This week in Ubuntu has seen a proverbial flood of new artwork for our favourite operating system’s latest pet – the Karmic Koala. One of the biggest additions has been a new default wallpaper (for the Alpha’s and Beta’s at least).
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and look back at what previous defaults looked like…
Ubuntu 4.10 Warty Warthog
Not much to say for Ubuntu’s very first wallpaper except:
OMG! UBUNTU BRANDING!!
This that would later be somewhat advised against.
Ubuntu 5.04 Hoary Hedgehog
EPIC (if ruined by the off-centre Ubuntu logo). The first true “design” of Ubuntu’s wallpaper linage.
Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger
Wonderful original design. The logo somewhat spoils this one by distracting your eye to it.
Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake
Dark. Very Chocolaty. Dark. Nice Swirls. Dark. Dark.
Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft
The first outing of the ‘skin’ tone in Ubuntu wallpapers. Like some later releases, this is a bit too “OS X Aqua” like, but a simple, plain and unobtrusive design nonetheless.
Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn
Having never used Feisty it’s odd to look at this and try to imagine it being the first thing i saw when logging in. It almost looks like like a half finished version of Edgy’s wallpaper, not to metnion you could easil mistake it for a blurry photo of a bruise on someone’s skin…
Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon
For some reason this wallpaper always reminded me of Galaxy Chocolate bars, but it holds a special place in my heart as Gutsy was my first Ubuntu and so this was my very first Ubuntu Wallpaper.
In retrospect it was perhaps a bit too dark for a default choice and was evidently inspired/caught up in trying to create a Vista/OSX Tiger type wallpaper.
Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron
A bold visual statement did the Heron make; hardy indeed! Lighter tones made for a more pleasant welcome to Ubuntu and the Heron in “ubuntu colours” was a nice touch. This one certainly stands up well looking back.
Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex
Yes that is a coffee stain… wait not it’s an ibex… wait no it’s one of those psychologists ‘ink splatter’ cards…
I’m actually fond of this one, it’s an artistic triumph. That and I’m a sucker for anything with the mascot on.
Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope
*thanks to those who let me know i’d uploaded the wrong image!
The run of mascots-on-screen came to and end with Jaunty, but just how do you incorporate an antlered rabbit into a desktop background anyway!
I’m jesting, obviously, but the Jaunty wallpaper was a slight disappointment after the striking designs of Hardy and Intrepid… What will Karmic give?
Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala?
This is the current default wallpaper for Karmic Koala (it may/will change) and first reactions: –
OMG! IT’S NOT BROWN! =o P
Vote
To your right you’ll see a lovely little poll where you can cast your vote for the best Ubuntu Wallpaper so far.
Poll Results:
[Thanks to http://ubuntu.ecchi.ca/wallpapers/ who’s great archive allowed me to revisit many of these great wallpapers!]
