In ospite of fragmentary information about changes, that I’ve published since my last insight (like the Amarok 2 visual changelog), I’ve decided after all to gather them all inone place. Hence, I invite you to the next insight of KDE 4. The revision of the day is 811150.
KDE 4 — rev 811150
DesktopThe panel configuration has been refactored heavily. When clicking the appropriate icon, we gain possibility to change its position as well as its minimal and maximal width. This is done using the sliders indicated by triangle-like buttons . Apart from that, buttons that add new Plasma aplets and remove the whole panels are also available. Currently the only drawback is the lack of an option to change the position of the applets that have been already in place.
Control elements
Oxygen
Style Oxygen has lived to see a lovely progress bar, eventually. To be quite frank I’ve never liked the previous versions, so the change is good 
Current Oxygen Style
Plasma
The Folder View applet has been equipped with a configuration window. With its assistance we are able to decide which folders will be highlited. We can even also construct a mask for such files.
Folder View
Configuration
When we talk about the KDE menu, the ‘drag and drop’ mechanism has been (eventually!) added for icons. From now on we can place shortcuts to our favorite programs on the desktop.
Shortcut to Konsole
The Notepad has been equipped with a spell checkermechanism, where all misspelled words are colured red automatically.
Interesting option in configuration is the automatic font size adjustment to fit the current applet size.
Notes and spell checking
Configuration
Spell Checking
Now Playing is the applet that we know alread. Its use is to inform about currently played audio track. Up to now it worked with XMMS, JuK and Audaciousplayers. In current version it supports Amarok as well. Also the additional information in form of album name and track lenght time has been added. I must admit, that the cover project function is the only thing missing to make me happy.
Now Playing (Amarok)
Akonadi Tray
Akonadi is one of the more innovative technologies available in KDE 4. It is a specialized platform used to store personal data (PIM ), including the calendar, mail client and the address book. It helps to prevent data incompatibility between different aplications. In practice – when the data in the address book change, automatically the information (e.g. by a Plasmoid) will get updated in other apps. Akonadi will also support others interesting application in the files system. We can for example imagine that when the owner photo displayd in Dolphin changes, it could affect other applications as well.
Akonadi Tray is a small program, inserted into the system tray, that facilitates creation and recovery copy of the data.
Akonadi Tray
Marble
Marble, the Google Maps competitor from KDE, has been equipped with a new visualisation map that uses the OpenStreetMap resources. Curiously enough, the plans of Polish city roads are also available. Thermal views of the planet in the summer and winter periods have been also added.
Marble
Road plans
Thermal Map
GwenView
The Gwenview development has progressed so much that it can now threa its rival image cataloguing software. A feature has been implemented to add favorite places that act like albums. Fullscreen view has been enhanced by adding the image miniatures from the same folder in the top area of the screen.
GwenView
Main View
Fullscreen mode
Kubrick
For the rubik’s dice lovers, new game is available: Kubrick. Using a 3D model of the dice and its different views, we can rotate blocks to get the final result (ggod luck with that!).
Kubrick
KRunner
The most interesting change is the new KRunner,used to quick start the programs using the well-known Alt+F2 key combination. I have informed about the new KRunner previously, but it’s not proper not to mention about him again, the more because it has changed a lot since last time.
Animations of the query results have been improved, the active icon zooming has been added as well as their descriptions.
KRunner. Starting the program
Krunner is not just the fast start of the right aplications but also calculator and measure scaler :
KRunner : Calculator
Krunner: Measure scaler
With its help we can also quickly switch to our favourite website:
KRunner: Web Adresses
…or write a letter to the person we love or hate
Krunner: The adress book contacts
But the most important one is the ability to expand the KRunner abilities by using add-ons:
Configuration
That’s it folks for now. Wait for the new KDE dev visual snapshot some time later this month.
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