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Xubuntu 21.04 BETA Release Notes

Welcome to the Xubuntu 21.04 “Hirsute Hippo” beta release notes!

Please note that these release notes are still being written while Hirsute Hippo is still in development. Features are unlikely to change, but new software updates and fixes are expected before the final release. We've also got a lot more to say, so stay tuned for a more exciting set of release notes closer to April 22.

Xubuntu 21.04 will be released on Thursday, April 22, 2021 and will be supported for nine months until Thursday, January 22, 2022. For general information and the latest updates for Xubuntu 21.04, check out the release page on xubuntu.org.

Known Issues

Installer Issues

  • grub-installer chooses which drive to install to with no user input (964331)

General Issues

  • Boot: Decryption password prompt not visible (1917062)
  • GNOME Font Viewer: Crashes in the live environment (1845362)
  • Xfce Pulseaudio Plugin: Multiple notifications displayed if multiple Pulseaudio plugins added to panel (1769775)
  • Xfce Screensaver: Password required twice when switching users (1874178)
  • Xfce Settings Daemon: Sometimes does not run after logging in, resulting in appearance and configuration issues (1870641)

Ubuntu Common Release Notes

The main Ubuntu Release Notes covers both many of the other packages we carry and more issues common to every Ubuntu flavor.

Major Updates

  • Xubuntu 21.04 is the first Xubuntu release shipping Xfce 4.16, which includes many improvements over the previous release. Some standout new features include:
    • A new “StatusTray” panel plugin, consolidating the StatusNotifier and System plugins into a single powerful and consistent plugin.
    • Dark mode for the Xfce panel to use a dark appearance without otherwise light themes.
    • Support for fractional scaling in the Display preferences.
    • System information including CPU and GPU details in the About Xfce dialog.
    • Improved search and filtering in the Settings Manager.
    • A new “Default Applications” dialog that consolidates the previous “Mime Settings” and “Preferred Applications” dialogs.
    • Queued file transfers, paused copy/move operations, per-directory view settings, and more added to the Thunar file manager.
    • Improved sorting for applications in the Application Finder, using a combination of frequency and recency.
    • For more information about Xfce 4.16, checkout the Release Announcement, Changelog, and Tour.
  • Hexchat and Synaptic added to the packageset

UX Updates

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Logout
  • Ctrl + Shift + Escape: Task Manager
  • Super + R: Application Finder
  • Super + E, Ctrl + Alt + F: File Manager

Desktop

  • Hide File System and Removal Devices by default
  • Remove the applications menu from right-click
  • Removed Texinfo launcher
  • Moved Pavucontrol launcher to the Setting Manager “Sound” launcher

Panel

  • StatusNotifier plugin has been merged into Systray
  • Removed separator between the clock and Systray and added padding
  • Enabled window focus support for the PulseAudio plugin

Thunar

  • Use the path bar widget by default
  • Enable opening folders in a new tab on middle click
  • Disabled changing window icon for special folders

Updates

Significant package and version updates. For full package changelogs, see the Changelogs section below.

Application Stack

  • GTK / GNOME 3.38
  • MATE 1.24
  • Xfce 4.16

Themes

  • Greybird 3.22.14
  • Numix: 2.6.7
  • elementary-xfce 0.15.2

Applications

Xfce

  • Catfish 4.16.0
  • Gigolo 0.5.1
  • Parole Media Player 4.16.0
  • Thunar File Manager 4.16.6
  • Xfburn 0.6.2
  • Xfce Desktop 4.16.0
  • Xfce Dictionary 0.8.4
  • Xfce Panel 4.16.2
  • Xfce Panel Profiles 1.0.13
  • Xfce Power Manager 4.16.0
  • Xfce PulseAudio Plugin 0.4.3
  • Xfce Screensaver 4.16.0
  • Xfce Settings 4.16.0
  • Xfce Task Manager 1.4.0
  • Xfce Terminal 0.8.10
  • Xfce Weather Plugin 0.11.0
  • Xfce Whisker Menu Plugin 2.5.3
  • Xfce Window Manager 4.16.1

MATE

  • Atril 1.24.1
  • Engrampa 1.24.2
  • MATE Calculator 1.24.2

GNOME

  • GNOME Mines 3.36.1
  • GNOME Software 3.38.0
  • GNOME Sudoku 3.38.1
  • Simple Scan 3.38.1

Everything Else

  • Blueman 2.1.4
  • Firefox 87.0
  • GIMP 2.10.22
  • Hexchat 2.14.3
  • LibreOffice 7.1.2
  • PulseAudio Volume Control 4.0
  • SGT Puzzles 20191231.79a5378-3 (and Launcher 0.2.5)
  • Synaptic 0.90.2
  • Thunderbird 78.8.1

Changelogs

Xubuntu/Other Packages

Xfce Core

Xfce Applications

Xfce Panel Plugins

Thunar Plugins