Zorin OS 17 Beta comes with spatial desktop, enhanced multitasking, and much more

Zorin OS, a user-friendly Linux distribution, has unveiled the first beta of its version 17, incorporating new features and improvements. The release includes a universal search and other enhancements to the Zorin Menu, designed for faster navigation.

Multitasking is made more seamless in Zorin OS 17 with a refined 'Activities' overview and the introduction of 'Spatial Desktop'. This feature provides better contextual awareness of desktop activities and includes the new Spatial Window Switcher, which replaces the standard flat Alt+Tab and Super+Tab dialog with a 3D window switcher.

Speed is a key aspect of Zorin OS 17, with performance optimizations at every level of the operating system. This ensures the desktop runs efficiently on a variety of hardware. The Software store has also undergone improvements, resulting in faster operation.

Zorin OS 17 caters to power users with an advanced window-tiling experience, which includes quarter screen corner tiling and keyboard shortcuts. The panel’s system indicator menu has been revamped, offering direct access to a one-click Dark Mode toggle and audio device selection, as well as a new Power Modes option for balancing system performance and power efficiency.

Screen-capturing in Zorin OS 17 is enhanced with the screenshot interface now overlaying the desktop, making it easier to capture a window or a specific screen portion. It also allows screen recording without the need for a third-party app.

Zorin OS 17 also offers two new desktop layouts, a ChromeOS-like layout and a GNOME 2-like layout, parental control options, an improved weather app, along with other enhancements and bug fixes.