I must say that I'm quite impressed with this distro so I felt the need to write my review of it along with a few screenshots. First I must say that the install software (aka Yast2) is taking much longer to process installs compared to previous versions but its not super long either. The biggest change I like is the new start menu which I find thus far to be much easier to use and navigate for the Gnome side. Sadly to say if your looking to use KDE IMO it just went two giant steps backwards as far as navigation goes. Also I'm loving the newest version of Amarok as well. My review will be more about pictures than text as I feel this version needs pictures to fully explain the huge advances this distro has made. I will provide a few tidbits that might be helpfull to many.
NTFS read support works right out of the box with nothing needed.
To get MP3 and AAC support among others you need to install "1" package from an external repo which I'll explain below.
Also the new version of Amarok will auto fetch all cover art for you. All you must do is select Tools....Cover Manager. At the cover manager screen just click on Fetch Missing Covers. Out of my 200+ empty covers it correctly fetched all but six of them within two minutes time with just that one button press. All of the six covers not done all I had todo was click on each cover which to my suprise brought up another window with the correct cover art so I clicked Save and all was done within seconds. Also this latest version of Amarok is wicked fast at everything which is another plus for sure.
Also when looking at the Application Browser picture you can click on the left hand buttons (ie Multimedia) which will highlight the programs within that section which is very nice indeed. Also if you know the program name (ie Amarok) you can use the search bar and by just typing AM I had the icon for Amarok instantly on my bright ready to launch.
Just keep in mind I haven't been using this distro that long so my review is going to be a little limited for now.
Now for adding MP3 and M4A (aka AAC) support for Amarok I'll post screenshots to help.
Click on the Computer button on the bottom far left (where Start Button would be in Windows XP) and click on Control Center. Now scroll to the very bottom and click on Yast: Administrator Settings. Now enter your password. Now click on the Installation Source button and wait the minute or so for it to finish loading.
Once the window is loaded click on the ADD button. Now select FTP and click Next.
Now you will be at the Sever and Directory window and just fill in your boxes exactly as I have done on my screenshot directly below this text.
http://www.longhornxp.net/serveranddirectory.jpg
Now Click next after filling the information in. Now it should do some probing and downloading for a minute or so and finish. Now click on the Computer button (aka XP Start Button) and click on Install Software. Once the list is generated click on the Configure button. Now click on the Catalogs tab at the top. Make sure that "all" checkboxes are "checked" and click close.
Now click to bring the software installer window back into view and type in the search box without the quotes "libxine1" and select the option with the exact wording in the quotes. Once its installed the next time you open Amarok just import and play any MP3 and ACC file you want.
The rest of the screenshots are below.
http://www.longhornxp.net/amarok.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/applicationbrowser.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/startmenu.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/covermanager.jpg
I hope this guide helps you and/or gives you a good overview of this new distro.
NTFS read support works right out of the box with nothing needed.
To get MP3 and AAC support among others you need to install "1" package from an external repo which I'll explain below.
Also the new version of Amarok will auto fetch all cover art for you. All you must do is select Tools....Cover Manager. At the cover manager screen just click on Fetch Missing Covers. Out of my 200+ empty covers it correctly fetched all but six of them within two minutes time with just that one button press. All of the six covers not done all I had todo was click on each cover which to my suprise brought up another window with the correct cover art so I clicked Save and all was done within seconds. Also this latest version of Amarok is wicked fast at everything which is another plus for sure.
Also when looking at the Application Browser picture you can click on the left hand buttons (ie Multimedia) which will highlight the programs within that section which is very nice indeed. Also if you know the program name (ie Amarok) you can use the search bar and by just typing AM I had the icon for Amarok instantly on my bright ready to launch.
Just keep in mind I haven't been using this distro that long so my review is going to be a little limited for now.
Now for adding MP3 and M4A (aka AAC) support for Amarok I'll post screenshots to help.
Click on the Computer button on the bottom far left (where Start Button would be in Windows XP) and click on Control Center. Now scroll to the very bottom and click on Yast: Administrator Settings. Now enter your password. Now click on the Installation Source button and wait the minute or so for it to finish loading.
Once the window is loaded click on the ADD button. Now select FTP and click Next.
Now you will be at the Sever and Directory window and just fill in your boxes exactly as I have done on my screenshot directly below this text.
http://www.longhornxp.net/serveranddirectory.jpg
Now Click next after filling the information in. Now it should do some probing and downloading for a minute or so and finish. Now click on the Computer button (aka XP Start Button) and click on Install Software. Once the list is generated click on the Configure button. Now click on the Catalogs tab at the top. Make sure that "all" checkboxes are "checked" and click close.
Now click to bring the software installer window back into view and type in the search box without the quotes "libxine1" and select the option with the exact wording in the quotes. Once its installed the next time you open Amarok just import and play any MP3 and ACC file you want.
The rest of the screenshots are below.
http://www.longhornxp.net/amarok.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/applicationbrowser.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/startmenu.jpg
http://www.longhornxp.net/covermanager.jpg
I hope this guide helps you and/or gives you a good overview of this new distro.
