The KDE developers have revised numerous components of their plasma desktop environment, which are now in version 5. 20 is available. These include the window bar, the control bar, the message system and once again the system settings.

Window: Freshly grouped and organized When trying out for the first time, users should see the new background image “Shell” from Lucas Andrade catch the eye. With the other changes you have to take a closer look.

The window bar is based on Windows by default 10. However, this can be changed in the system settings.

(Image: Screenshot)

So the window bar (Task Manager) now presents, similar to Windows 10, by default only icons of the running applications. If a program opens several windows, these are grouped behind an icon in the window bar. By clicking on the symbol, the user switches through the window. In this way, several open Dolphin windows can be viewed one after the other. The zooming out of a window by clicking on the symbol in the taskbar can now be deactivated.

In many KDE applications, buttons in the toolbar open a small menu. This applies, for example, to “Sort by” in the Dolphin file manager. In the new version, this button shows an arrow pointing downwards in order to point out the menu hidden behind it all the more clearly.

A few insights into KDE Plasma 5. 20 (4 pictures ) Make changes more visible The system settings can highlight the changed settings if desired. This makes it easier to understand changes. (Image: Screenshot) System section: grid instead of lists If you click on the black triangle in the system section of the control bar (alias System Tray), you will now see all symbols in a grid in the pop-up window and no longer in a list as before. All symbols displayed in the control bar can also be adjusted to the height of the control bar if desired.

The clock appears a little more compact and shows the current date by default. The device monitoring (in English Device Notifier) ​​is now called “Disks & Devices”. If necessary, the corresponding widget shows all available data carriers and no longer just the portable (USB) devices. The web browser widget allows you to zoom in on its content by typing Hold down and turn the mouse wheel. By default, the audio applet hides all unused audio devices. Users can also instruct Plasma 5. 10 not to power up the battery of a notebook to 100 percent to load. On some laptops this is supposed to extend the life of the battery.

Changes in the key assignment So far, users could hold down the [Alt] key and then move the window under the mouse while holding down the mouse button. Since [Alt] triggers other functions in many programs, you have to use plasma 5 or higher. 20 hold down the [Meta] or [Windows] key. You can also use the [Meta] and one of the arrow keys to move the current window to the corresponding screen page, where it automatically takes up half of the screen (tiling).

The jack-of-all-trades KRunner appears in the middle of the screen and remembers the last search term. The tool can also search for Falkon in the web browser and open pages.

Message service upgraded Plasma 5. 20 warns the user as soon as the space in the Home directory is running out. This works even if the home directories are on a separate partition. Plasma also switches to “Do not Disturb” mode when you click the middle mouse button on the notification widget or the corresponding icon in the system section.

The on-screen displays (bars) for volume and screen brightness now appear less obtrusive. The volume control also warns the user if he activates the “Increase maximum volume” function and then uses the 71 Percent pulls. The screen brightness now changes slowly instead of abruptly, which is gentle on the eyes.

New in the system settings Like almost every previous plasma version also brings 5. 20 Changes to the system settings with. The first innovation makes it easier to juggle with the numerous settings: If you click on the new button “Highlight changed settings” in the lower left corner of the system settings, Plasma marks all previously adjusted settings with an orange border. However, this does not yet work in all areas of the system settings.

“Standard shortcuts” and “Global shortcuts” have been combined under “Shortcuts”. A completely revised structure of the “Autostart”, “Bluetooth” and user management pages should follow modern user interface standards.

Thanks to further improvements in the system settings, Now set the volume for each audio channel individually (via “Balance”). In addition, users can regulate the speed of the mouse pointer when using a touchpad. If you install the Plasma Disks module, you add a page to the system settings with the current SMART values ​​