Gtk+ 2 is a substantial change from the first version. generalized type system fully internationalized, all text is UTF-8 Pango-based Text widget can render any text in any language in the same box, and provides enough visual and navigation features to make a reasonable code editor GdkPixbuf is integrated GDK is no longer an orphan child, as far as objects are concerned and has double-buffering for smoooooth rendering Powerful new tree widget based on model-view approach Accessibility support for disabled users lots of cleanup and simplification