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Linux Mint 20.3 'Una' gets a Beta release

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For those of you who love the taste, Linux Mint has a new Beta version available for testing the next major release. Linux Mint 20.3 'Una' is available with multiple desktop environments. With the ability to download with Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce out of the box, there's plenty to like about it.

Pictured - Linux Mint 20.3 'Una' Cinnamon Edition

The look and feel of Linux Mint has been tweaked with this release to have larger titlebar buttons, rounded corners and an overall "cleaner" theme with better dark mode support. Accent colouring to grab your attention in places was also adjusted, and removed from some places. There's also the ability for some applications to have a dark theme while the desktop keeps its lighter theme. Only a few applications currently support this mixed theming.

Other changes include:

  • Searching in the Sticky Notes app.
  • A new Document Manager called Thingy.
  • Hypnotix IPTV player gained a search feature.
  • Multi-calendar events support in the Cinnamon Calendar.
  • Workspace switcher applet: Option to disable scrolling.
  • Notification applet: Option to hide the counter.
  • Window list applet: Option to remove labels.
  • Xreader PDF reader received better support for manga.

With this release you're getting Kernel 5.4, a packaging base of Ubuntu 20.04, Flatpak 1.12, linux-firmware 1.187 and depending on what edition you go for there's Cinnamon 5.2, MATE 1.26 and Xfce 4.16.

Once stable and released proper, Linux Mint 20.3 will be supported until 2025.

The announcements can be seen on the Mint Blog.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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CatKiller Dec 14, 2021
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QuoteWith this release you're getting Kernel 5.4, a packaging base of Ubuntu 20.04
That seems really weird. Most Ubuntu 20.04 users are going to be on 5.11 already because of Hardware Enablement. If you're going to go through the effort to make a new downstream release based on that, why wouldn't you pick up the newer supported kernel from upstream?
Jahimself Dec 14, 2021
Quoting: CatKiller
QuoteWith this release you're getting Kernel 5.4, a packaging base of Ubuntu 20.04
That seems really weird. Most Ubuntu 20.04 users are going to be on 5.11 already because of Hardware Enablement. If you're going to go through the effort to make a new downstream release based on that, why wouldn't you pick up the newer supported kernel from upstream?

Is it because during development they stick to one kernell for testing? In general updating kernell on linux mint does no harm to the system, but it might be done this way to avoid the final user unwanted surprises. Just a possible explanation. I'm not dev, just trying to guess why they are a bit late with kernel in general. On top of that Mint comes with so many packages, dependencies and libraries provided with the distribution that might also be a reason why they stick to a particular kernel.


Last edited by Jahimself on 14 December 2021 at 5:22 pm UTC
tuubi Dec 14, 2021
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Quoting: CatKiller
QuoteWith this release you're getting Kernel 5.4, a packaging base of Ubuntu 20.04
That seems really weird. Most Ubuntu 20.04 users are going to be on 5.11 already because of Hardware Enablement. If you're going to go through the effort to make a new downstream release based on that, why wouldn't you pick up the newer supported kernel from upstream?
The 5.11 HWE kernels, as well as 5.13, are available in the kernel manager app. Are the HWE kernels installed by default on Ubuntu LTS?
Salvatos Dec 14, 2021
Quoting: CatKiller
QuoteWith this release you're getting Kernel 5.4, a packaging base of Ubuntu 20.04
That seems really weird. Most Ubuntu 20.04 users are going to be on 5.11 already because of Hardware Enablement. If you're going to go through the effort to make a new downstream release based on that, why wouldn't you pick up the newer supported kernel from upstream?
I’m a little disappointed with the older package base myself. I was hoping for updates to some applications I don’t want to use AppImages or FlatPacks for (or compile).
CatKiller Dec 14, 2021
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Quoting: tuubiThe 5.11 HWE kernels, as well as 5.13, are available in the kernel manager app. Are the HWE kernels installed by default on Ubuntu LTS?
In previous releases it was different for whether you were using the original iso or a later one - the .2 release and later would put you on the HWE kernel by default but the first two wouldn't. With 20.04 they switched it so that the installer would decide, regardless of iso, whether you should be on the HWE kernel or not; I don't know what method it uses to decide.
Purple Library Guy Dec 14, 2021
QuoteA new Document Manager called Thingy.
Does it look like a turnip?


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 14 December 2021 at 8:05 pm UTC
Pendragon Dec 15, 2021
Good stuff! I need to do backups and update my system at some point next year
fredrikfritte Dec 15, 2021
I installed 5.13.0-22-generic trough the update manager.
Runs just fine and a bit fresher than the one that comes out of the box.
questioner9 Dec 15, 2021
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Think the Cinnamon Calendar widget changes look interesting. Not sure how much of the theme changes I'll see as I've kept with the older Mint-X theme and icons.

I've also been using kernel 5.13 installed via the update manager, running great with no issues.
fredrikfritte Dec 15, 2021
agree on the calendar app...looking forward to test it out
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