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Linux Mint 18 Final First Look

Linux Mint 18 is the latest version of the popular Linux distribution that is a long term support release that is supported until 2021.

Linux Mint 18 is offered in two versions, Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon and Mate that feature different desktop environments. Basically, Cinnamon is more graphics intensive and some default programs may be different as well.

The release notes for both versions of Linux Mint are available already, but the official downloads of the ISO images are not yet. Some mirrors list the stable versions of Linux Mint already however.

Linux Mint 18 First Look

linux mint 18 first look

You can run Linux Mint as a live DVD without installation by booting it, and install the Linux distribution when it is started or keep on using the live variant exclusively.

Linux Mint Cinnamon ships with Cinnamon 3.0, an updated desktop environment that offers new features and improvements.

It offers window management improvements, options to disable favorites and system options in the menu applet, animation effects that are enabled by default, improved out-of-the-box touchpad support, new accessibility and sound settings, and more.

X-Apps

X-Apps is a new feature of Linux Mint (both versions) that can best be described as generic applications that work in multiple desktop environments.

linux mint x-apps

The basic idea is to give both desktop environments the same set of core applications which improves development but also the user experience.

The goal of the X-Apps is not to reinvent the wheel. Quite the opposite in fact, it's to guarantee the maintenance of applications we already enjoyed and to steer their development in a direction that benefits multiple desktop environments.

Examples of x-Apps on Linux Mint 18 are the default text editor Xed which is based on Pluma, the default image viewer Xviewer based on Eye of GNOME, the default document and PDF reader Xreader which is based on Atril, the default photo organizer Pix which ia based on gThumb, and the default media player Xplayer which is based on Totem.

The team notes that GNOME, MATE and Xfce apps that X-Apps replace are still available in the repositories, and that they can be installed side-by-side.

Update Manager

linux mint 18 update manager

The update manager of Linux Mint was updated visually and functionality-wise. It supports themes better, and the main screen uses stack widgets and animations.

A new start screen is displayed on first start that provides users with options to select one of three update policies:

  • Don't break my computer.
  • Optimize stability and security (default).
  • Always update everything.

Each policy is explained on the screen, and user recommendation are provided as well.

It features two new settings that let you see and select kernel updates. The Kernels window has been overhauled, and a new warning screen is displayed on launch which users can disable.

Another change is that the Kernels page does not list fixes and changes anymore, but links to the relevant bug reports and changelogs instead.

New Mint-Y theme

mint-y

Linux Mint 18 introduces a new Mint-Y theme that is not enabled by default. Mint-Y is available as a dark, light and mixed version, and is based on the popular arc theme.

Mint-Y looks modern, clean and professional. It embraces the new trends, but without looking too "flat" or minimalistic.

Do the following to explore the new theme:

  1. Click on menu, enter theme, and select the  Themes from the results.
  2. Click on any of the items displayed on the themes screen, e.g. desktop, and select one of the Mint-Y variants to enable them.

System improvements

apt upgrade

Linux Mint 18 improves the apt command introduced in Linux Mint 3.1 in 2007. Apt continues to support all previous features, but benefits from improvements of the Debian apt command on top of that.

  1. Apt install and apt remove show progress now.
  2. New commands such as apt full-upgrade or apt edit-sources are introduced that do the same as apt dist-upgrade and apt sources.

The add-apt-repository command supports the remove parameter in Linux Mint 18 which you can use to remove items from the command line.

Other system improvements in Linux Minut 18 are support for exFAT file systems out of the box, reintroduction of Btrfs support, and a thermal sensor daemon Thermald which monitors the CPU temperature and prevents overheating.

Other improvements

linux mint 18 background images

The default theme of the login screen has been improved. Passwords can only be entered once a username has been typed or selected. This is done to prevent the accidental typing of the password in clear text.

A selection of new background images has been added to Linux Mint 18 which you can select in the following way:

  1. Right-click on the desktop and select change desktop background.
  2. Switch from Linux Mint to Sarah.
  3. Select a background image from the list of thumbnails.

Other improvements include better HiDPI support, easier installation of popular applications such as Steam or Dropbox, support for OEM installations in all versions, and the default installation of Gufw, the graphical firewall configuration tool.

Linux Mint 18 will receive security updates until 2021, and until 2018, future versions of Linux Mint will use the same package base as Linux Mint 18.

Now You: What's your take on Linux Mint 18?

 

This article was first seen on ComTek's "TekBits" Technology News

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