The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a new version of their Debian-based Raspberry Pi OS for Raspberry Pi single-board computers. This update brings several enhancements, including a new kernel from the Linux 6.6 long-term supported series, updated components, and various improvements.
While still based on Debian GNU/Linux 12 “Bookworm,” Raspberry Pi OS now features the Linux 6.6 LTS kernel, a significant upgrade from the previous Linux 6.1 LTS kernel. This update also includes the latest versions of Chromium 122 and Mozilla Firefox 123 web browsers.
One of the key improvements in this release is better support for the Raspberry Pi 5 SBC, with enhancements to the handling of the power button. Additionally, the update adds new settings for headless resolution to the Screen Configuration, while removing the setting of headless resolution for Wayland from the Raspberry Pi Configuration, streamlining the user experience.
Overall, this new Raspberry Pi OS release brings performance enhancements and improved compatibility for Raspberry Pi 5 users, along with updated software components for a more modern browsing experience.
This release of Raspberry Pi OS brings several improvements to enhance user experience. Compatibility with alternative window managers has been improved, and the new dark theme introduced in the previous release now displays some widgets correctly, enhancing the overall visual appeal.
Additionally, opening the Bluetooth and Network menus has been sped up, providing a smoother user experience. Popover windows from the taskbar have been replaced with conventional windows, improving usability. The shutdown assistant has been updated to close all user processes when logging out, ensuring a clean shutdown process.
The audio icon on the taskbar is now hidden by default if no audio devices are connected, reducing clutter on the taskbar. An alternative mouse cursor is now displayed during drag-and-drop operations, improving visibility and feedback during these actions.
Furthermore, the raspi-config utility has been updated to allow the EEPROM to be updated, providing users with more control over their Raspberry Pi devices. The WayVNC VNC server has been updated to improve compatibility with various VNC clients and can now be controlled by systemd, enhancing its reliability and ease of use.
Various bugs have also been addressed in this release, including preventing multiple file manager confirm dialogs from being overlaid, fixing memory leaks in the Volume and Bluetooth menus, and resolving a crash when closing windows with non-GTK headerbars. These improvements and bug fixes contribute to a more stable and user-friendly Raspberry Pi OS experience.
A bug that caused incorrect reporting of GPU load in the Task Manager and the plugin has been fixed in this release. Additionally, an issue where incorrect files were moved when dragging and dropping them in the file manager has been addressed. Another bug that prevented the Wayfire keyboard layout settings from loading has been fixed, along with an issue causing windows to be hidden from the taskbar on other monitors.
Several other issues have also been resolved, and the full can be found here. However, the issue causing wireless networks to not be displayed in the first-run setup wizard on Raspberry Pi 5 remains unresolved.
Raspberry Pi OS 2024-03-12 is available for download from the for all supported Raspberry Pi models. Existing users can update their installations using the graphical updating utility or by running the sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade commands from a terminal window.
Update 15/03/2024: Raspberry Pi OS 2024-03-15 has been released, featuring the latest Orca 45 screen reader. This update also includes an improved keyboard shortcut for installing the program without prompting users for a password. Additionally, a bug that prevented audio streams from being interrupted when connecting or disconnecting other audio devices has been fixed.
Furthermore, this release addresses a bug that prevented saved display resolution settings from being reloaded under X. Additionally, the obsolete fbturbo video driver has been removed, improving system stability and compatibility.
Raspberry Pi OS 2024-03-15 is now available for download from the official website. Existing users can update their installations using the graphical updating utility or by running the sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade commands from a terminal window.
