14 DAY TRIAL // The Ubuntu-based Maui operating system has been updated this weekend to the 17.03 version, a major release that appears to add many of the latest GNU/Linux technologies and Open Source applications.
Based on the Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) operating system and dubbed "Cuba Libre," Maui 17.03 is powered by the long-term supported Linux 4.4 kernel and includes the recently released KDE Plasma 5.9.3 desktop environment, which is accompanied by the KDE Frameworks 5.31.0 and Qt 5.7.1 components.
The graphical installer, Calamares, was also updated to the latest 3.1 series, and a brand-new volume applet replaces the standard one. Moreover, Maui 17.03 comes with the Plymouth KCM (KDE Control Module) by default in the System Settings so you can easily install and switch between multiple Plymouth startup themes.
"Minimize All" functionality has finally been restored
In some more good news for Maui users, the 17.03 release restores the "Minimize All" functionality, which is now available as a hot corner trigger. "Touching the lower right corner once with your mouse cursor minimizes all windows, while doing it right again brings them all up in the previous order," explained the developers.
You should check out the video attached at the end of the article to see the "Minimize All" functionality in action. Another interesting change is the fact that Maui users can now choose if they want to install newer versions of the KDE Plasma 5 and KDE Frameworks 5 packages, thanks to the integration of the KDE Neon packages.
You can download the 64-bit Live ISO image of the Maui 17.03 operating system right now from our website if you want to install this distro as your daily driver, but existing users should be OK with updating their installations via the official software repositories. Also check out the gallery below to see what Maui 17.03 looks like.
