Brian Fagioli

There’s a new ISO out for EndeavourOS called “Mercury Neo,” and it’s the kind of Linux release that makes you seriously question why you’re still putting up with the annoying Windows 11. Let’s be honest, folks, Microsoft’s flagship product feels more like a roadblock than an operating system at this point. Mercury Neo, on the other hand, just quietly works.

This isn’t some big flashy overhaul, and that’s totally fine; it’s more of a quiet tune-up. Mercury Neo is a refreshed take on the Mercury release from February, and it brings some important fixes, updates, and improvements -- especially for folks doing new installs. If you’ve already got Mercury installed and you update regularly, you’re good. There's no need to reinstall anything.

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Google is once again injecting AI where it doesn’t really belong. This time, sadly, it’s Gmail search -- something many of us use often. The search giant has started rolling out a change that sorts email search results by “most relevant” instead of the usual chronological order, and to be honest, it feels more like a nuisance than a helpful upgrade.

According to Google, this new AI-powered system will take things like recency, click behavior, and frequent contacts into account when surfacing results. In theory, that sounds useful. In practice, however, it will probably just bury what you’re actually looking for under a pile of algorithmic guesses.

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Plex is making some massive adjustments, and users -- both free and paying -- are going to feel the impact. Sadly, the company has announced price increases for its Plex Pass subscription, a new “Remote Watch Pass,” and a decision that will end free remote streaming for personal media collections.

Starting April 29, 2025, the cost of Plex Pass is going up. The monthly plan will jump to $6.99, the annual plan to $69.99, and the Lifetime Plex Pass will more than double to $249.99. However, there’s still time to grab a lifetime subscription at the current $119.99 price before the hike kicks in. Plex says these changes will help fund future improvements, such as an integration with Common Sense Media, an upgraded server management app, and a new open API for server customization.

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GNOME 48 is finally here, and as a longtime Linux user, I have to say -- it is my favorite desktop environment. I’ve tried KDE Plasma, as just one example, and while it’s packed with customization options, it always feels a little too cluttered for my taste. GNOME, on the other hand, is clean, modern, and just works. With version 48, the GNOME developers continue refining their vision with smoother performance, new features, and improved usability.

One of the best additions in this release is notification stacking. If you’ve ever been bombarded with notifications from the same app, you’ll appreciate this change. Instead of a never-ending list, notifications are grouped together, making it easier to find what’s important.

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Today, ZAGG rolls out a fresh lineup of USB-C accessories that can transform your portable device into a makeshift desktop. The company’s latest offerings include the 4-Port Hub with Wireless Charging, 6-Port Media Hub, 9-Port Hub, and the Pro Dock -- all aimed at elegantly expanding connectivity for both laptops and tablets.

Brad Bell, ZAGG’s senior vice president of global marketing, highlighted the purpose behind these new hubs, saying, “In a fast-paced world, our new line of productivity solutions helps people stay ahead by transforming their laptop or tablet into a powerful workstation.”

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After many leaks, Google’s Pixel 9a is finally here! For anyone not locked into Apple’s ecosystem, it’s looking like the smarter choice over the iPhone 16e. At just $499, it packs AI-powered features, a pro-level camera system, and the powerful Google Tensor G4 chip -- all at a lower price than Apple’s so-called budget offering.

The Pixel 9a isn’t just another mid-range phone -- it’s got some legit flagship-level perks. Its 6.3-inch Actua display is the brightest ever on an A-series phone, hitting 2700 nits, while the 120Hz refresh rate makes for smoother scrolling than the iPhone 16e’s 60Hz screen. Google’s color choices -- Peony, Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian -- also bring more fun and variety compared to Apple’s standard options.

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Fedora Linux 42 Beta has officially landed, and it’s packed with a ton of awesome changes. This release gives KDE Plasma Desktop full edition status, introduces the COSMIC spin, and rolls out Fedora Asahi Remix 42 Beta for Apple Silicon Macs. There’s also a big refresh to the Anaconda installer, improvements to DNF5, and a slew of updated packages.

