GNOME 3.2 Beta 1 (3.1.90) Has Arrived

The first beta for the upcoming GNOME 3.2 is here for eager users to enjoy. This is still unstable code, so most users will want to hold on until the final, stable version lands, but if you want an early peek, this is your chance.

GNOME 3.2 Beta 1 (3.1.90) comes with plenty of updated apps as well as new features and fixes.

"This is 3.1.90, and it's out! It's the first beta of what will be GNOME 3.2, enjoy it while it's time, the next beta (3.1.91) will arrive next week," Frederic Peters announced.

"With this release we are now UI frozen, no UI changes may be made without confirmation from the release team and notification to the documentation team (gnome-doc-list@)," he explained.

One new feature included in the new beta is support for creating web application shortcuts. The Epiphany web browser can run in 'web app' mode, without any GUI elements.

A Launcher shortcut can be added to any site or web app. Starting an app from the shortcut will launch in a chromeless, stand-alone Epiphany window.

There plenty of updated packages in GNOME 3.2 Beta 1 (version number is 3.1.90 unless otherwise specified):

· Brasero;
· Empathy 3.1.90.1;
· Eog;
· Epiphany;
· Evince 3.1.90.1;
· GDM;
· GTK+ 3.1.16;
· Nautilus;
· Vino;
· Ekiga 3.3.2;
· Evolution 3.1.90.1;
· Gedit 3.1.4;
· Tomboy 1.7.5.

If everything goes according to plan, GNOME 3.2 should be landing in less than a month, on September 28. There is one more beta release planned until then as well as a release candidate version, to spot the last remaining bugs.

GNOME 3.2 (3.1.9x) release schedule:

- August 31st, 2011 - GNOME 3.1.90 Beta
- September 7th, 2011 - GNOME 3.1.91 Beta
- Septmeber 21st, 2011 -  GNOME 3.1.92 RC
- September 28th, 2011 - GNOME 3.2.0 stable release

GNOME is available for download here.