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Topic: Collaboration

Sneak Preview: Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04 LTS

Summary: Ubuntu Lucid Lynx Beta1 10.04 Demo (ZDNet) from Tech Broiler on Vimeo.

Jason Perlow

By for Tech Broiler |

Ubuntu Lucid Lynx Beta1 10.04 Demo (ZDNet) from Tech Broiler on Vimeo.

Today Canonical released Beta 1 of Ubuntu Linux 10.04, the newest Long Term Support version of its popular Open Source operating system due for release on April 29th.

While largely an incremental release over the previous Karmic Koala 9.10, the desktop version of Ubuntu 10.04 features an updated 2.6.32 kernel, a revved 2.29 GNOME implementation (with KDE SC 4.4 for the Kubuntu variant) the Firefox 3.6 web browser and OpenOffice.org 3.2 for productivity.

Gallery: Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04 LTS Beta1

Most notable in the newest desktop release is Ubuntu's abandonment of its previous "Earth Tone" color scheme for GNOME in favor of a bright, Mac-like motif with fresh-looking icons and an Aubergine/Grey color pallete.

In an unusual decision and what could be considered an unwelcome change for the user interface, Canonical has also chosen the default configuration of the Metacity window manager to use a reverse positioning of the maximize/minimize icons on the upper left of each window.

This is a departure from the conventional Microsoft Windows-like positioning on the upper right of each window used in previous releases, which may take getting some used to by new Linux users. It certainly annoys this one and I hope Canonical considers returning to the previous default setting it had for release, although the company has said publicly that its design changes were not up for debate.

[Update: see helpful comment from ZDNet talkbacker CPav on how to alter the default Window button positioning using the gconf-editor GUI tool.]

Additionally, I was surprised by the use of Yahoo! as the new default home page for Ubuntu in Firefox, although this can easily be changed.

A number of new tools based on the Gwibber project for Social Media integration have been added or improved, including a microblogging program for Twitter and FaceBook, and a fully integrated instant messaging client, Empathy (which was introduced in Karmic Koala) which now includes support for FaceBook chat and numerous other IM networks.

Under the hood, in addition to the many performance enhancements of Kernel 2.6.32, 10.04 has removed the Hardware Abstraction Layer from the boot process, effectively making it twice as fast to boot than its predecessor and reducing resume from suspend time.

PCs with nVidia chips will now use the Open Source "Nouveau" driver by default as opposed to the proprietary nVidia driver, although the closed and higher-performance driver can also be installed using the Synaptic utility.

Are you going to install the new Lucid Lynx beta? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

Topics: Collaboration, Browser, Open Source, Social Enterprise

About

Jason Perlow, Sr. Technology Editor at ZDNet, is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies. Jason is currently a Technology Solution Professional with Microsoft Corp. His expressed views do not necessarily represent those of his employer.

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125 comments
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    • Small difference?

      When I click on button_layout, there's no word "menu:", only ":".

      Like this:
      :maximize,minimize,close

      When I move the ":", it has the right effect, though:
      maximize,minimize,close:
      This shifts the buttons to the other side.

      Are there more people experiencing this (the missing word "menu")?
      pjotr123
      Reply Vote

      • You need to type it in

        Type in menu: manually
        jperlow
        Reply Vote

        • OK, but in 10.04 there is no need for the word menu...

          Simply shifting the existing ":" does the job fine, as well.

          This is apparently new for 10.04: I just checked in 8.04, and there the word "menu" is present by default in the key for button_layout.

          Only a very minor matter of course, but the how-to should take this into account, I think. To prevent confusion. :-)
          pjotr123
          Reply Vote

          • In my opinion

            This should not be in GConf, this should be in the Appearance applet as a toggle choice to move the window control elements around. The average end user is not going to understand something like GConf which is akin to REGEDIT in Windows.
            jperlow
            Reply Vote

            • Re; In my opinion

              Install ubuntu tweak and use the window manager settings by clicking on the option of left or right for button placement, you can also re-arrange the order of the buttons there also!
              leopards
              Reply Vote

            • Agreed

              As long as it can be changed within one of the existing tabs in the customize sub-menu. The appropriate tab would be <b>window border</b>.
              djchandler
              Reply Vote

            • I agree

              I agree, but remember, this is still a beta release. Hopefully it will be easier to change it in the final version.
              LegendarySandwich
              Reply Vote

        • JPerlow ... Why do you let Loverock Davidson spoil your efforts?

          Is zdnet so badly in need of hits that it will let idiots like Loverock Davidson spoil your forum?

          Zdent is really starting to go down the tubes in my opinion................
          Linux_Lives
          Reply Vote

          • As long as we don't see offensive content or ad hominem nastiness

            Then he's free to post whatever he wants, as is everyone else. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
            jperlow
            Reply Vote

            • If that is true

              then why did my post get deleted? There was nothing offensive about it, no ad hominem nastiness either. It was simply my observation of the new version of ubuntu. Yes some people might disagree with me and that upsets them, but in no way was my post offensive or spam. Don't worry, I did everyone a favor and went ahead and reposted it.

              They need to delete the posts that insult me, not my original posts.
              Loverock Davidson
              Reply Vote

            • I don't review your posts.

