Fedora Linux 44 Beta Candidate 1.1 has been released, featuring a new GNOME 50 stack and Linux kernel 6.19.2, with a focus on identifying issues that may arise from their integration. Testers are encouraged to follow the comprehensive test plan, report results, and highlight any blockers to ensure a smooth final release. The beta cycle aims to uncover and address potential glitches, particularly those related to recent changes in the Wayland compositing path in GNOME 50. The community is reminded of the importance of timely feedback and the approaching final freeze date, as all beta-priority tests must pass before the release can be deemed stable

KDE Plasma has released version 6.6.1, which includes several bug fixes aimed at enhancing the desktop experience. This update resolves clipboard issues with Remote Desktop Protocol clients, stabilizes output configurations on Wayland, and addresses quirks related to window decorations and notifications. Additionally, it improves integration with KDE Connect SMS and refines UI elements for better readability on dark themes. The release also streamlines KWin's compositor by removing unnecessary code paths, contributing to a smoother user experience for those who frequently adjust their workspace settings

The 4MLinux 50.1 STABLE release features the new Linux kernel 6.12.73, which can be installed effortlessly using the command "zk update." This update improves audio playback on older hardware, enhances support for NVMe SSDs and Ryzen CPUs, and removes a memory-consuming "auto-repair" script from the previous version. Users will notice better performance and a more reliable system experience after running the update. To update, simply open a terminal, type the command, and reboot the system once the installation is complete

The Mabox 26.02 release introduces a new audio menu accessed via the W-a shortcut, allowing users to easily launch music players and visualizers. The Cava Colorizer has been completely rewritten for more vibrant color shifts and customization options, enhancing the visualizer's responsiveness. Screen recording now correctly captures audio, addressing a previous issue from a driver update, and the Picom compositor is disabled by default to improve performance on older machines. Users can still enable Picom manually for effects, and several handy keyboard shortcuts have been added for a streamlined workflow

The latest release of PikaOS on February 26, 2023, features a fresh kernel, updated Mesa and PipeWire, and offers separate ISOs for standard and NVIDIA graphics cards, with the latter providing better performance for newer NVIDIA GPUs. Users are encouraged to select their ISO based on their GPU type and personal preferences for desktop environments, with GNOME and KDE being popular choices for those seeking a polished experience, while power users may prefer Hyprland or Niri for their customizability. The update claims to be "gaming ready," but users with NVIDIA cards are advised to choose the NVIDIA ISO to avoid performance issues with the Nouveau driver. Additional enhancements include improved support for AMD and Intel GPUs, better texture streaming in Mesa, and smoother audio latency with PipeWire, alongside the restoration of the Blivet installer for easier partition management

Bazaar version 0.7.10 has been released, featuring a faster search function that is more forgiving of typos and ranks suggestions by relevance. The update introduces a new view-app hook for running custom commands on app detail pages, alongside usability improvements like a close-window shortcut and a confirmation bypass for repeated installations. These enhancements aim to create a cleaner and more efficient user interface based on community feedback. Users can easily install Bazaar through Flathub or compile it from source, ensuring a smooth experience without unnecessary bloat

Linux kernel 7.0 RC1 has been released, featuring routine updates primarily focused on drivers and architecture tweaks, which may improve stability for newer hardware but could also introduce issues for legacy devices. Developers working with Rust will find improvements to Rust bindings, while users are advised to monitor log files post-installation for any regressions, particularly if utilizing custom modules or legacy drivers. A safe testing approach includes using git to download the kernel, keeping existing configurations, and conducting dry boots in QEMU before applying changes to real hardware. Overall, while the update is generally painless for most users, those with niche drivers or custom setups should consider waiting for RC2 to avoid potential issues

openSUSE has released an update for Tumbleweed to address three security vulnerabilities in the chromedriver package. The updated versions, chromedriver-145.0.7632.109-1.1 and chromium 145.0.7632.109-1.1, are now available for installation. The vulnerabilities are tracked under CVE-2026-2648, CVE-2026-2649, and CVE-2026-2650, with more details provided on the SUSE website. Users are encouraged to install the update to ensure the security of their systems

Bazaar 0.7.9 is an updated Flatpak store for GNOME that introduces usability improvements aimed at simplifying flatpak management. Key features include the ability to cancel transactions with a single click, a new shift-skip shortcut for power users, and pill-shaped search suggestions that enhance the search experience. While some features, like the curated tab, may be useful for specific distributions, they might be seen as unnecessary by others, particularly on low-resolution displays. Overall, the update offers valuable enhancements that make it a worthwhile installation for regular flatpak users

KDE Neon 20260220 combines the latest Plasma 6.6 desktop with a stable Ubuntu 24.04 LTS base and kernel 6.17, catering to users who appreciate cutting-edge technology. It is particularly suited for technical users who want immediate access to new KDE applications, although those requiring a more stable workstation may prefer other distributions. The system ships with the open-source Nouveau driver for NVIDIA graphics, but proprietary drivers can be installed at the user's risk, requiring self-troubleshooting for any resulting issues. Overall, KDE Neon offers a unique experience for those willing to embrace occasional instability for the sake of accessing the latest features and enhancements in the Plasma environment

