What's new in Gnome 2.24?
Remote Access
The Vinagre VNC client [12] and the Vino VNC server also offer some new features. In full screen mode, Vinagre does not display the toolbar until you move the mouse pointer to the top of the window. The new features also include improved screen content handling if the remote machine uses a higher resolution than the local machine (Figure 4). A new Panel applet supports fast access to bookmarks and host systems.
In a style similar to VirtualBox [13], Vinagre now supports the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Del to shutdown the remote system.
Video Conferencing
After much work, version 3.0 of the Ekiga video conferencing program – formerly known as GnomeMeeting – is now available. Besides adding a completely new user interface, the developers have also been working on the SIP features. More modern video codecs and a smoother display – in full screen mode too – make it quite clear how much work has gone into the program in recent months. For the first time, Ekiga will now install on Microsoft Windows.
New Programs
Developers have added two new programs: Empathy, an instant messenger based on Gossip, and the Hamster project, which helps users keep track of the time spent on various tasks. Although most users previously installed Pidgin – formerly known as Gaim – as their IM tool, the program's limited functionality made it difficult to use. Empathy is a welcome return to the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle, and it supports all the major messaging protocols, including ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and Jabber. Empathy relies on libraries that keep to the Freedesktop specifications, although it also uses Libpurple, on which Pidgin was based.
The Hamster project provides a simple approach to managing time requirements for daily tasks. Output in HTML and several helpful visualization features leave a positive overall impression for this fairly recent project (Figure 5).
Some components failed to make the Gnome 2.24 freeze. The new version of Epiphany, for instance, was originally supposed to rely on Apple's Webkit rendering engine. Although Webkit is now on a par with Gecko in many areas, it still has some issues with accessibility.
As a result of these issues, the developers decided to delay the Webkit integration until Spring 2009. The Conduit [14] synchronization tool was also delayed. In all likelihood, both Webkit and Conduit will make the next version of Gnome.
Gnome 2.24 offers no spectacular changes to basic libraries. For the most part, the developers have focused on stability, although several new tools and features debut with the latest version.
According to the Gnome project, at least two more Gnome releases will follow this version before Gnome 3 arrives. The next release in the 2.X series is Gnome version 2.26, which is scheduled to appear in mid-March 2009.
Infos
- Gnome: http://www.gnome.org
- Guadec: http://www.guadec.org
- Nautilus: http://www.gnome.org/projects/nautilus/
- Empathy IM wiki page: http://live.gnome.org/Empathy
- Hamster project wiki page: http://live.gnome.org/ProjectHamster
- Epiphany: http://www.gnome.org/projects/epiphany/
- Gedit: http://www.gnome.org/projects/gedit/
- Gnome Commander: http://www.nongnu.org/gcmd/
- File Roller: http://fileroller.sourceforge.net
- Totem: http://www.gnome.org/projects/totem/
- Capuchin: http://capuchin.k-d-w.org
- Vinagre: http://www.gnome.org/projects/vinagre/
- VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org
- Conduit wiki: http://live.gnome.org/Conduit
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs