KDE Plasma 6.3: A Fresh Look at the Latest Features

Linux
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KDE Plasma 6.3 is here, marking a year since the debut of the KDE Plasma 6 series. This update brings a host of improvements focused on refining existing features, resolving bugs, and introducing new capabilities designed to enhance the desktop experience.

Here’s a concise overview of the key changes in this latest iteration.

What’s New in KDE Plasma 6.3?

Fractional Scaling Enhancements

Users with high-resolution displays employing fractional scaling will likely appreciate the improved sharpness of UI elements in this release.

KDE has revamped the fractional scaling mechanism, with KWin prioritizing snapping elements to the screen’s pixel grid. This reduces blurriness and visual artifacts, resulting in sharper imagery.

For those wanting to examine the pixel-perfect alignment, the Zoom effect in KWin now displays a grid overlay on the screen at high zoom levels.

Furthermore, screen colors are now more accurate when Night Light is enabled, regardless of whether ICC profiles are in use. KWin also provides an option to prioritize screen color accuracy, though this may increase resource usage.

Customization Options

KDE Plasma 6.3 expands its customization potential with easier panel cloning and scripting capabilities.

Step 1: Enter Edit mode.

Step 2: Click the Clone panel button to duplicate an existing panel.

Step 3: Utilize scripting to adjust panel opacity and specify which screen a panel appears on in multi-monitor setups.

Additionally, the Widget Explorer simplifies widget removal, even for widgets not currently visible on-screen or located on disconnected displays. Widgets now also have a subtle translucent appearance.

For those who prefer different icons, it is now possible to change category icons in the Kickoff menu using the Menu Editor application.

Finally, KDE Plasma 6.3 introduces a new default desktop background, returning to the classic abstract geometric designs.

Creativity Tools

Building on the digital art features introduced in KDE Plasma 6.2, version 6.3 provides further refinements for graphics tablet users, offering new customization and fine-tuning options.

The Drawing Tablet page within System Settings has been reorganized and expanded, with settings grouped into logical tabs. New configuration options include:

  • Mapping the tablet canvas to the entire screen.

  • Improved tablet calibration accuracy.

  • A stylus testing feature showing details on tilt and pressure.

  • Adjustable stylus pressure curve and range.

  • Re-mapping and swapping of stylus button functions.

After modifying graphics tablet settings, the Highlight changed settings toggle in System Settings now functions on the Drawing Tablet page.

CPU Monitoring Improvements

KDE developers addressed the resource usage of the System Monitor application. CPU monitoring is now more accurate and consumes fewer CPU resources.

Discover Enhancements

The Discover software management tool includes improvements, particularly in its Flatpak support.

Discover now highlights pending permission changes in sandboxed app updates, supports the flatpak:// URL scheme, and indicates when a Flatpak app is verified by a trusted source like Flathub.

Snap support has also been improved, with better refresh (update) functionality. Individual Snap apps can now be refreshed independently. Progress during installation is now displayed as a percentage with download speed.

Informational Updates

Plasma 6.3 introduces a new background service that detects and reports when the kernel terminates an application due to insufficient system memory. A notification indicates the affected app and suggests steps to prevent recurrence.

When Do Not Disturb mode is deactivated, Plasma now displays the number of missed notifications instead of sending a flood of them.

The Info Center tool now provides more detailed system GPU statistics and battery charge cycle information.

Other Notable Changes

KRunner now supports Page Up and Page Down keys, as well as ctrl + arrow key shortcuts, for navigation between categories.

Additional updates include:

  • An option to automatically disable the laptop touchpad when a mouse is connected.

  • The Bluetooth “Pair Device” option is now always visible.

  • Plasma can generate random passwords for network hotspots.

  • The Digital Clock widget displays all events on days with more than five entries.

  • A Show Target menu entry is available when right-clicking a symbolic link.

  • The SDL Game Controller API has been replaced with the Joystick API.

  • The Disks & Devices applet can now eject non-mounted optical media.

  • Windows no longer jump to the top when dragging a file out from below.

  • The volume OSD only appears when using keyboard shortcuts or scrolling over the applet.

  • A new Help category has been added to the launcher, and the Settings category has been removed.

  • The Spectacle screenshot and screen recording tool is now included in KDE Plasma.

  • Screen recordings can be saved as animated WebP or GIF files.

  • The Weather widget can use Deutcher Wetterdienst for weather forecast data in Germany.

  • Plasma Browser Integration now supports Mozilla Firefox Flatpak.

  • Kickoff now changes categories on click (a switch-on-hover option is available).

KDE Plasma 6.3 offers a range of refinements and new features designed to improve the user experience. Be sure to explore the update and discover how it enhances your workflow.