Download Gnome 2.26

The Gnome community recently released version 2.26 of the Desktop Environment. Gnome is a comprehensive, easy-to-use open source desktop environment for operating systems belonging to the Unix family, such as GNU/Linux and BSD. The name is short for GNU Network Object Model Environment. Gnome consists of a desktop environment and a development platform, which can be used to create other applications that can be integrated into the desktop environment. It is similar to KDE in that regard. The extended release notes for this version can be found on this page are found, this is a brief summary of them:

What’s New for Users

• Comprehensive New Disc Burning
• Simpler File Sharing
• Evolution Evolves its Migration from Windows
• Media Player Improvements
• Volume Control Integrated with PulseAudio
• Support for multiple monitors and projectors
• Almost Telepathic Communication
• Location Epiphany
• Fingerprint Reader Integration
• But Wait, There’s More…
  • The file manager can now to ask PackageKit to install support for a file you wish to open.
  • A keyboard modifier (usually Alt) is now required to drag panels around on the screen (the same keyboard modifier used for dragging windows around by their middles).
  • Password entry widgets will now warn if you have your Caps Lock key enabled.
  • Changing the Input Method type using the context menu on a text entry widget is now per-widget, rather than per-application. (This is separate from setting your default input manager or keyboard layout.)
  • Input methods now work in password entry widgets.
  • The Deskbar now supports OpenSearch plugins.
  • New visual effects, such as the panels sliding in and out at login and logout, and crossfading desktop backgrounds.

What’s New in Accessibility

The Orca screen reader has had significant work done to reduce program bugs and improve performance, with over 160 bugs fixed for GNOME 2.26. Some of the improvements include:

• improved support for ARIA in Firefox;
• new understanding of how to pronounce WikiWords and mnemonics;
• the ability to configure speech pitch, rate and volume on the fly from the preferences pane; and
• improved performance and reliability.

What’s New for Developers

• GTK+ 2.16
• Access to Disc Burning APIs
• Access to Evince APIs
• Anjuta