The latest XanMod kernels (6.19.3, 6.18.13, 6.18.13-rt, and LTS 6.12.74) have been released for 64-bit Debian-based systems, featuring performance enhancements such as LLVM's ThinLTO and polyhedral optimizations. Users may encounter issues with certain drivers, notably NVIDIA's proprietary driver version 560.28, which can lead to system panic after booting into the new kernel. Installation requires trusting the XanMod signing key and updating DKMS modules for external drivers like NVIDIA and OpenZFS to ensure compatibility. While the new kernels offer significant performance improvements, users who prefer stability may choose to stick with the older 6.18.x version

The Liquorix 6.18-14 kernel has been released, aiming to enhance gaming and multimedia performance for Linux users by offering lower latency and better frame-time consistency. This kernel features a series of optimizations, such as swapping the default scheduler and reducing CPU timeslice, which can particularly benefit users involved in gaming, video production, or low-latency virtual machines. Users can install Liquorix through a simple script that sets up the necessary repository and kernel package, ensuring a smooth installation process. While the improvements may not be noticeable for casual users, those requiring high responsiveness will likely find the upgrade beneficial, albeit at the cost of slightly increased power consumption

The recent releases of the Linux Kernel, including versions 5.10.251, 5.15.201, 6.1.164, 6.6.127, 6.12.74, and 6.18.13, introduce various fixes and improvements aimed at enhancing system stability and performance. Notably, version 6.18.13 addresses critical issues such as f2fs swapfile corruption and USB support for embedded modems, as well as resolving divide-by-zero bugs in Radeon drivers that could lead to crashes. Furthermore, updates to GPIOLib improve compatibility with ACPI string references, reducing lockdep warnings during device probing. Collectively, these enhancements contribute to a more robust and user-friendly kernel experience

The Linux Kernel 6.19.3 has been released, offering fixes for system crashes and performance issues related to file systems, device drivers, and USB serial handling. Key improvements include solutions for F2FS swapfile corruption, resolving bugs in the qla2xxx SCSI driver, and enhancements to USB serial drivers to ensure better recognition and data handling. The update aims to stabilize systems, particularly for Android devices and custom Linux installations, without adding unnecessary bloat. Overall, the release is seen as a significant step in maintaining system reliability and performance

The XanMod kernel version 6.19.2 has been released, featuring enhancements like webcam support for certain AMD laptops, and can be installed on Debian-based systems. The installation process involves adding the official repository, updating the package list, and installing the kernel and necessary headers along with build tools for external modules like NVIDIA drivers and VirtualBox. Users should verify the kernel version post-installation and may need to reinstall proprietary drivers if encountering boot issues. Additionally, DKMS modules for VirtualBox and VMware require a rebuild to ensure compatibility with the new kernel

The Liquorix Kernel 6.18-13 enhances performance and decreases latency for desktop users and gamers by implementing several optimizations, including a new scheduler setup. To install this kernel on Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux, users can download the official script using curl, which automatically handles necessary configurations and updates. Key changes include replacing the mq-deadline scheduler with Kyber for multiqueue devices and BFQ for single-queue drives, improving system responsiveness during demanding tasks like gaming and video encoding. After installation and rebooting, users can verify the new kernel's activation by checking the output of specific commands, ensuring they experience enhanced performance in their daily computing tasks

PikaOS 26.02.17 introduces a range of editions tailored for gaming, each featuring distinct desktop environments, including GNOME, KDE, Hyprland, COSMIC, and Niri. The GNOME Edition offers a stable Wayland experience with multiple visual themes, while the KDE Edition combines aesthetics with solid gaming performance. The Hyprland Edition focuses on dynamic window tiling for customization and efficiency, whereas the COSMIC Edition is designed for speed and responsiveness, appealing to developers. Each edition is available with standard or NVIDIA ISOs for optimal driver support for various graphics cards, making PikaOS a versatile choice for different user preferences

The latest update of Bazzite Linux, version 43.20260217, enhances gaming performance on various devices with updates like kernel 6.17.7-ba25, Mesa 26.0.0-1, and new NVIDIA drivers. Key improvements include better HDR support and reduced stutter in games due to improved scheduler support for high-frequency cores, although some package updates, such as perl modules, may not provide significant benefits. Users can upgrade to this version using the rollback-helper script without needing a full reinstall, but should back up any custom configurations beforehand. While the upgrades are beneficial for HDR gaming and reduced input lag, users of older titles may opt to stay on their current version until more compelling changes are introduced

XanMod kernels 6.18.12 and 6.12.73 LTS enhance performance on Debian-based systems, offering faster compile times and improved I/O for containers due to ThinLTO compilation and runqueue changes. To install, users need to import a signing key, add a source list entry, update apt, and install the linux-xanmod-x64v3 meta-package, which simplifies the process into a single flow. Users should ensure they have a minimal build environment for DKMS modules and add the "non-free" component to avoid issues with proprietary drivers. After installation, users can verify the new kernel is active and check that their graphics stack is functioning properly

KDE Plasma 6.6 introduces several quality-of-life upgrades, including an improved on-screen keyboard that auto-detects text fields and a screenshot tool that can perform OCR to extract text from images. The update also features a QR code scanner for easy Wi-Fi joining, direct volume control from the task manager, and an emoji skin tone selector. Significant accessibility improvements have been made, including color-blind filters, a reduced motion toggle, and better support for users with different needs. Overall, these enhancements offer practical benefits without compromising the flexibility of the desktop environment