The release contains the web based catalog application and the 
integrated InterMap interactive map client application. More 
information and downloads can be found on the GeoNetwork community  website at http://geonetwork.sourceforge.net . Check out the Software  center and the Documentation center.

The Desktop version should make it really easy for people to set up 
the software on Windows based computers, while the Server version 
allows full configuration for operational systems. The functionality 
of both versions is the same however.

A list of features in this release:
GeoNetwork opensource v2.0.0 include: (for InterMap opensource 2.0.0  features see below)

     * Search index is capable of handling large amounts of metadata. 
The indexing is build using Jakarta Lucene.
     * Support for metadata based on the ISO19115, FGDC and Dublin 
Core standards -- This support includes:
           o storing and indexing of metadata in its original format
           o displaying search results in a uniform way
           o searching through the metadata in a uniform way
           o editing the different metadata standards online in 
default, advanced and XML mode
           o access to the full set of ISO19115 and FGDC metadata 
elements through the generic online editor
           o validation of metadata based on XSD schema's
           o import of XML formatted metadata and possible conversion 
of the input file through XSL transformation
           o batch import of XML formatted metadata and possible 
conversion of the input files through XSL transformation
           o generating of small and large thumbnails based on an 
input file in JPEG, PNG or GIF format (ISO19115 only).
     * Metadata harvesting mechanism. -- The harvesting mechanism has 
the following characteristics:
           o The application can be scheduled to harvest metadata 
from other catalogues. (harvesting and access through Catalog 
Services for the Web 2 (CSW2) is under development and will be 
released in version 2.1 of GeoNetwork opensource)
           o The full set of query parameters used to search the 
GeoNetwork catalog are also available for harvesting jobs.
           o Harvesting can also harvest secured metadata, e.g. for 
interagency metadata sharing.
           o Harvested metadata provides instant access to metadata 
when searching while the data for download and related services 
remain at the originating agency.
           o Attribution logo of originating agency with every 
harvested metadata.
     * Category system. Metadata can be moderated on a per node 
basis. This allows a node to group metadata that relate to the target 
audience, independently of the descriptions as provided by the 
metadata author.
     * Featured metadata. Metadata can be defined as featured. 
Featured metadata will randomly appear on the homepage of the 
GeoNetwork opensource website. The refresh rate of featured metadata 
can be defined by the system administrator.
     * Recently updated metadata. A list of most recently updated 
content is available from the homepage.
     * Fully scalable user interface, adapting to the size of the 
browser window.
     * Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for most user interface style 
information. This allows for a quick customization of the GUI.
     * Fully XML/XSLT based, separating content from presentation. 
XSL templates define the output format and lay out. Although 
currently only HTML is generated, other output formats can be 
generated at will through new XSLT templates.
     * Global unique identifiers (UUID) generated for all new 
metadata records.
     * Metadata Template system. This system allows to quickly create 
new metadata entries. -- It provides the following functions:
           o A template can be fully customized online and can be pre-
filled with repetitive content (contact information for example).
           o Templates can be searched in the same way normal 
metadata is searched.
           o Only editors and administrators have access to templates.
           o Templates can be created for specific user groups
     * Email notification system to groups for triggered downloads of 
data sets.
     * Online administration of Users, Groups and Categories.
     * Online clean up of left over metadata
     * Online administration of users by dedicated User 
Administrators (group specific)
     * Z39.50 (OGC Catalog Services for the Web 1.0) Server and 
Client functionality.
     * Migration application for the migration of GeoNetwork 1 based 
content into the new system.
     * Support for publishing and using OGC Web Map Services and ESRI 
ArcIMS map services.
     * User community website with a documentation center and 
software center available at http://geonetwork.sourceforge.net

InterMap opensource

InterMap opensource v2.0.0 features include:

     * Combining interactive web map services from distributed Web 
Map Servers accessible through the Internet (both OGC WMS and ESRI 
ArcIMS services)
     * Functions available are among others
           o Making layers transparent
           o Accessing related metadata or information
           o Adding new data from GeoNetwork opensource or other web 
sites
           o Accessing web map servers known to a user
           o Access predefined map servers from a list
           o Viewing available layers from OGC Map Servers
           o Open Maps consisting of different layers at once (Web 
Map Context alike. WMC is upcoming in future releases)
           o Identify features
           o Zooming and panning
           o Moving layers up and down
           o Server side SLD support
           o Viewing temporal data

Enjoy the release and let us have your comments and contributions!