A new version of the GTK-based music player Rhythmbox, version 3.4.8, has been released, marking its first major update in over a year. This update is focused on minor improvements rather than introducing new features or significant user interface changes. However, it does come with a number of important bug fixes and enhancements.
Rhythmbox is primarily used for managing local music files, but it also supports network shares, podcasts, radio streaming, and integration with online services like Magnatune and Last.FM. In this release, several notable improvements have been made, particularly for podcasts. Enhancements include better handling of episode images and a new option to "delete file only" for downloaded episodes, allowing users to keep the episode entry for future access.
Additionally, the long-standing issue with the DAAP server has been resolved, enabling users to stream and share their local music library across devices on their local network once again. The update also features improvements in the handling of Android and MTP split plugins, with Lenovo now included on the Android MTP match allowlist, and it resolves issues with phone recognition as Android PTP devices.
Some specific bug fixes are as follows:
- Playlist creation now works even if a directory doesn’t exist.
- The player no longer freezes when it encounters a non-playable file.
- Enhanced accessibility for users of the Orca screen reader.
- Context adjustments for pause/stop buttons depending on the playback source.
- An updated radio station list with fixed URL streams.
- Changes to Flatpak and AppData.
To obtain this update, users may need to compile the source code manually, which can be an enjoyable learning experience. Typically, new app versions do not appear in the regular Ubuntu repositories, so they may not be available via the Software Updater. Users can find Rhythmbox on Flathub, where the latest update will be rolled out in the coming days or weeks. Additionally, it is expected that unofficial PPAs will emerge, given the popularity of Rhythmbox among Ubuntu and Linux Mint users.
For more details on this release, you can visit the Rhythmbox page on GNOME Gitlab.