After four months of continuous work, the project KDE has released the long-awaited August update of KDE Gear 25.08, a package that brings together 249 key applications, libraries and plugins within the ecosystem.
In this new version of KDE Gear 25.08, one of the most important changes in this version is found in the file manager. Dolphin, that now offers two search engines:
- File indexing, which leverages an index previously created by a specialized service
- Simple search, which scans directories in real time upon receiving a request. Switching between the two is simple thanks to the filter button integrated into the search interface, accessible with Ctrl+F.
Furthermore, Dolphin integrates the Filelight utility, which provides a visual analysis of available storage space, allowing the user to quickly identify which files or directories are taking up the most space. The view menu has also been improved, making it easier to enable or disable thumbnails, show hidden files, or adjust the order of listed items.
Improvements in productivity and management applications
The remote desktop client KRFB extends its functions to allow another user to observe desktop activity in real time, a useful feature for both technical support and collaborative work.
For its part, the storage system Akonadi, essential in applications such as the mail client, the KOrganizer calendar, the address book and the task list, has received an optimization that reduces consumption by up to 75% memory compared to the previous version. This is in addition to greater stability and compatibility with corporate authentication services such as Microsoft Intune.
As for the KOrganizer, your calendar planner now incorporates a new date selector which makes navigation easier, as well as improvements to the search field tooltips to make them clearer and more functional.
Moreover, The Itinerary app, designed for trip planning, continues to consolidate itself as one of the most useful tools within the KDE ecosystem and in this new version the big news is the option to manually enter train or bus trips, without having to select them exclusively from the timetable. This improvement facilitates planning in situations where automatic information is unavailable. Additionally, upon arriving at a station or airport, the user can access the detailed view of public transport departures and, with a simple tap on the location pin within the trip details, obtain an exact map indicating where to go.
articulate, the app designed to improve pronunciation in new languages, takes an important step towards the future. It is now fully compatible with Plasma 6, thanks to its migration to Qt6, ensuring greater stability and improved performance in modern desktop environments.
The classic game kHangman, which teaches spelling and vocabulary in a fun way, also receives a featured update. From this version it is possible to use the Greek alphabet.
More advanced security and communication
Application Cleopatra, intended for the management of certificates and cryptographic operations, introduces the ability to compose encrypted messages in separate windows, which allows you to keep multiple editors open simultaneously without relying on tabs.
In the field of messaging, NeoChat, the client using the Matrix protocol,Adds support for integrated surveys and polls within conversations, as well as incorporating contextual menus that streamline the management of message threads.
The web browser angel fish, designed for KDE Plasma Mobile, but also optimized for larger screens, benefits from new features, since now It is possible to disable Adblock when necessary and take advantage of keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + W to close tabs or Ctrl + Shift + O to open bookmarks. A context menu has also been added, allowing you to quickly navigate through the history of each active tab.
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