Advanced development framework

Linux got a new look this week as the GNOME Project released the latest iteration of its GNOME interface. GNOME is a free Windows-like desktop environment that masks the command prompt interface of the Linux and GNU operating systems. Called October GNOME, the release is expected to offer greater stability to previous versions, easier integration with legacy applications, a new "xchat" IRC client, and CORBA interfaces to major desktop services, the GNOME project said. "GNOME provides the most technologically advanced development framework available for Linux systems today," said GNOME developer Havoc Pennington. "Standard technologies such as CORBA and XML combine with innovations such as the Glade GUI builder, Bonobo component model, and Libart high-quality imaging library to provide the power real-world applications demand."High-profile Linux packager Red Hat released Version 6.1 of its Linux distribution last week. However, the version of GNOME it bundled was the previous release, 1.0.39. "We_ve just switched to a subscription model, so subscribers can download the newest version from a priority FTP site with guaranteed bandwidth," said Colin Tenwick, Red Hat_s European general manager.