Tech Refreshing

okay so i know changelog posts aren't exactly the most exciting thing to read on here but bear with me because this one actually has some genuinely interesting stuff in it

the kernel situation

linux 7.0 is now stable on armbian for rockchip64, sunxi, meson64, raspberry pi 4, spacemit, and uefi edge targets. that's most of the popular hardware covered. and if you want to live dangerously there's now a bleeding-edge branch tracking linux 7.1 rc's on rockchip64 and meson64. go wild.

they fixed the desktop installer and i am so relieved

okay this is the one i'm actually most excited about. if you've ever used armbian-config to install a desktop environment you probably know the pain. uninstall xfce and watch it take half your system with it. browsers that just silently don't work on certain architectures. it was a mess.

26.5 replaces all of that with a clean yaml-based system. every desktop environment — xfce, gnome, kde plasma, mate, cinnamon, i3, xmonad, enlightenment, and more — is now a single declarative file. uninstalls only remove what was actually installed. browsers work everywhere. kde plasma and mate are new additions. xfce, mate, i3 and others now work on armhf and risc-v 64-bit too which is cool.

honestly this fix alone makes the upgrade worth it if you've been burned before

the nanopi m5 thing is actually really cool

so the friendlyelec nanopi m5 is now the first rk3576 board that can boot entirely from ufs storage using a mainline u-boot with zero proprietary blobs in the chain.

ufs is the storage tech that replaced emmc in smartphones — faster random i/o, better write endurance, lower latency under load. for anyone running the m5 in something like a kiosk or an industrial setup this is genuinely useful. getting it to work apparently required wiring up phy initialization, regulator rails, device tree overlays and a proper flashing path. the armbian team made it look easy. it was not easy.

other stuff worth knowing

u-boot 2026.04 lands for a bunch of rockchip boards (rock 5, nanopc-t6, odroid-n2, helios4/64 and more)

ubuntu 26.04 lts "resolute raccoon" is now the default image base

intel ax210 wireless support is finally in out of the box

over a dozen new boards added

panthor gpu firmware expanded to cover more mali variants

the build pipeline got smarter with shellcheck feedback, board-config validation, and multi-arch unit tests

should you upgrade

yeah probably. especially if you use the desktop installer or you've been waiting on linux 7.0 for your board. images are on armbian.com and the full changelog is on github if you want to go deep on the details. https://techrefreshing.com/how-armbian-26-5-improves-upon-previous-releases/

okay that's it. go flash some boards 🚀

Built on Debian 13.5 "Trixie" and released May 24, 2026 — here's what actually changed: The big one: There's finally a text mode installer. Run sudo minstall --tui and you can install MX Linux entirely from a terminal. No desktop, no Xorg, no fuss. Long overdue and genuinely useful. Kernel situation: — Standard ISOs → Linux 6.12.90 LTS (stable, reliable) — AHS ISOs → Liquorix 7.0.9 (newer hardware, better GPU support with Mesa 26.0.1) Live system cleanup: Boot routines got pulled out of rc.local, persistence saving works properly again on sysVinit, and you can now pick which kernel loads from GRUB instead of hoping for the best after every update. Rescue tool improvements: chroot-rescue-scan now handles Btrfs subvolumes and encrypted partitions correctly. Huge if you use MX as a recovery environment. Raspberry Pi respin is back too 🍓 Already on MX Linux 25? No reinstall needed. Just: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade That's it. Everything comes through the normal update channel.

Nitrux 6.1.0 Released With Major Improvements — Here's What's New

so if you're even a little bit into Linux you've probably seen people losing their minds over two releases this month. and honestly? valid. because both PrismLinux and Ubuntu just shipped some genuinely exciting stuff and the PrismLinux vs Ubuntu debate in every Discord and forum right now is chef's kiss chaotic.

let me break it down for you in a way that doesn't make your eyes glaze over.

first — what even dropped?

