KDE 4.3: First Widget for Social Desktop
A widget has been included in KDE 4.3 as the first implementation of the „Social Desktop“ which allows the user to view other KDE users in his or her city or region.
The widget must be activated by the user, as it is not merely available by default on the desktop. After activation, the widget shows othe KDE users in the region who have also activated and are using this widget. When other users are marked as “friends”, they are permanently marked as such in the Friend-Plasmoid which displays whether friends are online at the time or not.
In order to be seen by others, users have to publish their IPs by means of a specific button included in the interface. The software then converts the IP address to Geolocation data. However, the option remains to hide one’s identity via a “private” function, emphasizes Frank Karlitschek, one of the main creators and developers of the Social Desktop, “that’s especially important because there are a lot of people who get nervous when it comes topersonal data.” Both of the other important developers involved in the first implementation are board members of the KDE e.V.; Cornelius Schumacher and Sebastian Kügler.
The complete back-end for such widgets is also included in KDE 4.3. The conversion from the past year provided a vaguely formed idea from a general API to a content provider of variation: the interface to a database. The KDE forum, first started in September 2008, as well as the cross platform site Opendesktop.org are the first projects to make use of this data engine.
The community is now encouraged to develop more widgets, plasmoids and complete applications using this social desktop engine on platforms such as the KDE forum or Opendesktop.org. It is now possible to develop clients for functions such as “ be a fan of application x”, “upload/download artwork” or “ask the Knowledge Base.”
Comments
comments powered by DisqusIssue 243/2021
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
Another New Linux Laptop has Arrived
Slimbook has released a monster of a Linux gaming laptop.
-
Mozilla VPN Now Available for Linux
The promised subscription-based VPN service from Mozilla is now available for the Linux platform.
-
Wayland and New App Menu Coming to KDE
The 2021 roadmap for the KDE desktop environment includes some exciting features and improvements.
-
Deepin 20.1 has Arrived
Debian-based Deepin 20.1 has been released with some interesting new features.
-
CloudLinux Commits Over 1 Million Dollars to CentOS Replacement
An open source, drop-in replacement for CentOS is on its way.
-
Linux Mint 20.1 Beta has Been Released
The first beta of Linux Mint, Ulyssa, is now available for downloading.
-
Manjaro Linux 20.2 has Been Unleashed
The latest iteration of Manjaro Linux has been released with a few interesting new features.
-
Patreon Project Looks to Bring Linux to Apple Silicon
Developer Hector Martin has created a patreon page to fund his work on developing a port of Linux for Apple Silicon Macs.
-
A New Chrome OS-Like Ubuntu Remix is Now Available
Ubuntu Web looks to be your Chrome OS alternative.
-
System76 Refreshes the Galago Pro Laptop
Linux hardware maker has revamped one of their most popular laptops.
sharing desktop
I imagine finding kde users and sharing part of your kde desktop (be it on linux, ms-windows or mac) through the internet
---p
Neat
Kool