The Deepin Technology Community has announced the release of Deepin 23, a Debian-based Linux distribution known for its user-friendly approach and aesthetically pleasing design.
Deepin 23 boasts enhanced performance, AI-powered features, and an improved user experience. Some of the key highlights include Wayland support, a new package format called Linglong, and the integration of UOS AI for intelligent search and enhanced app functionality.
This release also includes several notable improvements, such as an upgrade tool, new user avatars, various UI/UX enhancements, and bug fixes across multiple system applications.
Table of Contents
Deepin 23 New Features Overview
- Introduction of Wayland Support: Deepin Desktop Environment now offers support for the Wayland display server, in addition to the existing X11 support.
- New Package Format "Linglong": Deepin 23 introduces a new package format called "Linglong," developed to mitigate compatibility challenges posed by intricate dependencies, drawing inspiration from Snap and Flatpak.
- Inclusion of UOS AI: Deepin 23 integrates UOS AI, introducing a suite of AI-powered features. These include intelligent global search capabilities spanning system settings, files, images, and more. The Mailbox application benefits from AI assistance, offering writing suggestions, layout recommendations, and even the generation of new emails based on existing content. The web browser also incorporates AI-assisted features, enabling users to execute prompts akin to Copilot.
- New User Avatars: Deepin 23 presents users with fresh options for user avatars, including 2D, 3D, and animal themes, customizable to individual preferences.
- New Upgrade Tool: Responding to user feedback, Deepin 23 introduces a dedicated upgrade tool designed to easily upgrade Deepin 20 to 23.
- Atomic Updates: A new installation and upgrade mechanism, "Atomic Updates," debuts in Deepin 23, aiming to reduce disk space consumption during installation and providing users with rollback and version management options.
- Linyaps Package Format: The sources introduce "Linyaps" as a new method for packaging applications to cater to multi-platform and multi-version releases. Deepin 23 sees some pre-installed proprietary applications adopting the Linyaps package format, and the application store features a growing selection of Linyaps-packaged applications.
- Redesigned Desktop Environment (DDE): Deepin 23 features a revamped DDE, showcasing a new taskbar, launcher, and a more diverse range of personalization themes. The launcher introduces features such as application sorting by name, a free sorting mode with drag-and-drop support, and sections for "My Frequent" and "Recently Installed" applications.
- Cross-Device Collaboration Tools: Deepin 23 introduces cross-device and cross-system collaboration functionalities, encompassing file transfer, clipboard sharing, and cursor sharing. These capabilities are supported between Deepin systems and between Deepin and Windows systems.
- Enhanced Cloud Sync: Expanding upon existing cloud sync features, Deepin 23 adds support for synchronizing calendar and browser user data, in addition to system settings. This includes synchronization of browser bookmarks and favorites, as well as calendar schedules.
- Deepin Home: Deepin 23 comes equipped with the "Deepin Community" client, pre-installed to provide users with easy access to community information, support resources, and feedback channels.
- Enhanced Tray Management and Quick Panel: Deepin 23 introduces enhanced tray management functionalities, empowering users to customize the display of tray-resident applications and plugins based on their individual usage patterns. The quick panel also receives attention, offering users more convenient plugin options for swift access to and management of system functions and frequently used features.
Beyond these highlights, Deepin 23 includes a multitude of other additions and improvements, including but not limited to: new wallpapers, an enhanced Music application, the availability of Linux kernel 5.15 and 6.6, general UI/UX refinements, integration of Podman and docker.io container tools, and resolutions for right-click issues within the Deepin store.
Now let us explore some of these features in detail.
Enhanced User Experience
Deepin 23 retains the familiar user experience of its predecessor (V20) while incorporating a redesigned taskbar, launcher, and a wider array of personalisation options.
The launcher, a central element of the Deepin desktop, now offers alphabetical sorting, free sorting with drag-and-drop functionality, and dedicated sections for "My Frequent" and "Recently Installed" applications.
The taskbar has been relocated to the bottom of the screen, maximising usable screen space, and introduces a workspace view for efficient multi-tasking.
The system tray and app tray have been redesigned, and quick panel function modules provide streamlined access to frequently used functions.
Users can further personalise their desktop with new themes, icons, and cursors.
Wayland Support and New Package Format
Deepin 23 introduces Wayland support alongside the existing X11 display server, offering users a smoother and more responsive experience. Users can switch between Wayland and X11 from the login screen.
Another major addition is Linglong, Deepin's new package format. Similar in concept to Snap and Flatpak, Linglong aims to enhance system stability by addressing compatibility issues stemming from complex dependencies.
A "Linglong Repair Tool" is included to rectify any problems that may arise with Linglong applications following a system upgrade. The Deepin developers have also substituted some pre-installed applications with their DEB counterparts to further mitigate compatibility concerns.
AI-Powered Features with UOS AI
Deepin 23 integrates the UOS AI client, which offers access to a range of AI-powered features through both local and cloud-based AI models.
A new intelligent global search function enables users to search for information within system settings, files, images, and more.
The Mailbox app leverages AI to suggest mail content, optimise layout, and even generate entirely new emails based on user input.
The integrated web browser incorporates AI-assisted features that allow for prompt-based interactions, similar to features found in tools like Copilot.
Deepin 23 also includes a "Play Assistant" module to assist users with operating system-related queries and a personal knowledge assistant capable of answering questions and generating content based on a user-defined local database.
Users can link their personal large model accounts (with several well-known models pre-configured) or add custom large models using the OpenAI interface format.
Voice and text interaction can now be used to launch pre-installed applications and manage basic system settings. Further integration allows the image viewer to perform tasks such as background blurring, image cutouts, and style transformations.
The global search functionality utilises UOS AI's local model for natural language and keyword-based image searches. The email application, empowered by UOS AI, supports features such as quick summaries, translations, and intelligent email composition.
Improved System Management and Security
Deepin 23 introduces an "Atomic Update" capability, allowing users to roll back or switch between system versions via backup restore points. This new installation and upgrade mechanism reduces disk space usage compared to the previous A/B partition scheme.
The upgrade process itself has been streamlined with a dedicated upgrade tool that ensures a seamless transition from Deepin 20 to Deepin 23, including data and system configuration migration.
Additional Enhancements and Bug Fixes
Beyond the aforementioned features, Deepin 23 includes a wide range of smaller additions and refinements. Notably:
- New wallpapers,
- An enhanced Music application,
- The availability of Linux kernel 5.15 and 6.6,
- General UI/UX refinements,
- Integration of Podman and docker.io container tools,
- A new independent upstream repository for core packages and optional components,
- and resolutions for right-click issues within the Deepin store.
Deepin 23 also includes a comprehensive set of bug fixes addressing issues identified in previous versions, encompassing various aspects of the system such as the terminal, file manager, system monitor, app store, and more.
Deepin Community Integration
Deepin 23 comes with the pre-installed Deepin Community client. It provides users with direct access to community resources, including support platforms, documentation, and channels for reporting bugs and suggesting new features.
Download Deepin 23
You can download Deepin 23 from its official download page. The download page offers Deepin 23 ISOs for several architectures, including x86, ARM, LoongArch, and a preview for RISC-V. You can find download links for Deepin 23, as well as older versions like Deepin 20.9 and earlier, on the page.
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