Earlier this week, the Zorin Group announced the release of the latest version of their popular Ubuntu-based Linux distro, Zorin OS 15.2.
In their announcement, the Zorin Group emphasized that their focus was on ” … refining the foundation of Zorin OS: its core technologies and software stack.”
Zorin OS 15.2 is here! See what's new and upgrade to the new release todayhttps://t.co/vtskIlP2Ty pic.twitter.com/ynquuMBs1B
— Zorin OS (@ZorinOS) March 5, 2020
The goal of the OS 15.2 is to provide Zorin users ” … with an even faster, more secure, and powerful computing experience.”
About Zorin OS
Zorin OS 1.0 initially released in July 2009 with the implicit aspiration ” … to bring the most advanced technology into the hands of everyone.”
Now, over a decade later, it appears the Zorin Group is well on its way to that goal, with close to 1 million copies of their distro downloaded. Available in over fifty languages, Zorin OS ranks ninth on distrowatch.com, where it enjoys an average rating of 8.2 (out of ten).
There are four separate releases of Zorin OS 15.2:
- Zorin OS 15.2 Ultimate ($39.99)
- Zorin OS 15.2 Core
- Zorin OS 15.2 Lite
- Zorin OS 15.2 Education
Zorin OS is both a great Microsoft Windows and macOS replacement distro, with a built-in feature that allows users to change the interface to resemble either OS. Zorin OS 15.2 features both the GNOME and XFCE interfaces and uses Linux kernel 5.3.
Zorin OS 15.2 Lite is an especially attractive Linux distro for users looking to utilize older hardware.
Zorin OS 15.2 features a bevy of bug fixes, software updates, and security patches.
Changes in Zorin OS 15.2
Unfortunately, FOSS Linux could not locate nor obtain a detailed list of bug fixes and changes included in Zorin OS 15.2.
However, according to the Zorin Group’s announcement, there is a bevy of bug fixes, software updates, and security patches, including a new Linux kernel update (5.3) with associated bug fixes and security patches. This update is thanks to the Hardware Enablement (HWE) stack of Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS, on which the Zorin OS 15 series is based.
Also, core applications like LibreOffice, GIMP, and Firefox have been updated to their latest versions.
Zorin OS 15.2 features additional hardware support, too. Specifically, for AMD Navi GPUs (including the Radeon RX 5700), Intel 10th generation processors, and newer MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards and touchpads.
Since Zorin OS 15.2 is a point update, existing Zorin OS 15 users need not download or reinstall anything to update. The Zorin OS 15.2 update is included in the regular software updates.
Zorin OS 15 users can verify they have the update from the terminal.
# uname -a
To manually install the Zorin OS 15.2 update,
# sudo apt update
# sudo apt upgrade
Existing Zorin OS 15 users need not download or reinstall anything to update to Zorin OS 15.2.
Conclusion
Before penning this article, I downloaded Zorin OS 15.2 Core, and it’s installing now. So far, everything looks great. Even as I type this, the installation is humming along flawlessly.
I’m looking forward to testing it out over the next few days and providing FOSS Linux readers with a detailed review in the coming week.
FOSS Linux readers who are also eager to test and try out Zorin OS 15.2 can download it from the official Zorin website. If you are trying out or using Zorin OS 15.2, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
