GNOME 44 Release: A Closer Look at the Latest Enhancements

GNOME, one of the most popular desktop environments for Linux, has released its latest version, GNOME 44(Kuala Lumpur), with significant improvements and new features. Let’s take a closer look at the enhancements that GNOME 44 brings to its users.

File Chooser Grid View

GNOME’s file chooser dialog has been upgraded with a grid view, which allows users to browse files based on their thumbnails, making the file selection process more intuitive. While the grid view is available in file choosers that use GTK4, some apps may still use the older GTK3 version of the file chooser.

Updated Settings Panels

Four settings panels have been revamped in the GNOME Settings app for version 44, including the Device Security panel, which now displays a device’s security status as a description, such as “Checks Failed,” “Checks Passed,” or “Protected.” Additionally, a new feature generates a full device security report, providing users with a clear overview of their device’s security status.

Accessibility Settings

The accessibility settings in GNOME 44 have been redesigned to make navigation easier, with clearer and more consistent settings. New features include an over-amplification setting, an option to enable accessibility features using the keyboard, and a test area for the cursor blinking setting. The Seeing section now has a new setting to make scrollbars always visible.

Sound Settings

The sound settings in GNOME 44 have been reworked to make them more user-friendly. Volume level control has been moved into a separate window, and users can now disable the alert sound. The sound test window has been redesigned, eliminating scaling issues, and missing devices are presented more clearly.

Mouse & Touchpad Settings

Mouse & Touchpad settings have undergone a significant overhaul in GNOME 44. New videos demonstrate the different available options, making them easier to understand. Other enhancements include a new testing window, a new Mouse Acceleration setting, and tick marks in the different sliders.

Enhanced Quick Settings

Quick Settings has received further improvements in GNOME 44, including a new menu for the Bluetooth quick settings button, a list of background apps, and descriptions added to each of the quick settings toggle buttons.

Streamlined Software

GNOME 44 offers smoother and faster software browsing. Pages for each software category are now displayed more quickly, and the reloading of pages has been reduced. The app also has improved support for next-generation software formats.

Files Improvements

Files come with a host of new features, including the reintroduction of the expand folders in the list view option, increased grid view sizes, and additional options for tabs.

Even More Settings Improvements

Even More Settings Improvements GNOME 44 also features a good collection of smaller Settings improvements, including the ability to share Wi-Fi passwords using a QR code, the inclusion of kernel and firmware versions in the About section, and the Thunderbolt settings only showing when there is Thunderbolt hardware.

New Circle Members GNOME Circle has welcomed several new members, adding more apps developed as part of the GNOME Project.

In conclusion, GNOME 44 brings a wealth of new features and improvements, making it a must-have upgrade for Linux users who prefer the GNOME desktop environment. With enhanced accessibility, sound, mouse, and touchpad settings, streamlined software, and much more, the latest version of GNOME makes using Linux even more intuitive and enjoyable.

Refer and Read- Gnome 44 Release