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So I downloaded and install KDE 4.0 stable on my Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon install. Everything feels to be pretty new in the KDE desktop thanks to the spanking new Oxygen artwork. Plasma, the new desktop shell gives the desktop a clean look. All the KDE applications have gone in for a facelift.

Here are some screenshots of the new KDE release.

1. The start-up screen

The start-up screen of KDE 4.

2. The clean blue desktop – Plasma

The wallpaper is pretty but the KDE desktop could do with an option to reduce the size of the bottom panel. For me its a bit too large in height.

 3. The File Manager – Dolphin

Dolphin is the window manager included in KDE 4. Its pretty responsive and has all the functionality you will need.

4. Widgets in KDE 4

KDE 4 has widget support by default. Just click on the sign on the right hand of your desktop and it will give you an option to add widgets. Some widgets like Analog Clock, Digital Clock and Battery Monitor are available by default.

5. A tabbed Start Menu

Not sure how many will prefer a tabbed start menu but KDE 4 has it. Click on the different tabs like Computer, Applications and you have different menus displayed. The start menu also includes a search box like Vista which allows to type a few characers of the application you want to launch.

6. The Shutdown Screen

Finally the shutdown screen. The puzzling thing is even if I click Log Out in the Start menu, it will still aks what I want to do Shutdown, Restart or Log Out.

P.S. – I found KDE 4 to be a bit buggy on Ubuntu. But nevertheless its ready to try.

So did you try KDE 4 ?

KDE 4.0 stable is now available for Linux. This new release of KDE 4 includes a whole lot of new improvements like a whole new desktop shell Plasma, better look and feel with Oxygen artwork, hardware acceleration in KWin, a new document file viewer Okular, improved KDE applications and lot more.

Here is how you can install KDE 4 on your existing Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon install.

1. First remove any previous KDE 4 packages you have installed. Fire up a terminal window and type sudo apt-get remove kdelibs5 kde4base-data kde4libs-data
2. Then open up your sources list with /etc/apt/sources.list
3. At the end of the file add deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-members-kde4/ubuntu gutsy main
4. Now run apt-get update
5. Next to install KDE4 type in terminal apt-get install kde4-core
6. You will get a warning that the packages are not authenticated. Hit Y for that warning.
7. Log out and then you will be able to run a full session by selecting “KDE 4″ from your login manager.

Thats it. I am installing KDE 4 now on my Gutsy install.

Will post I have posted some screenshots of KDE 4 when its over.

Source

With the fourth major version, the KDE Community marks the beginning of the KDE 4 era.

Beginning today, KDE 4.0 is available for immediate use by Linux enthusiasts. After half a year of development, KDE 4.0 stable is finally available. KDE 4 is the next generation of the popular K Desktop Environment the alternative to GNOME desktop environment.

New in KDE 4

• A new desktop shell called Plasma. Plasma provides a panel, a menu and other intuitive means to interact with the desktop and applications.
• KWin, KDE’s window manager, now supports advanced compositing features. Hardware accelerated painting takes care of a smoother and more intuitive interaction with windows
• New Oxygen artwork in KDE 4 to provide a consistent look and feel along all applications.
• KDE Applications have been improved. Visual updates through vector-based artwork, changes in the underlying libraries, user interface enhancements, new features, even new applications are now in KDE 4.
• KDE 4 also ships with Dolphin an alternative to Konqueror file manager.
• A new file viewer Okular is included. Okular makes use of the new underlying KDE technologies.

This is just a small list. Lots of more changes are there.

You can find the complete list in KDE 4 announcement available on the KDE blog.

Another Friday and another collection of interesting pages I have found.

1. Creative introduces MP3 players with speakers

Creative has updated its Zen Stone MP3 players by building in a speaker.Creative’s CEO, Sim Wong Hoo, claimed the inclusion of a speaker will help to “free people from having to wear headphones”.

2. HairMixer

Want to know how a new haristyle will look on your face ? Head to HairMixer. You can mix n match to find out how different celebrity hairstyles will look on your face.

3. IE7 Pro 2 released

IE7 Pro 2 has been released with a whole lot of new features. The new release includes a download manager which gives you the ability to pause and resume downloads.Other new features in the update are increased stability, 64-bit support, and the addition of a hotkey (CTRL+M) to minimize IE windows to tray icon.

Do you often use public torrent trackers ? Searching for torrents on public trackers to find your required torrent with the most seeders is a bit tedious. Also you have to waste a lot of time visiting every possible torrent site.

YouTorrent is a new service which aims to integrate the search results from major torrent search engines and display them in a single page. Thats not all. YouTorrent even sorts all the results with the torrent having the most seeders at the top.

Currently YouTorrent indexes 12 major public trackers including Mininova and PirateBay. It also uses AJAX to display the results due to which the interface is fast.

Try YouTorrent