We have already told you how to install Amarok 2.3 Beta 1 in Kubuntu. However, we have not really written anything else about what new features and improvements will come with Amarok 2.3. However, the Amarok team has very conveniently revived the Amarok Insider. So, here is whats new in Amarok 2.3 from their own words as published in the 14th issue of Amarok Insider:
- Newly redesigned Toolbar. When this is detached, you’ll have a very streamlined Amarok at your fingertips, in a sliver of screen space
- New and much simpler Local Collection browser. The old browser, while having many features, was never really an integrated part of Amarok, neither in terms of look and feel or actual code. In the “Saved Playlists” and Podcast categories you’ll find the new “merged view” button just like in “Local Collection.”
- When a new source of playlists or podcasts becomes available, Amarok will switch off merged view and show a new collapsible list of your new listening sources.
- You can drag and drop playlists, podcasts and whole podcast channels to add them to the device or service.
- Amarok on a Small Screen. Some folks run Amarok full screen, but how about those of us on laptops, netbooks, and even smartphones? We need a smaller screen footprint. It turns out that one can already run Amarok tabbed! Until recently, the Amarok layout was fixed, but it is now much more configurable. You might have noticed that if you unselect Lock Layout (View > Lock/Unlock Layout), you can close or move any of the panels, and the toolbar.
Check out the Amarok Insider 14th issue for more Amarok related news including an interview of Mark Kretschmann, an Amarok developer.