[Kde-extra-gear] First beta release of amaroK 1.3

[Mark Kretschmann]

The amaroK team announces version 1.3-beta1 of the amaroK audio player


Highlights of the amaroK 1.3 series:

  * Wikipedia artist lookup, a revolutionary feature providing information
    from the free online encyclopedia. 
  * Redesigned sidebar, with improved look-and-feel. 
  * Automatic download of scripts and themes with KNewStuff. 
  * HelixPlayer engine. 
  * New Playlist Browser, powerful and easy to use. 
  * Cue file sheet support. 
  * Dynamic playlist mode. 
  * PostgreSQL database support. 
  * Much extended DCOP scripting interface. 
  * Multiple analyzer visualizations for the playlist window. 
  * Editable Smart Playlists.


ChangeLog relative to amaroK 1.2.4:

  FEATURES:
    * Add Media dialog allows for multiple file selection. (BR 105903)
    * The browser-sidebar has been redesigned for improved usability.
    * Cue file sheet support. Patch from Martin Ehmke <ehmke at gmx.de>.
      (BR 92271).
    * New OSD text token, %playcount, will write the playcount.
    * SmartPlaylists are editable. (BR 91036)
    * PlaylistBrowser gets a makeover!
    * New playlist column "Playcount" for track play counts.
    * New playlist column "Extension" allows easy sorting of playlist for
      compatible file types for portable media players.
    * Ability to save streams to the PlaylistBrowser (BR 91075, BR 104139)
    * New DCOP call "playlist: popupMessage" Displays a popup message box
      in the playlist window.
    * New "year - album" - group by mode for collection browser. (BR 94845)
    * New DCOP call "player: setScoreByPath(url, int)". Sets score of a track
      specified by it's path.
    * New DCOP call "player: setScore(int)". Sets score of the current track.
    * New DCOP call "player: path()". Returns the path of the current track.
    * New DCOP call "playlist: saveM3u(path, relativePaths)".
    * New ScriptManager notification: "volumeChange: int".
    * Tooltips for album covers in the CoverManager. (BR 103996)
    * Automatic download of themes and scripts via KNewStuff.
    * Different analyzers available for the playlist window.
    * New DCOP call "player: enableRepeatTrack" sets repeat track on or
      off.
    * HelixPlayer-engine.
    * 'Load' and 'Append' entries for smart playlist context menus. (BR 99213)
    * Support for reading embedded images from ID3 tags. (BR 88492)
    * Wikipedia tab in ContextBrowser allows for artist biography retrieval
      and more, supporting 9 different languages! (BR 98050) (BR 104383)
    * Show "title by artist" on playlists titlebar and taskbar. (BR 97670)
    * Option to show stats in the Home tab by album. Patch from Cédric
      Brégardis <cedric.bregardis at free.fr>.
    * New DCOP call "script: listRunningScripts()". Returns a list of all
      currently running scripts. (BR 102649)
    * New DCOP call "script: stopScript(name)". Stops a script. (BR 102649)
    * New DCOP call "script: runScript(name)". Runs a script. (BR 102649)
    * New form of playlist manipulation - Dynamic Mode.
    * New DCOP call "player: enableRepeatPlaylist" sets repeat playlist on or
      off. (BR 102754)
    * Add Score widget into the tag editor. (BR 100084)
    * Support for PostgreSQL as database backend. (BR 99863)

  CHANGES:
    * "amarokscript" filename extension is now mandatory for script packages.
    * Append Suggestions has been superceded by Dynamic Mode.
    * Add a label (with shortcut) to the Playlist filter.

  BUGFIXES:
    * Message box when saving of playlist failed (BR 105520)
    * Avoid weird results when fetching lyrics with slow connections.
      (BR 103561) (BR 101327)
    * Compensate for reversed slider widget in reverse layout locales, such as
      Hebrew and Arabic. Patch from Assaf Gillat <gillata at gmail.com>.
      (BR 102978)
    * Playlist playMedia now works with streams.
    * Context Browser is updated when current track's tags are changed.
      (BR 102839)
    * Clearing the playlist while playing a track does not lead to a confusing
      interface anymore. (BR 103510)


The amaroK team
---------------

amaroK is a soundsystem-independent audio-player for *nix. Its interface uses 
a powerful "browser" metaphor that allows you to create playlists that make 
the most of your music collection. We have a fast development-cycle and 
super-happy users. We also provide pensions and other employment-benefits.

"Easily the best media-player for Linux at the moment. Install it now!"
    - Linux Format Magazine

WWW:  http://amarok.kde.org
WIKI: http://amarok.kde.org/wiki
IRC:  irc.freenode.net #amarok
MAIL: amarok-devel at lists.sourceforge.net