About a week ago, Canonical was demonstrating a reworked desktop image of Ubuntu, Ubuntu Netbook Remix at Computex in Taiwan. Remix is not ready and still under heavy development. However, the source code is already available and can be installed on regular Ubuntu system. I managed to install Ubuntu Netbook Remix desktop environment running on Ubuntu 8.04 system under virtual machine.
Here some screenshots of Ubuntu Remix.
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Robert Strohmeyer wrote on PC World website about two well known Linux distributions, Ubuntu 8.04 and Fedora 9.
Ubuntu 8.04
Ubuntu 8.04 is the best-assembled and most polished Linux distribution I’ve ever used. Ubuntu 8.04 performs well where Windows XP and Vista screech to a halt, particularly on older hardware. And since it comes with OpenOffice.org, Firefox, Evolution Mail, and a host of other apps right out of the box, it may be the best way to breathe new life into a seemingly moribund PC.
Ubuntu 8.0.4 offers a level of functionality comparable to that of Mac OS and Windows, from delivery to installation to daily use. Unfortunately, the ties that bind all Linux distributions–primarily a lack of support for major Windows- and Mac-based business, design, and gaming applications–still hold Ubuntu back from mass popularity. For users with such moderate computing needs as Web browsing, e-mail, and basic document creation, however, Hardy is a compelling option.
Fedora 9
For users who are already familiar with Linux, Fedora 9 is an excellent choice. Robust security features and installation options make it somewhat more versatile than Ubuntu, which offers a more streamlined (and therefore more restricted) installation. For most users, though, including millions interested in trying Linux for the first time, Fedora lacks the polish and ready-to-run simplicity of its more popular rival.
You can read the rest of article here.
Last couple of days before, I had posted two screenshots that showing Compiz Fusion Sphere and Cylinder Effect. The Compiz Fusion 0.7.4 that comes by default with Ubuntu 8.04 does not include this plugin. So you need to compile the plugin.For a new user, this not sound nice. However, there is an easy way to get this plugin and keep your Compiz Fusion updated. You just need to run a script which already built for you. The script was created by Martijn Bastiaan. With this script, I can’t get all the plugin working. Splash plugin is not working for me.
Install Compiz Fusion
First, check whether it is safe or not to run compiz-git.
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On May 30, Banshee 1.0 RC 1was released to the public. Banshee 1.0 RC 1 represents the sixth release since we began rewriting much of the core of Banshee. The primary reasons for this rearchitecting were to deliver much needed performance improvements, make features more powerful and mature, and allow us to add awesome new features like the Play Queue and video support.
Banshee now uses much less memory and has greatly improved startup speed.It can handle collections that are much larger in size without adversely affecting application speed or memory usage.
These core architectural changes also allowed us to cleanly implement many great new features and provides a framework for new features to be easily developed in the future.
New features
New Device Storage Indicator
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For those who like to have Mac OSX Dock style, here is the list of dock (according to my preference) which you can choose from.
With one of these docks, you can get similar effect as the Mac OSX Dock for your Ubuntu. To get this three dock working on your Ubuntu, your computer must be able to support composition. You must also have a composite manager such as Compiz-Fusion and Beryl installed in your Ubuntu.
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Inspired by two popular Mac applications; Spotlight and Quicksilver, David Siegel has developed GNOME Do as a part of his university course which afterward became a popular application for Linux.
With GNOME Do, you can quickly launch an application just by typing the application’s name. It’s not just restricted to applications. You also can search and open webpage, Firefox bookmarks, files, album in Rhythmbox and etc. Everything is just on your finger tips. Type the things you one in GNOME Do and launch it. You can extend the functionality of GNOME Do by installing extra plugins such as Banshee, Pidgin, Google Calculator and Tomboy.
Install GNOME Do in Ubuntu 8.04:
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