Dell and Canonical announced that the XPS 13 Plus is the first OEM PC certified for Ubuntu 22.04 Long-Term Support (LTS). That makes this a straightforward route to having a PC that just works without worrying about whether or not each component is ready to work with Linux. Linux-equipped Developer Edition models of the laptop were available with prices starting at $1,289, but currently ship with the older 20.04 LTS software. Long-term support releases deliver what it says on the tin for ten years of software updates, with the end of standard support for this version scheduled in 2027. Certified devices are lab tested to check the compatibility of each component, which means your device gets the specific drivers installed that will make all of its features work properly. The Ubuntu 22.04 LTS package has a long list of upgrades, including better power management, new touchpad gestures, and improved support for Bluetooth audio devices. According to Dell, if you’d like to have your XPS 13 Plus and its “capacitive touch function row” set up with a hardware-optimised version of 22.04.

GOOGLE PIXEL 6A’S CAMOUFLAGE TOOL MAKES MAGIC ERASER A LOT BETTER

Google’s clever Magic Eraser tool debuted on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. It’s an editing feature that’s designed to remove people or objects you don’t want in the background of your photos. Considering it’s simple to use, the results are okay, but it’s definitely not putting Adobe out of business anytime soon. But with the Pixel 6A – and coming soon to the 6 and 6 Pro – Google has added a new Magic Eraser function that I like a lot more than the standard erase tool: Camouflage. It’s just as easy to use, and the results are a lot more consistent. Magic Eraser works a bit like Photoshop’s content-aware fill. You make a selection, then it uses information from the surrounding image to remove the unwanted subject and fill in the area. With certain subjects, especially if they’re isolated from other objects in your image, it works fairly well. Given that most photos are viewed on (relatively) tiny screens these days, the results look passable. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will get the Camouflage tool this month.