Work on beats has now moved to git at https://pagure.io/fedora-docs/release-notes. If you have changes or additions, please contact the docs team via #fedora-docs, docs@lists.fedoraproject.org, or with the release-notes BZ component.
The Fedora Workstation product provides an easy to use, powerful environment for developers to both work and play. Desktop users can enjoy the familiar GNOME Desktop environment, with support for devices and applications used every day. Developers will appreciate how Workstation is configured for their needs, and provides helpful tools like *DevAssist*.
Updates to GNOME and GNOME Software
Several major changes related to the GNOME desktop environment have been included in Fedora 21. These changes include updating GNOME to version 3.12, many improvements to the GNOME Software application installer, and support for the Wayland display server. See https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Documentation_Desktop_Beat for details. (NOTE: xref)
Terminal Improvements
The default theme has been changed to improve visual integration with the rest of the desktop.
Users configuring their own profiles will welcome the return of background transparency.
Developers and administrators alike use a lot of terminal sessions. A new search provider for gnome-shell integrates with gnome-terminal to make finding the right session quick and easy. Just type into the overview to match running processes, ssh sessions, and more.
Networking
Captive portal detection
Fedora workstation by default enables a captive portal detection method that periodically requests known content from a trusted Fedora server. If the request is redirected, a window automatically appears for you to interact with the portal's login webpage.
Firewall
Developers often run test servers or applications that run on high numbered ports. To allow easy access to these instances during the development process, the firewall in Fedora Workstation, is configured to prevent access to lower system service ports, but allow on port numbers higher than 1024 that user-initiated applications would listen on.
In the range below port 1024, only *sshd*, *samba-client*, and *DHCPv6 client* traffic is not blocked.