Linux Mint 21.2 “Victoria” Cinnamon – BETA Release

[AndyMH]

Thanks for that Link SMG...but I'm afraid not. I see no where in the conversation(s) where someone states how to re-enable Traditional Panel style in 21.2...BUT..it is a beta..

As a luddite who prefers the traditional layout I read nothing the the link that says it is not there in LM21.2 only that Clem said in relation to the welcome screen "Eventually it should probably go". As long as there is a route back to the traditional layout, I'm happy.

[SpookyFodder]

Hey Thanks for that. You'd think I'd know that by now. Getting very excited! Can't wait. Still my favourite OS.

When final version will be released? End of June or July?

New releases have been released on average about every 6 months with time from BETA to official release averaging about 2.5 weeks (looking at the last 4 years of releases).

[jackkileen]

Hey Thanks for that. You'd think I'd know that by now. Getting very excited! Can't wait. Still my favourite OS.

Yep, my favorite also and I have tried, so far, about a dozen different distros using Boxes and none are as intuitive, user friendly or as easy to customize for a Linux novice like myself.
I still have to use Windows (on just a few occasions using a portable version on a USB drive) for Sites that require location verification to use because GeoComply will not work on Linux and their developers haven't come up with a GeoComply version that will.
I'm otherwise completely weaned off Windows because of Linux Mint

[motoryzen]

As long as there is a route back to the traditional layout, I'm happy.

Exactly. Even if it's a gsettings set or dconf-editor involved command..no big deal. Bring it.

[SMG]

Bring it.

Those instructions were already linked in this topic:

This comment in the blog is a list of steps someone took to recreate the traditional layout from the beta.

[Ryzen5-3600]

Is it worth updating to the beta now or is it worth waiting for it to release officially?

[jackkileen]

Is it worth updating to the beta now or is it worth waiting for it to release officially?

BETA releases are pretty much for testing before the official release which should be happening within a couple weeks or so. You can DL the BETA and drive it around in a VM (I use Gnome Boxes) if you like, or DL it and install it on your machine or USB keeping in mind that there may be some bugs that haven't been worked out yet.

The official release can be updated from 21.1.

[SMG]

Is it worth updating to the beta now or is it worth waiting for it to release officially?

Welcome to the forum, Ryzen5-3600.

As indicated in the link in the first post of this topic, betas are for finding bugs and not recommended for computers where you don't have the time or backups to be able to handle issues on them. If you want to help find bugs and see what will be coming, then install the beta.

Whether or not it is "worth it" to you do do that, is a subjective personal opinion.

[PinguinoMentolato]

Estimated release date?

[kc1di]

21.2 cinnamon has been running fine here on my machine. no problems since release.
Thanks to the team looking forward to final.
I personally liked the folders the way they were in 21.1 but that's just me

[SMG]

Estimated release date?

There is no estimated release date. As was indicated earlier in the this topic:

The timing depends on how many bugs are found and how critical to performance the bugs are. Critical bugs must be fixed before the release is made.

There are still 15 issues open in linuxmint / mint21.2-beta, but I don't know how many are considered critical with regards to release.

[helicart]

Can someone advise what the latest kernel is for this beta?

I note there is
5.19.0.46.47-22.04.21
and
5.15.0-76

[SMG]

Can someone advise what the latest kernel is for this beta?

I note there is
5.19.0.46.47-22.04.21
and
5.15.0-76

Welcome to the forum, helicart.

I'm not sure I understand your question. The LTS (long-term-support) kernel for LM21 versions is the 5.15 kernel series. The current HWE (hardware enablement) kernel is the 5.19. If you installed the LM21.2 beta, it would come with 5.15, but you could use Update Manager to upgrade to 5.19.

[helicart]

Thanks for the welcome and reply.
OK, I think I understand now.
I did do a recent install of 21.2 beta.
It had 5.15.
Since install, I have had two notifications from update manager.
one for 5.19 supported until August 2023
a second for 5.15 supported until Aprifl 2027

The support dates and large jump from .15 to .19 is confusing.
Anyway, I think I understand now that as long as I have the latest LTS, I don't have to worry about HWE updates.

BTW, this beta has been flawless. I have been using Mint solidly since 2014.

I still have to reallocate pins for the external audio jack (using HDAJACKRETASK from alsa tools), but that's been the case with every Linux install on this Dell Latitude 5289.
Other improvements are
- my brother printer/scanner worked without intervention.
- bluetooth also worked without adjustment, and now sound changes from laptop speakers to bluetooth earphones automatically

I've also recently tried Manjaro and MX, but Mint is more advanced with panels, launchers, desktop, hardware, and connectivity.

