MAR
8
2004

Quickies: Google Search Bar, Icons, KolourPaint and more

Submitted by Fabrice Mous

Some progress has been made on implementing the Google search bar,
a Konqueror plugin which can be found in
CVS.
It uses the default searchprovider as selected in Konqueror under the Web Shortcuts settings, so
it's not limited to Google only.

A new KDE icon guide based on the former
KDE icon guide written by Torsten is available at the KDE Wiki site.
You can find information on icon making, submitting icons to the KDE project, technical problems with SVG icons,
references, software and much more. Check out the
Icon Boot Camp!

You couldn't try out KolourPaint because you are still running KDE 3.1? No excuses anymore for you because
a recent backport of KolourPaint to KDE 3.0 & 3.1 has been made and now KolourPaint 1.0.1 supports all KDE 3.x releases.
You can find source code and packages at the KolourPaint website.

Well speaking of releases, Digikam is shaping up for
the upcoming 0.6.1 release and the project is voting on a
new splashscreen for this release.

Finally, just hot off the press we've received word about the redesign of the popular KDE developer websites
www.kdevelop.org and
developer.kde.org. Enjoy.

Comments

The google search bar looks like good stuff. I'm still amazed with the number of people who have used KDE for 3 years, who don't know about konqueror's web shortcuts (e.g, gg: ).. this seems to make it a lot more visible, good job.

The new design of kdevelop.org and developer.kde.org are both sleek and professional, good job!

By anon at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

Well, I wouldnt need it. typing in just the search words in the adress bar whould search too - what whould I need a google bar for???

but alas - maybe usefull for ppl who dont know that.

although we'd better teach them about it???

By superstoned at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

I agree

By _ at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

It should be more like Safari, have a little search icon in the (or next to?) the address bar and click on that when you want to search for the text in the address rather than look up a website.

By Abdulla at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

Let's hope that there will be an easy way to turn it off for those for whom it simply wastes space.

By Anonymous at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

is there something in kde you _cannot_ configure?

By mark dufour at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

I take that back. does anyone know how to disable the 'applications', 'actions' labels in kmenu?? this is a false dichotomy, and I prefer a separator with mine.

By mark dufour at Tue, 2004/03/09 - 6:00am

Agreed. I'd like to disable them as well. Anyone know how?

By Anonymous at Sat, 2004/03/13 - 6:00am

Easy, just don't install it ;)
It's only an optional plugin...

By Arend jr. at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

There needs to be a way to activate/deactivate plugins without installing/uninstalling them.

By ac at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

Well, you can also remove it by going to Settings->Configure toolbars...

By Arend jr. at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

KolourPaint is already available as an ebuild for Gentoo users.

$ emerge kolourpaint

...that should be about it.

By Pilaf at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

You gotta love gentoo ^^

By Styx at Wed, 2004/03/10 - 6:00am

One thing that would make Kolourpaint better than MS Paint.
Make it possible to select an area larger than what is shown on screen.
Is this possible?

By OI at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

> Make it possible to select an area larger than what is shown on screen.
> Is this possible?
Will be soon :)

By Clarence Dang at Wed, 2004/03/10 - 6:00am

Are splashscreens really needed? there are so many graphics that have to be redesigned (for instance in the games package), there is a lack of Icons (for example the use of identical Icons in the creen configuration). Why do we have to waste our time on unneccessary splash screens that don't provide any function?

By Gerd at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

because it is fun?

By Fabrice Mous at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

This subscribes to the incorrect notion that human resources can be spent like cash on whatever project is most pressing. It also ignores that it doesn't take much to make a splash screen, as seen by the 23 entrees.

I just opened up digikam, it doesn't seem to me that the load time on my 1 and half year old computer is long enough to warrant a splash screen (perhaps it would be different if I had more galleries). But its their project, not out of beta yet, they can do as they wish.

By Ian Monroe at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

Splashscreens are nice - as long there is an option to turn them off. It's a waste of ressources and bad usability. Splashscreens are an ugly import from the windows world.

By Andre at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

I like it, but I think it needs a space before the adressbar. Right now it looks like it's part of it.

By Alex at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

I already knew that the developer website was redesigned and it definitely looks and feels better.

I'm even more pleased to see Kdevelop's website redesigned. A great tool like that needs a good website! Good job!

By Alex at Mon, 2004/03/08 - 6:00am

I know it's just a simple app, but now the only program that I've missed from Windows the past five years (mspaint) finally has a better substitute in Linux.

Thanks all!
Paul Schmeltzer

By Paul Schmeltzer at Tue, 2004/03/09 - 6:00am

I don't like it. I don't like Opera's either. There's no space for typing anything. And it takes away space from the address field. You have to type anyway - so how hard is it to prefix with gg:?

By Claus at Tue, 2004/03/09 - 6:00am

Exactly. I hate the google bar on Firebird. Waste of space and doesnt provide any useful advantage. Just type in your search in the address bad.. Don't even need to use the gg:

By Leo S at Tue, 2004/03/09 - 6:00am

...because I saw in the screenshot, that you can select "find in page". If this search is incremental and when it finds a link, it selects it, so that you just need to press enter to follow the link, we could close one of the most popular whishlist item "type-as-you-find" for konqueror.

apart from this possible usage, I don't think its that usefull since you already can search in the addressbar (even without gg:, when set in the preferences). But as it's a plugin only and can be turned off, it's a real good thing for some users.

By MaxAuthority at Tue, 2004/03/09 - 6:00am