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.
is it just me but that status bar looks realllll Mac-esque
Linux, the new hipster OS.
It looks familiar, as if I've seen something like it elsewhere. I just can't, for the life of me, put a finger on it. Oh well. :: apple-w, closes window::
Ubuntu Rocks!
Sweet, I want it NOW CANONICAL ( pretty please :)
@DeFcOn
Ask and you shall receive: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/05/install-new-ubuntu-1010-netbook.html
Gonna try it myself later - looks pretty sweet!!
Oh yeah, and use stylish to make the NY times more vertical friendly
If Ubuntu was in the tablet part of the Lenovo smartbook, I would of been all over that device. Lenovo and HP need to pick this up now as their instant-on OS.
The more Canonical screws around with the GUI the more attractive switching to Debian becomes.
A bit like the Gnome Shell, yet the best measure to drive people towards KDE.
That looks very sleek.
Ubuntu is a complete OS which can easily compete with its rivals. With the flexibility of Linux and simlicity of Canonical's new GUI's such as Netbook Edition, Ubuntu is the flagship of Linux distros. Let's wait and see Google's Chrome OS.
@samialtas Chrom(ium) is all well and good, but while this comment was being typed I was also glancing at my mail (in kmail, which I like better than gmail's client), pidgin, and skype. In separate windows, mind you. I think I'll stick with Arch on the laptop I have and the netbook I won't be getting.
I Kind of want to see an OS for Tablets that is exactly that. Basically just a blank piece of paper that you can write on and take notes, do work, And from there add in features like MP3 player multi-platform functionality.
So basically all I want to do is take a piece of paper and give it the ability to become an OS. Not have an OS become a tablet.
OEM's should consider offering their netbooks as dual-boot Ubuntu Unity/Windows 7. Then, it would be easy for users to try both & decide which OS they prefer using the most. The dual-boot configuration could even be positioned as a "feature".
I have both Windows & Ubuntu machines, but I tend to use Ubuntu the majority of the time.
Ubuntu on a tablet ftw!!
personally, I would love to see an instant-on Linux OS that could integrate seamlessly with the main Linux OS on a device.
I.e. the instant-on OS comes on instantly, then if you want to you can fully boot the main OS in the background while the instant-on OS is still operational.
When the main OS is done booting up your instant-on OS session is seamlessly migrated into the main OS.
Other than that, I don't see much point for these instant-on OSes.
@LEDfoot
That is a seriously good idea, I wish my netbook was setup that way.
PS: Yo dog I heard you like linux so we put a distro in your distro so can ssh while you ssh!
@yomachaser
>>That is a seriously good idea, I wish my netbook was setup that
>>way.
You dawg I herd you like commenting so we put a comment in your comment so you can downrank while you downrank!
>>PS: Yo dog I heard you like linux so we put a distro in your distro
>> so you can ssh while you ssh!
Does anybody here actually use Ubuntu?
I'm forced to use that OS everyday.. and man it is AWFUL. sluggish, crashes, stops, you name it
No wonder they aren't making any money. Comparing that to Windows 7 or OSX is a joke..
Apple won't be happy about that one.
You can try unity now
ppa:canonical-dx-team/une
https://edge.launchpad.net/~canonical-dx-team/+archive/une
Didn't work for me though =(