Linux Mint has offered an early look at some of the features coming to version 23.0, which is scheduled for release on Christmas Day later this year. The announcement, made on September 11, 2026, highlights two brand-new first-party applications that will ship with the distribution, along with improvements to existing tools and the XApp project.
The first of the two new apps is a calendar application called Clockenstein. It is designed to handle multiple calendars at once, allowing users to manage schedules from different sources in a single interface. Clockenstein also supports background synchronization, so calendars stay up to date without requiring manual refreshes, and it integrates with the desktop panel for quick access to upcoming events. The goal is to provide a native, well-integrated calendar experience that fits naturally into the Linux Mint desktop environment.
The second new application is an EPUB reader named Xepub. It offers a range of features aimed at making digital reading more convenient and productive. Users can jump between chapters, search through the full text of a book, look up definitions or translations for individual words, and add highlights and annotations as they read. These capabilities position Xepub as a practical tool for both casual readers and those who study or work with ebooks on a regular basis.
In addition to the two new apps, Linux Mint 23.0 will bring changes to “Thingy,” the built-in library tool. Instead of organizing items by the application that created them, Thingy will now group files by type. This shift is intended to make the library more intuitive and easier to navigate, particularly for users who work with a wide variety of file formats. The update also enhances customization options and improves history management, giving users more control over how their library behaves and how past activity is tracked.
The XApp project, which develops the cross-desktop applications used in Linux Mint and other environments, has also launched its own dedicated website. This move gives the project a more visible and centralized online presence, making it easier for users and contributors to follow development, access documentation, and learn about the individual XApp components. The website is expected to serve as a hub for the growing ecosystem of XApp tools.
Version 23.0 represents another step in Linux Mint’s ongoing effort to refine the desktop experience with in-house software. By introducing Clockenstein and Xepub alongside the Thingy improvements, the project continues to expand its suite of native applications while keeping the system accessible to a broad range of users. More details about the release are expected to emerge as the Christmas launch approaches. —END—