For KDE fans, Fedora Linux 42 finally makes Plasma an official edition, putting it on the same level as Workstation, Server, IoT, and Cloud. It’s also now officially supported on Power Systems (ppc64le), including OpenPOWER machines like the Talos Workstation. That means users on those platforms get the full KDE stack, including KDE PIM.

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PNY has announced its latest solid state drive -- the diminutive CS2342. This M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD is impressively fast, with read speeds hitting up to 7,300MB/s and write speeds reaching 6,000MB/s.

Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, the CS2342 is primarily designed for gamers looking to upgrade devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or MSI Claw. With that said, it’s not only compatible with gaming handhelds -- this drive will technically also work in laptops and desktops.

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When I suggest to someone that they switch to Linux, they often ask me the same question -- will I be able to run Adobe Photoshop? The answer, of course, is no (for the most part). However, I always follow up by suggesting the totally free (and open source) GIMP. For some people, GIMP isn’t just comparable to Photoshop -- it is superior.

And now, following an agonizing seven years of development, GIMP 3.0 has finally arrived for Windows, macOS, and Linux. This open-source program has been completely overhauled with a modernized interface, non-destructive editing, expanded file format support, and major performance improvements.

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TRIBIT has launched its latest Bluetooth speaker -- the StormBox Lava. Packed with 80W of room-filling sound, ultra-deep bass, and rugged durability, it is designed to keep the music going whether you’re at home, by the pool, or out on an adventure.

This speaker isn’t messing around when it comes to sound. With dual 30W neodymium magnet woofers and dual 10W silk dome tweeters, the StormBox Lava delivers crisp highs, rich mids, and floor-shaking bass. TRIBIT’s XBass technology pushes the low end all the way down to 43Hz, so every beat hits with solid depth and power. In addition, the 360-degree sound dispersion means you should get an immersive audio experience from any angle.

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St. Patrick’s Day is all about luck (plus corned beef and cabbage, of course), but when it comes to your Linux system, relying on luck isn’t exactly the best security strategy. Thankfully, Debian 12.10 has arrived just in time for the big Catholic holiday, bringing a fresh batch of security fixes and system updates to keep “bookworm” running smoothly.

If you’ve been keeping up with security updates from security.debian.org, you’re probably already covered on most of these fixes. But for those who haven’t, it’s time to update. Just point your package manager to a Debian mirror, and you’re good to go. New installation images will are available here if you’re starting from scratch.

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Silicon Power has announced its latest lineup of solid state drives, the Endura series, featuring four new models: E55, E60, ED90, and ES75. Built with 3D TLC NAND, these SSDs offer a mix of performance and reliability for different types of users. But here’s the thing -- there’s no PCIe 5.0 option. In 2025, that’s a tad surprising.

The E55 is the entry-level model, a meager 2.5-inch SATA III SSD. It comes in sizes from 512GB to 2TB and delivers read speeds up to 500MB/s and write speeds up to 450MB/s. If you’re still running a mechanical hard drive, this is an obvious upgrade.

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For many years now, Linux users looking to block ads have needed to piece together a mixture of browser extensions, DNS-based filtering, and network-wide tools (such as Pi-hole). While these solutions certainly help, none of them offer complete system-wide protection.

Yeah, with Windows and macOS users having access to various tools for years, Linux users have mostly had to rely on workarounds. That’s where AdGuard for Linux comes in! Yes, folks, we finally have a dedicated ad blocker that works across all browsers and applications!

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Well, folks, ADATA has announced the SC730 -- a super-compact external solid state drive that features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Weighing just 7.8g and measuring a mere 36mm in length, this SSD is smaller than many USB flash drives but delivers speeds up to 600MB/s.

The SC730’s dual-interface design means it works with everything from laptops and tablets to smartphones and gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox. ADATA is also highlighting its compatibility with iPhone 15 and newer models, letting users back up photos and videos directly without needing extra adapters.

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ViewSonic has just rolled out the ColorPro VP2788-5K, and this 27-inch monitor should absolutely be on your radar! The display features a 5K (5120x2880), plus a 99 percent DCI-P3 color gamut.

Mac users should love how well this monitor plays with macOS, offering what ViewSonic calls “Retina-like” sharpness. Of course, this isn’t just for Apple fans -- Windows users will get the same experience.

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