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ZDNET key takeaways
- elementaryOS 8.1 adds polish to an already elegant OS.
- The focus is on security, multitasking, and app management.
- It’s in beta, with no public release date yet.
When I received word from Danielle Foré, founder and CEO of elementaryOS, that the beta version of 8.1 was available, you can bet I downloaded the ISO immediately and installed it.
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According to the official release notes, the team focused on three primary goals:
- Following through on OS 8 release goals
- Improving support for your devices
- Addressing your feedback, with more than 1,100 issue reports fixed
With this latest update, they’ve made certain additions and modifications that make the OS better than ever.
Let’s talk about what’s new.
Security
Let’s first take a look at which features improve the security of elementaryOS.
Back when the team released version 8, it added Secure Session (thanks to Wayland), which ensures that applications respect your privacy. This feature works by requiring all applications to obtain explicit permission before they are allowed to access system features, such as monitoring keystrokes or taking screenshots.
elementaryOS 8.1 gives you granular control over permissions.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Back in the initial release, the Classic Session was the default. With version 8.1, Secure Session has now become the default to improve the security of your desktop. With developers and hardware vendors offering better Wayland support, Secure Session now supports a broader range of modern hardware features.
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Another very important addition is that when an app or service requires sudo authentication, everything but the password prompt is dimmed and inaccessible. By doing this, you can be certain that only legitimate system dialogs are asking you to type your password. This ensures that a malicious app isn’t trying to read your password.
This is a necessary improvement to help beef up security.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Multitasking and window management
When elementaryOS 8 was released, certain fan-favorite features were removed from the Dock (the Dock replaced Plank). With 8.1, some of those features have returned. You’ll now see multiple dots for apps with multiple windows open on the desktop. Those dots also have a color code, depending on which workspace they are running in.
Via the Background Portal, the Dock can now list apps that are running in the background without a window. From within System Settings, you can determine which apps are allowed to run in the background, as well as advanced system access.
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Another handy addition is a plus button at the right edge of the Dock. Click that button to open a new workspace or select an existing workspace. To create a new workspace, use either the Super + End or Super + 0 key combinations. You can also drag and drop to rearrange workspaces at will and launch applications from the Dock directly into Multitasking View.
Multitasking is even easier in elementaryOS 8.1.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You can also now enable hot corners, even while an app is full screen. This is handled in System Settings > Desktop > Multitasking.
App management
Back in elementaryOS 8.0, the developers added Flathub into App Center, which meant users could install proprietary apps like Slack or Spotify, among others. With 8.1, all apps now show a percentage-based app rating in the App Center. The app ratings are drawn from the same ratings server used by GNOME Software.
The team has also added support for app add-ons and indicators for when a game supports playing with controllers. You’ll also find improved license listing for apps, which shows more details and even includes links when developers encourage users to get involved. The developers have also changed the action button label from “Free” to “Install” to avoid confusion. Apps now also list whether they include in-app purchases.
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Finally, another important update to app management is that app upgrades and system updates have been split apart. App updates are still handled within the App Center, but system updates are now managed in System Settings > System. You’ll also find more information listed in this location to help keep you better informed, such as how large an update is.
elementaryOS has been an elegant and user-friendly Linux distribution for some time, but with the release of the 8.1 beta, it proves that the development team can still bring the magic while taking user feedback seriously.
Miscellaneous improvements
- elementaryOS now runs on ARM64 devices.
- Fractional scaling is now available in the Secure Session.
- Better stylus detection in Wacom settings.
- A redesigned Bluetooth Settings window.
- Airplane Mode no longer disables Bluetooth.
- Keyboard focus indicators now vanish when not in use.
- It’s now possible to directly deny apps access to send notification bubbles.
- A new setting for whether a network should be automatically connected.
- New default apps for system monitoring and maps.
You can read more details about version 8.1 in the official release announcement, and if you want to test 8.1, you can download it from the official site.