Adept is the graphical package management program included with Kubuntu, which is also available for Debian and other Linux distributions that use the apt package management system.

While Adept does the job for most software management tasks, it isn’t exactly the quickest application when it comes to starting up.

KDE Software Installer is an alternative program for installation of applications from the Debian and Ubuntu repositories. I thought I would put it through its paces briefly.

I downloaded the .deb file for Kubuntu Hardy Heron, and double-clicked it to install. Once installed, it goes into the System category on your K menu, and is labelled as Add/Remove Applications (much like the GNOME version of Ubuntu’s default package installer).

It does not replace the Add/Remove Programs entry, however, on the root of the K menu, which still launches the standard Adept installer. This could potentially be a little confusing as to which program is which.

Once you have got the new App Installer launched, the interface looks like the following screenshot.

Read the rest of KDE Software Installer - alternative package management for Kubuntu/Debian

As promised, here I’m going to take a look at the new ‘KDE 4 Remix’ version of Kubuntu.

For the uninitiated, let me explain. The latest version of the KDE variant of Ubuntu, has two versions - the standard disc featuring KDE 3.5.9, and this KDE 4 Remix disc, which features the new KDE 4.0 release.

In this review, I’m going to focus on this distro from the user’s perspective. There’s plenty of cool stuff under the hood of KDE 4, but here, I’ll focus on what you can actually see and play with, as that’s what will probably sway people to using this release or the official one.

So, without further ado, let’s load up the KDE 4 Remix disc.

Read the rest of Kubuntu Hardy Heron KDE 4 Remix review

KDE-Look.org is the premier site for styles, themes and other goodies for your KDE desktop. One of the goodies offered there is wallpapers (or desktop backgrounds, if you prefer).

Obviously, they are not specific for KDE usage, as they are just standard image files, but it is nice to have them there. You can download them from the website, but for KDE users there is a better way…

Just as if you were normally changing your desktop background, right click the desktop and choose Configure Desktop. On the Background tab, you will notice a button called Get New Wallpapers.

If you click this, it will load the latest wallpapers straight off the KDE-Look website. You can browse through and preview them straight from this window. If there are any you’d like, simply click Install to download them.

They will now show up in the list of pictures labelled Picture: back in the main window. Just pick the one you just downloaded and you can apply it straight away to your desktop.

This little integration feature of KDE goes too easily unnoticed - and if you like a change of background every now and then, this can be a way to find something cool and apply it, all in just a few clicks.