The release of the Linux distribution Zorin OS 17.1, based on the Ubuntu 22.04 package base, has been announced. The target audience for the distribution is novice users accustomed to working in Windows. To manage the appearance, the distribution offers a special configurator that allows users to give their desktop the look characteristic of various versions of Windows and macOS, along with a selection of programs similar to those familiar to Windows users. The size of the bootable ISO image is 3.5 GB. It is noted that the previous release of Zorin OS 17 was downloaded more than 500,000 times, with 78% of all downloads coming from users of Windows and macOS platforms.
Zorin OS uses GNOME as the basis for its desktop, along with a set of custom extensions and a panel based on Dash to Panel and Dash to Dock. To integrate the desktop with smartphones, the Zorin Connect application (based on KDE Connect) is included. In addition to packages in deb format and Ubuntu repositories, support for Flatpak, AppImage, and Snap formats is included by default, allowing for the installation of programs from the Flathub and Snap Store directories.
In the new version:
- The list of alternatives has been updated, containing information about Linux programs that can be used instead of Windows applications. For example, when trying to launch the Windows installer for the Todoist program, users will be redirected to the Todoist build for Linux, available in the distribution's repository. Currently, the list covers more than 100 programs.
- Improved support for running Windows programs. The Wine package has been updated to version 9.0. To simplify the installation, configuration, and execution of Windows applications on Linux, the Bottles package is offered, which provides an interface for managing prefixes that define the Wine environment and parameters for launching applications, as well as tools for installing dependencies necessary for the proper functioning of the launched programs.
- A Zorin OS Education build has been created, which includes a selection of educational applications for teaching children of various ages. To coordinate the learning process, the Logseq application has been added. For teaching children with dyslexia or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the Reading Strip extension has been included, which simplifies focusing attention while reading.
- The file manager and file open dialog now include the option to display thumbnails with clear information about applications in AppImage format, exe files with installers, RAW images, and epub books.
- In the appearance settings (Zorin Appearance / Interface), an option has been added to choose the placement method for new windows — centered or distributed across the desktop.
- Software versions have been updated. The LibreOffice suite has been upgraded to version 24.2. Thanks to support for Flatpak, AppImage, and Snap formats, users can install the latest versions of software not available in the standard Ubuntu repository.
- The package database has been synchronized with the release of Ubuntu 22.04.4, which introduces new kernel versions (6.5) and graphics stack (Mesa 23.1.7), backported from the Ubuntu 23.10 release. New versions of graphics drivers for Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA chips have been added.
Source: opennet.ru
