First beta version of KDE 4
The KDE project has just released a beta 1 version of its next generation KDE 4 desktop environment. At the same time, interfaces to KDE libraries were frozen to allow application developers to use them for their work.
Besides the KDE base there have been enhancements to a number of individual applications: KMail has introduced the Tagging Patch to give users the ability to tag mails with custom categories and colors. KOrganizer now has a new look for schedules, which is reminiscent of Outlook, and can also display a Gantt diagram style view.
Marble is a completely new feature - a geography widget that shows views of the earth and accompanying information and provides them to other KDE applications, in a style similar to Google Earth. Google is sponsoring three students to work on Marble within the scope of the Google Summer of Code.
KDE's terminal application, Konsole, can now display clickable URLs; it also has a number of new tricks that relate to background colors, and it passes schema information to the terminal and applications such as Vim to allow color palette modifications. Additionally, views can be distributed over sub-windows.
In addition to this, the developers have improved integration of the Dolphin file manager with the Gwenview file viewer and Konqueror Web browser components. According to the project's plans, the final version of Konqueror will use the Rendering Engine Webkit, which originated with KHTML, but was forked and developed by Apple. The Koffice project has its own release cycle, and will be publishing the second alpha version 2.0 of its free office suite parallel to the KDE beta. Check out this announcement for more details
KDE 4 Beta 1 packages are available for Kubuntu and OpenSuse. And there is also a Live-CD to give users an easy option for trying out the new features. Additionally, the Mepis Linux distribution is looking to integrate the beta packages with its upcoming 7.0 release.
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 Kernel Reducing Long-Term Support
LTS support for the Linux kernel is about to undergo some serious changes that will have a considerable impact on the future.
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.