ZDNET Key Takeaways
- ElementaryOS 8.1 brings further enhancements to Brilliant OS.
- This release is about security, multitasking and app management.
- Currently in beta, there is no indication when the release will be made public.
When I got the message from Daniel Foray, Founder and CEO of ElementaryOS, that a beta version of 8.1 was available, you can bet I immediately downloaded the ISO and installed it.
According to the official release notes, the team focused on three primary goals:
- Following OS 8 release goals
- Improve support for your devices
- Addressing your feedback by fixing over 1,100 problem reports
With this latest update, they have made some additions/modifications that make the OS better than before.
Let’s talk about what’s new.
Security
Let’s first look at which features improve the security of ElementaryOS.
When the team released version 8, they added Secure Sessions (thanks to Wayland), which ensures that applications respect your privacy. This feature works by requiring that all applications receive explicit permission before being allowed to access system features, such as monitoring keystrokes or taking screenshots.
ElementaryOS 8.1 gives you detailed control over permissions.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
In the initial release, Classic Session was the default. With version 8.1, Secure Session now becomes the default to improve the security of your desktop. With improved Wayland support being offered by developers and hardware vendors, Secure Session now supports a wider range of modern hardware features.
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Another very important addition is that when an app or service requires pseudo authentication, everything else except the password prompt is dimmed and inaccessible. By doing this, you can be sure that only legitimate system dialogs are asking you to type your password. This ensures that no malicious app is trying to read your password.
This is a needed improvement to help increase security.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Multitasking and Window Management
When ElementaryOS 8 was released, some fan-favorite features were removed from the Dock (the Dock replaced Plank). With 8.1, some of those features have returned. You will now see multiple dots for apps with multiple windows open on the desktop. Those points also have a color code depending on which workspace they are running in.
Through the Background portal, the Dock can now list apps that are running in the background without a window. From within System Settings, you can determine which apps are allowed to run in the background, as well as advanced system access.
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Another useful addition is a + button on the right edge of the dock. Click on that button to open a new workspace or select an existing workspace. Use the Super + End or Super + 0 key combinations to create a new workspace. You can also drag and drop to rearrange workspaces as you wish and launch applications in multitasking view directly from the Dock.
Multitasking is even easier in ElementaryOS 8.1.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You can now enable HotCorner, even when an app is full screen. This is taken care of in System Settings > Desktop > Multitasking.
app management
In ElementaryOS 8.0, developers added Flathub to the App Center, which meant users could install proprietary apps like Slack or Spotify (and others). With 8.1, all apps now show a percentage-based app rating in the App Center. App ratings are taken from the same rating servers that people like GNOME Software use.
The team has also added support for app addons, and when a game supports playing with controllers. You’ll also get an improved License Listening for apps, which shows more details and even links when developers encourage users to join. The developers have changed the action button label from “Free” to “Install” to avoid any confusion. Apps now also list whether they include in-app purchases.
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Finally, another important update to app management is that upgrades to apps and system have been separated. App updates are still managed within the App Center, but system updates are now managed in System Settings > System. You’ll also find more information listed in this location to help you get more information (such as showing how big an update is).
ElementaryOS has been a beautiful and user-friendly Linux distribution for some time, but with the release of 8.1 beta, it proves that the development team can still bring magic while taking user feedback seriously.
miscellaneous improvements
- ElementaryOS now runs on ARM64 devices.
- Fractional scaling is now available in a secure session.
- Improved stylus recognition in Wacom settings.
- A redesigned Bluetooth settings window.
- Airplane mode no longer disables Bluetooth.
- Keyboard focus indicators now disappear when not in use.
- It is now possible to deny apps direct access to sending notification bubbles.
- A new setting for whether a network should be automatically connected to.
- New default apps for system monitoring and maps.
You can read more details for version 8.1 here Official release announcement And if you want to test 8.1, you can download it from the official site.
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