Ever had a pang curiosity about whether or not an app available in the Ubuntu Software Centre but not been near Ubuntu to see?
Did you know that you can browse the entire contents of the Ubuntu Software Centre online – from any browser on any OS?
You can browse using categories or by searching for an application using the search bar.
Unique to the online catalogue, you can also filter by Ubuntu version. Ubuntu’s 10.04 LTS through 11.10 are supported.
Views
Application views look much like they do in the native desktop app, with screenshots, information and user ratings and reviews.
An installation button is provided, however these only appear – and work – when viewing the site from Ubuntu (or its derivatives).
Viewing the catalaogue from another OS will show a ‘Download Ubuntu’ link.
It would inteeresting to see a one-conf style feature added to the online version that allows you to mark applications for installation, remotely and have them ‘install’ when you next login to your Ubuntu device – much like that provided by Google’s Android Marketplace.
But even without the feature the online store is a nifty tool to know about – even if it’s to prove to hesitant switchers that there is more to Linux than Terminals and out-dated looking apps.
Ubuntu Software Centre Online | apps.ubuntu.com/cat/