PearOS NiceCore – PearOS is pushing harder toward an Apple-style “Liquid Glass” look with its NiceCore release—yet the path to the desktop still feels fragile. The distribution remains based on Arch Linux and KDE Plasma, adds a new installer, and introduces a new Piri assistant
When PearOS boots. it tries to feel like a Mac—complete with a redesigned panel. transparency. blur. and even a MacOS-style notch. In the latest NiceCore release, the project’s developers are clearly chasing an Apple-style “Liquid Gel” look. The problem is that PearOS is still traveling on an unstable road. and in this latest pass. the ride begins before the desktop even loads.
NiceCore is the newest release in the PearOS experiment. The distribution is still based on Arch Linux and KDE Plasma. and it still promises a new desktop environment called Soda—though that part of the project remains listed as “currently unavailable.” The shift in this version is the foundation under the hood. alongside a new design and what the developer calls a “new everything.” Progress. too. is constrained by the project’s structure: the development “team” consists of one person. so updates come slowly.
At the center of the visual push is what the developer describes as a “Liquid Gel” design. PearOS points to the Liquid Gel direction on its official website. and the NiceCore build shows clear traces of that work—even if the reviewer isn’t fully sure it includes Soda’s Liquid Gel desktop. What is certain from the latest test is that NiceCore includes a new installer.
The installation experience is where PearOS turns sharply from pretty to precarious. The previous iteration was already described as dicey, but this time the installation refused to complete. The reviewer ended up in the default test account even after creating a user account during setup. The user directory could be seen in /home. but switching to that user after logging out didn’t behave normally: it would reboot the OS. The reviewer could even change to the created user account, yet logging into the desktop itself would not work.
One possible explanation is offered—attempting to run PearOS as a virtual machine may have contributed—but the takeaway is hard to miss: NiceCore’s new installer isn’t yet behaving consistently for every workflow.
Once the desktop does appear, PearOS delivers the part people will actually try it for. The panel and the Notch app stand out immediately, with the developer recreating the MacOS notch. From the look of it. the system has that Apple-y sense of polish: glass-like transparency. blur. and a menu design that feels intentional. Even the dark theme menu leans more Liquid Glassy. and when the theme is switched to a lighter mode—the setting the reviewer says is the one they always use—the effect turns frosted.
But the theme behavior isn’t uniform across apps. The Notes app refused to follow the lighter theme switch, even while the desktop shell itself changed appearance. The Notch app also doesn’t do anything yet, but it signals where the project wants to go.
For the most eye-catching “Apple Intelligence-like” feature. PearOS leans on its built-in Piri tool—positioned as a Siri-like assistant for the desktop. Out of the box, Piri is disabled. To use it, users must enable it and then allow for the download of a 2.3GB model. After Piri is enabled and the model is downloaded, Pear Intelligence can be turned on. Piri responds to voice commands and can be configured to provide that Pear Intelligence experience.
The reviewer calls it impressive, but also a work in progress—matching the overall state of PearOS in this release.
Software availability on NiceCore is limited as well. which likely means users will have to install more than they expect before the system feels complete—an office suite. an image editor. and more. PearOS also includes a keyboard launcher configured for file search. app launching. simple maths. and other tasks. and the reviewer says the search/launcher is fantastic. But not every built-in element cooperates: the Parari web browser refused to launch.
Peeking through the system’s Pear Menu shows just how much effort the developer has put into the look and feel. The transparency and blur are carefully dialed in, giving the desktop its distinctive identity. The reviewer’s hope is that when Liquid Gel “has gelled. ” the theme will apply to all apps so the whole system lands on a consistent MacOS Liquid Glass look.
Right now, PearOS is easy to admire and harder to trust as a daily driver. The reviewer doesn’t recommend using it in its current state, but insists it’s still worth watching. The latest iteration. they say. looks like it could become a serious contender when it reaches stability—especially for anyone who loves the Liquid Glass aesthetic and wants a Linux alternative that tries to match it.
As PearOS chases that Mac-like finish, the biggest hurdle isn’t the visuals. It’s whether the installer and day-to-day reliability can catch up with the promise.
PearOS NiceCore Liquid Gel Liquid Glass KDE Plasma Arch Linux Piri Pear Intelligence Linux desktop installer Parari browser MacOS notch