The OpenSolaris Desktop Community has integrated new features from the
Java Desktop System (JDS) project into Build 53 of OpenSolaris. JDS is
a secure and comprehensive enterprise desktop software solution that
combines the best of open source innovation from various communities
such as GNOME, and Firefox.
What's in the OpenSolaris desktop?
1. GNOME 2.16 is the latest release of the popular GNOME desktop and the core of the OpenSolaris desktop. This latest update to the OpenSolaris desktop includes a redesigned desktop theme with cleaner, crisper icons, an attractive color scheme and a faster and more responsive feel. GNOME 2.16 makes the desktop even easier to use by providing tools to simplify common administration tasks such as user management, file sharing, network setup and menu editing.
GNOME 2.16 also includes enhanced support for device plug and play. This makes it easier for users to work with portable media and devices (e.g. Flash memory cards, digital cameras) through the desktop.
2. Firefox 2.0 is the next generation release of the award-winning Firefox web browser from Mozilla. New features in Firefox 2.0 include enhanced search capabilities, security enhancements to protect the user against online scams, improved tabbed browsing, a session restore feature, support for live bookmarks and RSS feeds and many more. Firefox is fully integrated with the GNOME desktop.
3. Thunderbird 1.5 is a full-featured email, RSS and newsgroup client that makes emailing safer, faster and easier than ever before. Thunderbird 1.5 is the latest release of the Thunderbird client from the Mozilla community.
4. Orca is a very flexible screen reader and magnifier for the JDS/GNOME desktop. It allows people with visual impairments to have access to their desktop through speech, braille and screen magnification.
5. The Java-Gnome bindings for the GNOME Platform libraries and the Cairo 2D drawing engine have been added in this release. These bindings allow GNOME and GTK+ applications to be written in Java software. This means that GNOME developers who have been struggling with low level C based application development can now utilize the power of Java technology along with the GNOME/ GTK+ API's they are already familiar with including support for the GNOME WYSIWYG UI designer, Glade.
To make things even easier for the would be Java-GNOME developer a number of NetBeans plugins have been created that can be used in the NetBeans IDE to create applications.
6. Ekiga is an open source desktop Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing application for the GNOME desktop. Ekiga allows desktop users to communicate with each other over the internet using the popular SIP and H.323 protocols, making it compatible with Microsoft's NetMeeting. This first release of Ekiga for the OpenSolaris desktop supports audio conferencing only; video support will follow in a future release.
7. Vino provides the ability to remotely administer a user's desktop session. This can be used to share a desktop session between collaborating developers to allow a user to obtain remote support from a coworker. Vino helps reduce the need for on site system administration, facilitating rapid problem diagnosis from a remote call support center. Vino is also useful for sales to remotely demonstrate applications running in a customer's environment.
To learn more about the OpenSolaris Desktop Community you can visit
http://opensolaris.org/os/community/desktop/ and you can download build 53 at http://dlc.sun.com/osol/jds/downloads/current/
What's in the OpenSolaris desktop?
1. GNOME 2.16 is the latest release of the popular GNOME desktop and the core of the OpenSolaris desktop. This latest update to the OpenSolaris desktop includes a redesigned desktop theme with cleaner, crisper icons, an attractive color scheme and a faster and more responsive feel. GNOME 2.16 makes the desktop even easier to use by providing tools to simplify common administration tasks such as user management, file sharing, network setup and menu editing.
GNOME 2.16 also includes enhanced support for device plug and play. This makes it easier for users to work with portable media and devices (e.g. Flash memory cards, digital cameras) through the desktop.
2. Firefox 2.0 is the next generation release of the award-winning Firefox web browser from Mozilla. New features in Firefox 2.0 include enhanced search capabilities, security enhancements to protect the user against online scams, improved tabbed browsing, a session restore feature, support for live bookmarks and RSS feeds and many more. Firefox is fully integrated with the GNOME desktop.
3. Thunderbird 1.5 is a full-featured email, RSS and newsgroup client that makes emailing safer, faster and easier than ever before. Thunderbird 1.5 is the latest release of the Thunderbird client from the Mozilla community.
4. Orca is a very flexible screen reader and magnifier for the JDS/GNOME desktop. It allows people with visual impairments to have access to their desktop through speech, braille and screen magnification.
5. The Java-Gnome bindings for the GNOME Platform libraries and the Cairo 2D drawing engine have been added in this release. These bindings allow GNOME and GTK+ applications to be written in Java software. This means that GNOME developers who have been struggling with low level C based application development can now utilize the power of Java technology along with the GNOME/ GTK+ API's they are already familiar with including support for the GNOME WYSIWYG UI designer, Glade.
To make things even easier for the would be Java-GNOME developer a number of NetBeans plugins have been created that can be used in the NetBeans IDE to create applications.
6. Ekiga is an open source desktop Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing application for the GNOME desktop. Ekiga allows desktop users to communicate with each other over the internet using the popular SIP and H.323 protocols, making it compatible with Microsoft's NetMeeting. This first release of Ekiga for the OpenSolaris desktop supports audio conferencing only; video support will follow in a future release.
7. Vino provides the ability to remotely administer a user's desktop session. This can be used to share a desktop session between collaborating developers to allow a user to obtain remote support from a coworker. Vino helps reduce the need for on site system administration, facilitating rapid problem diagnosis from a remote call support center. Vino is also useful for sales to remotely demonstrate applications running in a customer's environment.
To learn more about the OpenSolaris Desktop Community you can visit
http://opensolaris.org/os/community/desktop/ and you can download build 53 at http://dlc.sun.com/osol/jds/downloads/current/