Open Source Desktop Environment KDE 4.2 Available for Download
With the recent release of KDE 4.2 codename “The Answer”, the K Desktop Environment truly has something to celebrate, considering the fact that KDE 4.1 dropped about six months ago and previous to that, KDE 4.0 was released one year ago. There are other things to be joyous about, like the fact the ease of use issue has been addressed and even people of a less technical savvy nature can use it.
“The KDE Community today announced the immediate availability of "The Answer", (a.k.a KDE 4.2.0), readying the Free Desktop for end users. KDE 4.2 builds on the technology introduced with KDE 4.0 in January 2008. After the release of KDE 4.1, which was aimed at casual users, the KDE Community is now confident we have a compelling offering for the majority of end users” says KDE.
From a desktop user experience point of view, here are the new bits and pieces you can expect to get in KDE 4.2:
- A more refined Plasma desktop with new applets, or at least enhanced ones like Quicklauncher, news feeds, weather information, quick file sharing and comics. You can even enable the applets to be displayed on top of the running screensaver.
- KWin got some new effects, it is easier to configure, and uses motion physics to provide a more convenient window management.
- Enhanced and new workspace tools.
- Language support has been added for Arabic, Icelandic, Basque, Hebrew, Romanian, Tajik, Bengali India, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, and Marathi.
Applications got better as well:
- The Dolphin file manager lets you play with the size of the icons.
- Previews are available for tooltips.
- KMail has been enhanced and now has IMAP support as well as a completely refurbished list view.
- The Konqueror web browser has better support for scalable vector graphics, new find, and displays bookmarks on start-up.
If you would like to get KDE 4.2, a download location is available here.
“The KDE Community today announced the immediate availability of "The Answer", (a.k.a KDE 4.2.0), readying the Free Desktop for end users. KDE 4.2 builds on the technology introduced with KDE 4.0 in January 2008. After the release of KDE 4.1, which was aimed at casual users, the KDE Community is now confident we have a compelling offering for the majority of end users” says KDE.
From a desktop user experience point of view, here are the new bits and pieces you can expect to get in KDE 4.2:
- A more refined Plasma desktop with new applets, or at least enhanced ones like Quicklauncher, news feeds, weather information, quick file sharing and comics. You can even enable the applets to be displayed on top of the running screensaver.
- KWin got some new effects, it is easier to configure, and uses motion physics to provide a more convenient window management.
- Enhanced and new workspace tools.
- Language support has been added for Arabic, Icelandic, Basque, Hebrew, Romanian, Tajik, Bengali India, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, and Marathi.
Applications got better as well:
- The Dolphin file manager lets you play with the size of the icons.
- Previews are available for tooltips.
- KMail has been enhanced and now has IMAP support as well as a completely refurbished list view.
- The Konqueror web browser has better support for scalable vector graphics, new find, and displays bookmarks on start-up.
If you would like to get KDE 4.2, a download location is available here.
