Elementary OS 8.1.1 has been introduced as a fast, open, and privacy-conscious alternative to Windows and macOS. This release focuses on quality design and aims to provide an easy-to-use system with minimal resource consumption and high startup speed. Users can enjoy their own Pantheon desktop environment. Bootable iso images (3.3 GB) for amd64, and arm64 architectures are available for free download from the project’s website.
Using GTK3, the Vala language, and the Granite framework, elementary OS develops its own components. The distribution is built on the foundation of Ubuntu project developments. Application packages and repositories in elementary OS 8.x are compatible with Ubuntu 24.04. The distribution utilizes Flatpak format for additional and default applications offered through AppCenter. The graphical environment is based on Pantheon shell, incorporating Gala window manager, Slingshot launcher, Switchboard control panel, Wing top panel, Dock taskbar, and Pantheon Greeter session manager.
Elementary OS environment includes a set of tightly integrated applications essential for user tasks. Most applications are project-specific developments such as Pantheon Terminal, Pantheon Files, Code text editor, and Music (Noise) player. The project also offers Pantheon Photos (a fork from Shotwell) for photo management and Mail (a fork from Evolution) as the mail client.
Key innovations:
- The panel now includes more informative tooltips with information about key combinations for accessing the first 9 applications and background tasks. The desktop switching area now features click and expand animations when dragging elements. A context menu option has been added to remove an application from the system or open its page in AppCenter.
