The release of the Linux distribution Zorin OS 17.1, based on the Ubuntu 22.04 package base, has been presented. The target audience of the distribution is novice users who are accustomed to working in Windows. To manage the design, the distribution offers a special configurator that allows you to give the desktop a look typical of different versions of Windows and macOS, and includes a selection of programs close to the programs that Windows users are accustomed to. The boot iso image size is 3.5 GB. It is noted that the last release of Zorin OS 17 was downloaded more than 500 thousand times, with 78% of all downloads coming from users of the Windows and macOS platforms.
Zorin OS uses GNOME as its desktop base, with a set of its own add-ons and a panel based on Dash to Panel and Dash to Dock. Zorin Connect (powered by KDE Connect) is provided for desktop and smartphone integration. In addition to deb packages and Ubuntu repositories, support for Flatpak, AppImage and Snap formats is enabled by default, with the ability to install programs from the Flathub and Snap Store directories.
In the new version:
- The list of alternatives has been updated to include information about Linux programs that can be used instead of Windows applications. For example, when attempting to launch the Todoist Windows installer, the user will be redirected to the Todoist for Linux build available in the distribution's repository. The list currently covers more than 100 programs.
- Improved support for launching Windows programs. The Wine package has been updated to version 9.0. To simplify the installation, configuration and launch of Windows applications on Linux, the Bottles package is proposed, 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 correct operation of launched programs.
- The Zorin OS Education assembly has been created, including a selection of educational applications for teaching children of different ages. The Logseq application has been added to coordinate the learning process. For teaching children with dyslexia or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the Reading Strip supplement is included, making it easier to focus attention when reading.
- The file manager and file opening dialog now have the ability to display thumbnails with visual information about applications in the AppImage format, exe files with installers, RAW images and epub books.
- In the appearance settings (Zorin Appearance / Interface), an option has been added to select the method of placing new windows - centered or distributed across the desktop.
- Program versions have been updated. The LibreOffice office suite has been updated to release 24.2. Thanks to support for Flatpak, AppImage and Snap formats, the user has the opportunity to install the latest versions of programs that are not in the standard Ubuntu repository.
- The package database has been synchronized with the release of Ubuntu 22.04.4, which offers new versions of the kernel (6.5) and graphics stack (Mesa 23.1.7), backported from the release of Ubuntu 23.10. Added new versions of video drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA chips.
Source: opennet.ru