GIMP 3.2.4 released with fresh set of bug fixes

GIMP Wilber logo in front of a brick texture with the number 3.2 graffitied on itBug fixes arrive in GIMP 3.2.4, the latest maintenance update for the current 3.2.x stable series. Assorted improvements made since GIMP 3.2.2 dropped in March include a variety of layer workflow tweaks, like ensuring certain actions, like ‘Layers to Image Size’ and ‘Resize Layer to Selection’, only work on raster layers (not vector, linked or text layers). A layer naming issue which broke what GIMP devs refer to as “the principle of least surprise” has been resolved. When opening an XCF file as layers within a different project, imported layer names used the XCF file name, not the original layer […]

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Type with your voice on Linux using this Whisper-based app

Your mouth can (probably) say things quicker than your hands can type, yet voice typing is rarely used as a primary input method on desktop – yet most of us think nothing of using it on mobile. That’s despite speech-to-text being available on desktop OSes for decades, natively and through dedicated apps. It never caught on because it was inaccurate and slow and typically hidden away as an assistive feature. (And because a lot of what you do at a keyboard is navigation and that is less efficient to speak, unless ‘arrow down, arrow down, arrow down’ is some trendy […]

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Archinstall 4.2 Shifts to Wayland-First Profiles, Leaving X.Org Behind

Archinstall 4.2 Shifts to Wayland-First Profiles, Leaving X.Org Behind

The Arch Linux installer continues evolving alongside the broader Linux desktop ecosystem. With the release of Archinstall 4.2, a notable change has arrived: Wayland is now the default focus for graphical installation profiles, while traditional X.Org-based profiles have been removed or deprioritized.

This move reflects a wider transition happening across Linux, one that is gradually redefining how graphical environments are built and used.

A Turning Point for Archinstall

Archinstall, the official guided installer for Arch Linux, has steadily improved over time to make installation more accessible while still maintaining Arch’s minimalist philosophy.

With version 4.2, the installer now aligns more closely with modern desktop trends by emphasizing Wayland-based environments during setup, instead of offering traditional X.Org configurations as first-class options.

This doesn’t mean X.Org is completely gone from Arch Linux, but it does signal a clear shift in direction.

Why Wayland Is Taking Over

Wayland has been gaining traction for years as the successor to X.Org, offering a more streamlined and secure approach to rendering graphics on Linux.

Compared to X.Org, Wayland is designed to:

  • Reduce complexity in the graphics stack
  • Improve security by isolating applications
  • Deliver smoother rendering and better performance
  • Support modern display technologies like high-DPI and variable refresh rates

As the Linux ecosystem evolves, many distributions and desktop environments are prioritizing Wayland as the default display protocol.

What Changed in Archinstall 4.2

With this release, users installing Arch through Archinstall will notice:

  • Wayland-based desktop environments and compositors are now the primary options
  • X.Org-centric setups are no longer emphasized in guided profiles
  • Installation workflows better reflect modern Linux defaults

This simplifies the installation experience for new users, who no longer need to choose between legacy and modern display systems during setup.

What About X.Org?

While Archinstall is moving forward, X.Org itself is not disappearing overnight.

Many applications and workflows still rely on X11, and compatibility is maintained through XWayland, which allows X11 applications to run within Wayland sessions.

For advanced users, Arch still provides full flexibility:

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Linux Mint’s next release won’t be until Christmas 2026

A laptop showing the Linux Mint desktop.Linux Mint has confirmed it is switching to a longer development cycle, in order to give the team more time to ‘fix bugs and improve the desktop’. As a result, the Linux Mint 23 release is now slated to launch in December 2026. It will, among other planned changes, use the same installer as LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) as this offers better OEM install, SecureBoot and LVM/LUKS support. Project lead Clement Lefebvre intimated that upending the distro’s standard twice-yearly release model was needed in February, noting that “…one of our strengths is that we’re doing things incrementally and changing […]

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Thunderbolt is an open-source ‘AI client’ from Mozilla’s for-profit arm

Thunderbolt is a new open source AI client from the Mozilla-owned MZLA Technologies aimed at enterprises who want to run self-hosted chatbots on their own infrastructure. MZLA Technologies is the for-profit subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation that develops and maintains the Thunderbird email client. It says Thunderbolt was created with the support of a grant from Mozilla. Terrible name aside (and skipping over the fact that Intel owns a trademark for ‘Thunderbolt’), the AI MZLA Technologies used to write their press release describes Thunderbolt as a “sovereign AI client” that lets organisations run and control AI infrastructure. Companies can pick whichever AI model they fancy, be […]

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Zorin OS 18.1 released, new Lite edition available

Zorin OS 18.1 on a floating laptop.The first point release to Zorin OS 18 is now available for download, arriving six months and some 3.3 million downloads after the original launch. Zorin OS 18.1 is a point release update. It’s still based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS-based but adds a variety of desktop refinements, updated software and a new kernel (courtesy of the recent Ubuntu HWE from Canonical). A new Zorin OS Lite also launches today. This nimble edition is aimed at older, lower-spec hardware and is based around a customised Xfce desktop rather than the GNOME Shell desktop the main edition uses. If you already run […]

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