Development on COSMIC, a new open-source desktop environment by System76, is progressing with the release of its fourth alpha. System76 plans to release new alpha versions approximately once a month to expand features and gather feedback from users and developers.
Alongside this alpha, a new ISO of Pop!_OS 24.04 (Alpha) is available, making it easier for users to try out the latest changes on different setups. The COSMIC DE is also accessible on other distributions, including Arch Linux.
Key Changes in COSMIC Alpha 4
The previous alpha versions laid the groundwork for COSMIC, adding basic features and refining the user interface. The latest alpha continues this trend with several new options:
-
Settings App Enhancements:
- A new Region & Language panel allows users to set their preferred languages and the formatting for date, time, and numbers independently.
- A System & Accounts section now includes Default Applications preferences, enabling users to select default web browsers and applications for specific file types.
-
New Power Management Options:
- The Power & Battery settings now allow for more control over display timeout and suspend options for battery-powered devices.
-
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Support:
- Users can now control VRR settings within the Display options, choosing to enable it automatically with fullscreen content or keep it activated at all times.
-
COSMIC Store Updates:
- The store has incorporated a collapsible details panel for tracking app updates and installations along with a list of recent activities.
-
Accessibility Features:
- An Accessibility applet is now available in the dock, allowing easy toggling of screen reader support. The feature is currently implemented in COSMIC Settings, Mozilla Firefox, and GNOME applications, with plans for further integration.
Additionally, users can expect performance optimizations, bug fixes, and improvements in user experience, such as dynamic adjustment of tiling layouts based on display settings.
Looking ahead, the development of a new Gstreamer-based media player, COSMIC Player, is underway. The player can currently be installed from the repos in Pop!_OS 24.04 using the command:
sudo apt install cosmic-playerThese updates mark a significant step forward for the COSMIC desktop environment, showcasing its potential as a unique option in the Linux ecosystem.