SuSE Linux's Version 8.2 of its software will feature
the KDE 3.1 graphical interface, security enhancements, and the
latest version of the OpenOffice.org desktop application
suite.
Besides KDE 3.1, SuSE Linux hoped to attract users through other
improvements including the Yet Another Setup Tool (YaST2), for
easier installation and configuration by identifying hardware
components, setting up user administration, and automatically
configuring Internet access.
A new feature built into KDE 3.1, which SuSE desktop users now
benefit from, is the "Desktop Sharing" function that permits the
remote control and supervision of several network hosts that
stretch across hardware environments. The KDE desktop security
system, called Kiosk, is included and can be used to limit
individual configuration changes, which serves to improve
administrators' efficiency in overseeing multiple users.
"We look at [KDE] Version 3.1 as major release. [The Linux
community has] done some major things to it such as rendering
capabilities which has made it much faster,'' said Holger Dryoff,
SuSE's general manager.
SuSE has added in Version 8.2 support for WinModems, one of the
best-selling communications products. This support now allows
Linux-based users to communicate with wireless networks.
Another feature of the new release is the KOrganizer application
scheduler that allows desktop users to synchronise data with
Microsoft's Exchange 2000 servers.
SuSE officials claimed that Version 8.2 would be the only
shipping version of Linux to include MainActor, a higher-end video
editing application from MainConcept. Also included are CD/DVD
writing applications, sound mixing, editing features, and a
built-in synthesiser. The company has also bundled in Kooka, a
KDE-compatible scanning application and Kadmos, an OCR tool that
allows users to scan both printed and handwritten documents into a
word processor, a spokesman said.
SuSE has also bundled in its Firewall 2 product, a crypto file
system for protecting data in the event of theft, and the GPG
encryption of e-mail messages. It also has an integrated VPN module
for encrypting and authenticating the exchange of data among a
range of hosts and networks.
Included in OpenOffice.org 1.0.2 are several enhancements to its
word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools applications
along with new fax and phone capabilities. Fax messages can now be
received by e-mail, and incoming calls can be received
automatically by e-mail as sound files, a company spokesman
said.
The release is centred around Version 2.4.20 of the Linux
kernel, which SuSE has further optimised, and can support 1,200
different device drivers. The kernel also features the glibc 2.3.1
libraries and Version 4.3 of XFree86.
Version 8.2 will be available on 14 April, and can be downloaded
at the SuSE website, as well as through authorised retail stores,
which will sell it for $39.95 (£25).
The Profesional version of the product, which includes a user
guide, administration guide and 90 days of installation support,
will cost $79.95.