KDE Plasma 6.2: Desktop environment offers autoscrolling

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The KDE developers have released a new version of their popular desktop environment Plasma on time in the usual six-month cycle. Following the major switch to Qt6 and the improved remote desktop, the new Plasma 6.2 was primarily a matter of fine-tuning –, but this was done in every nook and cranny. This has led to many small changes.

Donation calls on the desktop have already been announced in advance, with Plasma 6.2 displaying a small message once a year. However, the pop-up message is hardly annoying and can also be completely deactivated in the settings.

Scrolling and graphics tablets

Plasma 6.2 also allows so-called autoscrolling. Firefox users are familiar with the principle under the name "automatic scrolling": If you hold down the middle mouse button, the Internet page can be dragged to the desired position using suitable mouse movements. This function brings plasma into any application. As soon as the function is activated in the system settings under "Mouse & Touchpad", a window scrolls through its content when the middle mouse button is held down. However, the function is still deactivated on our test system.

Artists who work with graphics tablets can assign any mouse button to the buttons on the stylus. This allows them to trigger a right-click or middle mouse click directly via the stylus when drawing. A new wizard makes it easier to calibrate the pen and tablet; all tablet settings can also be tried out in a test mode.

More power!

Applications such as the Steam game client prevent systems from falling into sleep mode or switching on the screen lock. This can be eliminated from programs in Plasma 6.2: In the power management widget, you can block conspicuous software with a click of the mouse – either once or forever.

If a power profile other than the default power profile is used, the power management widget indicates this with a small icon. This allows you to quickly see whether the less energy-efficient profile from the office is still active. Furthermore, the widget no longer disappears when the computer is connected to a power supply unit and charging. Previously, the key combination [Meta]+[B] opened a window in which you could switch to a different energy profile. The developers have improved this somewhat: By pressing [Meta] and tapping [B], Plasma switches through the available energy profiles.

Perceived weather and monitor control

The weather report widget now also shows the perceived temperature in addition to the current temperature, if the weather service provides this. NOAA and Environment Canada (EnvCan) currently provide this data. However, the display remains blank on our test system.

With the "Brightness and color" widget, these settings can be adjusted separately for each connected screen. Plasma 6.2 also plays a sound when you plug a monitor in or out – useful feedback if you have to plug in the cables under your desk at a workstation.

New in the widget management

The system tray now arranges the widgets differently in the grid in the expanded view. This gives labels more space, which is an advantage for German translations, for example. Nevertheless, the arrangement is more space-saving than before.

If you add a new widget to the desktop or a panel, for example, a palette with all the mini-programs opens at the edge of the screen. The widgets also have more space for their texts in the sidebar and are sorted according to the selected language. Newly installed Plasma widgets also appear at the top of the selection list and are marked with a "New" symbol for one hour.