Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 21540 ideas, 132386 comments, 2606468 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas

Popular ideas Here are this month's most popular ideas about Ubuntu. New to Brainstorm? Learn how it works!

Notify user about failing HDD  
Written by neokril the 24 Jan 12 at 19:23. Global category: Hardware support. New
Today I accidentally opened disk utility and found out that my HDD has bad sectors and big amount of IO errors. It would be nice if Ubuntu tell me bad news in time when it happens and write something in logs. Because this information is very important for me and now I even don't know when first bad block has appeared.
39
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Install/Run smartd by default
Written by neokril the 24 Jan 12 at 19:23.
smartd daemon will write information about HDD fails in log. Also it can be configured to show some kind of notification to user.
1
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Notify User
Written by arjo129 the 30 Jan 12 at 10:00.
Create a notification when this happens "Hey its time you cleared up your disk [Launch disk utility][ignore]" or something of sorts.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution >>

Synchronise desktop settings between computers  
Written by PaddyLandau the 14 Jan 12 at 18:30. Related project: Compiz Advanced Settings (ccsm). New
For years, I have wondered about being able to sign on to any computer (even a library one) and have your own desktop appear.

Imagine my surprise when I loaded the preview version of Windows 8 in Virtual Box to find that Microsoft will be doing exactly that! Well, OK, not quite any computer, but along those lines.

(For interested parties, here is the link to Windows 8 Preview:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516
)

Microsoft's method is to let you log in to Windows using your Microsoft Live ID (subject to Administrator approval), and synchronise your desktop settings.

This is, of course, opt-in (imagine the privacy implications if it were not).

I think that Ubuntu would be well placed to do something similar.
64
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Opt-in option to synchronise your desktop settings over Ubuntu One
Written by PaddyLandau the 14 Jan 12 at 18:30.
Allow a user to "link" his desktop settings to his Ubuntu One account. The linking would allow the user to synchronise the following items (each one would have to be opt-in; none would be done by default):

* Wallpaper
* Theme
* The entire set of Compiz Config settings

(I'm open to other ideas as to what to synchronise.)

When linking a new login for the first time, the desktop would ask whether or not to synchronise each of the items (again, for privacy concerns, they would be opt-out by default).

Obviously, there would have to be a "sanity check" when synchronising onto a target machine. Thus:

* Themes would be synchronised only if the target machine supported that particular theme (so, for example, you wouldn't try to sync a 10.04 theme with its panels onto a 12.04 theme with Unity, or an imported theme onto a computer without that theme being available).

* Compiz Config settings would be synchronised only if the target machine had the same version of Ubuntu (so don't try to synchronise (say) Kubuntu with Lubuntu).

EDIT: Communications with Ubuntu One are all encrypted and stored safely. This would, of course, apply to this option.

See the 10 comments or propose a solution >>

The ubuntu update manager does not integrate well with the unity interface  
No information about this blueprint
Information is updated every 5 minutes.
Please wait till the next update.
spec
Written by arjo129 the 15 Jan 12 at 03:00. Related project: Update manager. New
The ubuntu update manager starts bouncing up and down like a seperate application to notify a user of updates.This makes it an annoying distraction. Further more when applying changes, The progress bar comes in front of what you are working on.
49
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Intigrate it with the unity notification system
Written by arjo129 the 15 Jan 12 at 03:00.
A seperate icon should appear in the topo right hand corner with a notification claiming that the system needs to be updated. When updating a package one can simply check the progress by clicking on the icon.
-8
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Chrome and Firefox have Silent Updates, let's have it too
Written by deltrem the 21 Jan 12 at 19:46.
Mozilla is implementing a series of improvements to Firefox called Silent Update, because Mozilla received feedback that Firefox updates were too obtrusive.

Since Firefox is open source and since Ubuntu updates are too obtrusive, let's copy Silent Update from Firefox to Ubuntu.

The Silent Update improvements are:
- Lessen how often the “What’s New” page is shown
- Lessen how often the update user interface is displayed
- Add-ons Default to Compatible
- Apply updates on shutdown
- Improved process flow for updating when there are incompatible add-ons

http://blog.mozilla.com/futurereleases/2011/10/04/mozilla-firefox-and-silent-up dates/
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Features/Release_Tracking
9
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: get rid of update manager and implement in software centre
Written by primefalcon the 25 Jan 12 at 01:59.
This way everything would be handled through Ubuntu's software centre
0
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Intigrate the update managers progress indicator with the unity
Written by arjo129 the 1 Feb 12 at 10:01.
This does not solve the fact that a seperate indicator pops up but it deals with the fact that the progress bar hovers over the desktop by putting the progress bar as a menu indicator.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

Improving information about data traffic on mobile connections  
Written by bilufe the 23 Jan 12 at 13:00. Related project: Network Manager. New
Many users use mobile internet plans with limited data traffic and now Ubuntu does not have a method to query the amount of data traffic in this type of connection.
26
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: include in network-manager a system that accounts for the data traffic on mobile
Written by bilufe the 23 Jan 12 at 13:00.
include network-manager in a system that accounts for the data traffic in mobile connections, the user may include the contracted amount of data and network-manager in charge of displaying notices regarding the traffic data when it arrives near the limit entered by the user .

The traffic information is best displayed in graph form.

