility:
Linux Kernel 6.12 LTS: The default kernel in this release offers improved hardware support, including better compatibility with newer GPUs and CPUs, which is crucial for gaming performance.
Enhanced Graphics Support: Updates to graphics drivers, including the latest Mesa and NVIDIA drivers, ensure that gamers have access to the most recent improvements and bug fixes.
Manjaro Summit Initiative: Although still in its alpha phase, the Manjaro Summit project introduces a semi-immutable version of the distribution, aiming for greater system stability and consistency—an essential factor for gaming systems.
Desktop Environment Updates: GNOME 48, KDE Plasma 6.3, and Xfce 4.20
Manjaro 25.0 offers updated versions of its three main desktop environments, each bringing unique enhancements:
GNOME 48
Notification Stacking: Improves organization by grouping notifications from the same application.
Dynamic Triple Buffering: Enhances animation smoothness and reduces screen tearing.
Battery Charge Limiting: Introduces an option to cap battery charging at 80%, prolonging battery lifespan.
HDR Support: Initial support for High Dynamic Range displays, offering richer visuals.
KDE Plasma 6.3
Improved Fractional Scaling: Provides sharper visuals on high-DPI displays.
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- How Questing Quokka (25.10) Ushers a New Era of Rust-Based Tools
by George Whittaker Introduction: A New Chapter for Ubuntu
Ubuntu 25.10, affectionately codenamed Questing Quokka, represents more than just the latest iteration of Canonical’s flagship Linux distribution. It marks a decisive step towards modernizing the foundation of Ubuntu by integrating Rust, a systems programming language renowned for its safety, performance, and modern design. This bold move signals Canonical’s commitment to security, reliability, and future-proofing its desktop and server operating systems.
The release of Questing Quokka aligns with a growing trend across the Linux ecosystem: embracing Rust as a key technology for building low-level components. But what does this mean for Ubuntu users and developers? Let’s explore the significance of this change, what tools are being rewritten or introduced in Rust, and how this positions Ubuntu for the future.
Why Rust? The Language of Safety and SpeedThe Need for Safer Code
For decades, core components of Linux distributions—including Ubuntu—have been written predominantly in C. While C offers unmatched control and performance, it also exposes developers to a range of memory-related errors: buffer overflows, use-after-free bugs, and data races, to name a few. These flaws are among the leading causes of vulnerabilities that compromise system security.
Rust was designed specifically to address these issues. It offers:
Memory safety without garbage collection: Rust’s ownership model and borrow checker ensure that memory errors are caught at compile time.
Fearless concurrency: Developers can write multithreaded code that’s safe by default.
Modern tooling and ecosystem: A robust package manager (Cargo), modern build tooling, and vibrant community support.
Linux and Rust: A Growing Bond
Ubuntu is not alone in recognizing Rust’s advantages. The Linux kernel itself has started to accept Rust code, with drivers and modules being prototyped in Rust to enhance safety. Projects like GNOME, System76’s COSMIC desktop, and various networking utilities have already begun leveraging Rust.
By adopting Rust-based tools, Canonical is aligning Ubuntu with this broader movement—ushering in a future where critical system software is both fast and secure.
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- From Windows to Freedom: How Zorin OS Eases the Transition to Linux
by George Whittaker
In today's digital landscape, where privacy, customization, and performance are paramount, many Windows users are exploring alternatives. Linux, long regarded as a powerful yet complex option, has matured into a user-friendly ecosystem. However, the switch from Windows to Linux can still seem daunting. That's where Zorin OS comes into play—a Linux distribution meticulously designed to simplify this migration and empower users to take control of their computing experience.
The Windows-to-Linux Migration Challenge
For decades, Windows has been the default operating system for millions. Familiarity with its interface, applications, and workflow creates a comfort zone that's hard to leave. However, concerns about:
Privacy and data collection
System bloat
Forced updates
Licensing costs
have pushed users to consider alternatives like Linux.
The challenge? Linux can feel alien. Terminology, desktop environments, file systems, and software management differ significantly from Windows. Many distributions, while powerful, don't prioritize a gentle learning curve for Windows converts. This is precisely the problem Zorin OS aims to solve.
What Sets Zorin OS Apart?
Founded in 2008 by the Zorin brothers, Zorin OS was created with one mission: to make Linux accessible to everyone, especially Windows refugees. Unlike general-purpose distributions, Zorin OS focuses on:
Familiarity: Replicating the feel of Windows
Ease of use: Minimizing reliance on the terminal
Polish: Delivering a cohesive, attractive, and stable experience
Zorin OS 17.3, the latest stable release as of June 2025, represents the most refined iteration of this vision yet.
Zorin OS 17.3 Features That Simplify MigrationA Windows-Like Desktop, Out of the Box
Zorin OS 17.3 ships with a default layout that feels instantly familiar to Windows 10 and 11 users. From the bottom taskbar to the start-menu-style launcher, even the system tray icons and window controls mimic what Windows users expect.
