The latest new on the next iteration of the Ubuntu desktop.
The way in which the Unity Launcher is accessed by users is changing to make it more 'intuitive' to new users.
I'm a sucker for detail. In yesterdays update to Ubuntu 11.04's Unity interface the Grid plugin (read 'aero snap') for Compiz added some animated 'effects' when being invoked. Read on to see them in action and why I think they're more than just simple 'bling'...
Ubuntu 11.04's neat 'Test Drive' feature - which allows you to try applications without installing them - just got a whole lot better. Earlier today Stéphane Graber has announced that the service now allows for test-driving of almost every application and utility that is installable via the Ubuntu Software Centre. That's over 1300 different applications!
The latest version of the GNOME desktop environment has been released - and what a release it is. GNOME 3, aside from looking visually different to GNOME 2 thanks to its new 'Shell' - has had a refit, rethink and re-code of pretty much everything.
The following lens for Gwibber, Ubuntu's default 'social messaging application, weaves your social networking streams through the slick visuals of Unity and making them easily accessible from the Ubuntu desktop.
Yesterday may have seen the first beta release of Ubuntu 11.04 but today saw something almost as exciting: the regular Thursday drop of Unity updates, bug fixes and minor changes. What landed? Here's out pick of five pretty neat changes and/or additions.
Google are known to be a cheeky company. A cheeky company that also has many employees that use Ubuntu and are looking forward to Natty Narwhal. That aside, we were still pretty surprised to see that the Google Maps team have added a giant Narwhal swimming in the Thames outside Canonical's office in the Millbank Tower for a little Ubuntu-related April Fooling.
The first beta release of Ubuntu 11.04 is available to download and test.
I'm happy to announce that Volley Brawl is finally available for everyone to try! It's just hit the Software Center for Maverick and Natty, right on time to meet the March 31st release date. All you have to do is open up the Software Center and navigate to the "For Purchase" section.
While there is no exciting new bling to talk about this week, there are plenty of bugfixes to be had for this Unity release. This week the team welcomes Nico van der Walt as he makes his introduction fixing Bug #731212: "Applications" and "Files & Folders" keyboard shortcut overlays not drawn correctly with scalable launcher and Bug #741346: superkey shortcut labels does not scale properly.
A minor update to Lucas Rocha's note-space application 'The Board' has been pushed out to early testers.
Ubuntu 11.04 users can free up some screen space and gain desktop consistency in LibreOffice by enabling LibreOffice Global Menu support.
