UBports has officially announced the availability of Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0, an update for the open-source mobile operating system based on the LTS version of Ubuntu 24.04.
This new version of the system is notable for implementing a massive modernization of its web stack and updating key operating system components to align with modern mobile hardware standards. However, the system's significant growth has presented major internal storage challenges, forcing the development team to segment the rollout based on each device's partitioning capabilities.
Key new features in Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0
El The most significant advancement lies in the update of Morph Browser, And that's because the system's native browser has abandoned the outdated Chromium 87 engine powered by QtWebEngine 5.15.19 to migrate to the modern Qt 6.x stack Powered by Chromium 134, this ensures dramatically improved performance in complex web applications, smoother rendering, and compatibility with current web standards. Because many legacy applications within the ecosystem still require Qt 5 libraries, the operating system temporarily includes both software stacks simultaneously, which is the direct cause of the increased final system image size.
To resolve limitations in the playback of multimedia content protected by copyright, the update Adds a native installer for the Widevine CDM module in the system settings path. This integration allows you to extract the necessary library from official ChromeOS recovery images. allowing the seamless execution of streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, or Disney+ directly from Morph BrowserAlthough hardware acceleration for video decoding in the new engine is still performed by software using the CPU, this step lays the technical groundwork for future optimizations in energy consumption.
Lomiri: Notching, editing, and printing
The graphical environment Lomiri has received essential modifications to adapt to the design of current telephone hardware. The system Finally, it incorporates native support to avoid screen cutouts. ("notches") and rounded corners on smartphone panels, dynamically adjusting the interface to avoid overlapping critical elements in the blind areas of the screen. This configuration is managed individually per device and has already been deployed in models such as the Fairphone 4 and 5, as well as the entire Volla Phone line of terminals.
Additionally, the screenshot workflow has been enhanced with a new editor integrated into the Lomiri shell itself. When taking a screenshot, the interface displays a native tool that It allows you to rotate, crop, and adjust the color correction of the image before saving or sharing it. with other applications.
On the other hand, the system's productivity adds native compatibility with the direct printing of documents, By optionally installing components from system settings and automatically detecting network services on Wi-Fi networks, users can send files to print without relying on external tools or desktop computers.
FSCrypt v2 encryption, network improvements, and the partition space challenge
In the area of ​​security and storage, user data is protected through the encryption mechanism fscrypt v2 abandons its experimental phase to be implemented as a stable feature on compatible devices. This improvement strengthens file system integrity against unauthorized access. In turn, Optimizations have been integrated into the reliability of mobile data connections and the behavior of the network indicator has been improved to recognize wired Ethernet connections when the device is connected to a docking station or dock.
The application ecosystem benefits from superior compatibility for running legacy X11-based programs distributed through the Open-Store catalog. In addition, On-screen keyboard update, adding support for the Georgian language and over two thousand new emojis with a selection of skin tone variants. Although devices with reduced system partitions will require additional adjustments to receive the update, this version solidifies Ubuntu Touch as a mature, functional, and privacy-oriented mobile platform.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that to ensure a smooth transition, the project has simultaneously released the maintenance version Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.4. This intermediate build allows for gradual updates to the existing base and the preparation of partition tables before upgrading to the 2.0 branch.
If you are interested in learning more about this, as well as instructions for updating to this new version, you can consult the details. In the following link.