XFce4-volstatus-icon 0.1.0

Homepage: xfce4-volstatus-icon
Changelog || Download

If you are tired of opening terminal or the file manager every time you want to unmount removable devices (i.e. flash drives) this XFCE plugin is just for you. Now you can just click on an icon in the system tray to eject them safely. This plugin requires GTK 2.10.0.

Code::Blocks - C++ IDE

Homepage: http://codeblocks.org/
Download: Code::Blocks

I just installed this C++ IDE on my Gentoo desktop PC and I am quite impressed :)
First of all I want to note that the latest official/stable release is from Oct 25, 2005 - 1.0 rc2. But don`t worry :) The project is not abandoned and every day the publish something what they call "nightly builds". They are development snapshots of Code::Blocks in binary form. You can find them here.

The first time you start the Code::Blocks it "scans" your PC for any compiler installed and asks you which one to use if more than one is detected.

Here are the compilers which can work with Code::Blocks:

• GCC (MingW / Linux GCC)
• MSVC++
• Digital Mars
• Borland C++ 5.5
• Open Watcom

You can directly import MSVC projects and workspaces or even Dev C++ projects.

Interface Features:

• Syntax highlighting, customizable and extensible
• Code folding for C++ and XML files.
• Tabbed interface
• Code completion plugin
• Class Browser
• Smart indent
• One-key swap between .h and .c/.cpp files
• Open files list for quick switching between files (optional)
• External customizable "Tools"
• To-do list management with different users

Sounds cool, eh ...? :D Code::Blocks` functionality can be extended with plugins.
Looks like a great IDE for now, but I am going to do more tests when I have more free time.

Deluge BitTorrent

Homepage : http://deluge-torrent.org/
Download: Deluge BitTorrent Client


Since nothing interesting happened today in the linux realm, I decided to write a few words about this BitTorrent client. I have been "observing" the development since version 0.3 and it is going very good. I believe that by the end of the year we will have stable 1.0 release :)
Deluge is written in Python and makes use of the Rasterbar's version of libtorrent. Since it is based on python, Deluge uses PyGTK for the user interface (I am learning python and pygtk too:)). Deluge is intended to bring a native, full-featured client to Linux, BSD, and other *NIX GTK desktop environments such as Gnome and XFCE. Deluge supports a few but enough for now plugins. You can find them here. That is all for now, have a nice day :)

Frugalware Linux 0.7pre1

Homepage: http://frugalware.org/
Download: Frugalware 0.7 pre1

Frugalware Linux is designed for intermediate users, who are not afraid of text mode. This is technical preview release of the upcoming 0.7 stable release.

Package Updates:

• Linux Kernel 2.6.21
• GCC 4.2.0
• GNU C Library 2.6
• OpenOffice.org 2.2
• Pidgin instead of Gaim
• more than 100 new packages...

The support of Xorg 6.x has been droped. The package manager (pacman) now supports checking the integrity of your database.

New Logo

As you can see, I created new logo for the blog :) I am not a professional designer but this one looks good :) Please drop a comment about what you think. I need your opinion.

64 Studio 1.4.0 'Ariadne'

Homepage: www.64studio.com
Download: 64 Studio 1.4.0

64 Studio is a GNU/Linux distribution tailor-made for digital content creation, including audio, video, graphics and publishing tools. A remix of Debian testing, it comes in both AMD64/Intel64 and 32-bit flavours, to run on nearly all PC hardware. This is the first release candidate for 64 Studio 2.0 which will be based on Debian Etch.

KDE 3.5.7 Released

Homepage: http://kde.org
Download: KDE 3.5.7


Early this morning I saw that there is new update to the legendary K Desktop Environment. I am not big fan of KDE(XFCE for the win!) but it looks cool :)
KDE 3.5.7 features translations in 65 languages and lots of bug fixes.
This release has a renewed focus on KDE PIM applications. KAddressBook, KOrganizer and KAlarm received attention with bugfixes, while KMail additionally witnessed new features and improvements with both interface work and IMAP handling: it can manage IMAP quota and copy and move all folders.

These applications have been updated:

• KPDF shows tooltips for links when hovering on them, displays correctly more complex PDF files like this Firefox advertisement and reacts to the commands for opening the Table of Contents pane.
• Umbrello now can generate and export C# Code and has added Java 5 generics support.
• KDevelop got a major version upgrade to version 3.4.1. New features include much improved Code Completion and Navigation, a more reliable debugger interface, Qt4 support and better Ruby and KDE4 development support.

The KDE`s HTML and JavaScript engines (KHTML and KJS) have been updated too :)

PCLinuxOS 2007

Homepage: http://www.pclinuxos.com
Downlaod: PCLinuxOS 2007

The PCLinuxOS is a free and easy to use linux distribution for home. PCLinuxOS was founded by Texstar, and is headquartered in Houston, Tx. It was originally based on another distribution under the name of Mandriva and shares many features of Mandriva such as the Control Center and the Draklive Installer.
PCLinuxOS uses the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) which was developed for the Debian Linux distribution, and Synaptic - GUI frontend to APT.

