Dash-to-panel, the popular GNOME Shell Extension, got a update few days ago with the latest GNOME 46 support.

For those who don’t know about dash-to-panel, it’s a free open-source extension for GNOME, which replaces the default panel and dock with a single bottom bar. Along with ArcMenu, user can easily customize the desktop to Windows 10 or Windows 11 style layout.

Ubuntu 24.04 with Dash to panel and ArcMenu

GNOME, the popular Linux desktop environment, announced new 46 stable release this Wednesday!

The new GNOME 46, code-name“Kathmandu”, will be default desktop for Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40 planned for next month, and optional for Arch, Manjaro, etc.

The Files, aka Nautilus, in the release features new global search, that can be triggered either by Ctrl+Shift+F or top-left search icon. It supports searching multiple locations simultaneously, including locations outside user home. Other changes for ‘Files’ include:
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GNOME 46, the default desktop for Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40, will finally have the option to enable Variable Refresh Rate.

Variable Refresh Rate, VRR in short, is a feature for TV, monitor, and other displays, allowing to adjust refresh rate on the fly to match the frame rate of the graphics card. Which, is useful for smoother viewing experience, and reducing screen tearing.

GNOME has the feature request for VRR support 3 years ago. It’s finally merged and planned for GNOME 46, which will be released later this month!

According to this request, it’s an experimental feature. User needs to enable it first either via Dconf Editor or gsettings tool via the command:

gsettings set org.gnome.mutter experimental-features "['variable-refresh-rate']"

Then, log out and back in. Gnome Control Center, aka Settings, will have the option in “Displays” panel, when you click expand the “Refresh Rate”.

image from gitlab.gnome.org

Once enabled the feature, and selected your preferred value, the Refresh Rate will be displayed as “Variable (up to xxx.xx Hz)”.

GNOME 46, the default desktop environment for next Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40, now is in Beta stage. It’s now the best time for developers to test their applications and shell extensions.

Gnome 46 features explicit Global Search for the Files, redesigned Privacy settings page, added new System panel in Gnome Control Center, and support headless remote login. See more new features about GNOME 46.

The Beta release was announced few days ago, and it marks the start of the UI, feature and API freezes. The changes in the release include:

• Support PKCS #11 smart card authentication in Epiphany (GNOME Web).
• Add command line options to gcr-ssh-agent
• Modernises the look of the Bluetooth properties dialogue
• GNOME COnnections now has support for domains, and certificate verification for RDP
• Improve image and os rename display in the welcome dialog.
• Add Preferences dialog for Gnome Music. Remove Songs view, and drop old-style selection mode
• Add Microsoft 365 provider for online accounts.
• Add keyboard model configuration support
• Improve default and High Contrast styling
• Add openSUSE Leap distro upgrade plugin for GNOME Software
• Add new-window action for gnome-text-editor.
• Loupe image viewer now has Shift+Delete shortcut to permanently delete image
• Postpone the “Network View” in Nautilus.

For more about the beta release and installer image for testing purpose, see the official announcement. And, the final release of GNOME 46 will be available in next month, see the Wiki page for schedule.