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19# Weekly Linux and Tech Update
- KDE Plasma 6.1 Beta Release
- Support for Wayland Explicit Sync, beneficial for NVIDIA hardware users
- Triple buffering added to KWin for smoother rendering and animations
- Remote desktop system integration for RDP clients
- New page in system settings for configuration
- Improved UX for Plasma’s edit mode
- Configurable edge barrier between screens
- Session restore (fake) on Wayland, with possibility of real session restore in future
- Support for using color profiles embedded in monitors
- Improved window layout algorithm for overview
- Shake cursor effect to help find it on high DPI monitors
- /e/OS 2.0 Release
- Revamped user experience with a new intuitive interface and sleek design
- Advanced privacy features, including blocking trackers in apps and on the web
- Granular control over in-app trackers, IP address masking, and location data
- Improved app compatibility with access to Play Store, F-Droid, and PWAs
- Upgraded camera app with built-in QR code recognition
- Gaming News
- Steam Deck reaches 15,000 playable games milestone
- Valve’s response to leaving a Steam account in a will: no, you don’t own games, just a non-transferable license
- Steam VR improvements for Linux with async support
- Over 30,000 people clicked on a picture of a banana on Steam (article link in show notes)
- Ultramarine Linux 40 Release
- New XFCE edition with dock and panel layout, Materia theme, and Whisker menu
- Support for more hardware, including Raspberry Pi and Chromebook editions
- Updates to GNOME and KDE Plasma editions
- End of Pantheon edition and replacement of Anaconda installer with ReadyMade
- Linux Laptops
- System76 Tuxedo Stellaris Slim 15 Gen 6: thin and lightweight Linux gaming ultrabook
- Framework Laptop 13 with Intel Core Ultra: improved efficiency, battery life, and graphics
- System76 Darter Pro refresh: Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel Arc graphics, and up to 96GB DDR5 RAM
- Conscript Game Controversy
- Developer cancels native Linux and macOS support, citing financial impracticality
- Refunds available, but not automatic
- Criticism of developer’s logic and handling of refunds
- XZ Security Alert and Update
- Backdoor discovered in LibLZMA, added by a bad actor who became a co-maintainer
- XZ 5.6.2 release removes backdoor, with longtime developer Lasse Collin resuming leadership
- New maintainer Sam James joins the project
- KDE Initiative for Better KDE App Ecosystem
- Goal: Close the feature gap with other platforms
- Improvements: Enhance existing apps with modern user interfaces
- Marketing: Increase visibility with weekly posts on changes
- Developer Support: Simplify the start for new KDE apps with templates and tools
- Language Support: Expand support beyond C++
- Gnome Sovereign Tech Fund Project Issues Resolved
- Major Issue Resolved: Previous major issue has been addressed
- New Program Manager: A new manager has been hired to handle projects
- Initiative Expansion: Broadened initiatives for community suggestions and grants
- Funding: Application for funding from the Open Tech Fund
- Development Fund: Launched a community fundraising development fund
- EU Investigating Open AI for Potential GDPR Violations
- Focus: Investigation centers on data scraped off the internet
- Concerns: Issues over the accuracy of displayed data
- Complaints: Reports of “hallucinations” in responses
- GDPR Compliance: GDPR requires individual consent or legitimate interest for data collection
- Legitimate Interest: OpenAI’s reliance on the legitimate interest use case is being contested
- Fedora Mirrors Strained by Millions of Requests from AWS
- Traffic Surge: Increased traffic from AWS has doubled the number of connections
- Resolution: Amazon engineers are investigating the issue
- Microsoft Continues to Improve Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
- Memory Management: Automatically releasing memory used by WSL back to Windows
- New Settings App: Introduction of a graphical Settings app for WSL
- New Features: Addition of ‘Windows Subsystem for Linux’ environments feature
- Steam Deck Gaming News
- Game Availability: Over 15,000 games marked, with 10,000 playable and 5,000 verified
- Verified Titles: Verified titles include Rogue Trader and others
- Popularity: Steam Deck consistently remains among the top sellers on Steam