See the 2 comments or propose a solution >>

Resizable text selections  
Written by j814wong the 24 Jan 12 at 20:21. Global category: Usability. New
Various times, I select a large group of words but sometimes I want to change the selection to select more of less and when the selection is really long, I don't want to have to scroll all teh way up or down just to reselect all the stuff.
16
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Resizable text selections just like in Android 3.0 and 4.0
Written by j814wong the 24 Jan 12 at 20:21.
In Android 3.0 and 4.0, there is the ability to resize a selection by dragging 2 markers at each end of the selection. Ubuntu should have a similar feature, hopefully, if it isn't patented or anything like that. In my opinion, this feature is a great idea in that it is very useful and convenient for workflow for people who deal with this sort of thing.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

Change NumLock Warning Message on Login Screen  
Written by Laslow the 17 Jan 12 at 05:16. Global category: Usability. New
On desktop systems, it is very annoying to see a warning stating the NumLock is disabled, when it serves no practical purpose these days. For laptop/mobile users it is understandable, though.

I use the number pad a lot, so a warning that it is Disabled would be more helpful. I know that it's practically the same as having the enabled error, but I often gloss over the text and just assume that the CapsLock key is on, press that, and then subsequently get my password wrong. Then, in cases where NumLock is disabled, I don't see the error and then mistype my password because I don't see the warning and naturally assume all is well.
20
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Change NumLock Warning Message on Login Screen
Written by Laslow the 17 Jan 12 at 05:16.
Either as part of the installer when detecting the system type, or as a configurable option, or both, allow the "NumLock is Enabled" warning to be changed to "NumLock is Disabled" to remind desktop users when this is the case.
2
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Add selection when to be warned
Written by jonasPlatte the 17 Jan 12 at 16:02.
I think it's better to have a selection between warning for only capsLock, only numLock, both or none. And perhaps it would be good to have the choice to "invert" the warning for numLock, like Solution #1.
25
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Remember the user's preference
Written by PaddyLandau the 17 Jan 12 at 19:15.
It used to be that the computer would remember your preference. Turn on Num Lock? It would still be on when you were ready to log in next time. Turn off Num Lock? It would still be off when you were ready to log in the next time.

That makes so much more sense.

See the 1 comments or propose a solution >>

Increase Sound Menu functionality: song progress slider  
Written by Lionthinker the 29 Jan 12 at 18:44. Related project: Banshee Music Player. New
The sound menu at the top right only has volume control.

I listen to a lot of podcasts and need to repeat sections.
Also it would be nice to repeat parts of songs without having to open the music player.
7
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Sound Progress slider
Written by Lionthinker the 29 Jan 12 at 18:44.
In the Sound Menu bar below or above the volume scroller, place a progress slider.

Simple as that.

See the 1 comments or propose a solution >>

Invite functionality for Ubuntu OS & U1  
Written by Lionthinker the 11 Jan 12 at 16:22. Global category: Marketing. New
I loaded Ubuntu onto my computer and was ecstatic.
Then I got to know Ubuntu One and was utterl thrilled.

I think Ubuntu is one of the best things since sliced bread - BUT I have to personally tell everyone I know about Ubuntu.

Solution: There should be an invite function with easy user and product info so users can spread the news virally via a personal invite.
This lends authenticity as each inviter endorses Ubuntu and spreads the net far wider.

We have to get more people using Ubuntu!
20
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Invite Option
Written by Lionthinker the 11 Jan 12 at 16:22.
Get a invite option included as standard in OS and U1 programme.

Easy to use and personalised invite through email and/or facebook/twitter notification.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution >>

Ubuntu One: better login protection  
Written by ekevu the 7 Jan 12 at 09:54. Related project: Ubuntu One Music Store. New
The files you uploaded to your Ubuntu One cloud may contain sensitive information. Someone who has found out your password can access these files. There might be a way to make this way safer.
21
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Use 2-step-verification (like Google)
Written by ekevu the 7 Jan 12 at 09:54.
Google uses optional 2-step-verification for your account. Having entered your password on another computer than your own, you have to enter a code created by your mobile phone. So anyone who found out your password won't be able to access your files in Ubuntu One.
Solution: make a similar option available for Ubuntu One.
-7
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: What about adding a Captcha Verification or PGP Key...
Written by jmate24 the 15 Jan 12 at 04:54.
Use a Captcha (m4+3eUz.) When you first sign up and a personal PGP Key that is for your computer only and make sure that the PGP Key is on a small USB Flash drive. Also to recover from a re-install when you lost your key (flash drive) have 4 personal questions about yourself that you only know the answer to so you may recover that key. also any application that uses U1 will have a key that is generated for that applications use only; and that matches your PGP key but is not your key and have this key come from U1. and also have the ability to register an application with U1 like you register Banshee with Last.fm's webpage.
15
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Use a pin code for your mobile phone
Written by ekevu the 16 Jan 12 at 10:00.
Adding to my solution #1, I'd like to propose using a pin code when you access the mobile Ubuntu One application (like in dropbox app). So anybody using your phone won't be able to see your files without the correct code.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution >>

It should be very easy for users to test latest development kernels  
Written by Marcelo Ruiz the 24 Jan 12 at 07:40. Global category: Quality. New
Many times I submitted a bug I was requested to test the latest Ubuntu development kernel. Also, if the bug was triaged, the latest development kernel from Kernel.org.
The experience of building either of them is painful, especially for new users, and this discourage them to test whether a bug is present in either of those versions.
9
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Provide a tool similar to Kernel Check
Written by Marcelo Ruiz the 24 Jan 12 at 07:40.
Ubuntu should provide a tool (with a Graphical User Interface) to allow users to automatically build the new development kernels. It could be similar or based on Kernel Check:

http://kcheck.sourceforge.net/

The idea is to make the process completely transparent and painless to the end user.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

2 3 Next >>