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KDE 3.5 Released
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Tue Nov 29, 2005 09:16 AM
from the i'm-up-to-my-neck-in-gui-gui-code dept.
from the i'm-up-to-my-neck-in-gui-gui-code dept.
WhiteFoxBR writes ""The KDE Project is happy to announce a new major release of the award-winning K Desktop Environment. Many features have been added or refined, making KDE the most complete, stable and integrated free desktop environment available." Here a Visual Guide to new features, including build-in ad-block for Konqueror and support for MSN and Yahoo! webcams in Kopete. "
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Kool! (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://suso.suso.org/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 09 2004, @12:03AM)
Re:Kool! (Score:5, Interesting)
For one thing, they said it was the most stable, integrated and complete *free* desktop, so Windows and OS X don't count. However, I use KDE by choice at work even though I was encouraged to use Windows, could have used OS X and did try Gnome. I think KDE is more integrated than Windows or Gnome and is on par with OS X. Its features are second to none (Windows and OS X don't even compete with the features I use a lot, such as working with remote servers).
I think it's important to remember that everybody uses their computer in different ways. KDE is great for me and a lot of other people and it pisses us off when a condescending jerk like you tries to blow it off as crap just because you heard it was bloated (but can't provide proof) and think it may be buggy (but can't list any more bugs in KDE than any other DE) and say it's poorly organized (even though it's all customizable).
Re:Kool! (Score:5, Informative)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Hmm.. he is talking about ioslaves
What's that sound? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What's that sound? (Score:4, Funny)
"award-winning" "the most complete, stable and integrated"
To me, it sounds like a marketroid has somehow snuck in.
Lopete link (Score:5, Informative)
Let's just have one Linux desktop (Score:1, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Friday October 06 2006, @08:59PM)
All the whining about how choice is good and it makes better products distracts from a more important factor. All the competing options make incompatability and confusion unavoidable.
Re:Let's just have one Linux desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Thursday April 25 2002, @09:03PM)
only one widgetset? why? (Score:4, Insightful)
You don't need a "single widgetset/toolkit" to make a great "user experience".
Windows actually has several widget implementations. Access has its own widget set (don't remember the link, sorry), IE has its own widget set [msdn.com], office has its own widget set (noticed how the scrolling bar in office is like windows 98 instead of looking like in the XP theme? The same happens for messenger BTW)
They don't have a "single" widget implementation - they just have several widget implementations which LOOK THE SAME. In the same way, you don't need gtk OR qt - you want a way to make them look the same (the usability guidelines like menus etc are another matter). Implement the same theme for both desktops and make kde swwitch to a different look when you change the gnome theme and viceversa and you're done.
Re:Let's just have one Linux desktop (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes, it is.
Are we creating Free Software for the users? or the developers of commercial software? Personally, I'd rather have freedom, and a wide array of options than a wide array of commercial (and most probably non-free) software. I don't care if commercial software developers have a hard time fitting in. Some will make the effort, and some won't. Either way, I won't use their products if they restrict my freedom to do as I like with it.
All software doesn't need to be free. But conversely, all software shouldn't be non-free either. Each user should be able to choose from a wide variety of options to best suit their own needs. And in my opinion, Free Software cares more about the user than non-free software. What good would wide "linux" adoption be if all the "linux" users were saddled by hundreds of non-free software package licenses? I care about the adoption of software freedom, not your interpretation of "linux".
It sounds as though you're a software developer who hasn't got a real handle on the Free Software/Open-source development model, and therefore you're finding it hard to become rich and famous... Or perhaps you submitted a patch and have had it rejected, or something. Anyway, your OP seems like ax grinding.
Join in the fun, or use a commercial (non-free) OS. But don't try to reduce the choice that other's enjoy.
Re:Let's just have one Linux desktop (Score:5, Informative)
The problem is that Qt is proprietary and this upsets some people. Also, we should have some sort of Open Source widget toolkit that we can fall back to when trolltech goes by the wayside, though they will probably just release Qt as Open Source
Qt was released under the GPL a long while ago. You can license it for non-GPL applications, but then you have to pay TrollTech money. The "Qt is not free" myth is covered in the KDE Myths section: here [urbanlizard.com]
--NgRe:Let's just have one Linux desktop (Score:4, Insightful)
Wow, that's a lot of FUD in one post. I'm impressed.
