openSUSE 11.1 is now out (screenshots), featuring KDE 4.1.3 and a string of KDE improvements. The release brings back the much-loved KDE-PIM suite, and includes new games, the KSCD CD player, KSystemLog to keep track of system changes, improvements to Dolphin, Konqueror (including Webkit part), Plasma (including auto-hide panel, folder view), Marble integration with OpenStreetMap, and much more. The release is available as an installable live CD, or on a DVD with KDE 3.5.10, GNOME, Xfce, and many more applications.

KWin Composite Effects

Of particular interest are the KWin improvements in this release. openSUSE users now have a number of backported KWin effects to enjoy, and show off to their friends. If KWin effects aren’t your cup of tea, you can use the new Compiz KDE configuration module to enable and handle Compiz Fusion on KDE 4.



PackageKit and Powerdevil

KDE has now also standardised on PackageKit for its backend, which means both desktops are using the same update stack. Furthermore, Powerdevil is now included for easier and better power management on your KDE 4 desktop. Just click the battery icon in the system tray.



Other

The award-winning release also contains 230 new features, improvements to YaST, OpenOffice.org 3.0, and more freedom with a brand new licence, Liberation fonts, and openJDK. This is also the first release built entirely in the openSUSE Build Service, and the last release to contain the full KDE 3 desktop available on the DVD medium for installation.



Finally remember that for testing purposes, the recently released KDE 4.2 Beta 2 is available in the openSUSE Build Service, via 1-click-install. Alternatively, you can try out the release with KDE Four Live.

Posted on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:48:50 +0000 at http://dot.kde.org/1229698130/