• KDE Plasma 6.6 is now available to download, adding text extraction to screenshots, per-app volume control in the taskbar and the ability to save custom themes. • The update also introduces new components, including on-screen keyboard, login manager and OEM setup wizard. • All are offered alternatives rather than replacements. • This is the seventh major update to KDE Plasma 6 since Plasma 6.0 arrived in February 2024, which saw the popular Linux desktop environment ported to Qt 6. • It is dedicated to the memory of KDE contributor Björn Balazs. • Users of Ubuntu-based KDE Neon as well as rolling-release distributions like Arch will be able to install KDE Plasma 6.6 from today.

Article Summaries:

  • KDE Plasma 6.6 has been released, adding several new features and performance fixes. The update introduces OCR for screenshots via Spectacle, allowing text extraction from images and improved screen‑recording controls. Users can now save custom appearance tweaks as global themes and benefit from a 60 Hz‑cap bug fix that lets animations sync to higher‑refresh displays. Additional components such as an on‑screen keyboard, login manager, and OEM setup wizard are available as alternatives. The release is available for KDE Neon, Arch, and upcoming Kubuntu 26.04, and honors late contributor Björn Balazs.

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