Oracle has released the second maintenance update for the latest VirtualBox 7.1 series. VirtualBox 7.1.4 includes a small set of improvements, bug fixes, and stability enhancements to this open-source, cross-platform virtualisation tool, though new major new features are included. Among the changes are 2 which affect the Linux Guest Additions … [Read more...]

Ubuntu 24.10 may have only just been released, but development on the next version is getting underway and the codename for Ubuntu 25.04 revealed. Since codenames are alphabetical (as of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS; restarted at ‘A’ with 17.10) it means the Ubuntu 25.04 codename will start with the letter ‘P’… Ubuntu 25.04 is the … [Read more...]

When it comes to open-source vector graphics software there’s perhaps nothing else as well known or as well made for the task than Inkscape – and a brand new version is now released. Inkscape 1.4 adds a crop of new features and improves accessibility buffs, with bug fixes, code cleanups, stability tweaks, and performance tune-ups (including … [Read more...]

With the latest release stacked with new features, you may be looking to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.10 from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS but wondering exactly how. “I just wait for Ubuntu to tell me, right?” – Er, no. As Ubuntu 24.04 is a long-term support (LTS) release it will not ask you if you want to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.10. This is because LTS … [Read more...]

GNOME Shell shows now playing info in the notification shade, out of view but there when you want to check in. Most users like this approach, but perhaps you don’t? Personally, I do like seeing media info (album art, artist name, track title) in the top bar. If I listen to a playlist like Spotify Discover I can see which song/artist is … [Read more...]

KDE neon users can now upgrade to rebase their systems on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. For those unfamiliar with it, KDE neon is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that is something of a reference platform for KDE Plasma. It’s available in User, Testing, Unstable, and Developer editions. KDE neon (User Edition) is the ‘stable’ version but … [Read more...]

Ubuntu 24.10 is now available for download after six months of dedicated development. The latest release offers plenty of changes and new features, including the latest GNOME 47 release, more preinstalled tools for developers, and better signalling of background snap app updates. As a short-term release, Ubuntu 24.10 receives 9 months of supports. … [Read more...]

If you’re using Canonical’s Steam snap to game on Ubuntu you may be pleased to hear that a number appreciable performance improvements have begun to filter out. Valve recommend Ubuntu users stick to the official Steam DEB for the best experience but plenty of Ubuntu users prefer the convenience offered by the unofficial Steam snap … [Read more...]

A new major update to the KDE Plasma desktop has been released, and it’s jam-packed with new features, enhancements, and performance-focused improvements. Serving as the third release in the new 6.x series, KDE Plasma 6.2 builds on the foundations introduced in earlier this year in KDE Plasma 6.0 and KDE Plasma 6.1 (the latter being the … [Read more...]

Ardour is one of the most popular and powerful open-source digital audio workstations (DAW) around, and a major new update was recently made available. Now, I can’t profess to be some kind of music-making maestro, though I did spend much of my late teens face-first in FL Studio (formerly Fruity Loops) trying – and failing – to … [Read more...]

A new version of NetworkManager – used by most Linux distributions (including Ubuntu) to manage wired and wireless network connections – was released this week. NetworkManager 1.50 won’t be included in Ubuntu 24.10 (that ships with v1.48) but I think some of the changes it makes may be worth knowing about all the same. Notably, NetworkManager … [Read more...]

There are plenty of ways to download videos from well-known video streaming sites on Ubuntu but I find Parabolic the easiest, least hassle option out there. For those yet to hear about it, Parabolic is a GTK4/libadwaita app for Linux (or a Qt one for Windows) that offers what it describes as a ‘basic frontend’ to yt-dlp. All sites … [Read more...]

A few months ago I reported that Mozilla is getting a brand revamp and that it incorporates the non-profit company’s iconic red dinosaur mascot – now I have a lick more info. A reader, Nicolas, recently pointed me to the website of global design agency Jones Knowles Ritchie, who Mozilla hired to update, refine, and revitalise its brand … [Read more...]

Pine64 has confirmed that its open-source e-ink tablet is returning. The PineNote was announced in 2021, building on the success of its non-SBC devices like the PinePhone (and later Pro model), the PineTab, and PineBook devices. Like most of Pine64’s devices, software support is largely tackled by the community. But only a small natch of … [Read more...]

A chorus of improvements are on offer in the newest update to the popular open source, cross-platform Audacious music player. Audacious 4.4.1 builds on the changes introduced in Audacious 4.4 (a release that brought GTK3 and Qt6 UI choices, the return of a dedicated lyrics plugin, and better compatibility with PipeWire) rather than adding any huge … [Read more...]

Mozilla Firefox 131 is now available to download with a small set of improvements in tow. The first change I noticed when opening Firefox 131 is the new icon for the ‘all tabs’ feature1. Previously a small downward pointing arrow, this new—more obvious— icon is a small squarish depiction of a tabbed web browser. The change was made … [Read more...]