Canonical shows off 'Unity' desktop, Ubuntu Light for OEMs
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 10th 2010 11:07AM
posted May 10th 2010 11:07AM
Linux development moves at a rapid pace and, faster than you can say Lucid Lynx, Canonical has now unveiled two new major additions to its Ubuntu bag of tricks. The first of those is the so-called "Unity" desktop, which will be the new desktop environment for Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition (slated to debut in October of this year). Among other things, it boasts a range of enhancements for netbooks and touch-based devices, including a pared-down interface and a new panel and application launcher that gives you quick access to your favorite apps. The other big news is Ubuntu Light, which is Canonical's take on an instant-on OS, and is targeted directly at OEMs for use on netbooks and other mobile devices. While it can be used on its own, Canonical mostly sees it being used in a dual-boot environment with Windows (giving Canonical a bigger foothold in the process). Like other instant-on OS's, it will integrate with Windows and give you access to things like music, photos and other files, as well as provide all the basic apps you need. Unfortunately, there isn't one catch-all version of Ubuntu Light that you'll be able to download since it'll need to be tweaked for each device, but it is available to OEMs immediately -- still no word of any devices that will be using it, though.
Unity on a tablet = win!
@glamajamma It's instant-on, the side buttons are really big to press, and looks pretty simple. I would prefer this for media consumption over 7.
@glamajamma This gonna be cool!
@glamajamma
Looks very nice. Would have been nice though if they've had a bit more to show than only a screenshot for the developers release. But I like the pace that Ubuntu is evolving.
@SeeKo I don't — too slow!
@SeeKo +1. I like that a lot. It's going in the right direction.
@SeeKo
Yup... it's turned out to be quite a butterfly from the ugly moth i saw a few years back (in the form of redhat linux). I think Ubuntu does more justice to Linux UI for general users than any other flavor ever did!
@glamajamma
"Unity on a tablet = bomb-diggity!"
FTFY
@who said what
Oh yeah, Redhat... that was really a long time ago. Not really related to Ubuntu though. But also a pretty neat Linux OS.
@SeeKo
I think Canonical is moving too fast, I first started using Ubuntu 8.04 and I've noticed some great steps forward in the past 2 years but in the rush of having a new OS out every 6 months there are some things that are left behind, worst of all that 2nd to last icon on the launcher, the terminal, an average user ( the target market of a netbook version) should not have to know how to use that or have any idea what sudo is, most people haven't used command lines since MS-DOS.
Canonical should take a step back from the constant releases, and allow Ubuntu to mature in a way that they become "dummy friendly" enough for the average user
finally, we all assumed it would be Google, but Canonical is the first Linux Dev to make Linux (desktop) usable
@ChrisSsk Use Debian if you want a slower release cycle.
@ChrisSsk Please don't compare the command line in Linux (a vibrant fresh creature) to the dead husk that is the dos command prompt. Just because you type in both doesn't mean they have anything in common.
The basic user doesn't need to use the terminal ,but it's uses for even the slightly intermediate user are too many to list.
@yomachaser You def needed the terminal in Ubuntu 9.04.
Looks awesome.
@Lord Dark Helmet yeah, a side docked app launcher straight outta Windows95!
Linux: "For 13 people, By 13 people..."
@Mister Warmth
Totally, considering Android (a Linux based OS) just overtook iPhone OS that means that the iPhone has, what? 12 users?
@Lord Dark Helmet
yeah I just loaded Ubuntu netbook remix and it is as easy as pie and beautiful to work with. It would be wonderful on tablets and Mids too
@3rdsun Linux is great, I just made a 10.04 flash-bootable version including portable Sun Virtual box and persistence. Now my programs are with me wherever I go! Can't wait to do it with this netbook version, it'll be even lighter and faster than the one I use now.
@Mister Warmth
Er, what? Windows 95 didn't have a side-docked app launcher. Maybe you're thinking of the quick launch bar, but that wasn't available until much later, in Windows 98 (or as part of IE4).
Anyway, this dock is very clearly inspired by Mac OS X, which is based on NeXTSTEP, which predates Windows 95 by more than half a decade. I don't think anybody is suggesting that this is a novel idea.
looks good! I still think it could use a little work for touch screen use, but still looks good.
@electron
certainly a heck of a lot less work than would have to go into Windoze. Maybe make the top bar a bit thicker though, I can see some stubby-fingered people not being able to get at it.
They should consider this interface for their full OS cause its pretty straightforward looking and newbie friendly.
From the screen shot anyway...
@Flaystus I totally agree. The SS up there made me go "oo" thinking it was the entire OS and not the netbook remix alone.
using linux seems more and more compelling these days. Also now that steam is rumored to get to the platform :)
Did they ever explain why so many years into their operating system that the need to move the window controls to the left side of the window was a good idea?
@Leindurstit I found that odd myself...
@Leindurstit
well actually they did. They've plans to use the right for some window notificationsmagigs and i assume the left made more sense considering window management will be through there anyway come Gnome shell.
@Leindurstit Yes they did. Then want to implement something called "Window Indicators" in an attempt to reduce the UI chrome.
Check Mark's post about window indicator: http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/333
@Leindurstit Here's Shuttleworth's post on "Window Indicators" ... http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/333 I guess that's why they did it.
