First Look: KDE 4 Live CD

KDE Four Live was launched, after three weeks since the KDE SVN live DVD has been announced. The KDE Four Live DVD was developed under the KIWI openSusetool and it is built upon the current openSuse development version, the actual KDE Four packages being taken from openSuse�s Build Service.

At a first log-in there can be noticed a splash-screen featuring a photo of the KDE development team. In this live CD, you can notice some improvements, such as the Oxygen icons, Konqueror browser has a redesigned configuring panel, and so does Kopete, that also includes a Plugins section from which you can configure your favorite plug-ins; KWord has a new interface with all kind of tools on the left and right side of the editing area. The KMenu and the KDE Menu Editor are the same.


I was surprised when I've clicked the Home icon and the File Manager (Konqueror, however Dolphin is there but not set as default for the moment) appeared, which is drastically redesigned and the right-click menu has limited functionality (I couldn�t even create a new folder, but at least F4 worked and opened my terminal as opposed to "Open Terminal Here" context menu which did nothing). Talking about surprises, when I've opened KCalc, my first reaction was something like "damn, it's big". I've tried to resize the window but it appears like there is no such option and if you want to see for yourself, take a look at the pictures bellow. KGet features a new bouncing effect on the Drop Target when it's opened, the main window looks redesigned and it offers some extra functionality.



However, most of the applications are missing or replaced by others with new names (like Okular which replaces Kpdf, but with extended functionality) and some of the existing ones do not work. For example, while trying to access Kontact a crash window popped up and something happened while accessing Amarok (and I've really wanted to see its 2.0 version). KControl opens but has no side menu, so it is not functional.

I don't know what KDE style they've used for this development version (because KControl doesn't work), but it looks very primitive.

The KDE 4.0 schedule:

- 1 April 2007 - Subsystem freeze
- 15 Apr 2007 - kdelibs Hackathon week
- 1 May 2007 - Alpha release + kdelibs soft API freeze
- 8 May 2007 - Usability and Accessibility review
- 1 June 2007 - Feature freeze
- 25 June 2007 until 24 September 2007 - Beta cycle, full kdelibs API freeze
- 25 September 2007 until 22 October 2007 - Release Candidate cycle
- 23 October 2007 - KDE 4.0 released

About KDE

KDE is a powerful Free Software graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations. It combines ease of use, contemporary functionality and outstanding graphical design with the technological superiority of the Unix operating system. KDE is a network transparent contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations. KDE seeks to fill the need for an easy to use desktop for Unix workstations, similar to the desktop environments found under the Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows.

You can download the KDE Four Live CD now from Softpedia.