System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 4 with VRR Support, Enhanced Accessibility, and More!

System76's COSMIC Alpha 4: A Festive Update with Enhanced Features

System76's COSMIC desktop environment, built using Rust and designed for Pop!_OS and other Linux distributions, receives a significant update with COSMIC Alpha 4, nicknamed the "festive update." This release brings users closer to the first beta release and boasts several notable improvements.

Here's a summary of the key enhancements:

Enhanced User Control and Customization:

COSMIC Alpha 4 prioritizes user control. New features include:

1. Region & Language Settings: Customize language preferences and date/time/number formatting.

2. Default Applications: Set preferred applications for web browsing, file management, and media playback.

3. Display Power Management: Fine-tune display power settings, including idle timeouts and suspend durations.

4. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Support: Enjoy smoother visuals and eliminate screen tearing, especially beneficial for gamers and multimedia users. VRR is integrated into the cosmic-comp compositor and Display Settings.

Improved Accessibility and Application Updates:

1. Accessibility Applet: Includes a screenreader toggle, improving accessibility for visually impaired users. Early screenreader support is available for COSMIC Settings, Firefox, and GNOME applications.

2. COSMIC Store Enhancements: Track update and app installation progress via a detailed context menu.

3. COSMIC Media Player (Preview): A new Rust-based media player is under development, promising a future addition to the COSMIC suite.

Installation: sudo apt install cosmic-player

Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements:

This release addresses several bugs and improves performance:

• Reduced high CPU usage.
• Resolved window freezing issues, especially with hotplugged monitors.
• Improved panel applet stability and memory management.
• Enhanced security measures.
• Addressed various UI glitches.

Installation and Further Information:

Installation and update instructions are available on the System76 website. For Fedora users, installation guidance can be found at Install COSMIC Desktop Environment On Fedora. Detailed release notes are available at COSMIC Alpha 4 Release Notes.

Future Developments:

COSMIC is rapidly evolving. Future plans include completing remaining settings pages, adding features like desktop zoom and frosted effects, and further refining the user experience. This "festive update" marks a significant step towards a polished and feature-rich desktop environment.

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