Install Mate 1.14 on Ubuntu Mate 16.04 via PPA

It is done available MATE 1.14 desktop for Ubuntu MATE 16.04 (Xenial Xerus). It took two months for its packages to be available under the PPA repository, as they have been tested in great detail so that none of its users are found with errors.

As you know, the distribution of Ubuntu MATE 16.04 includes version 1.12 by default of this desktop and the changes that we will see when applying the new update in our system will be mainly aesthetic, although some new functionality has also been added.

As a minor version, this new edition of the desktop MATE 1.14 includes small aesthetic and functional changes for your system. Specifically we will see:

• Fixed the decoration of the apps on the client side. Hereinafter will render correctly with all desktop themes.
• The configuration of the touchpad configuration now supports the use of corners and scrolling with two independent fingers.
• The management of the Pyhton Cashier extension can now be managed autonomously.
• They are selectable three new focus modes in windows.
• The MATE panel can change the size of the icons in the menu bar and its own elements.
• The volume and brightness OSD can now be turned on and off.
• Other minor stability and performance fixes and improvements.

The improvements that GTK + 3 includes are also present in MATE 1.14 and we will see it throughout all its elements of the desktop. However, the packages have been compiled with GTK + 2 to ensure compatibility of Ubuntu 16.04 with other applications third parties, applets, plugins and other extensions.

To install the MATE 1.14 update on Ubuntu MATE 16.04, you must enter the following commands through the console:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/xenial-mate
sudo apt update
sudo apt dist-upgrade

If you are not satisfied with the changes or you find compatibility problems that make you go back, you can reverse the changes with the following script:

sudo apt install ppa-purge
sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/xenial-mate

We recommend that you restart your system once you have made the changes.