KDE Gives Linux a Hint of Windows
Trolltech, the creator of application development platforms for desktop computers, has congratulated free software project, K Desktop Environment on the successful launch of KDE 4.0. KDE 4.0 brings new ways of viewing applications and widgets, a new start menu, a revamped file browser, as well as a new look to some entertainment apps and others. Practically, KDE 4.0 introduced for example the Plasma desktop shell, which replaces the conventional panel and desktop with interactive widgets. KDE programmers also created a new smart theme engine and icon set called Oxygen, which increases the visual consistency of the desktop environment along with new vector-based artwork. The KWin window manager was as well brought compositing support and advanced graphical effects.The improvement is not limited to the user interface, as beneath the surface, the new desktop environment includes also a wide range of important architectural changes. For example, the DCOP interprocess-communication system was completely replaced with D-Bus, which is a standard IPC framework created through the FreeDesktop.org project.KDE 4.0 includes also some new applications, such as the new Dolphin file manager and a new desktop configuration tool.”We are convinced that the new release of KDE 4 will be a great foundation for innovative new developments”, said Eirik Chambe-Eng, Chief Troll and founder of Trolltech. Founded in 1996, the KDE project brings into its ambit several standalone applications and smaller projects based on KDE technology, such as KOffice, KDevelop, Amarok, K3b.