Not true; there are several alternatives.
Not true: QT3-X11 is available under the GNU GPL; QT4 is available under the GNU GPL even for windows. In addition to that, QT is available under proprietary licenses; this has no effect on the GPL release whatsoever.
QT already is open source.You should really do some research before you start spreading FUD. People like you give people like us a bad name.
It's About Frickin Time!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Webcam - yes! (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://peter.kirkemann.com/)
I haven't got a webcam myself at the moment, so I have no idea how it works in Kopete. If you have tested it, and can recommend a webcam that is working nicely under Linux, I would like to hear about it. Are there webcams out for Linux that actually support face-tracking?
Great work (Score:4, Interesting)
Way to go KDE!!
KDE.org mirror (Score:5, Informative)
Re:KDE.org mirror (Score:5, Informative)
(http://septum.org/)
here's a link via mirrordot for the visual guide: http://mirrordot.org/stories/e5a9203473858cda85ab
Already slashdotted! (Score:4, Interesting)
Anyone here using KOffice in a "real world" environment? The last time I attempted using it, I found it had tonnes of bugs!
Re:Already slashdotted! (Score:4, Interesting)
What I didn't see (Score:4, Insightful)
What I didn't see was much change in KDE's horrible default settings. The desktop is very configurable. Why does it have to look like some terrible pudgy windows clone? And what's with two toolbars on every app? Why not save some screen real estate for the body of the application? That toolbar for konqueror could easily be paired down to one row of icons with the location bar along side. I'm sick of a print icon on every application. I print things rarely enough off the web. That should be left to a menu, or just alt-p.
Still, if you're willing to configure KDE a little bit, it's awesome. The good news is that much of the configuration is easy, right-click kind of stuff.
Re:What I didn't see (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.google.com/)
I hate KDE! Damn them for making useful stuff.
Re:What I didn't see (Score:5, Informative)
KDE4 is what you need. Not only are there some serious usability-improvements, polishing, cleaning and other improvements in the pipeline (yes, seriously. Lots of KDE-devels seem to be fed up with the clutter), there seems to be some really low-level changes thought of as well.
Good things come to those who wait, and KDE4 will deliver lots of goodies. KDE3.5 is "just" an extension of KDE3.
Cool! (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.fluxtrap.net/)
Now, knowing Gentoo this will be in the tree in the next 5 minutes. Woo, emerge is gonna be hot tonight, and tomorrow, and the day after, and probably some time after that too....
(Disclaimer: I use Gentoo, it doesn't actually take that long with kdeenablefinal flag on!)
Visual Guide Mirror (Score:4, Informative)
Kould you kindly kan the naming konvention? (Score:4, Funny)
Timed Out (Score:1)
(Last Journal: Tuesday November 29 2005, @10:24PM)
Google Maps and Blogger (Score:5, Informative)
If you want blogger.com to not post blank blog entries, add a user agent for www.blogger.com to Konqueror as Firefox.
Now email google to fix both of them so we don't have to do these silly workarounds.
Re:Google Maps and Blogger (Score:5, Interesting)
I did email Google about that issue (I emailed Google Local because that's where I was at the time. Same problem there). I simply asked that they add Konqueror's user agent to the supported browsers after stating that the browser did work when I switched the user agent. This is their response.
--------------
local-help@google.com to me
Nov 17
Thank you for your note. It appears that you're having trouble using
Google Local because you're using a browser that is not fully supported.
In order to obtain full functionality of Google Local, please use one of
the supported browsers listed in our Help Center at
http://local.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ans
We appreciate your taking the time to send us your feedback regarding the
use of Konqueror with Google Local. We'll keep your comments in mind as we
continue to make improvements to this service.
Regards,
The Google Team
---------------------
Utterly frustrating. Sounds like a bot may have wrote that
Notable changes (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Good point! (Score:4, Insightful)
Kubuntu packages available (Score:2, Informative)
Filterset? (Score:4, Interesting)
(Last Journal: Wednesday August 18 2004, @07:52AM)
(...As you've certainly noticed...) Adblock by itself is worthless. Its empty filter base makes it inactive and only weeks of careful building it would make the extension normally useful. Only combined with a good killfile like Filterset.G [pierceive.com] it really kicks ass, at once. Same applies to any other adblocker - what filters are available for Konqueror?
