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The GNOME Project is pleased to announce the release of the latest version of the GNOME Desktop and Developer Platform, the popular, free desktop for Linux and Unix operating systems. With a new administration suite, system-wide performance improvements, better search capabilities, a new Voice-over-IP softphone, and numerous other enhancements, GNOME 2.14 finishes another exciting half year of development.

Some the key new features:

The creation of an admin suite, including a lock down editor, Pessulus, and a user profile editor, Sabayon
A new search bar, called Deskbar, which can search through local files, programs and contacts as well as on the web
Ekiga, the VOIP client is formerly known as GnomeMeeting. It can now talk using the SIP protocol, already used by Google Talk, Asterisk and others.
Performance work, making your desktop even snappier
The ability to switch users quickly, without logging off
Even easier configuration, allowing GNOME 2.14 to adapt to different users needs

Admin Suite

The new administration suite allows system administrators to control and configure the GNOME desktop to their specific needs. Two new applications have been created for this: Pessulus allows administrators to lockdown the GNOME desktop for corporate environments, Internet cafés, and schools; and Sabayon allows administrators to graphically configure generic, role-based user profiles, exactly as they would configure their own desktop and then apply them to user accounts.

Deskbar

A new panel-based program launcher and search bar has been created, called Deskbar. Users will be able to use several internet search engines and content providers directly, without breaking workflow by starting another application. It will also enable them to make launch desktop applications related to a word or phrase, and its functionality is extensible by plugins.

Ekiga

GNOME 2.14 also includes Ekiga, the new version of GNOME's softphone client formally known as GNOME Meeting. With Ekiga, users are able to make video or audio calls over the Internet, using the industry standard protocal SIP. SIP is also used by Google Talk, and popular PBX software such as Asterisk.

Performance

This new release also includes several changes to improve system performance. Several important components of the GNOME desktop are now measurably faster, including text rendering, memory allocation, and numerous individual applications. Faster font rendering and memory allocation benefit all GNOME and GTK+ based applications without the need for recompilation. For application developers, a new memory allocator has been created, called GSlice, which will make the desktop more responsive and faster.

As always, GNOME 2.14 is not the end of performance work in the GNOME desktop. Users can expect even more with our 2.16 release, scheduled for September 2006.

The inclusion of the latest release of the GStreamer Multimedia Framework in GNOME 2.14, removing several issues on multi-processor systems and improving stability and playback support.

Switching Users

GNOME 2.14 includes the ability to easily switch between users, even having multiple users logged in at the same time.

Easier configuration

With response to user feedback, GNOME 2.14 includes a number of easier ways to configure how the desktop behaves. This includes making it easier to change default applications as well as what sounds are produced.

Further information

The GNOME 2.14 Release Notes contain more detailed information, including screenshots and othe features not mentioned here.

Availability

GNOME 2.14 will soon be available as part of most popular Linux distributions. For those who can't wait, the new GNOME LiveCD (available from www.gnome.org/start/2.14/) allows users and journalists to test the latest GNOME desktop by burning a CD and rebooting - no installation is necessary.

Developers and advanced users wishing to try and install GNOME 2.14 may download a LiveCD or the development software at http://gnome.org/start/2.14/

About GNOME

GNOME is a free-software project to develop a complete, and easy to use desktop for Linux and UNIX-based operating systems. GNOME also includes a complete development environment to create new applications. It is released two times a year on a regular schedule.

The GNOME desktop is used by millions of people around the world. GNOME is a standard part of all leading Linux and Unix distributions worldwide, including popular community distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora Core, and SUSE. It is is also the default desktop on major enterprise Linux distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, and Sun Java Desktop System.

GNOME is also the desktop of choice for some of the world's biggest Linux desktop deployments, including large government deployments in Extremadura, Spain, and São Paulo, Brazil. GNOME's technology is used by major Linux ISVs such as Firefox, the Eclipse Project, Real Networks, and VMWare. Additionally, GNOME is increasingly being used by mobile device companies such as Nokia and Palm.

More than 500 software developers from every continent, including more than 100 paid developers, contribute their time and effort to the project. Sponsors include industry leaders like Fluendo, HP, IBM, Novell, Red Hat, and Sun. GNOME is supported on a variety of platforms, including GNU/Linux (more commonly referred to as Linux), Solaris Operating Environment, HP-UX, Unix, BSD and Apple's Darwin.

More information on GNOME can be found at http://www.gnome.org/

About the GNOME Foundation

Comprised of hundreds of volunteer developers and industry-leading companies, the GNOME Foundation is an organization committed to supporting the advancement of GNOME. The Foundation is a member directed, non-profit organization that provides financial, organizational and legal support to the GNOME project and helps determine its vision and roadmap. More information on the GNOME Foundation can be found at foundation.gnome.org.

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