Lev Lazinskiy

GNOME 3 Alpha Released

update 6/11/2024: this is a post from a blog that I contributed to in 2011 called TechHacking, it shut down eventually but I was happy to be able to find some of my work through the internet archive.

The popular Desktop Manager for Linux environments, GNOME, has released an Alpha version of their latest installment GNOME 3. The final version of Gnome 3 is scheduled to be released on April 6th, 2011. The Alpha version is out now and available for download on a live CD/USB. Keep in mind this is the Alpha version so it is not recommended that you install this software to use on your everyday computer. The Alpha version is simply there to give you a nice preview of all of the great things that are to come, and if you interested in helping out the Gnome project, it provides a great environment in which to catch some bugs.

https://gnome.org/

GNOME has grown to become one of the most popular desktop managers in Linux. Up until recently, it had been the standard for the most popular Linux distribution – Ubuntu. Ubuntu announced that their next version of the distribution will be coming with Unity installed instead, but of course you will still be able to use Gnome if you would like. Other popular desktop managers for Linux include KDE, and XFCE. But personally ever since I started using Linux way back when, Gnome has always been my favorite.

Gnome 3 is a huge deal – it is not simply an update to the current desktop, it is a completely refreshed desktop manager. To put this into perspective, the difference between the two will be like the dramatic change that was seen between Mac OS9 and X. Just a few of the great new features include:

• Built in Instant Messaging
• A completely new and beautiful desktop design
• A new activities key which gives you instant access to all of your files and programs at the touch of a button
• New and improved file manager
• Complete overhaul creating a much faster and smoother environment
• Much Much More!

It is very interesting to see that this new version will be coming out in April, because that is the same month that Ubuntu will be releasing its latest distribution – Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narhwal. Ever since Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu, announced that GNOME would no longer be the default desktop environment, there has been much speculation about the GNOME project. It is nice to see that GNOME is still in full swing, and constantly developing a more polished, useful, and effective desktop environment. It will be interesting to see if Ubuntu will change its mind once GNOME 3 comes out – I sure hope so, because the first thing I am going to do when I get my hands on Ubuntu 11.04 in April – is install Gnome 3.