Re:Filterset? (Score:4, Informative)
(http://www.earlycj5.com/)
Looks like KDE is short on funds! (Score:2)
"Stable?" "Stable" is for Isotopes (Score:5, Insightful)
It also deserves better than having its major graphics package called "The Gimp," but that's a discussion for a different day...
gentoo (Score:4, Funny)
If 3.5 is a major release... (Score:5, Funny)
...what will 4.0 be? A stupendous release? An amazing release? A "Moses came down with KDE 4.0 on some tablets" release?
I'm not knocking them, but I thought there was an accepted custom to releases. If the number to the left of the decimal point changes it's a major release and if it doesn't it's a minor release. Kids today and their releases...I can't keep up.
Re:If 3.5 is a major release... (Score:4, Informative)
(http://slashdot.org/~hummassa | Last Journal: Wednesday August 22, @05:11AM)
Got it?
KDE 3.3 -> KDE 3.3.1 minor release, bug fixes, small enhancements
KDE 3.4.3 -> KDE 3.5 major release, re-engineering things, big enhancements
KDE 3.5.4 -> KDE 4.0 new version, re-written, ported apps to new Qt version
how to upgrade? (Score:1)
(http://justin-cook.com/wp)
Re:how to upgrade? (Score:5, Informative)
Open Software->'Installation Source'. You want to add a yast repository that contains the KDE 3. rpms. Lucky for us SuSErs, almost every suse mirror has them!
You can find mirrors from google if you search 'suse mirrors', and choose the 2nd result.
The directory that you need to choose depends on the mirror, but it is usually along the lines of pub/suse/i386/supplementary/KDE/update_for_10.0.
Make sure you choose FTP, or HTTP depending on the server. Enable refresh on the server (this makes yast check to see if the repository is updated each time it's accessed).
Then click finish to close the 'installation source' window. Now in YaST, open 'software management'. What you want to do is display all your installed packages, so you want to filter based on the 'package groups', then choose 'zzz all packages', located at the bottom of the left side. This will show you every package that you have installed, and is available to install. Now click 'Package->All in this List->Update if Newer Version is Available'. Now all the installed packages that can be updated have been selected!
Click 'Accept', and try an solve any conflicts that arise, usually solve each conflict one at a time and click 'OK - Try Again' each time, sometimes solving one conflict removes others.
It'll then tell you of any extra packages that will be needed, and away you go!
Now we just need... (Score:4, Interesting)
(http://www.crazysquirrel.com/index.jspx)
...one of the major distributions to get behind KDE and push it a bit. Debian is about the closest I can think of (yes, I know I'm going to get flamed for that) and that is desktop neutral. There's kubuntu but that could hardn't be called major (although I think it will do pretty well).
It's a real shame because IMVVHO I think KDE is the better Desktop system. I know under the hood Gnome is supposed to be better but quite frankly as long as it works I don't really care. I want different things from my desktop than from my API. I want my desktop to be inviting and fun to use I want the APIs I use to be like my bank manager (boring and predictable). Gnome seems to have the API right but the desktop wrong and KDE has the desktop but not the API. I might be totally wrong here because I have never used the API of either (roll on (a fast) swing) but that's the impression I get from the advocates for each side.
The other main argument against KDE is that it is too much of a Windows clone. Perhaps I'm the only one that thinks this but I think that's a good thing. I can switch quickly between windows and KDE without too much thought. Like it or not, M$ have spent millions designing an easy to use desktop system. Perhaps it's not perfect but I can't help feeling that the Gnome people are being different simply because they don't want look like windows.
Re:Now we just need... (Score:4, Interesting)
KDE is far more integrated than any other set of apps I've seen, and this integration is useful in many non-obvious ways. To me, in KDE things look more refined.
Re:Now we just need... (Score:5, Informative)
That's rather the strangest thing I have heard all day, KDE is generally thought to be cleaner and better than Gnome under the hood. With the better underlying technology and architecture.
Gnome seems to have the API right but the desktop wrong and KDE has the desktop but not the API.
Seems like you have got that one backwards, the API are the one thing people usually praise with KDE. The complaints are about the "cluttered" desktop, indication that they think Gnomes is better.
but quite frankly as long as it works I don't really care.
