Enjoy the last Xubuntu release until the 22.04 LTS that has some very interesting new apps
What’s new in Xubuntu 21.10:
- Highlights:
- New Software: Xubuntu now comes pre-installed with GNOME Disk Analyzer, GNOME Disk Utility, and Rhythmbox. Disk Analyzer and Disk Utility make it easier to monitor and manage your partitions. Rhythmbox enables music playback with a dedicated media library.
- Pipewire: Pipewire is now included in Xubuntu, and is used in conjunction with PulseAudio to improve audio playback and hardware support in Linux.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: The Super (Windows) key will now reveal the applications menu. Existing Super+ keyboard shortcuts are unaffected.
Ubuntu fans have a lot to look forward to this autumn with the release of 21.10 “Impish Indri.”
This, of course, means that all the official Ubuntu flavors will get a series of updates as well. Xubuntu, the Xfce-based Ubuntu, brings forth some of the most satisfying updates out of the bunch.
The new apps – the stars of the show
While Impish Indri won’t impress anyone with its core changes, Xubuntu benefits from all the core changes of Ubuntu 21.10, as well as some in-house, OS-specific ones as well.
These include some new apps like GNOME Disk Analyzer (Baobab) and GNOME Disks (a basic disk utility). Both utilities are really good little tools to have around, especially when dealing with disk space and partition management issues.
One of the biggest highlights of Xubuntu 21.04 is the inclusion of Clipman (more to the point, the xfce4-clipman-plugin), a clipboard manager. We know what you’re thinking, it’s something that should have made its way into Ubuntu years ago.
Last but not least, Pipewire has found its want into Xubuntu as well. It will be used in conjunction with PulseAudio to improve audio playback and hardware support in Linux.
Other noteworthy changes
Since Rhythmbox was included in Xubuntu, the developers used a community in regards to its title bar. The result is the Thunar title bar with the full directory path, as well as some new keyboard shortcuts.
The transition to GNOME 40 and GTK4 in Ubuntu 21.10 was always going to be a bit problematic for Xubuntu. Xubuntu features GTK4 components, as well as GTK3 components. This is because GIMP still uses an older version of GTK, while the bulk of Xfce is based on newer versions.
Verdict
Overall, Xubuntu is one of the Ubuntu flavors that seem to have benefited the most with all the core changes of 21.10. Despite its GTK-related situation being a bit “sketchy,” 21.10 Impish Indri brings a wide array of welcome changes including a few useful little apps, especially Clipman.