I'm not sure I understand your question. The LTS (long-term-support) kernel for LM21 versions is the 5.15 kernel series. The current HWE (hardware enablement) kernel is the 5.19. If you installed the LM21.2 beta, it would come with 5.15, but you could use Update Manager to upgrade to 5.19.

[SMG]

I did do a recent install of 21.2 beta.
It had 5.15.
Since install, I have had two notifications from update manager.
one for 5.19 supported until August 2023
a second for 5.15 supported until Aprifl 2027

You did a fresh install of the Beta ISO from the links published on the Linux Mint blog?

If so, that sounds like it might a bug. It's my understanding you should only be receiving update notices for the 5.15 kernel.

[helicart]

You did a fresh install of the Beta ISO from the links published on the Linux Mint blog?

If so, that sounds like it might a bug. It's my understanding you should only be receiving update notices for the 5.15 kernel.

Yes, I downloaded from the blog links, one of the Australian.
After getting an update notification for 5.15, and installing, I think I might have opened update manager, and clicked view/linux kernels....and when I saw 5.19, I presumed they were the latest and installed it.
After doing so, and rebooting, I then got an update manager notification for a new 5.19 kernel.

So the 5.19 notification was probably due to my confusion.
With your explanation I now know it's all about the LTSs.
Thanks again.

[Pumpino]

I posted this in Desktop & Windows Managers, but I suspect it's more appropriate here, as I believe Cinnamon 5.8.4 is exclusive to Victoria at present.

I upgraded to Cinnamon 5.8.4 yesterday (I have the Victoria repo enabled) and I realised that user interface scaling in Cinnamon is limited to 100% and 200%. On my laptop, I used to have it set to 125%, and that option has been removed. In Manjaro, Cinnamon 5.8.3 still offers 125%, so it seems that it was removed in 5.8.4.

Is this a mistake or will Cinnamon no longer have more than these two choices? It's the main reason I switched from XFCE to Cinnamon, since XFCE doesn't offer this feature (as far as I know).

[SMG]

I posted this in Desktop & Windows Managers, but I suspect it's more appropriate here, as I believe Cinnamon 5.8.4 is exclusive to Victoria at present.

We prefer that you Do Not Cross-Post because that just increases the workload of those volunteering their time to help.

I upgraded to Cinnamon 5.8.4 yesterday (I have the Victoria repo enabled) and I realised that user interface scaling in Cinnamon is limited to 100% and 200%. On my laptop, I used to have it set to 125%, and that option has been removed. In Manjaro, Cinnamon 5.8.3 still offers 125%, so it seems that it was removed in 5.8.4.

That is not an official way to "upgrade". The official upgrade process will be made available after Victoria has been released (which has not yet happened).

Victoria does have the option for fractional scaling. It is not enabled by default. Go to the Display app, click the Settings tab, and enable fractional scaling.

I will delete your other post because I have answered the question here.

[Pumpino]

We prefer that you Do Not Cross-Post because that just increases the workload of those volunteering their time to help.

Sorry about that. I created an account just to post my question, so I haven't yet taken the time to become familiar with these forums.

I upgraded to Cinnamon 5.8.4 yesterday (I have the Victoria repo enabled) and I realised that user interface scaling in Cinnamon is limited to 100% and 200%. On my laptop, I used to have it set to 125%, and that option has been removed. In Manjaro, Cinnamon 5.8.3 still offers 125%, so it seems that it was removed in 5.8.4.

Victoria does have the option for fractional scaling. It is not enabled by default. Go to the Display app, click the Settings tab, and enable fractional scaling.

Thanks. It appears to have been enabled by default prior to Cinnamon 5.8.4. My Manjaro installation just updated from 5.8.3 to 5.8.4 and fractional scaling switched from enabled to disabled. I hadn't noticed the toggle until you pointed it out. Thanks again.

[SMG]

It appears to have been enabled by default prior to Cinnamon 5.8.4. My Manjaro installation just updated from 5.8.3 to 5.8.4 and fractional scaling switched from enabled to disabled.

It is considered "experimental" so it had not been enabled in Linux Mint 20.3 and earlier versions. Somehow either in LM21 or LM21.1 (I'm not sure which one) it became enabled by default due to an oversight.

It has been reverted back to what it had been in the past for LM21.2 for two reasons. One was the thought an "experimental" feature should not be enabled by default. The second reason is that feature being on can affect performance (lagging). Unless you are using it, you would probably want it to be disabled due to the performance hit and you should be the one to enable it and know it is on, thus, the default was reverted back to what it had been.