9to5Linux Weekly Roundup: Key Highlights and Updates from July 20th, 2025

The 249th edition of the 9to5Linux Weekly Roundup has been released for the week ending July 20th, 2025, summarizing the essential happenings in the Linux world. If you missed the previous roundup, you can catch up on everything regarding GNU/Linux/Open Source here.

Software Releases

This week saw a number of notable software updates:

• KDE Plasma 6.4.3 introduces improvements for the automatic screen scale calculator on Wayland.
• Blender 4.5 LTS has stabilized its Vulkan backend for enhanced performance in 3D graphics rendering.
• VirtualBox 7.1.12 enhances support for Linux kernel 6.16 on both Linux hosts and guests.
• The system recovery distro Rescuezilla 2.6.1 now supports Ubuntu 25.04.
• GStreamer 1.26.4 adds TAI timestamp muxing support to mp4mux.
• Wireshark 4.4.8, the protocol analyzer, updates various protocol supports with this release.
• The office suite LibreOffice 25.2.5 is available for download, featuring 63 bug fixes.
• Calibre 8.7 has introduced support for generating page number files on MTP-based Kindles.

In other significant news, Intel has announced the discontinuation of its Clear Linux OS distribution, marking an end to its development. On a brighter note, Linux has achieved a 5% market share on desktop systems in the United States, as reported by StatCounter.

Hot News of the Week

• KDE Plasma 6.4.3 improves screen scaling.
• Blender 4.5 LTS stabilizes Vulkan backend.
• VirtualBox 7.1.12 enhances Linux kernel support.
• Rescuezilla 2.6.1 adds Ubuntu support.
• GStreamer 1.26.4 introduces new features.
• Wireshark 4.4.8 updates protocol support.
• LibreOffice 25.2.5 available with bug fixes.
• Calibre 8.7 supports Kindle page numbers.

Other Noteworthy Linux News

• Linux achieves 5% US desktop market share.
• Intel discontinues Clear Linux OS.

New Linux Distributions Released This Week

• PCLinuxOS 2025.07 KDE Plasma.
• Bluestar Linux 6.15.7.
• Linuxfx 11.25.07.
• Mabox Linux 25.07.
• Rescuezilla 2.6.1.
• KDE neon 20250716.
• TUXEDO OS 20250716.
• Other distributions such as Alpine Linux 3.22.1 and multiple versions of SparkyLinux 7.8.

Upcoming Releases

Next week promises more exciting updates, including Firefox 141 and GUADEC 2025, along with other anticipated Linux releases. Stay tuned for the next roundup!