[Digikam-devel] draft for 0.9.2 release announcement

[Arnd Baecker]

Here is an updated text with a couple of modifications
(keep corrections coming, I intend to send this out this afternoon ;-).
(( Note that the links in the first part are only meant
   for the web-page announcement, otherwise the text
   gets too cluttered for the mailing list))

Achim: kubuntu package ok?
Gerhard: if you are back, do you want to post the announcement?
(I am not subscribed to kde-extra-gear at kde.org and
kde-announce at kde.org, but presumably Gilles could simply forward
my mail..)

Best, Arnd


=====================================


Final DigiKam 0.9.2 Release available

Dear digiKam users,

the digiKam team is happy to announce a new release of the
advanced digital photo management application for linux.

In addition to various bug-fixes and improvements,
several new features have been added.
Some important improvements/changes are:
- a light-table to quickly compare similar images side by side
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/222
- Thumbnail size in the album view can be adjusted continuously
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/218
- Image Editor: reorganized menu structure
- Image Editor: new pan tool
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=system/files&file=images/neweditorpantool.png
- Image Editor: new Sharpness Editor (replacing Unsharp Mask, Refocus,
Sharpen)
- DigikamImagePlugins have been merged into digiKam
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/217
- Image Plugins: completely rewritten Red Eyes Correction
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/212
- Image Plugins: Color Effects pack: solarize, velvia (new!), neon, edge
- Image Plugins: improved Black & White converter
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/216
- Image Plugins : Speed improvements for Restoration, Inpainting and
  Blowup (update of the CImg library to 1.1.9)
  http://www.digikam.org/?q=node/215
- several keyboard shortcuts have changed to comply with KDE guidelines
- New dependency to libkdcraw to decode RAW file (uses dcraw 8.60 inside)

For more information and resolved issues
please consult NEWS.0.9.2 and the Changelog.

The digiKam developer team would like to thank
everyone who has helped by testing, bug reports, bug fixes,
and suggestions for improvements.

Enjoy!

The digiKam team



Download and installation
-------------------------

The tarball can be downloaded from SourceForge.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=42641&package_id=34800

Shared libraries required by digiKam have been updated:

libkexiv2:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=42641&package_id=34800

libkdcraw:
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=149779&package_id=230894

Kubuntu packages will be available on short notice here (thanks to Achim).

Note, that the formerly separate DigikamImagePlugins
have been merged into digiKam.


For new users: What is digiKam?
-------------------------------

digiKam is a digital photo management application for KDE, which makes
importing, organizing, and searching digital photos a "snap".

The photos can be organized in albums which can be sorted
chronologically, by directory layout or by custom collections.

An easy to use interface is provided that enables you to connect to your
camera and preview, download and/or delete your images. digiKam also
includes
an image editor for image corrections and manipulations which can be
extended by plugins.

digiKam supports all camera RAW file formats, 16 bits color depth,
Exif/Makernote/IPTC/GPS metadata, Color management,
tagging/rating/comments pictures, etc.

Showfoto is a stand-alone digiKam image editor version.
It also supports the digiKam image editor plugins framework.

digiKam uses 2 plugin frameworks for additional functionalities:

- KipiPlugins (main interface).
- DigikamImagePlugins (Image Editor and Showfoto).
  Note that these plugins are now integrated in the digikam source.

See the related project pages for more informations:

http://www.digikam.org
http://www.kipi-plugins.org


Online documentation
--------------------

http://docs.kde.org/development/en/extragear-graphics/digikam/index.html
http://docs.kde.org/development/en/extragear-graphics/showfoto/index.html
http://docs.kde.org/development/en/extragear-libs/kipi-plugins/index.html


Comments, wishes and bug reports
--------------------------------

Please, use the digiKam mailing-list for all comments:

  digikam-users at kde dot org
  digikam-devel at kde dot org

Please, use KDE Bug Tracking System for Wishes, and Bug reports:

  http://bugs.kde.org/buglist.cgi?product=digikam
  http://bugs.kde.org/buglist.cgi?product=digikamimageplugins
  http://bugs.kde.org/buglist.cgi?product=showfoto
  http://bugs.kde.org/buglist.cgi?product=kipiplugins