Hello TUXEDO Fans and Open-Source Enthusiasts!
Things are moving fast in the KDE world: Plasma 6.7.4 has just been released with numerous bug fixes, while development of Plasma 6.8 is already picking up pace. The latest work brings many smaller improvements to the user interface – because even the little details can make everyday use more pleasant.
There is also news for businesses, public institutions, and professional users when it comes to long-term KDE support. The KDE Project, Kubuntu Focus, and Techpaladin Software have announced the Bulletproof KDE Suite . It will provide three years of bug and security updates for Plasma 6.6 and the associated KDE applications.
The initiative is based on Kubuntu 26.04 LTS, which will be supported until 2029. Kubuntu Focus plans to contribute more than $100,000 over the next three years. The goal is to make KDE a viable option for organisations that depend on long-term maintenance and want to replace proprietary software with solutions that offer greater autonomy.
Linux remains just as active beyond KDE. The Linux kernel 7.1 has received another maintenance release with 7.1.8 , while development of 7.2 continues. There are also new distribution images such as Manjaro 26.1 , along with updated graphics drivers and other developments across the Linux ecosystem.
In this issue of This Week in TUXEDO OS , we take a look at Kaidan, a free messenger for the XMPP protocol. We also explore the latest version of Blurred Wallpaper and its support for dynamic KDE wallpapers. In addition, we cover the latest security updates and other new features and improvements in TUXEDO OS.
Enjoy reading,The TUXEDO OS Team
Note: With the TWIX series, we keep you up to date with the latest developments around TUXEDO OS. We also introduce interesting applications and share practical tips and tricks for the KDE desktop and TUXEDO OS. At the same time, TWIX thrives on your feedback. We always welcome your suggestions, topic ideas, and proposals for improvement. Feel free to join the discussion in our TWIX thread on Reddit , where you can reach us directly. Of course, you are also welcome to contact us via any of our other social media channels.
Updates in TUXEDO OS
TUXEDO Control Center 3.0.9
Webcam menu: The menu button now opens the webcam menu again. Previously, a loading animation remained active indefinitely.
VirtualBox 7.2.6-dfsg-4~tux1
Backport: Cleaned up and updated the backport from Ubuntu Resolute.Kernel: The package is now built against kernel 7.0.
qjackctl 0.9.13–1build4~tux1
Qt: Rebuilt the package against the current Qt version.Dependencies: Fixed unmet package dependencies.
Firefox 153.0.4~tux1
Thunderbird 153.0.3esr~tux1
nvidia-driver 2:580.178.04~tux1
Updates at TUXEDO
News on the TUXEDO OS Rebase
TUXEDO OS will switch to its own kernel based on Debian Testing. This approach combines recent kernel versions with TUXEDO-specific bug fixes and configuration adjustments. In addition to linux-tuxedo , a long-term maintained variant, linux-tuxedo-lts , is also planned. Learn more about the architecture and background in the article… The Kernel Concept for TUXEDO OS Based on Debian Testing
The open beta of TUXEDO OS based on Debian Testing is just around the corner. It will be officially announced at FrOSCon 2026 on August 16. The ISO image will be available for download afterwards. Find out how the beta works, what to keep in mind when testing it, and how to provide feedback in the article… The time has come: The open beta for TUXEDO OS is just around the corner .
KDE App of the Week: Decentralised Chatting with Kaidan
Messengers have been part of everyday communication for many of us for decades. However, most popular services tie their users to a specific provider and its infrastructure. With Kaidan, KDE offers a modern alternative based on the open XMPP , or Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol , which was formerly known as Jabber. Kaidan 0.16 was released at the end of July 2026 and brings a new media viewer as well as improvements to voice messages.
An Open Protocol
XMPP does not rely on a central operator whose servers have to handle all communication. Similar to email, you can choose from numerous public XMPP providers or operate your own server. Kaidan provides a modern interface based on Qt and Kirigami, designed for both desktop and mobile devices. In addition to one-to-one and group chats, the client supports end-to-end encryption, file transfers, as well as audio, video, and voice messages. Audio and video calls were already introduced earlier this year with Kaidan 0.15.
