Microsoft Breaks Dual Boots for Linux and Windows
- Microsoft recently pushed a patch meant to fix a flaw related to Grub 2, which could allow attackers to bypass Secure Boot.
- The patch inadvertently affected dual-boot systems running both Linux and Windows, causing numerous issues.
- Microsoft has yet to respond to those affected. For now, users can disable Secure Boot or uninstall the latest Windows security update to fix the issue.
Google’s Influencer Controversy
- Google was caught trying to coerce influencers to speak positively about their latest Pixel phone.
- Google admitted there was an issue and claimed their communication “missed the mark,” but the attempt to manipulate influencers was still apparent.
New NVIDIA Drivers for Linux
- NVIDIA released stable drivers for Linux version 5.560, featuring numerous fixes:
- Resolved plasma shell freezes under Wayland.
- Improved support for multi-monitor setups.
- Enhanced XWayland support, particularly for running games.
- Added hardware-accelerated screen sharing through PipeWire, even for multiple clients.
GNOME 47 Beta Released
- GNOME 47 beta brings significant changes:
- Hardware-accelerated screen recording.
- New features for drawing tablets and styluses.
- Initial steps towards color management protocol for HDR support.
- Enhanced handling of secondary GPU failures.
- New customization options like accent colors and ICS file import for calendars.
- Updates to the Epiphany web browser with features like auto-fill, privacy reports, and more.
- Improved remote desktop support under Wayland.
- Various bug fixes and backend updates.
KDE’s User Feedback Insights
- KDE shared findings from its SL Telemetry tool, which gathers voluntary user feedback:
- Wayland adoption among KDE users is at 45%, but reaches 80% among KDE Plasma 6 users.
- The majority of X11 users rely on AMD GPUs, while Wayland users are less likely to use NVIDIA.
- Some users still use very low-resolution displays (800×600 or 640×480), often for virtual machines.
- The feedback data led to preserving support for OpenGL2, despite earlier plans to drop it.
- KDE plans to propose changes to improve data collection and make the tool more useful.
Linux vs. Windows Gaming Performance
- Linux has caught up to, or even surpassed, Windows in gaming performance in some cases:
- Jason Evangelho’s benchmarks showed Linux outperforming Windows in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk 2077, using Fedora 40 and Proton.
- Differences in performance are minimal, making Linux a viable option for gaming.
- The results were based on lower-powered hardware, so high-end setups might yield different outcomes.
Wine Version 9.16 Released
- Wine’s new release, version 9.16, introduces significant updates:
- First implementation of the Windows driver store from the Vista era.
- Updated Wine Wayland driver.
- 25 bugs fixed, improving compatibility for applications like Anarchy Online, Foxit PDF Reader, and Paint Shop Pro X7.
- Enhanced overall application performance, not just for games.
