KDE 1446 Published by

KDE 4.0-alpha1 Released: "Knut" has been released:

The KDE Community is happy to announce the immediate availability of the first alpha release of the KDE Desktop Environment, version 4.0. This release is a basis for the integration of powerful new technologies that will be included in KDE 4. Read on for more details.



Highlights of KDE 4.0 Alpha 1 are:
* A new visual appearance through Oxygen
* New frameworks to build applications with, providing vastly improved hardware and multimedia integration (through Solid http://solid.kde.org and Phonon) http://phonon.kde.org, spelling and grammar checking, to name just a few
* New applications that focus on a smooth user experience, such as Dolphin, the file manager, and Okular, the document viewer

http://www.kde.org/announcements/visualguide-4.0-alpha1.php
KDE 4.0 Alpha 1 marks the end of the addition of large features to the KDE base libraries and shifts the focus onto integrating these new technologies into applications and the base desktop. The next few months will be spent on bringing the desktop into shape after two years of frenzied development leaving very little untouched.

The final release of KDE 4.0 is expected in late October 2007.

The work on the framework makes application development easier and more satisfying. This will result in a crop of new features and applications over the next few years, underlining the position KDE holds as the leading Free Desktop and bringing Free Software to new users worldwide. A detailed release schedule http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/4.0_Release_Schedule can be found at techbase.kde.org http://techbase.kde.org, the new technical resource accompanying the platform, that provides extensive and high-quality documentation about KDE.

More information such as screenshots and installation instructions can be found in the KDE 4.0-alpha1 Visual Guide. http://www.kde.org/announcements/visualguide-4.0-alpha1.php