Integrated Media Viewer
One of the most noticeable new features in Kaidan 0.16 is the integrated media viewer. Clicking on an image, video, or audio file opens a new view where you can browse all media from a chat chronologically. This eliminates the need to scroll through the chat history when looking for older images or files. From there, you can jump directly to the original message or the file’s storage location. Audio and video files can be played directly in the media viewer.
When registering, you can choose between automatically selecting an XMPP provider and setting up an account manually.
Setting up an XMPP account has also been improved with version 0.16. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one directly in Kaidan. The application can automatically select a suitable provider based on your system settings. If you encounter problems with the suggested service, a new button lets you choose another provider directly. This is particularly useful if a provider requires additional information or the registration process fails due to a CAPTCHA.
Easy Installation as a Flatpak
Kaidan 0.16.0 now technically requires Qt 6.9, QXmpp 1.16, and KItemModels. If you want to try Kaidan, the easiest way is to install it as a Flatpak through the Discover software center. Kaidan is also available as a Debian package in TUXEDO OS. However, this package is currently based on an older version and is not being updated for technical reasons.
Info: Are you interested in Plasma development and want to know what new features are planned and which programs have been recently updated? You can find a detailed overview in the weekly column This week in Plasma by KDE developer Nate Graham.
TUXEDO OS Tips & Tricks: Blurred Wallpaper Effects
With Blurred Wallpaper , you can enhance the Plasma desktop with a dynamic blur effect for your wallpapers. As soon as a window becomes active, the background is blurred. You can adjust the strength and animation delay, disable the effect, apply a color filter, or darken the wallpaper.
The plugin is based on KDE’s built-in image wallpaper plugin and retains its functionality. This includes a live preview, applying wallpapers directly with a mouse click, various display options, and slideshows. It now also supports „Switch dynamic wallpapers“, a feature introduced by KDE with Plasma 6.4 .
Dynamic wallpapers can be identified by the dimmed circle icon. Plasma automatically switches between different variants and adapts the wallpaper to the time of day.
Using Dynamic Wallpapers
With Switch dynamic wallpapers, Plasma can automatically switch between different variants of a compatible wallpaper. Typically, such a wallpaper contains a light and a dark variant. Depending on the selected light or dark style or the time-of-day cycle, Plasma can automatically select the appropriate version.
Blurred Wallpaper now supports this switching as well. This allows you to combine KDE’s dynamic wallpapers with the blur effect without giving up the corresponding functionality of Plasma’s built-in image wallpaper plugin. The extension is therefore particularly useful if you want to use dynamic wallpapers while keeping your desktop calm and less visually distracting.
Without an open window, the wallpaper remains sharp and unchanged. Blurred Wallpaper only applies the blur effect when an application is active.
When you open an application, the wallpaper is gently blurred. A smooth transition creates a subtle and unobtrusive effect.
Installation on TUXEDO OS
The easiest way to install the plugin is through the desktop wallpaper settings: Open System Settings » Workspace » Workspace » Wallpaper , select Get New Plugins and search for Blurred Wallpaper . Alternatively, you can download the latest release and extract it to ~/.local/share/plasma/wallpapers .
You can download and install the plugin directly from KDE Plasma’s wallpaper dialog without having to set up any files manually.
When installing, make sure to select the latest version of Blurred Wallpaper rather than the older variant designed for Plasma 6.3.
After installation, select Active Blur as the wallpaper type. The blur effect is then available on your Plasma desktop.
Ubuntu Security Updates
The Ubuntu security updates listed here are generally incorporated directly into TUXEDO OS. Some updates are only available from Ubuntu for a fee and are therefore not made available to the community until a later date. Unfortunately, we have no control over this:
USN-8638–1: Axios vulnerabilities
USN-8630–2: Linux kernel vulnerabilities
USN-8632–1: follow-redirects vulnerability
USN-8636–1: Linux kernel vulnerabilities
USN-8630–1: Linux kernel vulnerabilities
USN-8628–1: libgit2 vulnerabilities
USN-8627–1: Yelp vulnerability
USN-8592–1: ImageMagick vulnerabilities
USN-8626–1: systemd vulnerabilities