Agreed, and there's the point where KDE wins out in the end. It got the applications and features making it possible to get the things you want done.
The other main argument against KDE is that it is too much of a Windows clone.
Anyone who have actually used KDE know it's not true, as KDE is much more. Funny thing is, set KDE up with a non-blue color scheme and those complaints dissapear.
A big step up from KDE 1.x (Score:2)
(http://calum.org/)
But agreed on the comments about the default styles.
Removable media, finally (Score:1, Informative)
From the screenshots of KDE 3.5 it seems that this long-standing problem has been solved. FINALLY. It's about 10 years late but it's finally here! A viable solution for removable media!
PS! I can't wait for the new ebuilds, so someone hurry up.
Autorun? What the heck? (Score:2)
(http://www.acidplane...t.asp?AID=666&T=8461 | Last Journal: Tuesday January 22 2002, @05:49PM)
"KDE has made an exciting breakthrough in its support for removable devices. On detection of specific media types KDE presents the user with a list of optional actions. These actions are configurable in KDE's control center and can be disabled entirely. This goes a great deal of the way toward fixing an old complaint, that managing removable media is too difficult in Linux, by exposing existing features in KDE and Linux to the user in an obvious fashion."
[pic of windows style autorun window here, offering to let you play the cd, rip it, open in a new window, and my favorite, do nothing]
Repeat after me: That is not autorun. (Score:5, Informative)
The problem with Windows autorun is that it automatically ran untrusted code from the CD you just put in. This appears to let you automatically do something using the trusted code on your own computer. That's what OS X does, and it's fine.
There is a BIG difference between opening the CD ripping app on your computer, and opening some random app on the CD itself. If the CD ripping app on your computer is a Trojan, it's on your computer and you're already rooted. This is no more dangerous than a script you write yourself to call applications on your own computer.
If KDE allows the CD maker to point to a random file on the CD and say "Run me!" then they deserve all the scorn one can pour upon them. But if the computer just says, "Hmm, I see a bunch of audio files! I will open my trusted audio application!" then it's a timesaver and not a major risk. (Ok, there might be some exploitable overflows in the code that does this, but that can happen anywhere.)
bloat (Score:1)
Fitts Law and the Dual Layer Task Bar (Score:3, Interesting)
Placing task bar items along the edge of the screen provides the benefit of "infinite height". With the stacked display of items on the KDE task bar the top row of items do not benefit from this.
Why have many Linux Desktop Environments chosen to implement the dual layer task bar?
Now I understand that by providing more rows the width of the items can be greater than if they were all forced onto a single row. While the size of the target benefits from the greater width does it outweigh the benefits of the infiite height?
I can't be the only one to switch day to day :) (Score:1)
(http://www.monkey.org/~timothy/ | Last Journal: Monday November 12, @06:11AM)
KDE: Wonderful!
Fluxbox / Openbox / Waimea / Blackbox (in random order): Sweet!
Enlightenment: Neat!
WindowMaker: Fun!
It's like the Seldon plan with more than 2 Foundations. I'm using Windows right now (schoolday; lecture in progress) and though I get to use lots of nice open-source apps, it's not as fun (in my own twisted perception; your fun-house mirror may vary) as any of the desktops on my Linux machines at home
timothy
"Award winning"? Which awards exactly? (Score:2)
you're up against all of one other competitor!
Jesus... (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Monday February 27 2006, @09:54PM)
If KDE is so advanced, why gnome? (Score:1)
Re:If KDE is so advanced, why gnome? (Score:4, Insightful)
Projects like KDE and Gnome have different communities, and different developers and sponsors with different goals and ideas. You can't just "pick one". That doesn't make any sense.
I knew something was missing! (Score:2, Funny)
(http://john.anthony.brown.googlepages.com/)
Killer feature?? (Score:2, Funny)
KDM IPV6 Support? (Score:2)
(http://slashdot.org/~nurb432/ | Last Journal: Friday August 27 2004, @03:24PM)
Real changelog? (Score:1)
KDE Vs. GNOME (Score:1)
(http://angrykeyboarder.com/ | Last Journal: Sunday September 02, @10:07AM)
I like an use both. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Both excel at certain things that the other does not.
