Linux News: FSR 4, Sudo-Rs, FFMPEG with APV
Linux Updates: FSR 4 Progress, New GNOME Video Player, and More
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Community efforts are paving the way for FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) on Linux, despite remaining challenges. GNOME is set to receive a new default video player,while Ubuntu plans to replace the standard ‘sudo’ command. Additionally, the Steam Deck now features battery charging limit controls.
New Video Player for GNOME 49
GNOME 49 will feature Showtime as its default video player,replacing TOTEM. Developers cited a lack of recent maintenance and its reliance on GTK 3 as reasons for the change. More details is available on Gitlab.
“As are no more blockers from the Design or Release teams,Showtime is accepted into GNOME Core for GNOME 49.Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.”
Steam deck Adds Adjustable Charging Limit
Valve’s May 8 beta client update for the Steam Deck introduced a feature to limit battery charging.This setting can be found within the power settings menu.
“Limiting the charge limit to 80% can be beneficial for long term battery health. This can be useful if your Steam Deck is constantly being charged (i.e. docked), or very rarely has its battery depleted.”
The update also consolidates display demonstration settings, display timeout, and charging status indicator percentages into the power settings, according to Steam updates.
FFmpeg Integrates APV Codec
The FFmpeg project has integrated the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, primarily developed by Samsung for professional video applications. The OpenAPV implementation, serving as the reference for the APV codec, has been incorporated.
“The APV codec is a professional video codec, which was developed in response to the need for professional level high quality video recording and post production.The primary purpose of the APV codec is for use in professional video recording and editing workflows for various types of content.”
APV aims to deliver near-RAW quality, encoding at several gigabits per second, compared to HEVC’s 100-160 megabits per second. The final FFmpeg version with APV is still pending release.
Ubuntu 25.10 to Use New Sudo implementation
Ubuntu 25.10 will replace the customary ’sudo’ command with sudo-rs, a Rust-based alternative. This change also includes a license update to Apache 2.0. The Trifecta Tech Foundation announced this in a blog post.
FSR 4 on Linux: Progress Report
Progress on implementing FSR 4 on Linux is ongoing. A recent patch for vkd3d-proton lays the groundwork for the technology on the open-source operating system. early reports indicate FSR 4 is functioning in control under Linux using Optiscal.
Though, further steps are required to fully utilize FSR 4. This includes an adapted Proton build, a .dll file from AMD’s driver package, and the latest GIT version or a Mesa variant adapted for RDNA 4. Setting environmental variables based on the graphics card architecture, including RDNA 3 and RX 7000, is also necessary. A detailed technical overview is available in a blog post.
Linux Updates: FSR 4 Progress, New GNOME Video Player, and More – Your Questions Answered
Image Alt Text: AMD Technology
Are you curious about the latest developments in the Linux world? This Q&A-style post will break down recent updates, including advancements in AMD’s FSR 4, a new video player for GNOME, improvements for the Steam Deck, and other exciting changes. Let’s dive in!
What’s New in Linux?
Linux is constantly evolving! Recent updates cover a wide range of areas, from graphics technology to system utilities. Here are some of the key highlights:
FidelityFX Super resolution 4 (FSR 4) Progress: Work is underway to bring AMD’s upscaling technology to Linux.
New GNOME Video Player: GNOME 49 will feature Showtime as the default video player.
Steam deck Battery updates: The Steam Deck now has adjustable charging limit controls.
FFmpeg Integrates APV Codec: The FFmpeg project has integrated the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec.
Ubuntu 25.10 to Use New Sudo Implementation: Ubuntu will replace the standard sudo command with a Rust-based alternative.
What is FSR 4, and What’s the Latest on linux Support?
Q: what is AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4)?
FSR 4 is AMD’s upscaling technology designed to improve frame rates and visual fidelity in games.It renders games at a lower resolution and then uses advanced algorithms to upscale the image, providing a performance boost without a significant loss in visual quality.
Q: What’s the current status of FSR 4 on Linux?
Progress is ongoing. A recent patch for vkd3d-proton marks a step forward, and early reports suggest its functional under Linux using OptiScaler. Though, it’s not fully implemented yet. Further steps are needed, including:
An adapted Proton build.
A .dll file from AMD’s driver package.
The latest GIT version or a Mesa variant adapted for RDNA 4.
Setting environmental variables based on the graphics card architecture (e.g., RDNA 3, RX 7000).
A detailed technical overview is available in a blog post (https://themaister.net/blog/2025/05/09/conquering-fidelityfx-fsr4-enabling-the-pretty-pixels-on-linux-through-maniacal-persistence/).
What are the changes to the GNOME desktop environment?
Q: What’s changing with the video player in GNOME 49?
GNOME 49 will replace the current default video player, TOTEM, with Showtime.
Q: Why is GNOME switching video players?
The developers have cited two primary reasons for the change:
A lack of recent maintenance for TOTEM.
TOTEM’s reliance on GTK 3.
You can find more details on the change at the GNOME Gitlab (https://gitlab.gnome.org/Teams/Releng/apporganization/-/issues/29).
What are the new Steam Deck features?
Q: What new feature did Valve introduce for the Steam Deck?
Valve’s May 8 beta client update introduced adjustable battery charging limits.
Q: Why is it beneficial to limit the Steam Deck’s charging?
Limiting the charge to 80% can help maintain long-term battery health. This is particularly helpful if the Steam Deck is docked and constantly charging or rarely discharges its battery.
What is FFmpeg and APV?
Q: What is FFmpeg?
FFmpeg is a powerful, open-source project that provides a complete cross-platform solution to record, convert, and stream audio and video.
Q: What is the APV codec, and why is FFmpeg integrating it?
APV (Advanced Professional Video) is a professional video codec developed by Samsung for professional video applications. FFmpeg is integrating the OpenAPV implementation to support this codec.
Q: What are the advantages of the APV codec?
APV is designed to deliver near-RAW quality, encoding at several gigabits per second, significantly higher than HEVC (100-160 megabits per second). Its primary use is in professional video recording and editing workflows.
What’s Changing with “sudo” in Ubuntu?
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