Google has released a new beta version of Picasa for Linux. Like earlier Linux releases, Picasa 2.7 Beta requires WINE to run, which would indicate that this isn't a 100% native Linux port of Google's popular photo organizing tool. But it does work well with your Linux desktop, seeking out all the photos stored on your PC and allowing you to sort them by albums or folders.

Here are a few of the new features in Picasa 2.7 for Linux:

• Upload to Picasa Web Albums using the "Web Albums" button.
• Save edits to disk
• Browse folders using a hierarchy view
• Import photos to an existing folder
• Better RAW image support
• Larger thumbnails
• Better caption editing
• Starred Photos album

You can download Picasa 2.7 for Linux by adding Google's testing repository to your source list or by downloading the deb or rpm files directly.

[via Google Operating System]