COSMIC Desktop is continuously evolving, with a fresh "Frosted Glass" UI effect previewed for its upcoming Epoch 2 release. This new feature, revealed by System76 co-founder Carl Richell, promises to add a stylish blur effect reminiscent of frosted glass to the interface.
The engineering team has chosen a more efficient method for this effect called Dual Kawase blur. This technique is typically used in gaming environments and delivers a similar visual quality to Gaussian blur while being less taxing on system resources. This is particularly crucial for users who may be gaming on Pop!_OS, as it helps maintain performance without compromising on aesthetics.
Users will have the option to personalize the intensity and transparency of the frosted effect, making it customizable according to individual preferences. For those who prefer a more straightforward interface, the option to disable it remains available.
Development is currently ongoing, and while Richell shared early design mockups, the final versions of the frosted glass effect will not be available immediately. The progress of this initiative highlights System76’s commitment to transparency and user feedback, ultimately aiming to create a desktop environment that is both visually appealing and functional.
The COSMIC Desktop, currently featured as the default in Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS, presents an accessible way for users to experience these updates. Additionally, if you are using Ubuntu but prefer not to switch distributions, there is an unofficial COSMIC PPA available for installation.