Jeff Eklund wrote:

2008/6/6 Francis Giannaros :

...

So if you have any time and could take one up, just add a note on the wiki and drop a note here.

[0] http://opensuse.org/Sneak_Peeks

If no one else has called shotgun on the KDE article, I'd love to give it a shot.

I don't think anyone else has called it. Want to sign up for it on the wiki, so we know it's taken? Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier openSUSE Community Manager http://zonker.opensuse.org/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Mandag den 9. Juni 2008 16:32:52 skrev Jeff Eklund:

2008/6/9, Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier :

...

I don't think anyone else has called it. Want to sign up for it on the wiki, so we know it's taken?

Done. I will begin writing it this evening or tomorrow morning. I will cotnact Beineri (or some one else, any volunteers?) for a little interview, like the one posted before 10.3 was released

How are things progressing? Time is short, and the task is important. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Lørdag den 14. Juni 2008 16:32:57 skrev Martin Schlander:

...

Mandag den 9. Juni 2008 16:32:52 skrev Jeff Eklund:

...

I will begin writing it this evening or tomorrow morning. I will cotnact Beineri (or some one else, any volunteers?) for a little interview, like the one posted before 10.3 was released

How are things progressing?

Time is short, and the task is important.

I'll try to put something together then...

After some off-list communication and some confusion, the situation regarding KDE sneak peek is the following: Me and Jeff have written a draft each. The question is what to do now. Jeff suggests to use my draft, and possibly use his draft for a seperate KDEPIM article. I don't care that much one way or the other. Only I think Jeff's draft lacks some important information and is a little too positive regarding 4.0, where I think it's better to be a little more cautious. My draft: http://suse.linuxin.dk/sneakpeek/ Jeff's draft: http://ktown.kde.org/~binner/kdessuse/ Someone (with news.o.o access) must make a decision and do something pretty soon, if we're to have a KDE sneak peek. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Mandag den 16. Juni 2008 14:06:22 skrev Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier:

I'm going to take a look at these and see what's doable. One way or another one will be ready to post today.

Great.

Has Stephan replied to anyone yet so that we have an interview to go with this? I see some stub questions here, but no responses.

None of the KDE guys have yet committed themselves to answering the questions. The questions aren't very good anyway. I just stole them from one of the other sneak peeks, since I couldn't come up with anything myself. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

2008/6/16 Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier :

...

Someone (with news.o.o access) must make a decision and do something pretty soon, if we're to have a KDE sneak peek.

OK - here's a draft that is mostly Martin's copy, but a little from the other version. I'll probably use pictures from both versions because (I think) people are much more attracted to the screen shots than the text.

Please feel free to add to this and/or make suggestions. I'm looking to get this up tonight - no later than 9 p.m. EDT if possible. I believe Stephan is helping us out with responses to the interview questions, so we'll be good to go pretty soon.

Thanks for everyone's input on this so far.

Best,

Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier openSUSE Community Manager http://zonker.opensuse.org/

Today we look at KDE in openSUSE 11.0. Two different versions of the popular desktop environment are included, so there's much to cover.

KDE 4.0.4

KDE 4.0.4 is the version of KDE shipping with openSUSE 11.0. It's radically different from KDE 3.5 on the surface, as well as the technology behind the scenes. Dolphin is the default file manager, a new and simpler utility for users to manage their files. (Don't worry, Konqueror is still available for your Web browsing and advanced file management needs!)

Systemsettings is a more usable replacement for KControl, to make system configuration much easier. KWin, the KDE window manager now supports desktop effects with KDE, easy to enable and use without loss of window manager integration or functionality.

The desktop shell and panels have been completely rewritten. The first thing KDE users will notice in KDE 4 is Oxygen, a new approach to artwork on KDE that brings a unified and attractive look to all KDE 4 interfaces, applications, icons, and themes.

After taking in the artwork, users will be able to take advantage of Plasma, the new desktop shell. Plasma provides the full desktop interface experience, from the KDE panel and menu, to desktop widgets (called Plasmoids) that offer a completely new level of functionality for KDE.

KDE 4.0 is still immature, with a few rough edges, and some of the configurability and features of KDE 3.5 are not yet implemented. KDE 4.0 was meant for early adopters, and developers porting applications to KDE 4. While the openSUSE KDE team has worked hard to polish KDE 4 and add some missing features, some users might prefer to stick with KDE 3.5. You can install both KDE 4 and KDE 3.5, so you can try the next-generation KDE out today, but fall back to 3.5 if you prefer.

KDE 4 is available on the openSUSE KDE live CD and via the DVD.

KDE Applications

KDE 4.0 doesn't include KDEPIM (KMail, KOrganizer, Akregrator, KNode etc.), therefore openSUSE 11.0 includes beta versions of KDEPIM applications from KDE 4.1. These applications work fairly well, and will be updated to final versions via official online updates as soon as possible.

Not all KDE applications are ported to KDE4 yet, therefore KDE3 versions of applications such as Amarok, K3b, KOffice or KNetworkManager are used. They integrate pretty seamlessly. A native KDE4 NetworkManager applet is in development and will become available via openSUSE Build Service repositories.

Enhancements

The openSUSE KDE team have improved KDE 4.0 in various ways. For example it's possible to move applets in the panel, Kickoff is polished, handling of desktop icons is improved, possibility to remove the debated toolbox/cashew via a non-gui option.

The Aya Plasma theme is used by default. If you'd prefer the official default black KDE theme it's only a few clicks away. When using KDE 4.0 YaST2 will use an Oxygen icon theme for better integration with KDE 4.0. Furthermore YaST2 is ported to Qt4.

KDE 3.5.9

With all the talk about KDE 4, what about KDE 3.5? KDE 3.5 is the familiar, and stable, version of KDE that's well-known and used by the majority of openSUSE users for years. Because KDE 3.5 is so popular, we've made sure that it's available on the DVD media, via online network installation, and of course in the retail box set.

New features in KDE3.5

Very little has changed in KDE 3.5 since openSUSE 10.3, but there are a few interesting new features. For example the KNetworkManager applet has been updated to use NetworkManager 0.7, which adds support for various advanced networking features. For example using static IP setup, or using more than one network interface card at the same time.

Improvements in KControl make it easier to select Compiz or even the KDE4 version of KWin, to provide 3-D desktop effects in KDE 3.5.

Of course KDE 3.5 in openSUSE 11.0 still boasts the host of enhancements that the openSUSE KDE team have created over the past years. For example the Kickoff menu, the Sysinfo:/ kioslave, Kerry Beagle frontend, to name just a few.

KDE 4.1

As we've already discussed, KDE 4.0 is still maturing and may lack features that experienced KDE users expect. However, KDE 4.1 will be much better in these respects and is expected to be released in late July. Shortly after the 4.1 release announcement, it will be available from the openSUSE Build Service repositories, enabling users to update via 1-click-install — albeit not officially supported. However, if you want to run the latest and greatest from KDE, you'll be able to do so (and help testing as well!)

The next openSUSE release, openSUSE 11.1, should be out in December of this year and include a thoroughly tested and well-integrated KDE 4.1.x right out of the box.

Would also just mention in the summary who is going to be interviewed. Looks awesome though guys -- nice work! Kind thoughts, -- Francis Giannaros http://francis.giannaros.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org