Welcome to the new Cairo desktop shell. Seen here is the new ‘taskbar,’ now called the start-bar. The features of the start-bar will be discussed further in the entry.
Here is the desktop again, with a few differences. Should an individual need something in their ‘Documents’ folder (or any folder/item) the user has the option to explore their data right from the desktop. This image shows the desktop after selecting the ‘Documents’ folder. The view changes to display the selected folder’s content. You may also notice a small menu has appeared. This menu allows the user to go forward and back, or return home to the main desktop.
Here is Cairo’s start replacement. The first objects listed are ‘Programs,’ ‘Places,’ ‘System,’ and ‘Pyramid.’ Each reveals a drawer that slides up from the bottom to reveal a simple, organized view of that categories items. In this image, ‘Programs’ is selected. Each category is editable and items can be dragged and dropped from one category to another. When selected, ‘Places’ reveals favorite locations like a downloads or reports folder, ‘System’ reveals configuration options like display and networking, and ‘Pyramid’ is Cairo’s application launcher and file search (similar to Spotlight in OS X).Search queries under Pyramid are also organized by category and relevance. The items listed to the right are shortcuts to favorite locations to be used when the desktop is not visible.
It seems like many shells are jumping on the multiple desktop bandwagon. Here is an early version of Cairo’s multi-desktop feature. Activated by moving the mouse to the bottom right corner, users can move application between desktops and name each one according to their use. Not shown is the added ability to group applications. This feature works well in many circumstances. For example, say you’re working in Firefox and talking to friends on one desktop, and on another you’re creating a presentation in PowerPoint and editing graphics in Photoshop. With Cairo’s grouping feature, you can hold down ctrl and select each window you want grouped with one another. When items are switched between desktops, each relevant application is moved accordingly. This is also useful when switching between applications without the use of a taskbar or dock.
Totally revamped from our earlier concept, the newest version of the Cairo explorer shares many similar concepts. 
I feel we’ve taken the best parts of Finder and the Windows explorer and combined them to make one great file browser. To start, on the left is the sidebar. It contains frequently used destinations. Below that is the Folder Tree, useful when moving and organizing files, or just bro
wsing your hard drive. To the top right is the file display. There are four views: details, small icons, medium icons, and large icons. Below this area is a fifth alternative view, similar to coverflow on OS X and iTunes. To add to these features, you will also notice a button for file grouping, and four file organization schemes. File grouping allows the user to make virtual folders of one file type so it’s easier to find that one mp3 file in a group of pictures. The file organization schemes also make it easier to sort your files by user request. The Cairo explorer toolbar is customizable.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this update. We’ve been quiet, but we’re working hard!
-The Cairo Team
Well, it’s been a glorious week for the Cairo Development Team. We updated our website with new gradients, a few developmental images, and a slew of miscellaneous tweaks. It’s amazing how many small changes we’ve made to the site since the new redesign opened a few weeks back. Consider them small reminders of our dedication to this project.
In other news, we have been making progress, slowly but surely, with the coding of the shell. Consider us like an M&M’s factory. You never actually see the manufacturing process of those little chocolate treats, but you know it’s always going on. Same goes for Cairo.
Additionally, we now have a new donations page. Feel free to give us any spare change you might have laying around and don’t forget to cash in those savings bonds that have been sitting in your drawer for years! Joking aside, we are accepting donations in any amount. Remember no gift is too small. One month it might help us pay the web host and another it might help us with some R&D. We have tried to place the donation links in places that will get noticed but aren’t in your face. We understand that you all come here to support us and that is thanks enough, but should you decide you want to generously donate some of your hard earned money, we would be much obliged.
That is all for now. I hope you enjoyed this update. From now on I’m going to end each update with an interesting factoid so even if the post isn’t one of your favorites, you can at least say you learned something.
Factoid: The average number of people that are airborne over the US in any given hour is 61,000.
-Cairo Team
EDIT: We have now had over 10,000 unique visitors to the site, comprising an average of 10,000 visits per month. Thanks for the support everyone!
