The GNOME Project has officially released the beta version of GNOME 48, now available for public testing. This upcoming desktop environment series brings a host of new features and enhancements.
Among the notable updates in GNOME 48 Beta are the introduction of Adwaita fonts, a new default wallpaper, and enhanced screen time limit support. A key addition is the GNOME Display Control (gdctl) utility, which allows users to configure HDR settings through the DisplayConfig D-Bus API. Other improvements include enhanced cursor updates via the frame clock in virtual monitors and the ability to monitor screen time history without predefined limits.
In terms of display management, GDM (GNOME Display Manager) is now capable of functioning in a Wayland-only environment without requiring Xwayland. New settings for ‘banner-message-path’ and ‘-source’ have been added. The GNOME Calculator has introduced a Conversion mode, and the GNOME Calendar now allows users to select timezones for event start and end times, in addition to improved weather display in the Month view.
The GNOME Control Center saw significant updates as well. The search bar now automatically focuses with the use of shortcuts, and a single-panel mode has been added to streamline access within Settings. Moreover, users can monitor HDR settings directly from the Display panel and utilize new media keys shortcuts for "Restart" and "Logout." A newly introduced Wellbeing panel will support tracking of screen time.
The GNOME Maps app features a refreshed user location marker, integrating system accent colors, while the GNOME Music app now supports HiDPI covers. Notably, the GNOME Remote Desktop has improved its rendering capabilities to support zero-copy rendering using Vulkan and VAAPI technologies.
GNOME Software has also been updated to allow the installation of Flatpak applications through flatpak+https: links. The GNOME Text Editor has moved the search bar to the bottom of the text area, and the xdg-desktop-portal-gnome has added a USB portal backend.
For those eager for a complete overview, the official release announcement page provides a detailed changelog of all updates. The final release of GNOME 48 is anticipated on March 19, 2025, with Release Candidate versions expected to be available for public testing in early March.