Solus 4.4 Now Ready for Prime Time

Jul 10, 2023

Latest release includes plenty of software updates, a new default file manager, and even better hardware support.

Solus 4.4, "Harmony," is here and it has plenty to offer users. There are four different versions to choose from (Budgie, GNOME, MATE, and KDE Plasma). Each version includes all the updates that come along with the more recent versions of the desktops (Budgie 10.7.2, GNOME 43.5, MATE 1.27, and KDE Plasma 5.27.5). Although not bleeding edge releases, each of these desktops is stable and filled with new features to enjoy.

One welcome change is that, with KDE Plasma, the Wayland session now works out of the box. However, for MATE users, let it be known that the Solus development team plan on sunsetting this version (because the MATE desktop isn't keeping up with Wayland development). In fact, version 4.4 will be the last to include the MATE option.

As far as software, you'll find Firefox 114.0.1, LibreOffice 7.5.3.2, Thunderbird 102.12.0, Mesa 23.0.3, and Linux kernel 6.3.8 (which supplies an even wider range of hardware support). With the new kernel, there's new and/or improved support for AMD Radeon and Intel Arc, and zram is enabled out of the box for much-improved performance.

You can read more about the Harmony iteration of Solus in the official release notes and download an ISO for installation from the official Solus download page.
 
 

 
 

Related content

  • News

    SUSE Goes for the Fork After Red Hat's RHEL Announcement; Solus 4.4; Ubuntu Will Show APT News in the Software Updater App; Nitrux 2.9.0; Ubuntu 22.10 EOL; Nobara Project Releases New Version of Its Modified Fedora Distribution; English Translation of Children's Book Ada & Zangemann; and Steam Client Features Hardware Acceleration on Linux.

  • Solus 4.3 Available for Download and Installation

    The latest iteration from the Solus developers is out with kernel 5.13 and plenty of new features, bug fixes, and new hardware support.

  • FAQ – Solus

    This community-funded distro has big ambitions: a new desktop and rolling releases.

  • Go Your Own Way

    If you are looking for an alternative desktop interface, Bruce gives a rundown of seven Linux distros with unique desktops worth exploring.

  • NixOS 24.05 Is Ready for Prime Time

    The latest release of NixOS (Uakari) has arrived and offers its usual reproducible, declarative, and reliable goodness.

comments powered by Disqus