Solaris 8 2/02 What's New Supplement

Chapter 5 What's New for Desktop Users

This chapter highlights new desktop features that have been added to the Solaris 8 Update releases.


Note -

For the most current man pages, use the man command. The Solaris 8 Update release man pages include new feature information not found in the Solaris 8 Reference Manual Collection.


Window Manager Enhancements

Feature Description 

Release Date 

Graphical Workspace Manager

Graphical Workspace Manager provides a graphical representation of all workspaces, the ability to navigate across different workspaces with the press of a button, and the ability to drag and drop applications across different workspaces. With the 4/01 release, you are no longer limited to viewing nine workspaces. Also, the Graphical Workspace Manager Options dialog box has been added to provide a number of additional display options. 

For more information, see "Graphical Workspace Manager" in the Solaris 8 Desktop User Supplement.

6/00 

Updated 4/01 

Workspace Manager

The Workspace Manager provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for controlling behavior and the number of workspaces. You can add and delete workspaces by using a slider. You can also display the Graphical Workspace Manager in the Workspace Switch Area of the Front Panel. 

For more information, see "Workspace Manager" in the Solaris 8 Desktop User Supplement.

4/01 

Window List

Window List provides a list of all currently running applications. The Window List enables you, with the click of a mouse button, to locate any application, even those in workspaces other than the current workspace. The Window List also provides the ability to perform window actions on a selected group of applications. With the 4/01 release, you can choose to display or not display the Workspace column. 

For more information, see "Window List" in the Solaris 8 Desktop User Supplement.

6/00 

Updated 4/01 

Other Desktop Features

Feature Description 

Release Date 

Stereo Viewing in sdtaudio

Stereo viewing provides desktop users with the ability to view data delivered from individual channels. This is an improvement over the previous method of averaging all channels and presenting the data to the user as a single waveform. In addition, the audio user gains control over more recording parameters through the Record interface, and can see a description of the audio file format on the desktop. 

For further information on video and audio features, see the Solaris Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide in the Solaris 9 User Collection. For instructions on how to access Solaris 9 documentation, see "Early Access" in this document.

10/01 

Added Support for Play-Only and Record-Only Devices to sdtaudio and sdtaudiocontrol

CDE audio tools have traditionally operated in a framework in which all supported audio devices support both play and record. With the introduction of support for more audio device types, some of which are play-only or record-only, functionality was added to display details pertinent only to the specific device. In this way, users are not faced with a confusing or misleading interface. 

For further information on video and audio features, see the Solaris Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide in the Solaris 9 User Collection. For instructions on how to access Solaris 9 documentation, see "Early Access" in this document.

10/01 

Energy Star Standards

X11R6.4 standards have been enhanced with Frame Buffer Power Management (FBPM), an extension to the Display Power Management System (DPMS). This enhancement is added to fulfill the U.S. government's Energy Star program requirements and only works on Energy Star-compliant hardware. 

See also the Frame Buffer Power Management feature description in the "What's New for Developers" chapter.

10/01 

IA: Three-Button Mouse Emulation Available for a Two-Button Mouse

Beginning with the release of Solaris 8 4/01 (Intel Platform Edition), the kdmconfig(1M) utility configures a two-button mouse as a three-button mouse by default. To emulate the middle button on a two-button mouse, push both buttons simultaneously. To disable emulation, choose a two-button entry without three-button emulation from the list of pointing devices displayed by the kdmconfig utility. Users will notice this change when they are using an application that assumes a three-button mouse. The right button now generates a Button-3 event, when previously it generated a Button-2 event.

4/01 

Adding Multiple Files to Email

This feature enables you to keep the Mailer - Attachment - Add dialog box open in order to add two or more files to an email. The need to select Add Files from the Attachment menu multiple times is eliminated.  

For more information, see "Adding Multiple Files to Email" in the Solaris 8 Desktop User Supplement.

1/01 

Removable Media Manager

Removable Media Manager centralizes access to removable devices in one window. You can format, query properties, view directory structures, and where applicable, protect and slice media.  

For more information, see "Removable Media" in the Solaris 8 Desktop User Supplement.

6/00  

Updated 10/00