For newcomers and those switching: Linux Mint 21.1 with Cinnamon 5.6 has been released

The independent Linux distribution Linux Mint, which is particularly interesting, but not only for Linux newcomers and those switching to Windows, is based on Ubuntu, a derivative of Debian, and the latest version is 21.1 (“Vera”) with the new in-house desktop Cinnamon 5.6 and new features.

Linux Mint 21.1 and Cinnamon 5.6 as gentle product maintenance

The focus of Linux Mint 21.1 (“Vera”) is once again the integration of the in-house desktop environment Cinnamon, which is constantly being further developed and has now become a real competitor to the established work environments Gnome and KDE Plasma. A year after Cinnamon 5.2, which premiered with Linux Mint 20.3 (“Una”), and five months after Cinnamon 5.4, which made its debut with Linux Mint 21 (“Vanessa”), version 5.6 is a “facelift”. ready.

Cinnamon 5.6, as a gentle further development of Cinnamon 5.4, should bring the following new features:

Linux Mint 21.1 with Cinnamon 5.6 – Highlights

The update manager now supports Flatpak
The number of password queries has been reduced
Widgets can now be locked by the user
Notifications can be configured
A corner bar applet has been introduced
Various optical innovations

Integration of Flatpak and support until 2027

In particular, the inclusion of Flatpak in the update manager should make it much easier for users to keep applications that were installed via Flatpak up to date. Software packages that have been integrated via the Flathub app store, for example, will in future be marked with a corresponding icon and updated via the in-house Cinnamon GUI.

Linux Mint 21.1 (“Vera”), which is an LTS release with support up to and including 2027, has also been released as usual as an edition with the free and resource-saving desktop Xfce and the MATE desktop environment.

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Linux Mint 21.1 (“Vera”) with the desktops Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE (Image: Linux Mint)

The Mint community itself, however, recommends using Cinnamon for the best possible integration of all features and the associated best possible user experience.

Password entries should be reduced

The new Linux Mint and Cinnamon 5.6 are said to require significantly fewer password entries from the user than was previously the case. Password prompts have been significantly reduced in situations where no administrative rights are required, and in many cases removed entirely.

Removing a Flatpak software package now does not require entering a password more, the same applies to simple shortcuts and local applications that have not been installed system-wide.

Synaptic and Update Manager will now also instruct pkexec to remember the password, so users don't have to enter it every time they perform multiple operations.

Update for bluetooth manager and optical retouching

In addition to various optical retouching and the update of the Bluetooth manager “Blueman” to version 2.3.4, the keyboard navigation in the scale view (“Scale View”) and the expo view (“Expo View”) have been improved, as well as the obligatory error corrections and optimizations.

Download on ComputerBase

The latest system images of Linux Mint 21.1 (“Vera”) in the Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE editions can be downloaded as usual from the ComputerBase download area directly below this message.

Further information is provided in the detailed official release notes for Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon, Linux Mint 21.1 Xfce and Linux Mint 21.1 MATE.

The German-language YouTube channel “Linux Guides DE “ presents all innovations in detail and provides corresponding impressions.

Downloads

Linux Mint Download

4.6 stars < p class="article__intro">Linux Mint is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu LTS with its own Cinnamon desktop.
- Version 21.1 “Vera” German
- Version 20.3 “Una” German
- Version 19.3 “Tricia” German