The new version of Linux Mint 20 "Ulyana" is now available in beta version y it highlights several important changes of which the main ones to highlight is that comes with Linux kernel 5.4, it is based on Ubuntu 20.04 and that this version will have official support until 2025, although what was really of interest to the developers was a new program called "Warpinator".
On the part of the different environments that are delivered with the distribution, we can find that the main version comes with Cinnamon 4.6, while the MATE version comes with desktop version 1.24 and Xfce version 4.14.
In addition, it is important to take into account that since last year the Linux Mint developer made the announcement that from version 20 onwards 32-bit systems will no longer be supported.
In a blog post, Lefebvre said that he thought most people were happy with the decision to ditch the 32-bit versions and that it made sense in 2020. Computers with a 64-bit processor have been on the market since 2003. , and most of the computers that were shipped during this decade are ready for the 64-bit version.
Lefebvre also addressed the issue of requirements for 32-bit packages. Ensure that some 32-bit applications will work in future versions of Linux Mint, as well as future versions of Ubuntu. These are Wine, Steam for Linux, as well as other popular applications and games that require the presence of 32-bit libraries in the operating system or in the main repositories.
Unlike Ubuntu, of which it is still a derivative, Linux Mint has chosen to do without the snap format, this following the unpopular decision of the developers to remove both GIMP and VLC from Mint.
What's new in the Linux Mint 20 beta Ulyana
In addition to the basis of the system, which we mentioned at the beginning of the article. In this beta of Linux Mint 20 there is a main feature that has caught the attention of many and is that the new application called warpinator, which is a reimplementation of Giver (an application that allowed to share files on the local network with each other).
Server settings (FTP, NFS, Samba) it is ideal for occasional file transfers between two computers, and it's really a shame to use external media (internet services, USB keys, external hard drives) only for file sharing when there is a local network that could do exactly that. With Warpinator, Linux Mint 20 provides easy file sharing across the local network.
Another important novelty Linux Mint 20 beta, is offered improved support for NVIDIA Optimus. The NVIDIA Prime applet now shows its GPU rendering engine and you can select the map you want to go to directly from its menu.
NVIDIA's "On-Demand" profile is now fully supported. When in this mode, it is your Intel card that processes the session and there is a menu option available to allow you to download a particular application to your NVIDIA card.
On the part of the different desktop environments, we can find that in Cinnamon 4.6 has improved the performance of the Nemo file manageras I now know how to prioritize content and navigation and delay thumbnails as much as possible.
As well has a positive impact on performance on slow I / O and HDDS, such as when moving videos to external devices.
In addition to the fact that the work for the fractional scale is also highlighted, in which Linux Mint 20 offers great improvements.
Download Linux Mint 20 «Ulyana»
Finally, for those interested in being able to download the ISO files of the different flavors of this new edition of Linux Mint 20 «Ulyana», you can download them directly from its official website of the project.
Without further ado, if you want to be able to test this new beta version of Linux Mint 20, you just have to create your installation media so that you can install or test in live mode.