Notch support, a screenshot editor and a more modern web browser engine are among changes arriving with the latest update to Ubuntu Touch, the community-run mobile operating system based on Ubuntu.
With many devices supported by Ubuntu Touch, like Fairphone and Volla handsets, using a notch cutout at the top of the display to house cameras, the new v24.04-2.0 update adds support for them, adapting the top panel indicators to cleanly space around them.
Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0 also gains support for printing documents from handsets. Users can set this up via System Settings > Printing. It requires downloading some extra pieces, so internet connectivity is needed. Printing can be done through the new Print app.
Web browsing is central to most mobile activities on Ubuntu Touch, so a leap in Chromium version – from v87 to v131 – used by its default Morph Browser is a big draw in this release. It’s drastically improves rendering of modern websites and web apps.
Why was the browser so out of date? Ubports detailed the difficulties in updating its browser engine last year, the tl;dr of which was: Qt stack differences.
An entirely optional way to install the Widevine DRM module is also available, albeit totally unlicensed and unapproved. But as Morph lacks hardware acceleration, users shouldn’t expect miracles if they’re streaming high-definition content on Netflix et al.
Other notable include a native screenshot editor in the Lomiri shell, letting you edit a screenshot after you take it to crop, rotates or adjust its colours, better support for legacy (X11-based) applications from Open-Store and new emojis (and emoji variants) in the keyboard.
The network indicator was improved to convey wired connections (when a device is docked, for instance), and the team mentions unspecific ‘mobile data connection readability’ buffs.
Not every device gets this update
Not every device that currently runs Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.3 can upgrade to the latest release due to ‘increased system storage space requirement’, per the release announcement.
Users with a Fairphone 4 or 5, Volla device or the Xiaomi Poco X are among those who can update, but those with a Pixel 3a and Nothing Phone (1) are among those who can’t for now; the team says it is working to bring the update ‘to as many devices as possible’.
A minor update, Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.4, preceded it, to act as a ‘bridge’ for this update by enabling root system resizing.