Live Images
The easiest way to try it out is with a live image booted off a USB disk. Docker images also provide a quick and easy way to test Plasma.
Download live images with Plasma Download Docker images with PlasmaKDE Plasma 5.2 Beta Release
Tuesday, 13 January 2015. Today KDE releases a beta for Plasma 5.2. This release adds a number of new components and improves the existing desktop. We welcome all testers to find and help fix the bugs before our stable release in two weeks' time.
New Components
KScreen dual monitor setup
This release of Plasma comes with some new components to make your desktop even more complete:
BlueDevil: a range of desktop components to manage Bluetooth devices. It'll set up your mouse, keyboard, send & receive files and you can browse for devices.
KSSHAskPass: if you access computers with ssh keys but those keys have passwords this module will give you a graphical UI to enter those passwords.
Muon: install and manage software and other addons for your computer.
Login theme configuration (SDDM): SDDM is now the login manager of choice for Plasma and this new System Settings module allows you to configure the theme.
KScreen: getting its first release for Plasma 5 is the System Settings module to set up multiple monitor support.
GTK Application Style: this new module lets you configure themeing of applications from Gnome.
KDecoration: this new library makes it easier and more reliable to make themes for KWin, Plasma's window manager.
Work in Progress
These modules have problem which makes it unlikely they will be in the stable release but we welcome testing.
Touchpad settings: feeling left handed? You can use this new System Settings module to set up your touchpad however you like.
User Manager: a module for System Settings to create and administer user accounts.
Other highlights
Undo changes to Plasma desktop layout
Undo changes to desktop layout
Smarter sorting of results in KRunner, press Alt-space to easily search through your computer
Smart sorting in KRunner
Breeze window decoration theme adds a new look to your desktop and is now used by default
New Breeze Window Decoration
The artists in the visual design group have been hard at work on many new Breeze icons
They are have added a new white mouse cursor theme for Breeze.
New plasma widgets: 15 puzzle, web browser, show desktop
Web browser plasmoid
Audio Player controls in KRunner, press Alt-Space and type next to change music track
The Kicker alternative application menu can install applications from the menu and adds menu editing features.
Over 300 bugs fixed throughout Plasma modules.
View full changelogPackage Downloads
Distributions have created, or are in the process of creating, packages listed on our wiki page.
Note that packages of this release might not be available on all distributions at the time of this announcement.
Package download wiki pageSource Downloads
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Community instructions to compile it Source Info PageFeedback
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Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Supporting KDE
KDE is a Free Software community that exists and grows only because of the help of many volunteers that donate their time and effort. KDE is always looking for new volunteers and contributions, whether it is help with coding, bug fixing or reporting, writing documentation, translations, promotion, money, etc. All contributions are gratefully appreciated and eagerly accepted. Please read through the Supporting KDE page for further information or become a KDE e.V. supporting member through our Join the Game initiative.
About KDE
KDE is an international technology team that creates free and open source software for desktop and portable computing. Among KDE's products are a modern desktop system for Linux and UNIX platforms, comprehensive office productivity and groupware suites and hundreds of software titles in many categories including Internet and web applications, multimedia, entertainment, educational, graphics and software development. KDE software is translated into more than 60 languages and is built with ease of use and modern accessibility principles in mind. KDE's full-featured applications run natively on Linux, BSD, Windows, Haiku, and macOS.
Trademark Notices.
KDE® and the K Desktop Environment® logo are registered trademarks of KDE e.V..
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All other trademarks and copyrights referred to in this announcement are the property of their respective owners.
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