Just over a year after we released Zorin OS 16 in August 2021, we’re thrilled to say that it’s been downloaded over 3.5 million times.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the terrific feedback we’ve heard from users around the world. Thank you all for helping to make this the biggest release of Zorin OS ever!
Today, we’re excited to announce Zorin OS 16.2. It introduces refinements that elevate the desktop experience even further. Read on to learn about what’s new since Zorin OS 16.1.
Easier to install Windows apps.
For those who wish to use Windows apps and games in Zorin OS, we’ve made it even easier to find and install Windows App Support. You can now simply open the Zorin Menu, navigate to the “System Tools” section, and open “Windows App Support” to activate it in one click.
Install Windows App Support from the Zorin Menu.
Epic Games Store in Heroic Launcher.
Enhancing the office experience.
Alternatives to Microsoft fonts.
When documents are created on other platforms, they often use the default fonts from Microsoft Office/365 or Windows. However, these fonts are under a proprietary license, so they can’t be pre-installed in Zorin OS for all users.
Because of this, documents may display with incompatible fonts instead. This can cause documents to not only look different than intended but also to shift their layout and corrupt their formatting.
Comparison with previous font selection.
Because of how prevalent these proprietary fonts are in documents, this issue became a significant barrier to those hoping to switch to Zorin OS for their work environment.
Zorin OS 16.2 comes with an updated font selection to help solve this problem. We’ve introduced Open Source metric-compatible alternatives to some of the most popular fonts. They appear similar to their proprietary counterparts and have the same character dimensions, so documents display with the correct formatting.
Carlito: the alternative to Calibri (the default typeface in Microsoft Office/365)
Caladea: the alternative to Cambria
Gelasio: the alternative to Georgia
Selawik: the alternative to Segoe UI
Comic Relief: the alternative to Comic Sans
Comparison with new fonts in Zorin OS 16.2
They complement the existing selection of metric-compatible alternative fonts previously included in Zorin OS:
Arimo: the alternative to Arial
Tinos: the alternative to Times New Roman
Cousine: the alternative to Courier New
The system substitutes these fonts automatically, so you can start working on documents from other platforms seamlessly.
The new LibreOffice.
LibreOffice is one of the most important apps in Zorin OS, and with this new release, it’s getting even better. We’ve included LibreOffice 7.4, the latest version of the award-winning office suite. Some of the new enhancements include:
Even better compatibility with Microsoft Office/365 documents
Improvements to change-tracking in Writer for easier collaboration
Support for images in WebP and EMD/WMZ formats
More options and features for editing documents
Performance boosts while opening, editing, and exporting documents, so you can get more work done quicker
LibreOffice
With these upgrades, we’re further achieving our goal of making Zorin OS the best alternative to Windows as a free and open work environment.
Newer apps.
In addition to LibreOffice, you’ll notice that many pre-installed apps have been updated in Zorin OS 16.2. Not only does this provide a more feature-rich experience out of the box, but you’ll need to download fewer software updates after installing Zorin OS onto your computer.
Improvements to Zorin Connect.
You can now view your computer’s battery status on your phone. The battery level and charging status are visible in the new Status bar at the bottom of the Zorin Connect Android app’s device screen.
Battery status in the Zorin Connect phone app.
These battery statistics are shared with your paired phone by default in Zorin OS 16.2. If you originally installed an earlier version of Zorin OS 16 on your computer, you can enable this feature by following these steps:
- Update the Zorin Connect app on your phone
- Open the Zorin Connect app on your computer
- Click on your paired phone in the “Devices” list
- Navigate to the “Battery” section
- Switch on the “Share Statistics” option
- Share Statistics option in Battery section of Zorin Connect
- The Zorin Connect app for Android has also been updated with other new features:
- Send your phone’s clipboard with one tap from the phone app’s home screen
- Option to show notifications on your computer only if the phone’s screen is off
- Add loop and shuffle controls to Multimedia Control (for supported media players)
- Allow configuring the action for left clicks in Remote Input
- New About screen
GDevelop in Zorin OS Education
Now more than ever, it’s vital for students to learn technology skills to prepare them to succeed in the 21st century. Zorin OS Education has always provided powerful tools to teach coding and engineering in a fun and accessible way.
In Zorin OS 16.2 Education, we’re introducing another incredible tool: GDevelop. It’s full-featured, no-code game development software that lowers the barrier to learning programming, while giving students an infinite canvas to express their creativity. It’s accompanied by a comprehensive set of tutorials that guide you through every step in developing a game, so students have the freedom to learn at their own pace.
