The same goes for Linux desktops, in fact. GNOME , Unity , and KDE may get the lion's share of media attention, but there are myriadother choices available out there for those who don't like thedefault option in their chosen distribution. I've mentioned several alternative desktops before, and just recently one of them got a big update.Xfce--which is reportedly a favorite of Linux creator LinusTorvalds himself--has now reached version 4.10, and this latestrelease brings some compelling new features to the table. If you're not thrilled with your current desktop or are interestedin finding a lightweight one with a small footprint, the new Xfceis definitely worth checking out.
Five Key Updates The culmination of more than a year of development, Xfce 4.10 is astable version of the software that focuses primarily on polishingthe desktop and improving the user experience, its developersexplained in the software's official announcement late last month. Here's a rundown of some of its key new features. 1. A New App Finder Xfce 4.10's application finder has been completely rewritten, thesoftware's developers note, resulting in a new version that combines the functionality of the old xfce4-appfinder andxfrun4. The new app finder also now allows for the creation ofcustom actions matching a prefix or a regular expression pattern.
2. Deskbar Mode Xfce's new deskbar mode, set to display five rows. Also new in Xfce 4.10 are a deskbar mode and several othertweaks to its panel, including a single panel-wide option forconfiguring the number of rows in the panel. In the new deskbar mode configuration, the panel is alignedvertically just as it is in vertical mode, but plug-ins are laidout horizontally. The result is that with multiple rows, you cancreate wide vertical panels suitable for wide-screen monitors. COB LED Downlight
3. A New MIME Type Editor With a new MIME type editor in Xfce, you can easily change theapplications used to open different types of files. The mouse andtouchpad settings dialog and the settings editor were extended interms of functionality, the developers explain. The former nowsupports tablets in a much better way. LED Recessed Ceiling Lights
4. Single-Click Launch Users of Xfce can now launch applications and open files on thedesktop with a single click of the mouse. In addition, the newsoftware can display thumbnails and automatically advance throughits wallpaper list. 5. China Household LED Light Bulbs
Window Updates Xfce's window manager can now be configured to tile windows whendragging them to the screen edges, and its tab window supports moreflexible theming and cursor key navigation, the project team says. 6. Online Documentation Last but not least, with an eye toward making documentation more upto date, the Xfce developers have removed user manuals from theapplication packages. Instead, documentation is now hosted in an online wiki.
An online tour offers a more complete introduction to the new features in Xfce4.10. Want to test the desktop out for yourself? You can download it for free from the project site.
Five Key Updates The culmination of more than a year of development, Xfce 4.10 is astable version of the software that focuses primarily on polishingthe desktop and improving the user experience, its developersexplained in the software's official announcement late last month. Here's a rundown of some of its key new features. 1. A New App Finder Xfce 4.10's application finder has been completely rewritten, thesoftware's developers note, resulting in a new version that combines the functionality of the old xfce4-appfinder andxfrun4. The new app finder also now allows for the creation ofcustom actions matching a prefix or a regular expression pattern.
2. Deskbar Mode Xfce's new deskbar mode, set to display five rows. Also new in Xfce 4.10 are a deskbar mode and several othertweaks to its panel, including a single panel-wide option forconfiguring the number of rows in the panel. In the new deskbar mode configuration, the panel is alignedvertically just as it is in vertical mode, but plug-ins are laidout horizontally. The result is that with multiple rows, you cancreate wide vertical panels suitable for wide-screen monitors. COB LED Downlight
3. A New MIME Type Editor With a new MIME type editor in Xfce, you can easily change theapplications used to open different types of files. The mouse andtouchpad settings dialog and the settings editor were extended interms of functionality, the developers explain. The former nowsupports tablets in a much better way. LED Recessed Ceiling Lights
4. Single-Click Launch Users of Xfce can now launch applications and open files on thedesktop with a single click of the mouse. In addition, the newsoftware can display thumbnails and automatically advance throughits wallpaper list. 5. China Household LED Light Bulbs
Window Updates Xfce's window manager can now be configured to tile windows whendragging them to the screen edges, and its tab window supports moreflexible theming and cursor key navigation, the project team says. 6. Online Documentation Last but not least, with an eye toward making documentation more upto date, the Xfce developers have removed user manuals from theapplication packages. Instead, documentation is now hosted in an online wiki.
An online tour offers a more complete introduction to the new features in Xfce4.10. Want to test the desktop out for yourself? You can download it for free from the project site.