distribution release , positioned as a fast, open and privacy-respecting alternative Windows и macOSThe project focuses on high-quality design, aiming to create an easy-to-use system that consumes minimal resources and ensures fast startup. Users are offered their own desktop environment, Pantheon. Download bootable iso images (1.47 GB) available for amd64 architecture (when booted from , for a free download, enter 0 in the field with the amount of the donation).
Elementary OS's original components are developed using GTK3, the Vala language, and its own Granite framework. The distribution is based on the project's work. UbuntuAt the package and repository support level, Elementary OS 5.1 is compatible with Ubuntu 18.04. The graphical environment is based on its own Pantheon shell, which combines such components as the Gala window manager (based on LibMutter), the WingPanel top panel, the Slingshot launcher, the Switchboard control panel, and the bottom taskbar. (an analogue of the Docky panel rewritten in Vala) and the Pantheon Greeter session manager (based on LightDM).
The environment includes a set of applications tightly integrated into a single environment that are necessary to solve user problems. Among the applications, most of them are the project's own developments, such as the Pantheon Terminal emulator, the Pantheon Files file manager, a text editor and Music (Noise) music player. The project also develops the photo manager Pantheon Photos (an offshoot of Shotwell) and the email client Pantheon Mail (an offshoot of Geary).
Key innovations:
- New skins for the login screen and splash screen during the lock screen, which address issues when working on high pixel density (HiDPI) screens and improve localization.
The login screen now visually displays the cards of existing users, which immediately displays the name, avatar and the user's selected desktop wallpaper for easier selection. To avoid failures when entering a password, indicators of active keys Caps Lock and Num Lock are displayed. When enabled in the guest login settings, the corresponding card is displayed for logging in without authentication. - A new first-time interface that allows you to change default settings, define privacy policies, and install popular third-party apps on your first login. For example, the user can choose whether or not to enable the location service, night illumination, automatic deletion of temporary files and the contents of the trash.
- To the AppCenter application manager support for universal Flatpak packages. The Sideload interface has been added, which provides the ability to install applications that are not in the regular repository and are not available in the AppCenter. Sideload allows you to download Flatpak from an arbitrary site and install it without the need to perform manipulations in the console.
- AppCenter has been heavily optimized for performance and provides for the execution of tasks in a parallel thread, which made it possible to speed up the execution of some operations up to 10 times. Significantly accelerated the formation of the recommended list of applications and the loading of the main screen. The list of third-party applications offered for installation has been updated. Added the ability to connect package repositories in the format
flatpak. On the package information page, the screenshot navigation system has been redesigned (in addition to the dots, forward and backward buttons are offered) and support for screenshot loading animation has been added.When viewing application information, you can now select different installation sources, for example, you can install the application from a regular repository or install a newer version from Flatpak. In a situation where there is no connection to the global network, the offline view of installed applications is now automatically activated, allowing the removal of programs.
AppCenter also added new app categories and fixed issues with email confirmation, button styles, and visibility of available apps.
- Improved desktop implementation. The Picture-in-Picture window is now displayed in the lower right corner of the screen by default. Simplified interface for creating screenshots. A button has been added to the context menu of applications to open information about the program in the application installation manager. The design of the system notification indicator has been unified. Scrolling support has been added to the audio control indicator to change the volume level and microphone sensitivity. The design of the indicator with the date and time has been changed; the drop-down calendar shows scheduled events (marked with dots). Hints about available keyboard shortcuts have been added to the session control indicator.
- In the dark style of design, instead of a cool shade of gray, a neutral gray color is used. Increased the contrast of elements in the dark style. Some switches and operation progress indicators have become more subtle. Updated system icons.
- When scrolling, the effect of blurring the top and bottom borders of lists in drop-down dialogs has been implemented.
- The interface for setting system parameters has been significantly expanded. A new interface for managing external sound devices has been introduced, allowing you to quickly select the desired device for sound output from the proposed list. The interface for setting the soundtrack for various warnings has also been improved.
- Mouse and touchpad configurators have been improved, the settings for which are now grouped into sections depending on behavior (clicks and positioning) and hardware specifics (mouse and touchpad). Added an option to ignore the touchpad if a mouse is connected, and fixed issues with middle mouse click settings.
A new Appearance tab has been added to the desktop settings, which combines settings for font size, panel transparency, and window opening animation.
Changed interface design for changing screen parameters. New options for setting the screen refresh rate and more correct scaling factors have been proposed. The process of moving, snapping and aligning visible areas for different screens has been redesigned.
- Improved Bluetooth setting interface. Improved reliability of the agent for pairing with Bluetooth devices and setting the trust level in a situation where the device requires a PIN or password.
Updated design of date and time settings. Added automatic time zone selection function. The interface for selecting language packs and localization settings has been redesigned. Installing a new language has been moved to a separate dialog.
The VPN and wireless access point mode configurators have been redesigned, which are now implemented in the form of tabs, rather than separate dialogs.
Changed the design of the configurator, which contains settings related to privacy and security. The section with the settings for automatic cleaning of temporary files and the recycle bin has been unified with the corresponding section of the interface for the first launch. An option has been added to the power management section to display a confirmation dialog when the power off button is pressed.
- In the application menu, the possibilities of the search system have been expanded, which now allows you to search for typical settings.
- design of the calendar-scheduler, in which the event management dialog has been improved, the use of the color palette has been expanded, and support for keyboard navigation has been added.
- In the photo manager, dialog boxes have been modernized and a checkerboard background is shown to highlight translucent areas of images. The camera app has expanded hardware support, improved performance, and better compatibility with some popular laptops.
- The music player has expanded the ability to sort content in different viewing modes (album, list, columns). Simplified keyboard control. Improved work with lists and playback queues. Added support for s3m files.
Improved interface quality on HiDPI screens. - The video player now has a feature to automatically queue up episodes when watching a TV show. Improved keyboard controls. Added a separate button to clear the playback queue.
- Support for accessing cloud storage and file synchronization services has been added to the file manager. Interaction with external storages is carried out using plug-ins based on API, which is also planned to be added to the regular GNOME file manager.
To simplify search access, a separate icon and the ability to send a search phrase through the file path input field when in the home directory have been added, similar to searching through the address bar in browsers. Search results are now displayed in a more compact form and can be displayed without thumbnails. The system for grouping files using color labels has been significantly improved. - In the code editor, hotkeys are shown in tooltips. Added a feature to change branches in Git. The left pane provides a display of hidden and non-text files present in the Git repository. Improved autosave and file restore operations.
- The package base is synchronized with Ubuntu 18.04.3. The graphics stack (Mesa 18.2.8) and video drivers for Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA chips have been updated. Thanks to the transition to the core Linux 5.0 has expanded hardware support (the previous release shipped with kernel 4.15).
Source: opennet.ru
