GNOME 46: The Best New Features
Well, I gotcha’ covered, innit. In this post I run-through the best GNOME 46 features, changes, and usability enhancements.
And there’s a fair bit, including super-charged search features in the Nautilus file manager, streamlining to the Settings app, support for remote login over RDP, and some small yet sensible tweaks to the way GNOME Shell notifications behave.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships with GNOME 46 by default so if this round-up leaves you itching to experience the collective benefits first-hand on your own computer, rest assured: you don’t have to long to wait!
Many More Coverage:
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GNOME 46 Desktop Environment Released, Here’s What’s New
Another six months have flown by, and the GNOME project has unveiled its eagerly anticipated version 46 today. While it may not introduce groundbreaking features, it continues the tradition of offering a clean user interface, focusing on usability and a pleasant desktop experience.
In light of this, the new release offers several quality-of-life improvements that further refine the previous GNOME 45 version. So, let’s take a look at them.
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GNOME 46 is out. Here are all the improvements you need to know
The GNOME project today released GNOME 46.
Within the world of Linux, GNOME is one of the most widely used desktop environments. And although GNOME 46 isn't a major release filled with game-changing newness, there is plenty to be excited about.
Also: The top 5 GNOME extensions I install first (and what they can do for you)
Let's dive into what's new and what's improved.
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Google Contacts is making it way easier to set custom contact ringtones on Android
The Google Contacts app is rolling out a new, dedicated section to help you set and manage custom contact ringtones on your Android device.
As spotted in development late last year, Google Contacts is now rolling out “Contact ringtones.” This new section found under the “Fix & Manage” tab shows any existing contacts with custom ringtones, and lets you easily set a custom ringtone for contacts. On Pixel, this uses the Pixel Sounds app to change the ringtone, but also supports importing your own ringtones.
Prior to this, setting a custom ringtone through the Contacts app required going into each individual contact, tapping the overflow menu, and then selecting “Set Ringtone” before selecting the ringtone of your choice.
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GNOME 46 is out now with experimental variable refresh rate (VRR) support
The release many GNOME fans have been waiting for is here and it's looking really fancy. GNOME 46 available now brings on experimental variable refresh rate (VRR) support. There's masses more of course!
While I'm a KDE Plasma user and fan myself, I'm still impressed by all the features and small touches the GNOME team manage to keep bringing to the table too. Competition is great, even for desktop environments.
Some of what you can expect to see includes performance improvements, bumped up security, rendering improvements for a better looking interface, a new global search feature, a big upgrade to the file manager with better performance and a sleek looking dynamic progress indicator for file operations, support for Microsoft OneDrive in their online accounts system, a new dedicated remote login option, tons of improvements to the system settings app, various accessibility improvements and the list goes on.
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GNOME 46 Kathmandu: Elevating the Linux desktop environment with new features and enhancements
The GNOME project has announced the release of GNOME 46, codenamed “Kathmandu.” This latest version of the Linux desktop environment brings a host of enhancements and new features. There are even five new apps: Letterpress, Switcheroo, Decibels, Fretboard, and Railway.
The Files app has received significant updates, including improved feedback for long-running file operations, a dynamic progress section, and instant switching between list and grid views. Other improvements include searchable preferences, detailed date and time display, quick access to the location entry, and better network discovery.
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GNOME 46 released, will come with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Fedora 40 next month
The GNOME Project has made version 46, codenamed Kathmandu, available for download. Some of the highlighted changes include remote login with RDP, variable refresh rates (VRR), accessibility improvements, enhanced notifications and settings, a new Files app with improved global search and other enhancements, and the addition of new apps in GNOME Circle.
Anyone that’s keen to try GNOME 46 will not have to wait very long. In April, Fedora 40 will be released first with GNOME 46 and then about one week later Canonical will release Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with GNOME 46.
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GNOME 46 released
Version 46 of the GNOME desktop has been released. "
GNOME 46 is code-named 'Kathmandu', in recognition of the amazing work done by the organizers of GNOME.Asia 2023.
" Significant changes include a new global search feature, enhancements to the Files app, improved remote login support, and more.
Also:
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GNOME 46 Arrives With Desktop Enhancements, Faster Files, and More
GNOME is one of the main desktop environments for Linux, serving as the base for Ubuntu, Fedora, and many other systems. GNOME 46 is now available, with significant performance and usability improvements.
GNOME 46 includes a wide range of updates across the desktop environment and the included applications. The announcement blog post explains that this update is part of a significant modernization effort, which “will result in improved performance and reliability, and will enable compatibility with Wayland and sandboxed apps in the future.” There’s still more work to be done, but GNOME 46 includes many performance improvements, support for variable refresh rate (VRR), and some security enhancements.
The Files app has received an overhaul, with a new progress section at the bottom of the sidebar, a global file search (accessible from the search button or with the Ctrl+Shift+F shortcut), more detailed date and time information, and improved discovery of network devices. Files should also feel less sluggish, as the GNOME team worked on a “significant code refactoring” that makes actions like switching the view mode much quicker.
One more:
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GNOME 46 Released! New Global Search, Remote Login, and More
GNOME, the popular GNU/Linux desktop environment, announced new 46 stable release this Wednesday! The new GNOME 46, code-name“Kathmandu”, will be default desktop for Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40 planned for next month, and optional for Arch, Manjaro, etc.
OMG Joey:
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GNOME Shell Extension Manager App Gets Updated
A big update to Extension Manager, a popular 3rd-party tool to browse, install, and manage GNOME Shell extensions without the need for a web browser, has been released. If you’re into customising Ubuntu, be it changing the look and layout, adding animated effects, patching in new features and capabilities, or modifying underlying behaviour, you’ll know that GNOME Shell extensions are essential — as is this terrific, user-friendly tool.
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GNOME 46 Officially Released with Improvements Galore
The GNOME project today announced the stable release of GNOME 46 “Kathmandu”, the latest update of its hugely popular open-source desktop environment. And what an update it is.
One more (late):
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GNOME 46 Linux desktop released with experimental VRR support and more
The GNOME developers have released an update to their desktop environment, staying true to their six-monthly release cycle. While GNOME 46 "Kathmandu" brings a handful of new features, the focus is clearly on optimisations, bug fixes and porting existing GTK3 applications to GTK4.
First and foremost, there are major improvements to GNOME's file manager, which now has a global search function. In GNOME 46, clicking on the magnifying glass icon in the "File" application, or using the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + F, will bring up the global search function, which now also searches the contents of files. The settings menu can also be used to configure the search to include other file locations in addition to the home directory.
The Files application has also been enhanced to include a dynamic copy progress indicator, now located at the bottom of the sidebar. Due to optimisations in the file manager's source code, the application is now much faster in GNOME 46 when switching between grid and list view. The GNOME Desktop's preference pane has also been restructured in GNOME 46 to include a new "System" section, which combines several previously separate preference options.
Now in Arch:
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GNOME 46 Desktop Environment Landed in Arch Linux
GNOME 46 hits Arch's stable repositories just four days post-launch, bringing the latest features to users.