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System76 has announced the release of the seventh alpha release of Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the latest release of the COSMIC desktop environment. Workspaces are now movable through a click-and-drag action, and pinned workspaces can be rearranged on the current display or across multiple displays.

COSMIC Alpha 7 introduces four new accessibility features: High Contrast Mode, Color Filters, Color Inversion, and Mono Sound. Hovering over an item in the app tray, workspaces, app library, and launcher now presents tooltips. Global shortcuts for applications enable users to utilize an application-specific shortcut, regardless of whether the application is currently in focus. Scaling optimizations feature updated configurations for XWayland fractional scaling, enabling applications that lack native support to display sharply and clearly onscreen. Modifications to shortcuts have been implemented to maintain an intuitive desktop experience. COSMIC Files now features a seek-ahead search option and a left-right balance scale to adjust the sound weight in each ear. More bug fixes include adding a shape run cache, fixing high CPU usage, improving compatibility with ext-workspace-v1 and ext-image-capture-v1 Wayland protocols, and correcting duplicate navigation buttons in Gallery view.





The COSMIC Alpha 7 update introduces multiple bug fixes, such as a feature for permanently removing items from the Trash, a resolution for context menus appearing twice over maximized windows, and an adjustment to the closing button on file details. The update also resolves issues with XWayland applications on secondary monitors experiencing a loss of responsiveness after resizing, addresses text overflow in the About Settings, and enables multiple navigations with back navigation during file searches.

The update also resolves issues related to Bluetooth devices not appearing in the applet list, addresses a gsettings regression that hides minimize and maximize buttons in browsers, and corrects mouse inputs not registering at the bottom of a window stack. The COSMIC Settings active page has been accurately designated as a state file rather than a configuration file.

The update addresses several notifications, including dropdowns opening in incorrect locations and persisting, the battery applet displaying "0s until empty" after unplugging, and issues with cosmic-comp crashing on Snapdragon systems. The update addresses issues related to gallery buttons malfunctioning after window movement, slow refresh rates for resized windows, and the visibility of the show password button not displaying the password correctly.

The update also resolves issues with libcosmic concerning the maximizing and minimizing functions when double-clicking the search bar, as well as addressing localized application names and keyboard shortcuts. The document also tackles concerns related to zooming out at 100%, resolves lower screenshot resolution issues, and outlines validation rules for new user configurations.

COSMIC Alpha 7: Never Been Beta

ISO excited for the latest COSMIC alpha release! We’ve been busy clearing up scores of bugs while soldering together the features that we absolutely must include before the Big Betahemoth descends upon the Earth. Let COSMIC Alpha 7 commence!

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Release Announcement: COSMIC Alpha 7
Download Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Alpha 7