Although it may not be apparent, the transition from the old-school X Window system—originating from an MIT project back in 1984, with its latest version, 11, released in September 1987—to Wayland, which is 16 years old and recently updated at the end of May, marks a significant upgrade for any Linux and Unix-like operating system. In this instance, Raspberry Pi OS is the software receiving this enhancement. The newest version is 2024-10-22, and all relevant information can be found in Simon Long's detailed news update published on October 28th, linked in the Source(s) section.
Improvements in Performance and Touchscreen Support
Along with the considerable performance boost provided by Wayland—now the default across all models using Raspberry Pi Desktop—this update also enhances touchscreen functionality. This means that the virtual keyboard is now automatically activated and hidden when necessary, plus it supports right-click and double-click actions. The latest version of the virtual keyboard included in this update is called Squeekboard, which adds to the user experience.
New Remote Access Feature
Raspberry Pi Connect enables users to manage their Raspberry Pi from any computer, provided both devices are connected to the internet. This update incorporates the remote access tool directly into the desktop environment. It comes pre-installed and can be easily found on the taskbar, but users have the option to uninstall it if it is not required.
Additional Changes and Upgrades
There are also several minor yet important updates, including a redesigned panel application for the top-screen taskbar and a new raindrop screen configuration tool, which replaces the previous arandr tool.
Raspberry Pi OS images can be found on the official page, and those who already have an earlier version can simply upgrade using the commands sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade, as is customary.
The Raspberry Pi 5 starter kit Pro by CanaKit, which includes 128 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM, and a cooling case, is currently available on Amazon for $159.99.
