Latest Raspberry Pi OS Update: UI Improvements and More

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Latest Raspberry Pi OS Update:  UI Improvements and More


Introduction

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a new update for their Debian-based Raspberry Pi OS, versioned 2024-07-04. This update brings numerous user interface (UI) improvements and new settings to enhance the experience on Raspberry Pi single-board computers.


Enhanced Desktop and Panel Customization

The latest release includes significant updates to the panel and the PCManFM file manager, now supporting customization of more than two desktops. Users can now tailor their desktop environments to better suit their workflow. The panel also features customization options for the labwc Wayland window-stacking compositor, which is now installed by default as an alternative to Wayfire.


Configuring labwc as the Default Wayland Compositor

The labwc compositor can be enabled through the raspi-config utility. It comes with theme settings in the Pixflat theme and configuration support in raspberrypi-ui-mods. The raspi-config utility itself has been updated to include options for setting keyboard preferences and adjusting the PCIe speed.


Improved First-Run Wizard and Remote Desktop Support

The piwiz first-run startup wizard now allows users to enable or disable Raspberry Pi Connect. This remote desktop support utility has also been added to the Recommended Software installer and can be managed through raspi-config and rc-gui utilities, simplifying its installation and management for users who require remote desktop capabilities.


Enabling Raspberry Pi Connect

Support for Raspberry Pi Connect can be enabled from the rc-gui utility, making it easier for users to set up remote desktop support right from the start.


Touchscreen and Hardware Key Enhancements

The raspberrypi-ui-mods package has been updated to support new touchscreens and systemd-inhibit, allowing users to override the hardware power key on the Raspberry Pi 5. The raspberrypi-sys-mods package now includes a new udev rule, enabling users to change the backlight settings and providing a larger swapfile size for better performance.


Stability and Performance Improvements

The updated Wayfire Wayland compositor addresses a crash issue when opening multiple Xwayland windows and fixes a touchscreen bug that occurred when touching areas without windows. The gui-pkinst installer now includes whitelist support to restrict installation to specified packages, enhancing security and control over installed software.


Better Support for Smaller Screens

The wf-panel-pi panel has been updated to offer better support for smaller screens, improved keyboard handling, and enhanced icon highlighting for taskbar buttons. Additionally, it now displays proper dialog icons on the taskbar, improving overall usability.


Security and Utility Updates

The PiClone utility has received a fix for a potential buffer overflow vulnerability. Brightness control for DSI displays and a more reliable method for detecting virtual displays have been added to the ARandR utility. The rc-gui tool now supports configuring alternate keyboard layouts, providing more flexibility for users.


File Manager and Web Browsers

The PCManFM file manager has been patched to prevent crashes during certain drag-and-drop operations. Under the hood, this release is powered by Linux kernel 6.6.31 LTS and includes the latest versions of Chromium (125.0.6422.133) and Mozilla Firefox (126.0) web browsers, ensuring a secure and up-to-date browsing experience.


Availability

Raspberry Pi OS 2024-07-04 is available for download via the Raspberry Pi Imager utility and will also be accessible from the official Raspberry Pi website.


This new release marks a significant step forward in enhancing the user experience on Raspberry Pi devices, with improved customization options, better support for hardware, and increased stability and security.



Source:  9to5Linux - New Raspberry Pi OS Release Brings Many UI Improvements and New Settings

Image:  Raspberry Pi

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