1openSUSE 13.1: What’s New in the Latest Linux Distribution
by Sean Michael Kerner
2OpenSUSE Is Open-Source Software
There are hundreds of different components that make up the openSUSE 13.1 Linux distribution. In one of the first screens of the installation process, users get the License Agreement page, which outlines the open-source component licenses that make up the distribution.
3Multiple Desktops Are Available, With KDE the Default Choice
As opposed to Windows and Mac OS X, which are limited to only one desktop environment, Linux users have multiple choices. For openSUSE 13.1, while KDE is the default choice, users can also select the GNOME desktop.
4KDE 4.11 Provides Multiple Views Into User Activities
The KDE 4.11 desktop is a very agile application providing users with multiple options and views for organizing content and applications. One of those views is the “Activities” feature, which provides users with access to desktop activities.
5OpenSUSE 13.1 Includes Linux 3.11 Kernel
At the core of all Linux distributions is a Linux kernel. For the openSUSE 13.1 Linux distribution, that kernel is the recently released Linux 3.11.
6Software Updates Are Easily Accessible
Linux distributions tend to iterate rapidly with a steady stream of updates. As part of the KDE 4.11 desktop, there is a panel item that alerts users to updates.
7Kontact PIM Enables Scheduled Email Delivery
A core component of the KDE 4.11 desktop application experience is the included Kontact Personal Information Manager (PIM) suite, which includes email, contacts, calendar and to-do list items. The Kmail email component now provides users with the ability to schedule the delivery of an email.
8Audio Gets a Boost With Amarok 2.8
The open-source Amarok 2.8 audio player is part of the openSUSE 13.1 release, and it includes a new audio analyzer capability as well as the ability to plug in and copy music from an Android device.
As is the case with many modern Linux distributions, the LibreOffice suite of document, spreadsheet and presentation applications is a core component.
10Firefox Is the Default Web Browser
Mozilla’s Firefox 25 is included in the openSUSE 13.1 Linux distribution as the default Web browser.
11Apper Software Management Lets Users Add More Apps
While the installation DVD image for openSUSE 13.1 includes many of the applications that users are likely to need, there are always more choices that they can get via the Apper Software Management interface.
12Connecting to Windows Shares Is Easy
The reality of modern networks is that they are heterogeneous, including multiple types of operating systems. Adding network shares on Microsoft Windows boxes, or even Amazon S3 storage buckets, can be done easily on openSUSE 13.1.
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