GDevelop.
“With GDevelop, you can make simple projects for fun, create ambitious indie games or even build the next hit, grossing 1 million downloads like some games powered by GDevelop! Professionals, educators or hobbyists all use GDevelop for game making.”
― The GDevelop team
Students have the power to publish their games on mobile app stores, game platforms like Steam, or the web. By going through the entire process of dreaming up, creating, and sharing their creations with the world, kids can gain valuable experience and get excited about making a positive impact in their lives and the world.
Maximize effect and updated physics in Jelly Mode.
Jelly Mode is upgraded to provide an even more fun desktop experience. The animation engine for wobbling windows has been refactored and uses updated physics variables by default for more lively interactions. Maximizing a window now also triggers the effect, better replicating the feel and behavior of jelly.
Stronger security and better hardware compatibility.
Many built-in system technologies have received improvements for better security, compatibility, and performance.
Zorin OS 16.2 is now powered by the same version of the Linux kernel as in Ubuntu 22.04 and comes with new drivers, bringing even better support for hardware such as:
- NVIDIA graphics cards, including the GeForce RTX 4090
- AMD Radeon and Intel graphics cards
- Framework Laptop with 12th Generation Intel Processors
- Xbox One Controller
- Apple Magic Mouse
- USB4
- More Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and audio devices
The latest security patches are also included throughout the system, so you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re using the most secure version of Zorin OS ever.
The Zorin OS 16 release series will continue to be supported with software updates and security patches until April 2025.
How to get Zorin OS 16.2
Upgrade
If you’re already running Zorin OS 16, you can upgrade to Zorin OS 16.2 by installing the latest updates from the Software Updater today.
Download
All editions of Zorin OS 16.2 are available from the Download page on our website.
Download Zorin OS 16.2
If you’ve already purchased Zorin OS 16 Pro, you can download a new copy of Zorin OS 16.2 Pro or Pro Lite from the download link in your original purchase email. If you lost access to this email, you can resend it here.
Buy a computer.
Thinking of getting a new computer? Purchase a new laptop or desktop with Zorin OS 16.2 pre-installed from one of our computer manufacturer partners like Laptop With Linux. Every purchase helps contribute to the Zorin OS project.
With a GNOME 3 or XFCE 4-oriented desktop, you can quickly get used to the Zorin experience, especially if you're coming from Windows. This is such that Zorin is particular about gearing his focus towards users in the Microsoft Windows demographic.
ReplyDeleteWith a standard software repository and accompanying desktop optimizations, right down to the mimicked blue accent around the operating system, there's no doubt who Zorin OS is going for.
As one of the few operating systems that was built from the ground up to win over Windows users, Zorin has been especially able to express its disdain for Microsoft as a company while doing an equally fantastic job of shifting its focus toward Windows users frustrated with the state. of Windows as an operating system.
Additionally, Zorin OS can boast the kind of stability that may be foreign to some Windows users, further validating the need to switch or making users feel a little more confident in using the platform after the switch.
DeleteA popular error that users often encounter, regardless of which version of Windows they run, is the infamous BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). An unmistakably huge blue screen that takes up every inch of your screen. This is also nowhere to be found in Zorin OS.
Work so hard and play so hard because no virus will be able to call your system home. There's virtually no way for any Windows virus to thrive, and the built-in security layers (thanks to the Linux kernel) ensure that you're at the mercy of superusers if there's ever an illegal attempt to gain access to your system by mistake.
Continuing with office automation, 16.2 includes the latest version of LibreOffice, namely the 7.4 series. In addition, applications have been updated to newer versions, including Firefox. On the other hand, Zorin Connect support has been improved.
ReplyDeleteThis release comes a year after Zorin OS 16, and about five months after 16.1. It is an update that refines what exists in past versions, including making it easier to install Windows applications now. Support can be activated from the Windows menu/system tools/application support.
DeleteOn the other hand, Zorin Connect support has been improved. Among the new features, battery statistics are shared with the linked phone. Other things you can do now with Zorin Connect:
Send your phone clipboard with a single tap from the phone app home screen.
Option to show notifications on the computer only if the phone screen is off.
Add loop and shuffle controls to Media Control (for supported media players).
Allow action configuration for left clicks in Remote Input.
New “About” screen.
In this version, aesthetic touches have been added, such as the flan effect of the windows, and security has been improved, as well as compatibility with new hardware. Zorin OS 16.2 uses the Ubuntu 22.04 kernel, that is, Linux 5.15.