Endless OS 6 debuts with new looks, updated apps, and more

Endless OS has been around since July 2014, when the first public release came out. However, its version number was 2.1.0 instead of 1.x. At the end of January 2023, Endless OS 5.0.4 was launched. Earlier this week, it was succeeded by Endless OS 6.0. Although it uses Debian as its foundation, what makes Endless OS special is the fact that it uses a read-only root filesystem alongside OSTree and Flatpack, which handle app deliveries and updates.

Endless OS 6.0 uses the Linux kernel 6.5 and the Gnome 43.9 desktop environment. Its list of highlights includes dark mode support, but also a new, flatter design that is also well-suited for light visual styles, enhancements to the screenshot and screen recording tasks, the Decibels app for audio file previews, a cleaner look for the Image Viewer app, improved hardware support, better audio handling (especially when Bluetooth devices are involved), as well as multiple bug fixes and security updates.

The full version of Endless OS 6, also available for free, comes with a wide range of creative tools that can be used to create games, or at least visuals and audio to be used by other team members when working on games. The list of such tools includes Audacity, a collection of Blender tutorials, Inkscape, Pixelorama, GDevelop, Scratch, the Godot Engine, and more.

Last but not least, it should also be mentioned that Endless OS 6 includes a collection of educational games that focus on teaching the basic concepts of coding and game creation. The six items in this collection are: Aqueducts, Dragon's Apprentice, Fablemaker, Frog Squash, The Passage, and Tank Warriors.

Those who want to find out more about Endless OS 6 can do so by checking out the official release notes. Also, William Shotts' illustrated guide The Linux Command Line, 2nd Edition: A Complete Introduction can always come in handy, especially since it can be acquired off Amazon for 51% off these days.