Gnome 3.28 Released
The latest GNOME rolls out with better contact management and new features for handling virtual machines.
The Gnome Foundation has announced the release of Gnome 3:28 codenamed ‘Chongqing’ to honor the GNOME.Asia 2017 team. Gnome strives for simplicity to make it easier for a user to use desktop Linux. The Gnome desktop uses simple names for applications -- Files, Web, Software, Videos -- which accompany simple user interface. Gnome 3:28 continues that trend.
According to the release notes, GNOME 3.28 offers two important new features that make it easier to keep track of the things. You can now star files and folders in Files (the file manager of Gnome). Once they’ve been added, starred items can be easily viewed in a special location that can be opened from the sidebar. That’s a handy feature to get quick access to files that you want.
The second feature is the arrival of ‘favorites’ to the ‘Contact’ app. Now user can pin contacts of people they often interact with, similar to the way users do it on iOS and Android devices. The Contact app also allows users to sort names by first and last names.
The Boxes virtual machine manager includes a number of enhancements, including a new feature that makes it easier to pass files between the host and guest systems.
There have been notable improvements in the entertainment department. The Photos app can now import files from removable devices, such as SD cards and USB drives. According to the release notes, this feature automatically detects devices that contain new images and it also allows organizing new images into albums as they’re imported.
With 3:28, Gnome has introduced a new app called ‘Usage’ that tells you which app is consuming what system resources. Since the tool is just being introduced, it’s very basic and includes features for examining CPU and memory consumption. It highlights problem areas so you can easily identify issues and solve them.
From the security point of view, this release comes with extended device support.The integrated Thunderbolt 3 connection support offers security checks to prevent data theft through unauthorized Thunderbolt 3 connections.
The list of new features is long, and the best way to learn about them is by updating Gnome on your system.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.