That's exactly why I like and use both.
That's OK isn't it?
Memory (Score:2)
Question for KDE people (Score:3, Interesting)
(Last Journal: Tuesday March 02 2004, @07:07PM)
Xorg 7 is almost here. With Xorg 7 comes EXA. With EXA comes a way to have stable, accerated eye candy. KDE 3.4 was ahead of its time for putting a compsite manager in Kwin, but it was so buggy that I had to stick to my old Xcompmgr+ Gnome/Metacity combination because I could turn off the composite for times when I need a stable desktop with the click of an icon with my old setup(I need stability for a few things). I plan to switch to whatever DE has a stable composite manager first.
Luminocity seems to be at least a year off, XFCE's composite manager is the most buggy I have dealt with, so all my hope is in KDE.
Does 3.5 have what I want? Or am I yet again left to wait a year for KDE 4 to come out? Will I be liberated from "the toy" Xcompmgr? Can I have a stable and modern Linux desktop before 2005 ends? Or do I wait another year (well.....I won't wait another year....if its like this in mid 2006 an Intel Macmini will sit on my desktop)?
KDE apps +1 KDE desktop -1 (Score:2)
(http://www.penguinpetes.com/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 14 2006, @03:38AM)
I've been love/hate over KDE so long that I'm full-blown schitzophrenic now. The KDE environment may be pretty and featureful, but it manages to bring even my best hardware to it's knees. And it just bloats up with every new release. But no matter what window manager I have going, I still find Konqueror darned useful (mostly for local file browsing/managing - Firefox has my websurfing locked in!), and I manage to pick 'n' use KDE apps no matter what desktop I'm in. The rest of the family uses KDE exclusively. The kids love the games (I have grade school children, so how can I help but applaud the edutainment section?). But power-users such as myself need something as light as possible that gets out of our way.
My only beef is when a live CD distro manages to (a) louse up the KDE configuration so it's buggy and crashes, and (b) provide no means of accessing the alternative desktops that are included on the disk anyway! I mean, c'mon, a live CD has a performance hit in the first place - wouldn't a superlight desktop alternative make sense, here?
Of course, I should reserve judgement until I've tried the new KDE - which doubtless I'll encounter the next time I burn a distro...
Re:My *personal* Screenshots! (Score:1)
You don't like it. DON'T INSTALL IT. Simple, non ? (Score:5, Insightful)
"Call me a troll"
Consider it done...
Re:Breakthrough? (Score:1)
(http://www.kettering.edu/~adam4300/)
Re:You will comply... (Score:2, Insightful)
(http://www.thepaleontologist.com/)
Re:slashdotted??? (Score:2)
But I am still unhappy with the tool bars in Konqueror. Why won't the developers merge these? There is still lots of screen real-estate being "wasted." The default Firefox 1.0.7 layout is OK in my view. Buttons for incresing/decreasing font size and the "find" button should not be on the default layout. Anyone that needs these can add them later.
Re:Something Kool for my Komputer! (Score:2)
Re:Unstable bloatware. (Score:2)
(http://www.fjellstad.org/)
Re:Unstable bloatware. (Score:1)
Not entirely true.
As you can readily verify by looking at the developer information for the kdelibs source package [debian.org], kde 3.5 has not been uploaded into Debian yet.
The release candidate has been on alioth [debian.org] since mid november. Those packages are considered highly experimental!
On the other hand major KDE releases does seem to get shorter and shorter time between them, and I have a sneaky suspicion that they are cutting features off their roadmaps to get the release out at a certain time and not telling people about it. I can't prove that though.
I do think KDE needs to reconsider how they do quality control, and think more about stability vs. features.
Re:YAY (Score:2)
Re:Windows lookalike? (Score:1)
No, I think you'll find that Digg had a one line link to a probably ancient article that someone else wrote about Windows vs Linux followed by about 50 one line comments from the chronically retarded.
Of course I am extrapolating this from my last visit to Digg. I'd love to go back and see if I'm right, but I can actually feel my IQ dropping 10 points every time the front page loads.
Re:Windows lookalike? (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://howwhatwhy.com/)
Re:Windows lookalike? (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Tuesday June 01 2004, @05:25PM)
That is what we mean with choice on Linux.
Learn to upgrade properly (Score:2)