Using Rhino Linux's new Lomiri snapshot took me back to the glory days of Unity

2026-06-04 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Software Development & Engineering, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Novice, medium

Summary

Rhino Linux is undergoing a significant transformation, introducing a new user interface called Lomiri, which aims to achieve convergence between desktop and mobile devices. This initiative revives Canonical's earlier vision for Ubuntu Unity, which sought to present a mobile UI in desktop form when connected to external displays. The recently released Lomiri snapshot, while unfinished and buggy, visually mirrors the Unity desktop with its side panel and top bar. Current issues include apps resizing uncontrollably, inaccessible titlebars, and incomplete application toolbars, alongside mobile-centric settings like Airplane Mode. Despite these early-stage problems, the Lomiri desktop shows aesthetic promise and features a simplified menu compared to Unity's complex version. Its ultimate success hinges on securing support for modern, mid-to-high-end mobile hardware, avoiding the pitfalls that hindered Canonical's original convergence efforts.

Key takeaway

For Linux enthusiasts or developers interested in desktop convergence, the Rhino Linux Lomiri snapshot offers an early look at a promising, Unity-inspired UI. Understand that this build is highly experimental and not suitable for daily use due to significant bugs like app resizing and limited functionality. If you are comfortable with testing unfinished software, download the ISO and create a live USB to explore its potential, recognizing its success depends on future hardware integration.

Key insights

Rhino Linux's Lomiri desktop aims to revive convergence by bridging desktop and mobile UIs, learning from past Unity challenges.

Principles

• Convergence requires robust hardware support for success.
• Simpler UI menus can be more accessible than highly configurable ones.

Method

Lomiri refashions the Rhino Linux desktop after Unity, picking up Canonical's convergence concept by adapting a mobile UI for desktop use.

In practice

• Download the Lomiri snapshot ISO to create a live USB drive.
• Test the early-stage Lomiri desktop to observe its Unity-like aesthetic.

Topics

• Rhino Linux
• Lomiri Desktop
• Unity Desktop
• Convergence
• Linux Distributions
• Mobile-Desktop Integration

Best for: General Interest, Software Engineer, IT Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.