Here is the new stuff:

• Kernel 2.6.18.8
• KDE 3.5.6
• Open Office 2.2.0
• Firefox 2.0.0.3
• Thunderbird 2.0
• Ktorrent, Frostwire, Flash, Java JRE, Beryl 3D .....
  

Sabayon Linux 3.4 Loop 2

Homepage: http://www.sabayonlinux.org
Download: Sabayon Linux 3.4 Loop 2

Sabayon Linux is based on my favourite linux distro - Gentoo . Loop 2 is the second beta/development release, and it rocks.

Here is the changelog:

Cool Features:

• Linux Kernel 2.6.21 featuring:
  
• DeviceScape Wireless Stack (mac80211), including new wireless drivers
  
• Gensplash support
  
• SquashFS support
  
• UnionFS support
  
• MacTel support
  
• Ext4 updates (with this kernel, ext4 filesystem name is exported as "ext4" and not as "ext4dev")
  
• Advanced ThinkPad and SONY Laptops support
  
• Intel i965 support
  
• CFS v12 (scheduler - providing extra Desktop performance boost)
  
• Suspend2 2.2.9.13 support
  
• Compiz 0.5.2 pre-release as alternative option to Beryl 0.2.1 (still the default - you need to install desktop-acceleration-helpers 3.0 and re-enable XGL or AIGLX using Acceleration Manager)
  
• New Sabayon Linux artwork (boot splash, wallpaper, window decorations)
  
• Updated to Gentoo 2007.0 profile
  
• Elisa Media Center Technology Preview (http://elisa.fluendo.com)
  
• Metisse Desktop Acceleration Technology Preview (NOT OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED)
  
• Automatic timed login on the LiveDVD
  
• Improved speed on early boot stages
  
• Improved VIA OpenChrome driver support
  
• MS Windows Autorun - featuring VMWare Player click and boot (no hassles, no need to reboot)

Software updates:

• 26-Apr-2007 Portage sync
• Linux Kernel 2.6.21
• KDE 3.5.6
• GNOME 2.18.1
• OpenOffice 2.2.0
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3
• WINE 0.9.37

Installer updates:

• Added support for ext4 filesystem
• Imported updates from upstream Anaconda Installer
• Updated Anaconda to better handle new IDE libata based layer
• RAID 10 Support

... and some bugfixes.

Arch Linux 2007.05

Homepage: http://archlinux.org
Download: Arch Linux 2007.05

This is the first release after the implementation of the new release policy. It is codenamed 'Duke' and is available for i686 and x86_64.

Changelog to last Voodoo installation ISO:
- pacman3 usage
- kernel 2.6.21.1 usage

Setup changes:
- soundcards are now also ordered by hwdetect
- rsync has been added to installation environment
- proxy support during ftp installation
- selection to copy installation network setup to final installed system
- selection about keeping package cache during cd/ftp installation
- selection of primary pacman sync server added
- fixed grub installing on software raid devices

Enjoy!

KDE 4.0 Alpha 1

This is the first alpha test version of the next general release of KDE.

KDE 4.0 Alpha1 marks the end of the addition of large features to the KDE base libraries and shifts the focus onto integrating those new technologies into applications and the basic 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 cool stuff in this release is:

• A new visual appearance through Oxygen
• New frameworks to build applications with, providing vastly improved hardware and multimedia integration (through Solid and Phonon, 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

While Alpha1 is nowhere near finished, it includes all of the exciting new frameworks that lift the Free Desktop to an unparalleled level of integration. Areas that need attention include:

• Finishing Plasma and turning it into the default desktop shell
• Finishing porting applications and integrating the new technologies into them
• Fixing lots of bugs
  

There are a lot of things to be done until KDE 4.0 goes stable
If you want to test KDE 4.0 without installing it, you could try the "KDE Four Live" CD.

Gentoo Linux 2007.0

After several delays I am glad to see that Gentoo 2007.0 is released. This release is codenamed "Secret Sauce" :) Gentoo 2007.0 includes a completely rewritten version of the Gentoo Linux Installer on the AMD64 and x86 LiveCD and LiveDVD.
The 32-bit emulation libraries for amd64 have been improed and now they support many closed source applications and browser plugins (yey!). These packages have been upgraded to their latest stable versions:

• Gnome 2.16.2
• KDE 3.5.5
• XFCE 4.4
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3
• OpenOffice.org 2.1.0
• Linux Kernel 2.6.19
  

Homepage
Download Gentoo Linux 2007.0

Pidgin 2.0.0

Pidgin is the new name of the good old Gaim Instant Messanger. It allows you to use all your IM accounts at once. Pidgin can work with AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, QQ, SLIC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo! and Zephyr.

Download Pidgin 2.0.0