System76 has released COSMIC Desktop 1.7, the latest update to its Rust-based desktop environment, adding a shake-to-find cursor feature, better network browsing in the Files app, improved cursor scaling, and several fixes across the desktop.
One noticeable addition is a new option to magnify the mouse cursor when shaken, making it easier to locate the pointer quickly. Cursor rendering has also been improved so enlarged cursors remain sharp instead of blurry when scaled up. Additionally, repeated zoom key presses now increase the zoom level progressively.
COSMIC Files receives several improvements as well. Users can now navigate to a network location from anywhere in the file manager, and network filesystem browsing is faster. Additionally, users can rename sidebar favorites, and the “Open With” dialog supports searching for applications.
The release also fixes an issue that could cause Files to close when it encounters an invalid modification timestamp, as well as an alignment problem affecting file names in grid view.
On the display side, COSMIC Desktop 1.7 fixes an issue where a monitor’s refresh rate could revert to the default after the display was moved in the monitor arrangement. The compositor now turns the screen back on whenever the computer is unlocked.
Another noteworthy change is the implementation of a remote desktop portal in COSMIC’s XDG Desktop Portal backend. This allows software like Steam Input to control the keyboard and mouse through the portal. The same component also fixes an occasional issue where screenshots failed to copy to the clipboard.
Moreover, COSMIC Settings restores navigation on the Bluetooth page when multiple adapters are available, and removes several unfinished menu items from the input settings page. Plus, a false low-battery notification that could appear on systems without batteries has also been fixed.
The COSMIC Panel receives crash fixes, while COSMIC Edit changes tabs only when the selected tab is closed and disables Cut and Copy menu actions when no text is selected. The login greeter can also continue authentication when PAM returns a non-fatal error.
Finally, the release adds a new COSMIC logo and logo-pattern wallpapers, along with the usual translation and dependency updates across multiple components.
For additional details, see the changelog.
COSMIC Desktop 1.7 packages are expected to arrive in the repositories of rolling-release distros such as Arch, openSUSE Tumbleweed, CachyOS, and others shortly. Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS users already have it available as an update.
Can I shake it until the last drop of pee lands?