              We have a team of people that determine if something is acceptable under our terms of service or not. If someone reported it, and it was deemed inappropriate, it was removed.
              jperlow
              Reply Vote

            • Because you're a troll

              And a particularly dumb one, as well.

              The removal of your moronic post was therefore correct. I expect that reposting a deleted post will earn you a ban. Well, we won't miss you.
              pjotr123
              Reply Vote

            • re: pjotr123

              Being a troll has nothing to do with it. If it were, NonZealot -- who is not only widely known as a troll, but labeled as such by the zdnet staff it self -- would have been banned by now. His posts are routinely insulting or attacks on other zdnet posters, and I've yet to see anything of his get removed.
              WarhavenSC
              Reply Vote

            • Probably lack of truth

              As Jason said, everyone is entitled to their opinion. At the same time, when you keep spouting the same lies over and over, claiming they are absolute truth, and being unable to actually back it up, it passes the line of opinion and is no better than spam.

              This is my opinion as perhaps there are other reasons they see that makes your posts empty of value.

              Several other posters that have low opinion of Linux manage to either back up their views with personal experience or, if claiming their view is fact, at least can provide a reference to supporting evidence. They at least add value in either substance or discussion.
              Viva la crank dodo
              Reply Vote

            • Sorry Loverock, people only insult you because your posts are nothing

              more than baseless attacks on anything Linux. You have never made a logical statement of fact or bothered to substantiate them with any type of facts to support your views. No one here on Zdnet cares that your a Windows fan-boy ...... Your post are always so full of inaugurate statements that is why you get so many rebuttals to your pro Windows dribble. Anyone who knows anything about computing sees right through your daily dribble against anything Linux.

              PS is if you were as funny as Mike Cox used to be you'd be a funny guy rather than just what you are.............
              Linux_Lives
              Reply Vote

            • True enough...

              The thing that gets to me Jason, is the fact that many of the bloggers here such as yourself are drawn into the hubris and drivel of some of the notorious author of these useless comments.

              You as well as a few other authors here are much better than this in my humbled opinion.

              The likes of these often mindless zealot and incites comments made are done so with some level of malus and content. As you and the other fine folks here read my comment, I realize that names are coming across the horizon of your frontal lobe, as do mine.

              Have a wonderful day and know that I like many, may not agree in some measure on what you may share, still I always enjoy your posts nonetheless.

              Regards...
              Black Label Society
              Reply Vote

  • To change window buttons (additional info)

    If you run Ubuntu Tweak (a Tweak UI type application for Ubuntu) changing the window button layout via the gconf-editor may not work. However, in the latest releae of Ubuntu Tweak (version 0.5.3), you can click on Window Manager Settings (located on the left side of window), then uncheck Custom, then select either Left or Right (placement)...
    precipitous.media@...
    Reply Vote

    • Ubuntu Tweak

      This is not a part of the official Ubuntu repository. Although I have read many nice things about this application, it is redundant and apparently not in compliance with the upstream Debian. The point made by precipitous.media that Ubuntu Tweak disables gconf-editor's ability to alter this variable provides all that's needed to make that inference.

      Canonical needs to provide its own solution to the problem their design team created.
      djchandler
      Reply Vote

  • Final release should have simpler solution

    As easy as this is to change, themes should be used to manage this Metacity variable. Button placement has been a subject of seemingly endless debate amongst beta testers, including <a href=http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1434990>this poll</a>.

    The great thing about Gnome desktop and Metacity window decorator is how easy it is to customize your workspace. All of these features are easily changed. For the experienced Gnome desktop user, gconf-editor makes this a breeze.

    Usually, and in compliance with the upstream (Debian), this is done through the menu <b>System>Appearance>Themes</b>. This is much easier for the noob or those who don't care that much about tweaking their workspace other than changing colors or icon sets. Color schemes, icon sets, window borders, button appearance and pointer appearance are easily managed through this one menu and its sub-menus. But adding a separate sub-menu for button_layout alone branches from upstream.

    This may seem like a minor issue, but relations between Canonical and the Debian community are already somewhat strained. There needs to be a solution to this issue that is in compliance with the upstream. The poll is showing that beta testers, usually a group of people that embraces new ideas and technology, are divided on this. Of those responding to the poll, so far over a third are changing those buttons to the right. A good many of us are changing those buttons to follow how Windows buttons are placed, i.e., <i>menu:minimize,maximize,close</i>.

    Ubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 is on my laptop side by side (dual boot via GRUB 2) with Windows 7. I have been an active participant on <a href=http://ubuntuforums.org/>Ubuntu Forums</a> for 3 years and <a href=https://launchpad.net/ubuntu>Ubuntu on Launchpad</a> for almost 2 years.
    djchandler
    Reply Vote

  • or try....Ubuntu Tweak

    For the less technical folks Ubuntu Tweak makes it
    easier to do a lot of things to Ubuntu including
    altering the position of the buttons. It is easy
    to download and install and has a lot of features
    that are especially welcome to new folks in Linux,
    but also make for quick configuration and set up
    on new installs.
    greggfowler@...
    Reply Vote
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