Linux Mint 21.2 'Victoria' beta is NOW available for download

Linux Mint 21.2 "Victoria" beta version is now officially available to download! This update is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) and utilizes the powerful Linux kernel 5.15 LTS. The beta version comes in three editions: Cinnamon 5.8, Xfce 4.18, and MATE 1.26, catering to users with diverse preferences.

The Cinnamon edition stands out with its array of exciting new features and improvements. Notably, it introduces support for touchpad and touchscreen gestures, support for accent colors, a new concept called “styles”, which has up to three modes: mixed, dark and light. Each of these modes can contain color “variants” (a combination of themes which work well together), and a global Dark Mode setting for GTK4/libadwaita apps, allowing users to enjoy a consistent and visually pleasing interface across applications. The Nemo file manager has been optimized for faster operation and showcases new folder icons, making file navigation a breeze. Tooltips and notifications have been revamped, providing a more polished and streamlined experience for users. In addition, the login manager has undergone significant improvements, including enhanced keyboard navigation and support for Wayland sessions. LXQt/Pademelon badges are now supported, and the Onboard on-screen keyboard offers a configurable layout to suit individual preferences. Users can also benefit from a scrollable session list and the ability to switch between multiple keyboard layouts.

Linux Mint 21.2 "Victoria" also brings multimedia support enhancements. The release includes full compatibility for HEIF and AVIF images, ensuring that users can seamlessly view and interact with these popular formats. Additionally, the Software Manager app has received a fresh user interface and improved scoring/sorting algorithms. The Warpinator app now supports Landlock and Bubblewrap technologies for folder isolation, enhancing security and privacy for users. Lastly, the Pix image viewer has undergone significant improvements by being rebased on gThumb 3.12.2, which brings a new and clean user interface using headerbars and buttons instead of toolbars and menubars, offering a modern and intuitive viewing experience.

There are still many more changes that we can't cover in this entry, which you can check out in detail on the official Linux Mint blog, but we can conclude that overall, Linux Mint 21.2 "Victoria" promises to be an exciting update for Linux enthusiasts, thanks to its impressive range of features and enhancements. You can go ahead and download the beta now via the official syndicated mirrors or torrent. Just need to visit the official blog announcement linked above!