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In openSUSE 10.3 with the package for desktop effects, Compiz, is now a version 0.5.6 and the new things are many. Compiz comes from the start and contains some useful effects. To get the real “Hollywood” effects you can download Compiz Fusion.

The fact that the 3D-desktop is activated right from the start isn’t strange, as it’s Novell that manages the Compiz project. Compiz 0.5.4 works under both KDE and GNOME. The new version contains support for KDE’s built-in windows manager, this means that you will have access to the cool desktop effects regardless of what theme you are currently running. The graphics engine is said to be stable in this latest version and has support for multiple monitors.

Some of the plugins that you get from the start are blur and annotate. Blur lets you focus on the window you are working in or on at the moment, the rest of the windows get blurred. Useful I guess if you have difficulties with concentrating but not to recommend if what you are working on requires you to observer multiple windows.

The plugin Annotate lets you write directly on the screen, something that can be useful if you’re presenting something for other people. Another module you can find useful is called Zoom, as you might have figured out by now, it let’s you zoom in/focus on a part of the screen.

If you choose to activate Compiz Fusion then the possibilities are as good as unlimited, well almost, but according to the developer David Revemans words: We can pretty much do everything now, imagination is the limits. This has made it possible to have windows that burn up, break up or fly away when you close them. Whatever the usefulness of this is, for me is a mystery. But I guess it’s nothing more than a cool effect to impress your friend.

The “Cube” have received yet even more effects and works now like a aquarium for digital fish or as a spinning cogwheel. The lack of fantasy was obviously not a factor when it came to create new effects. A plugin that is useful though is “Expo” which lets you to zoom out and at the same time folds out all of your currently open windows, this gives you a better view.

Then it has a similar way of navigating through active programs currently running, like in Vista and Mac OS, you get a 3D image of your windows which you can circulate through and stop on the one you want to be taken to.

Read more at openSUSE

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm and is filed under Linux, news. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.