Exciting news for all users of OS 7, as a plethora of unexpected upgrades have been rolled out this month, alongside a sneak peek into the progress of OS 8. The impending release of the newest version of our operating system signifies the launch of updated versions of all projects under our care! This entails the introduction of major app upgrades and new platform features, some of which are also compatible with OS 7.

Providing a brief update on our Discord community: we have now surpassed 550 members! This community is rapidly evolving into a valuable space for inquiries, assistance, idea-sharing, and casual interactions among individuals utilizing elementary OS or operating Pantheon on alternative Linux distributions. Witnessing the organic growth of this community server has been a delight, and I am eagerly looking forward to engaging more informally with our community.

While many of the latest releases are tailored for OS 8, there have been several significant updates that were made available for OS 7! This achievement is largely attributed to the distribution of our apps as Flatpak packages, complemented by an inconspicuous platform update that addresses latent needs.

Video Enhancements

Videos now flaunts a more sophisticated and simplistic design, significantly noticeable on the player page. The library page showcases larger landscape-oriented thumbnails, and the app now aligns with the system’s light and dark mode preferences. The transition to GTK4 also brings about performance enhancements. A special acknowledgment to Leonhard for his efforts in modernizing this codebase.

Moreover, Videos—similar to all our Flatpak apps—is readily downloadable as a Flatpak for users operating on Linux distributions other than elementary OS:

In addition, Code now integrates the LibHandy tab bar widget, offering enhanced animations and drag-and-drop functionality. The Terminal pane can now initialize to your preferred project subdirectory by default. The preferences dialog underwent a slight redesign to adhere to contemporary platform norms and enhance compatibility with screen readers. We have also addressed a dozen reported issues!

A notable inclusion in the Terminal is a new setting for notifying users about invalid inputs, coupled with improved tab state preservation. Furthermore, the man page documentation has undergone significant enhancements.

Files now facilitates optional tab restoration from the previous session and supports file and folder concealment via a .hidden file, a functionality reminiscent of other file manager applications. A special accolade to Colin, Gustavo, and Jeremy for their contributions to our developer tools.

Gateways

Portals represent specialized APIs that apps utilize to access system functionalities in a manner that respects user privacy and mandates explicit consent. OS 7 now extends support for three new Portals: Color Picker, Screenshot, and Screencast. These portals are essential for sustaining compatibility with contemporary apps designed to operate within a Wayland framework, devoid of direct access to display pixels. If you encountered challenges using modern color picker or screen recording apps from alternative stores such as Flathub on elementary OS 7, this update is tailored to address those concerns! Kudos to David and Leonhard for their contributions in this realm!

Additional Features

Music now allows the direct opening of individual audio files within the app, eliminating the need to access them exclusively via Files. It adopts a familiar sticky toolbar style when scrolling through the queue. The Camera app has been overhauled to leverage GTK4, translating to immediate performance enhancements. Furthermore, a new release of Tasks rectifies a bug that caused crashes upon transitioning the system’s style from light to dark.

A noteworthy adjustment pertains to the renaming of session options on the Lock Screen, aimed at enhancing clarity for users uncertain about opting for a Wayland or X11 session. The X11 session is now labeled the “Compatibility Session,” emphasizing improved compatibility with legacy apps and certain accessibility tools. In contrast, the Wayland session is titled the “Secure Session,” emphasizing the requirement for apps to adhere to modern APIs that ameliorate security and uphold user privacy. Extensive deliberations were conducted to succinctly describe these sessions in non-technical terms, acknowledging that the descriptions may not be flawless. Currently, this nomenclature is deemed best to encapsulate the trade-offs associated with selecting a session. Future alterations are conceivable as new features necessitate Wayland dependency and its performance advantages grow more pronounced.

Moreover, contingent on the endorsement of a new window manager protocol, the new Dock will be deployable in both the Secure and Compatibility sessions in OS 8. This development is particularly significant as the new Dock furnishes an escalated multitasking workflow, tailored according to insights derived from our survey; this enables seamless transition back to the Compatibility session for select apps without the hassle of managing distinct dock settings.

Building on recent accessibility initiatives, the navigation within Onboarding has been reconfigured to amplify keyboard-driven navigation and screen reader compatibility significantly. Addressing this issue was imperative when Florian scrutinized OS 8 in June. Onboarding holds immense significance in familiarizing users with a new operating system and ensuring a favorable experience for individuals with vision-related impairments.

Previously, the Bluetooth Daemon was packaged alongside the Bluetooth Indicator; it now exists in its distinct package with a separate project. This structural modification serves to clarify the responsibilities of individual components concerning Bluetooth functionalities on elementary OS while streamlining maintenance processes. Notably, the features remain unchanged, with this separation mainly serving an organizational purpose.

Furthermore, Font Viewer is now distributed as a Flatpak app. Previously released and packaged for AppCenter, it is now automatically included in OS 8 daily builds by default. Consequently, we can consistently deliver the latest GNOME Font Viewer in elementary OS, designed against our Flatpak runtime to ensure stylistic cohesion.

Release Strategy

Most components are now accessible in the OS 8 stable repository, indicating imminent stable release candidate builds for OS 8 in the Early Access phase. Presently, our primary focus resides in awaiting the new Window Manager protocol for the Dock in the compatibility session, poised to unlock subsequent releases for the Dock and Panel.

For real-time progress tracking towards the OS 8 launch, refer to our GitHub project. Given the current pace, an OS 8 release in September seems plausible if all processes proceed seamlessly; fingers crossed!

Our monthly funding goal has crossed the 21% mark, with 382 sponsors on GitHub contributing to this achievement! Special acknowledgments to everyone aiding us in meeting our objectives. Your continued sponsorship sustains our development endeavors, ensuring we have the requisite resources to furnish users with an optimal version of elementary OS!

GitHub Sponsors from any tier can access monthly release candidate builds and daily Early Access builds! It is essential to note that Early Access builds are not considered stable, and encountering novel issues is anticipated. Your feedback on encountered issues using the Feedback app or directly on GitHub would be immensely valuable.