GIMP's Transition to GTK3

GIMP has successfully transitioned to GTK3, marking a significant milestone as the development team gears up for the release of version 3.0. This upgrade is part of a larger roadmap aimed at enhancing the software's functionality. With the merging of the branch focused on this transition, GIMP is now fully utilizing GTK3.

However, before the official launch of 3.0, there are still essential features to be implemented. Notably, complete Wayland support is still a work in progress; while the application functions on Wayland, numerous bugs, particularly in window management—such as the handling of GIMP's floating toolbars—remain. Additional enhancements in color management, including the ability to handle CMYK color space images, are also pending, along with a redesign of the API for scripts and plugins, which is currently under development.

Despite these challenges, the recent accomplishments signify a considerable step forward for the GIMP project.

BlendOS 2 Released

BlendOS is a unique Linux distribution that merges packages from various systems—such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch—within isolated "boxes," all while keeping the operating system immutable. This second major version, introduced by lead developer Rudra Saraswat, now offers out-of-the-box support for Android applications through Waydroid, alongside access to the F-Droid and Aurorae app stores.

Additionally, BlendOS 2 supports Web Apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), allowing them to be treated as standard desktop applications. Users can also submit these applications to the Blend store. The integration of the Arch User Repository (AUR), specifically Chaotic-AUR, has been enhanced, and the distrobox feature has been revamped using Podman, retaining some elements from the previous code.

Plasma 6 ISO Now Available

KaOS is the first distribution to offer an experimental Plasma 6 ISO, reflecting the ongoing development of the Plasma 6 desktop environment, which now builds upon Qt6. At this early stage, Plasma 6 appears similar to Plasma 5.27, but users can download this ISO to test upcoming features as KDE developers continue their work.

This new version of KaOS also introduces various applications, including Tokodon, KDE's client for Mastodon, and the desktop version of Signal. The updated welcome app guides users to essential settings that may require adjustment.

Audacity Version 3.3 Released

Audacity's latest release, version 3.3, showcases several months of development, introducing a range of new features. Among these is a new "Shelf" filter, which can be configured for high-shelf or low-shelf effects. Users can now preview more effects before applying them, improving workflow efficiency. The new "beats and bars" feature allows for audio clips to snap based on beats, facilitating alignment with a musical base.

Other notable updates include a new linear ruler for better volume representation, an added "Delete" button for the Cut/Copy/Paste toolbar, and a new Time Signature toolbar that is hidden by default.

Enhancements in GNOME Applications

The latest updates from the GNOME project feature a plethora of improvements across various applications. For instance, Loupe, the image viewer, now supports image printing and ICC color profiles, along with faster SVG rendering.

Authenticator has undergone a significant code cleanup and now allows for exporting backups to FreeOTP and JSON, in addition to importing images with QR codes. Workbench, a sandbox for GTK/GNOME technologies, is now fully sandboxed and recognized as safe by GNOME Software, enabling immediate previews of Blueprint UI files.

Moreover, GNOME Network Display has added Chromecast support, which is set to be included in GNOME 45. New applications, including Dino for chat and video calls, have been introduced on Flathub, along with updates to existing applications like Tube Converter and Denaro.

Lastly, the phosh shell for mobile devices now features an emergency button that can be activated by a long press of the power button, currently off by default for further testing. The Graphs application has also received a complete UI overhaul, allowing users to customize plot styles and save projects as single files.

In conclusion, these recent advancements across GIMP, BlendOS, Plasma 6, Audacity, and GNOME illustrate the dynamic evolution of open-source software, continually enhancing user experience and functionality.