Cinnamon Desktop 6.0 has been officially released, bringing a plethora of new features and improvements to the popular desktop environment developed by the Linux Mint team. This release marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Cinnamon, as it introduces a more refined visual presentation, and enhanced gesture controls, and lays the groundwork for future Wayland support. In this article, we will delve into the key highlights of Cinnamon 6.0, discuss its Wayland support, and explore the upcoming Linux Mint 21.3 “Virginia” release.
Highlights of Cinnamon Desktop 6.0
Refined System Settings
Cinnamon 6.0 introduces significant updates to the System Settings, providing a more polished and visually appealing interface. The new design streamlines the user experience, making it easier to navigate and customize the desktop environment to suit individual preferences.
Improved Gesture Controls
Gesture controls have been fine-tuned in Cinnamon 6.0, allowing users to adjust the amplified max volume settings with greater precision. This enhancement ensures a more seamless and intuitive interaction with the desktop environment, particularly for those using touch-enabled devices.
Cleaner Desktop Appearance
The “cinnamon.css” file has been updated in Cinnamon 6.0, resulting in a cleaner and more organized desktop appearance. This improvement not only enhances the overall aesthetics of the desktop environment but also simplifies the process of customizing the look and feel of Cinnamon.
Enhanced Visual Quality with Dithering
Cinnamon 6.0 introduces dithering in the lightbox, which reduces color banding and improves the visual quality of the desktop environment. This feature ensures a more visually pleasing experience for users, particularly when viewing images or videos with subtle gradients.
Wayland Support
Transition to Wayland
As the Linux ecosystem gradually transitions to Wayland, various distributions and desktop environments are preparing for the switch in 2024. Wayland offers numerous advantages over the traditional Xorg display server, including improved performance, security, and support for modern hardware features.
Linux Mint’s Stance on Wayland
Despite the ongoing shift towards Wayland, Linux Mint continues to rely on Xorg for the time being. However, Cinnamon 6.0 marks the first step in preparing for the eventual transition to Wayland, as the desktop environment begins to lay the groundwork for future support.
Bug Fixes and System Stability
Addressing Menu Applet Issues
Cinnamon 6.0 addresses numerous bugs, including issues with the menu applet, to provide a more stable and reliable desktop experience. These fixes ensure that users can enjoy a smoother and more consistent interaction with the desktop environment.
Streamlined Gesture Management
The gesture management system has been refined in Cinnamon 6.0, streamlining user interaction and making it easier to navigate the desktop environment using touch gestures. This improvement enhances the overall usability of Cinnamon, particularly for those using touch-enabled devices.
Future Releases
Linux Mint 21.3 “Virginia”
The upcoming Linux Mint 21.3 “Virginia” release is eagerly anticipated, as it will include the Cinnamon 6.0 desktop environment. This release will bring all the new features and improvements of Cinnamon 6.0 to the broader Linux Mint user base, further enhancing the popular distribution.
Experimental Wayland Session
Cinnamon 6.0 also introduces an experimental Wayland session, which supports fractional scaling for HiDPI screens. This feature is a significant step towards full Wayland support in future releases, as it demonstrates the desktop environment’s commitment to embracing modern display technologies.
Additional Features
Updated Sound Applet
The Sound applet in Cinnamon 6.0 has been updated to include support for Telegram Desktop and a new Shift+middle click action. This enhancement provides users with greater control over their audio settings and improves the overall functionality of the applet.
Improved File Thumbnail Generation
Cinnamon 6.0 introduces improved generation and handling of file thumbnails, including support for AVIF image files. This feature ensures that users can quickly and easily preview their files, enhancing the overall file management experience within the desktop environment.
Conclusion
Cinnamon Desktop 6.0 is a significant release that brings numerous updates and features to the popular desktop environment. With its refined visual presentation, enhanced gesture controls, and groundwork for future Wayland support, Cinnamon 6.0 is poised to deliver an even better user experience for Linux Mint users and beyond. As the Linux ecosystem continues to evolve, we can expect further improvements and innovations from the Cinnamon team, ensuring that the desktop environment remains a top choice for Linux users worldwide.
