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