Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 9
PearOS Unveils NiceCore With 2.3GB Piri Tool as Liquid Glass-Style Linux Remains Unstable
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 9

PearOS Unveils NiceCore With 2.3GB Piri Tool as Liquid Glass-Style Linux Remains Unstable

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jun 9

Summary

  • NiceCore, PearOS’s latest release, adds a redesigned Arch Linux and KDE Plasma-based desktop plus Piri, a voice assistant that downloads a 2.3GB model to enable Apple Intelligence-like features.
  • The update pushes PearOS closer to an Apple-inspired “Liquid Gel” look, with transparent panels, a Mac-style notch app and a polished menu, though the promised Soda desktop is still unavailable.
  • Installation and daily use remain rough: the new installer failed to complete properly in testing, created a user that could not log into the desktop, and some apps still broke or ignored theme changes.
  • Parari, the preinstalled browser, refused to launch, and the limited default app set means most users would still need to add basics such as an office suite or image editor.
  • PearOS is still effectively a one-developer project, leaving NiceCore more of an eye-catching preview than a general-use Linux alternative despite its ambitious Mac-like design direction.

Insights

Is the AI-powered PearOS destined to remain a beautiful but broken experiment from its lone developer?
Can a macOS clone on Arch Linux balance Apple's polish with the community's deep-seated aversion to system 'bloat'?