Ubuntu 25.10 Brings Fresh Terminal and Image Viewer Upgrades
Ubuntu 25.10 will introduce a significant update to its core user experience by replacing the default terminal and image viewer applications with modern alternatives. This development marks a shift towards more streamlined and feature-rich tools, reflecting the broader trend of enhancing Linux desktop usability without sacrificing performance or stability.
The new default terminal, known as 'Console,' is set to replace GNOME Terminal, which has been a longstanding staple in the Ubuntu environment. Console offers a sleek and minimalist interface designed to improve usability and responsiveness. Among its key features are GPU acceleration, which provides smoother rendering and better performance, especially on high-resolution displays, and an emphasis on simplicity by reducing clutter and unnecessary UI elements. This change aligns with a growing demand from users for faster and more visually appealing terminal applications that can handle diverse workflows efficiently.
Complementing the terminal update, the existing image viewer, Eye of GNOME , will be supplanted by 'Pix,' an image viewer developed by the Linux Mint team. Pix is celebrated for its faster loading times, enhanced support for various image formats, and a more intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and editing. It incorporates basic image editing tools such as cropping and rotation, which were notably absent in eog, thereby providing users with more functionality out of the box without needing additional software. This switch aims to improve everyday image handling tasks for Ubuntu users, particularly those who prefer lightweight applications without compromising essential features.
These replacements are part of Ubuntu's ongoing effort to refine its software stack as it approaches the 25.10 release, planned for late October this year. Ubuntu developers have emphasised that the changes are driven by both user feedback and the desire to keep up with evolving software trends in the open-source ecosystem. The move also signals a willingness to incorporate applications developed by other Linux communities, fostering greater collaboration across distributions.
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Canonical, Ubuntu's parent company, has underscored the importance of maintaining a balance between innovation and stability. While new software like Console and Pix offer improvements, they also undergo extensive testing to ensure compatibility with the broader Ubuntu desktop environment. Early builds of Ubuntu 25.10 have already shown promising performance gains, with users reporting a more responsive terminal experience and a quicker, more versatile image viewer.
The adoption of Console and Pix reflects a broader shift within the Linux desktop world, where traditional applications face increasing competition from newer projects focusing on user experience and performance. This trend is partly influenced by the rise of high-DPI displays and the growing popularity of tiling window managers, which demand terminals that can efficiently manage multiple sessions and deliver sharp visuals. Similarly, image viewers now often need to balance lightweight operation with support for various modern formats and basic editing, features that Pix addresses.
Ubuntu 25.10 also continues to update other system components, including a newer Linux kernel and refreshed GNOME desktop environment. These updates improve hardware compatibility, security, and user interface consistency. However, the terminal and image viewer changes stand out for their direct impact on daily user interaction, highlighting Canonical's focus on practical enhancements.
Ubuntu's decision to integrate Pix, created by a different distribution, demonstrates the increasingly collaborative nature of open source software development. Linux Mint's Pix has gained recognition for its efficiency and ease of use, prompting Canonical to evaluate it as a superior replacement to eog. This cross-pollination signals a growing recognition that user-centric improvements can transcend distribution boundaries, ultimately benefiting the broader Linux community.
See also Manjaro 25.0 'Zetar' Launch Enhances Linux Desktop Experience
User response to the new terminal and image viewer has been largely positive during beta testing phases. The Console terminal's clean design and responsiveness have been praised for reducing distractions while maintaining essential features like tabs and profiles. Pix's support for more image formats and built-in editing tools has been welcomed by users who previously needed to rely on external applications for minor adjustments.
These updates are expected to be particularly appealing to Ubuntu's growing base of desktop users who rely on the operating system for development, creative work, and daily productivity. The streamlined terminal can enhance coding and system administration tasks, while the improved image viewer supports graphic tasks without the overhead of larger photo editing suites.
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