KDE Plasma 6.7: A Smoother Experience for Printers, Virtual Desktops, and Stylus Users
KDE Plasma continues its rapid development cycle, with version 6.7.0 shaping up to be a significant update for users. While 6.6.0 recently landed, the KDE team is already pushing forward, focusing on refinements and new features designed to enhance the desktop experience. A key area of improvement in 6.7.0 centers around printer management, alongside enhancements for virtual desktops and Wayland support.
Enterprise-Grade Printer Management Coming to KDE Plasma
For those juggling multiple printers – a common scenario in both home and office environments – KDE Plasma 6.7.0 promises a much-needed upgrade. The current print queue dialog is being replaced with a full-featured print queue viewer. This new app will allow users to visualize and manage queues for multiple local and networked printers, offering features typically found in enterprise-level print management solutions.
While still providing a streamlined experience for single-printer setups, the new viewer introduces features relevant to larger environments.
Enhanced Navigation and Input Options
Beyond printer management, Plasma 6.7.0 introduces improvements to desktop navigation and input methods. Users will be able to switch between virtual desktops by simply scrolling or using the Page Up/Page Down keys while in the Overview effect. This offers a quicker and more intuitive way to manage multiple workspaces.
For Wayland users, a new option allows for synchronization between the stylus pointer and the mouse/touchpad pointer. This is particularly useful for users who frequently switch between input devices, ensuring a consistent and predictable experience.
The Future of KDE Plasma and X11 Support
KDE’s commitment to Wayland is becoming increasingly clear. Plasma 6.8 is slated to be Wayland-exclusive, with X11 application support handled through Xwayland. While the X11 session will be supported in Plasma 6.7, it will be phased out in future releases, with KDE providing support into early 2027. Users requiring continued X11 support are encouraged to consider long-term support (LTS) distributions.
The move to Wayland-exclusive releases signifies a long-term investment in the future of the KDE Plasma desktop, opening up opportunities for new features, optimizations, and faster development cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Xwayland?
- Xwayland is a compatibility layer that allows X11 applications to run on Wayland-based systems.
- When will KDE Plasma 6.7.0 be released?
- A specific release date for KDE Plasma 6.7.0 has not been announced, but It’s expected to be released in the coming months.
- Will KDE Plasma continue to support X11 applications?
- Yes, through Xwayland. Although, the native X11 session will be removed in Plasma 6.8.
Stay tuned for further updates on KDE Plasma 6.7.0 as the release date approaches. These changes promise a more refined and efficient desktop experience for KDE users.
