KDE Plasma 6.6 Beta 1 released
The KDE Plasma 6.6 beta has dropped, and there are several notable changes to look at. One of the immediate things people might notice is the new plasma-login-manager module, which seems to have gotten some work in this latest test version.
Aurorae, the theme engine that helps define Plasma's look, also needed an update this time around. This Aurorae release bumps its requirements; it now needs Qt 6.10 and Frameworks at least up to version 6.22. The actual changes include overhauls for designers with cool hover effects added in, better ways to handle the little gaps between window frames, and an improved engine for managing those fancy SVG backgrounds.
Bluedevil handles Plasma's Bluetooth stuff, and it's been updated too. You can expect various bug fixes along with some UI tweaks here. There's also a new function letting you explicitly forget paired devices if needed.
Breeze is the main theme that shows up by default in Plasma 6.6 beta, and it has a few updates already. This includes improved wallpaper management; apparently new ones like Sub-Arctic and Orionids have been added to choose from, plus users can now easily hide Breeze's specific look elements when taking screencasts.
Further down the line, the KDE GTK Config module deals with font settings for non-KDE apps integrated into Plasma. This latest version gets some improvements in that area. And related to the theme, there are changes to the BreezeStyle component; it now uses contrast values defined elsewhere (in kdeglobals), which might help things blend better visually.
On the app side, Discover, the built-in package manager for Linux, has seen updates as well. Besides other bug fixes and improvements spread throughout its code, this latest version presents a more modern UI with a redesigned update page, a smarter search function, and improved notifications about new packages or upgrades ready to install. An interesting addition is that it can now manage fonts through the PackageKit system, too.
Flatpak integration with Plasma also got some attention in this release cycle. The usual batch of bug fixes and performance boosts applies, but one specific change caught my eye: Flatpak now displays its status in a more user-friendly manner when you use a command with the --mime flag, reducing technical jargon for users.
If you're using the KDE desktop on OpenBSD or similar systems not usually covered by standard Linux tooling, the Info Center module gets an update this time too. It includes various bug fixes and probably some feature tweaks relevant to those platforms.
And let's not forget KMenuEdit either; it handles editing menus for other applications from within Plasma itself. This version focuses mostly on UI polish, streamlining how you manage application launchers and menu items across the board.
Finally, the KDE Window Decoration Library (KDecoration) has been updated. The main change here is adding support for hiding decorations during screencasts or ensuring they're always shown as part of the window borders, giving users more granular control over what appears on screen.
So, the Plasma 6.6 beta brings many changes across a lot of its core and supporting applications; it covers login processes, themes, package management, Bluetooth integration, system configuration, application menus, and window handling.
