KDE Plasma 6.9 arrives with the ability to launch XWayland only when an X11 application requires it, according to a report by root.cz.
The desktop environment avoids starting the translation layer unless an active app demands it, moving closer to a pure Wayland setup. The upcoming release also adds a quick-forget feature to the networks widget, eliminating the need to open system settings.
A new system monitor sensor now tracks physical CPU cores. Developers have ported the application switcher to QML with a refreshed interface and updated settings for the Overview effect.
“[The update brings] a very clean transition toward a pure Wayland environment,” root.cz reported regarding the changes.
GNOME Updates and Third-Party Tools
Peter Eisenmann detailed his Fellowship work on the GNOME desktop environment, focusing on the Nautilus file manager’s transition to GTK4 and updates to libadwaita.
Developer Felix contributed GTK bug fixes aimed at macOS compatibility. The Bazaar 0.10.0 application manager arrived with expanded statistics for third-party software packages.
VidCom debuted as a video conversion utility featuring an archival mode for maximum compression and a target-size compression mode with SVT-AV1 support. TheEra calendar released version 0.3.0 alongside updates to the local AI model tool Moose.
Linux kernel 7.5 may add basic Apple M5 support
Linux kernel version 7.5 may introduce very basic support for Apple M5 chips through updated Device Tree configurations in the apple-soc tree.
The addition follows M4 support arriving in kernel version 7.4. The initial code targets experimentation rather than daily use because GPU support remains incomplete, particularly following the departure of developer Alyssa Rosenzweig to Intel.
Wine 11.22 Closes Longstanding Bugs
Wine version 11.22 adopts Unicode CLDR 49 localization data and introduces AVX support for x86 emulation on ARM64 hardware. The release addresses address space randomization and fixes a Tahoma bold font bug that remained open for nearly 16 years.
Developers closed 34 total bugs, including issues affecting ImgBurn 2.5.5.0, CloneCD, Star Citizen, and Notepad++.
Jen-Hsun Huang steps down from Nvidia leadership
Jen-Hsun Huang stepped down from all functions at Nvidia after disclosures concerning personal relationships, including ties to a contact allegedly acting as a Chinese agent who facilitated product shipments past US export controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will KDE Plasma 6.9 be released?
The report from root.cz does not specify an exact launch date for Plasma 6.9, though it outlines features planned for that version.
What compression formats does VidCom support?
VidCom supports SVT-AV1 alongside its archival and target-size compression modes.
How long was the Tahoma font bug open in Wine?
The Tahoma font rendering issue remained an open ticket in the Wine project for nearly 16 years before being fixed in version 11.22.
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