Ubuntu released 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon" on April 23, 2026. yes they named it a raccoon. yes i respect it.

this is a Long-Term Support release which means five whole years of security updates without you having to do anything dramatic. it ships with Linux kernel 7.0, went fully Wayland-only (R.I.P X.org, we barely tolerated you), enables disk encryption by default now, and replaced the classic sudo with a Rust-based version because apparently even system tools are going Rust in 2026. it's polished. it's stable. it's very "i just want my computer to work" energy.

then PrismLinux dropped version 2026.05.05 on May 5, 2026 and it's giving main character energy honestly. it's Arch-based and rolling-release so you're always on the latest everything. this release comes with a completely redesigned installer, kernel 7.0, GNOME 50, KDE Plasma LiveCD with Wayland auto-login, better NVIDIA support, and new little system tools baked in like prism-clean and prism-update which are genuinely useful and not just filler features.

okay but which one is actually better

here's the thing. it genuinely depends on your vibe.

if you're the type of person who wants to set up their computer once and not think about it for five years — Ubuntu. full stop. the installer is friendly, the community is enormous, and if something breaks there are approximately one million Stack Overflow answers waiting for you.

if you're the type of person who has opinions about window managers and gets excited about kernel patches — PrismLinux. the AUR alone is worth it. you want a package? it's there. you want Hyprland? done. you want your system to feel snappy on a six year old laptop? PrismLinux will deliver in a way Ubuntu just doesn't on lighter hardware.

the gaming situation

linux gaming in 2026 is actually really good and both distros handle it decently. PrismLinux has Liquorix and Zen kernel options which gaming people really love for low latency. Ubuntu 26.04 has NTSYNC in the kernel now and Steam + Proton basically just works out of the box.

so like. neither is a bad choice for gaming anymore. wild times.

bottom line

the whole PrismLinux vs Ubuntu thing isn't really about which one is objectively better. it's about what kind of Linux user you are or want to be.

Ubuntu is the reliable friend who always shows up on time.

PrismLinux is the chaotic talented friend who somehow makes everything work and looks cool doing it.

both valid. both good. pick your fighter. 🐧

https://techrefreshing.com/lightweight-arch-based-linux-distros-for-old-pcs/

#LightweightArchLinux #ArchForOldPCs #LinuxRevival #OldHardware #EndeavourOS #ManjaroXFCE #Archcraft #ArtixLinux #RollingRelease #Linux2025

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Protect your phone from malware & phishing with our top picks! From Bitdefender to Avast, stay safe. Read now: #Cybersecurity2025 #MobileAntivirus #TechSafety

https://techrefreshing.com/top-10-mobile-antivirus-apps-to-keep-your-phone-secure-in-2025/

https://techrefreshing.com/bottlerocket-os-secure-linux-for-containers-by-aws/

Bottlerocket OS, AWS’s open-source Linux distribution, is purpose-built for secure and efficient container hosting. With a minimalistic design, robust security features like dm-verity and SELinux, and seamless integration with EKS and ECS, Bottlerocket optimizes containerized workloads. Learn how this lightweight OS reduces attack surfaces, simplifies updates, and enhances performance for modern cloud-native environments.

#BottlerocketOS #AWS #Containers #CloudComputing #Kubernetes #EKS #ECS #Linux #ContainerSecurity #CloudNative #DevOps #OpenSource

https://techrefreshing.com/the-rise-of-immutable-linux-distributions-in-2025/

Immutable Linux distributions are revolutionizing the operating system landscape in 2025, offering unparalleled stability, security, and ease of management. With read-only core systems and atomic updates, these distributions—like Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and Vanilla OS—are becoming the go-to choice for users seeking reliable and secure computing environments. Discover how these systems are reshaping the future of Linux, their benefits, and why they might be the perfect fit for your needs.

https://techrefreshing.com/top-portable-linux-distros-of-2025/

Ready to carry your operating system anywhere? Explore the Top Portable Linux Distros of 2025, including Puppy Linux, Tails, MX Linux, Porteus, Slax, and antiX. These lightweight, secure, and versatile distros run from a USB drive, offering privacy, flexibility, and performance for old hardware or modern PCs. Learn their features, system requirements, and how to create a bootable USB in this detailed guide. Perfect for tech enthusiasts, privacy advocates, and anyone needing a portable workspace!

#PortableLinux #LinuxDistros2025