KDE developers have been incredibly busy this week, with numerous features being merged in preparation for the upcoming Plasma 6.1 release. These updates highlight the ongoing dedication of the KDE community to enhance the user experience and functionality of the Plasma desktop environment and its associated applications.
The Dolphin File Manager: A Smarter Default Behavior
One notable improvement is in the Dolphin file manager. By default, when you double-click on the background of a folder view, everything within that folder is now selected. This change simplifies file management tasks, making it easier for users to work with multiple files at once.
Elisa Music Player: Album Shuffle, Not Just Track
The Elisa music player has also seen a significant update. It now supports shuffling playlist contents by album, in addition to the existing track-based shuffling. This feature offers a more cohesive listening experience, allowing users to enjoy a collection of songs from the same album in a randomized but structured manner.
KDE on Wayland: Color Profile Integration
KDE developers have made strides in enhancing the Wayland integration. Users can now configure KDE with KWin to pull color profile information from the monitor’s EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) where supported. This ensures that the color accuracy and consistency are maintained across different displays, providing a more visually appealing and accurate user experience.
Plasma Lock Screen: True Screensaver Mode
For Plasma’s lock screen, a new feature allows the cursor to disappear when the clock disappears. This creates a more immersive true screensaver experience, especially when paired with a wallpaper plug-in. Users can enjoy a seamless and aesthetically pleasing lock screen that enhances the overall visual appeal of the desktop.
Smooth Scrolling: An Option, But Default
Smooth scrolling is now an optional feature for QML-based apps, but it remains enabled by default. This means users can experience a more fluid and responsive scrolling experience without needing to manually enable it, enhancing the overall usability of applications built with QML.
Minimalistic Command Bars
Command bars within Qt Widgets-based applications have undergone a visual overhaul to match a more minimalistic style. This update aligns with the overall aesthetic of the Plasma desktop and provides a cleaner, more modern look, making it easier for users to focus on their tasks.
Conclusion
These updates underscore the continuous effort of the KDE community to improve and refine the Plasma desktop environment. From enhancing file management and music playback to improving visual aesthetics and color accuracy, the latest features in Plasma 6.1 promise to provide a more intuitive and visually appealing user experience.
As KDE developers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with open-source software, users can look forward to even more innovative features and improvements in future releases.
References
- Nate’s Blog
- Phoronix Articles & Reviews News Archive Forums Premium Ad-Free Contact
By exploring these updates, we gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing evolution of KDE Plasma and the dedication of its developers to creating a top-tier desktop environment.
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