The result?
Users spend less time figuring out "where things are."
The psychological barrier of switching is dramatically lowered.
Zorin Appearance: Customize with a Click
Want your system to look more like macOS? Or classic Windows 7? Zorin OS 17.3's Appearance app lets you change the entire desktop layout and theme with a single click. No tinkering with config files, no additional extensions—just straightforward personalization.
This tool:
Helps users ease into Linux at their own pace
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- Elementary OS 8: Where Privacy Meets Design Simplicity for a Better Linux Experience
by George Whittaker
In the world of Linux distributions, many projects aim to strike a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and security. Few, however, have achieved the level of polish and principled focus that Elementary OS brings to the table. With the release of Elementary OS 8, the developers have doubled down on their vision of an operating system that champions privacy and design simplicity without compromising usability. This article takes a look at how Elementary OS 8 prioritizes these values and why it deserves attention from privacy advocates and design enthusiasts alike.
A Fresh Take on Privacy: Built into the Core
Privacy isn’t just a feature in Elementary OS 8 — it’s a foundational principle. The developers have carefully considered how user data is handled at every level of the system.
AppCenter: A Curated, Privacy-Respecting Store
Unlike many popular app stores that may include proprietary apps with invasive tracking, the AppCenter in Elementary OS 8 focuses on open-source, privacy-friendly applications. Every app available through AppCenter undergoes a review process to ensure it adheres to the platform’s guidelines: no ads, no tracking, and no questionable data collection practices.
What sets AppCenter apart is its pay-what-you-want model, which allows users to support developers directly, eliminating the need for ad-supported or data-harvesting monetization schemes.
Flatpak Sandboxing
Elementary OS 8 ships with first-class Flatpak support, enabling apps to run in isolated sandboxes. This technology ensures that applications can only access the data and hardware resources explicitly granted by the user. For example, a note-taking app installed via Flatpak won’t have access to your microphone, camera, or sensitive directories unless you allow it.
The adoption of Flatpak aligns perfectly with Elementary’s privacy goals, as it provides clear boundaries between apps and the rest of the system.
Zero Telemetry, Transparent Feedback
Elementary OS 8 does not include any hidden telemetry or automatic data collection. Unlike some mainstream operating systems that quietly transmit usage statistics, crash reports, and device identifiers back to central servers, Elementary’s philosophy is that your data belongs to you.
When feedback is requested, such as through the optional Problem Reporting tool, users are clearly informed about what data will be sent and must opt in consciously.
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- Discover Linux Mint 22: How Cinnamon Became the Sleek, Speedy Desktop Champion of 2025
by George Whittaker
Linux Mint has long held a cherished place in the hearts of Linux users seeking a balance between elegance, ease of use, and rock-solid stability. In 2025, that reputation is only strengthened with the release of Linux Mint 22, a version that brings not just incremental updates, but substantial improvements — particularly in the form of the latest Cinnamon 6.x desktop environment. Sleeker visuals, faster performance, and thoughtful refinements mark this release as one of the most polished in Mint’s history.
In this article, we’ll take a look into what makes Linux Mint 22 with Cinnamon a standout — from under-the-hood performance boosts to user-facing enhancements that elevate daily computing.
The Legacy of Linux Mint and Cinnamon
Linux Mint has consistently been among the most recommended distributions for both newcomers and seasoned Linux users. Its mission: to deliver a desktop experience that “just works” out of the box, with sensible defaults and a traditional desktop metaphor.
At the heart of this experience is Cinnamon, Mint’s flagship desktop environment born as a fork of GNOME Shell over a decade ago. Cinnamon has matured into an independent, cohesive environment that champions:
Simplicity.
Customizability.
Consistency.
Linux Mint 22’s release continues this tradition while embracing modern UI trends and leveraging powerful performance optimizations.
Cinnamon 6.x: A New Standard of Sleekness
Cinnamon 6.x introduces a suite of visual and functional improvements designed to make Mint 22 feel both contemporary and familiar:
Refined Visuals: The theming engine has received significant attention. The default theme sports cleaner lines, flatter icons, and subtle gradients that provide depth without visual clutter.
Polished Animations: Transitions between windows, workspaces, and menus are noticeably smoother, thanks to improved animation handling that feels natural without being distracting.
Modernized Panels and Applets: Applets now integrate better with the system theme, and their configuration interfaces have been streamlined. The panel is slimmer, with better spacing for multi-resolution icons.
These changes might seem small on paper, but together they give Cinnamon 6.x an air of maturity and refinement, reducing visual noise while enhancing usability.
Performance Improvements: Speed Where It Counts
Where Linux Mint 22 truly shines is in its performance optimizations:
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