It's beautiful.
@troorl As a designer I can't help but feel put off by the default UI -- graphically that is. Fonts are nasty, spacing is nasty and details are non-existent or just straight ugly. I have Lucid on my netbook and after days of tweaking and skinning I still don't feel comfortable with it. It's not a deal breaker for others (and you might not ever care or notice) but as a designer it's just off putting.
@detusueno I'm kinda surprised you'd say that? I find that I really enjoy the text, I find it's very legible. In fact it's one of the main reasons I use the lucid linux desktop because I love how easy to read the text is.
So I guess what does your Desktop UI look like or how are you planning on making it better?
@Jergos The font rendering HAS gotten better but the choices for UI and web fonts are still terrible. There's no argument there.
And I don't do OS UIs; I come from a print background but now primarily do Web and even some mobile application UI design. The "and what have you done" argument is kind of dick-ish, but since you've gone there, yes, I could and have done better work than what is shown in Ubuntu. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Canonical making no profit on Ubuntu (it's free after all)? So they probably have engineers designing, if so, decent effort from them but still doesn't erase the fact the the UI isn't good.
@troorl
Beautiful? Its an eyesore. It looks like the bastard child of MacOS X and Windows 7. Its a cludge of interface elements slapped together and made black to look cool. It's like they couldn't decide whether to go for function or form and went half-assed in both directions.
No wonder Linux has failed in the consumer OS space...
@detusueno They have an entire design team. Ubuntu is surprisingly well funded.
Just because it doesn't look super pretty doesn't mean it's not be designed. It designed to be accessible and usable.
@krizoitz Man, you nailed it. It feels like they are chasing something that they can't get so instead they just go halfway. There are just so many faults in this screenshot alone - the radius of the rounded corners of the active selection in the dock menu, the spacing and size of the dock icons, the spacing of the top panel (look at how ugly the search box is), etc.
Ubuntu doesn't have to be as flashy as OSX, just aim for something to perfect (or at least look decent) across the entire UI.
@detusueno
In regular Ubuntu (Lynx) the dock items are close together. i think that they have been spread out in the netbook remix to make them more finger friendly. It would make sense, especially as there is no window selector in the top bar.
I think it looks pretty good personally, but as I am not a lah-de-dah, pink shirt and slip-ons wearing 'designer' I don't think that counts for much. :D
@detusueno I don't understand why they (Canonical or Gnome) take some tips from the Oxygen team.
KDE 4: http://www.itnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/kde44.png
Gnome 3: http://linux.softpedia.com/screenshots/GNOME-Shell_1.png
Canonical: See above.
@detusueno ... I was actually wondering what you've done to the UI... Most people who start with the Ubuntu Desktop change it over time to make it more accustomed to what they like...
I didn't mean any offense, I just like modding the UI myself so I was wondering what fonts you prefer to use for readability so that I may try them :(
@detusueno I just saw my comment and I could see why you took it the wrong way will phrase my question properly next time ;)
I don't know....it kind of looks like a rip off mac osx
if they dont' watch what they're doing watch how they're going to get sued by apple
@lennie22 Actually let's get informed here. The FOSS community has produced themes/icons etc. that are very close to Mac OS X for years and years and Apple turns a blind eye.
Just like Apple pretty much turns a blind eye to the Hackintosh community. If someone tries to seriously monetize it to harm Apple then Apple legal will step in.
But overall I think you are being unfair on Apple.
@lennie22 Not really the launcher looks like win 7 to me :)
@lennie22
Sued by Apple? Are you serious?
First of all, at best there are subtle suggestions to OSX, based solely on color scheme and the top bar. However the top bar, user menus, and even application bars have no working similarities whatsoever. If you've ever used linux you would know this. The only reason they're doing this is to draw casual users. It's more inviting to new users.
You can't sue because the setup and skin is "somewhat" similar. Such a ridiculous lawsuit would be thrown out of court before anyone could speak.
Kubuntu (the KDE variant) has always been compared to Windows in some way, shape, or form. It has arguable similarities as well. As a matter of fact, the Windows 7 taskbar now closely resembles the KDE taskbar which has been in use a good 3-4 years beforehand. The KDE team doesn't sue Windows because of this. Why? Because they know it wouldn't go anywhere. There are no legal grounds!
And why must we compare every freakin thing to Apple? It is what it is! Can't that ever be enough?
@cbizarre
*doesn't sue Microsoft.
Not "doesn't sue Windows."
@cbizarre
was actually making note of the topbar and the "close, maximize, minimize" botton placement.
I remember the battle between Apple and Microsoft over their user interface.
I'm actually a windows user now, used to use linux but have since made the switch.
Someone has been looking at Snow Leopard for the dock menus.
Not that that's a bad thing. The line art icons in the menu bar are moving closer to Apple's versions as well.
I wonder if they are going to come out with a version for Nokia's N770/N8x0 tablets. It looks so similar to Maemo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Itos_2008_desktop.jpg
I got into Linux via OS X, and now I can't use OS X because it's so restricted. It's really crazy what you can't do with Apple, and what you can do with Ubuntu, especially seeing how similar they are in an underlying sort of way.
Great job on 10.04 btw, I really like it so far. Looking forward to trying this 'Unity' thing.