A new version of the GNOME desktop environment, GNOME 48, has been released, bringing a variety of features, UI enhancements, and technical integrations designed to improve users’ experiences without unnecessary gimmicks. This version will be included in upcoming Linux distribution releases, including Fedora 42 and Ubuntu 25.04, with rolling-release users potentially getting it sooner.
Key Features of GNOME 48
Digital Wellbeing
GNOME 48 introduces a Digital Wellbeing panel within the Settings app, helping users track and manage their screen time. Key features include:
- Screen time tracking: Displays daily usage compared to previous days/weeks.
- Daily limits: Allows users to set time limits; once reached, the screen may turn black and white.
- Break reminders: Notifications that suggest taking breaks based on customizable intervals.
Notification Grouping
Notifications from the same application are now grouped together, simplifying navigation through alerts. Users can expand these notification stacks to view and manage individual alerts without cluttering the message tray.
HDR Support
GNOME 48 allows support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) on compatible displays. Users can enable HDR in the Settings, allowing apps to utilize the full potential of HDR-capable monitors.
Dynamic Triple Buffering
This feature has been integrated into Mutter, GNOME’s compositor, after years of development. It aims to provide smoother animations and a more fluid user experience by adding an extra render buffer.
Power Management Enhancements
The Power section in Settings has been reorganized with new power-saving options. A notable addition allows laptops to limit battery charging to 80%, potentially extending the battery life. This change is supported on hardware optimized for such settings.
Centered Windows by Default
Newly launched windows will now open at the center of the screen by default, improving user experience and predictability.
New Font Selection
GNOME 48 has shifted its default interface font from Cantarell to Adwaita Sans, a fork of Inter, and also introduces Adwaita Mono for terminal use. These fonts are expected to offer better rendering and support for a wider range of characters.
Global Shortcuts
Applications can now register system-wide shortcuts, improving efficiency for tasks that might need control without the app being in focus.
Nautilus File Manager Improvements
Nautilus has been optimized for performance with faster directory loading and thumbnail generation. Also, it introduces a feature to remove bookmarks directly from the path bar.
Other Application Updates
New additions include:
- Loupe: An improved image viewer with basic editing tools.
- Decibels: A new minimalistic audio player designed for straightforward audio playback.
Several core apps have received various enhancements and refinements, including improvements to Maps, Calendar, and Web.
Additional Changes
GNOME 48 includes hundreds of smaller tweaks, bug fixes, and improvements across the GNOME stack, enhancing the overall experience.
Getting GNOME 48
Users eager to explore these new features can download an Ubuntu 25.04 daily build or wait for the beta version due soon. For a more vanilla experience, a GNOME OS image is available, though it is primarily intended for demonstration purposes.
As GNOME 48 becomes available, it is poised to provide a compelling reason for many users to upgrade their systems.