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Previews or thumbnails in file chooser   forum
Written by jimmux the 28 Feb 08 at 23:46. Global category: Look and Feel. Implemented
Too often I have to select images with cryptic file names from a file chooser. Because I can't see the images I typically have to open the folder I am browsing separately so I can find image I am looking for, remember the cryptic name, and return to the file dialogue to select the file I want.

This could be easier if their was an option to view thumbnails, or to at least preview the image.

Developer comments
File preview is now in Hardy.
909
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #240
Written by jimmux the 28 Feb 08 at 23:46.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #240 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 21 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Jan 13 at 16:08) >>

Mass renaming for Nautilus  
Written by pi314 the 29 Feb 08 at 13:28. Related project: Nautilus. Not an idea
Nautilus should be one of the greatest file managers, and one of the tasks it should be able to do is mass renaming.
Thus, it wouldn't be necessary to install external programs and change from one to another to manage your files.
1152
votes
closed
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #1388
Written by pi314 the 29 Feb 08 at 13:28.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #1388 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
5
votes
closed
Solution #2: (workaround) use the Nautilus script »Renamer«
Written by inquata the 2 Jun 10 at 07:41.
While this is not implemented, the Nautilus script »Renamer« is a nice workaround to have something for batch renaming directly in Nautilus:
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Renamer?content=87601

Sadly, that still does not make batch renaming as easy as in Windows.
5
votes
closed
Solution #3: Use the same tool and method to invoke it as in Thunar
Written by Lain_13 the 31 Jul 10 at 06:52.
There was idea in comments about it. So, here is solution to use it. This tool as powerful as GPrename but simpler and cleaner. In thunar you need to select few files and press F2 (rename from menu) to invoke it.

See the 16 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 16 Jul 12 at 07:43) >>

LiveUSB  
Written by Taku the 28 Feb 08 at 14:35. Global category: System. Implemented
cdroms are slow, don't allow to modify their content easily, they are weak and not as easy to carry as USB keys.

It would be great to provide Ubuntu as a liveUSB just as Mandriva does. We should be able to carry our distribution on any computer, manage our preferred settings (do I want binary drivers enabled ? what is my preferred resolution ?), etc.

The thing is not to make something transportable, but really a nomad system that could be used just the best way as it could on any computer.

Developer comments
This was implemented by two separate projects! Both Usb-creator (see the blueprint) and Usblive (see its website) allow you to build a live USB system on Intrepid.
The first one is available on the repository, and usblive in this PPA.
4328
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #16
Written by Taku the 28 Feb 08 at 14:35.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #16 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
0
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): copy slax's usb version
Written by stozi the 9 Jun 09 at 01:27.
copy slax's usb version, or find a more KISS-y way to do it.

See the 78 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 Jun 12 at 13:08) >>

Easy mounting of Images like ISO and CUE   forum
Written by Nanotron the 28 Feb 08 at 20:17. Related project: Nautilus. Implemented
I'm a big fan of Images like .iso. However it is not very easy to mount these Images.

Developer comments
There is already right click->open with "archive mounter" in Gnome, however it currently has a major bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gvfs/+bug/299956
5716
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #194
Written by Nanotron the 28 Feb 08 at 20:17.
I feel there should be a Tool in Nautilus and Dolphin which allows mounting Images by double Click or something similar. (This feature exists int MacOS). Or with a right click on the I think that would be a very useful Tool for every one.
A good example for this is CDemu.

I know there are some other good programs, but I think that would be the easiest way
691
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): "Mount Image" avaiable in Right-Click Menu
Written by Bender2k14 the 26 Jan 09 at 04:42.
I should be able to right-click a disk image and select "Mount Image" in the context-sensitive section (just as right-clicking on a disk image provides the "Write to Disk..." option).
-16
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Spruce up gisomount and extend
Written by cbx33 the 20 Mar 09 at 12:22.
Gisomount was created to make this an easy process. It needs a little love and attention, but offered things like md5sum browsing etc. Would make a good GSoC project.
0
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): gmount-iso
Written by markoresko the 13 May 09 at 08:35.
I use Gmount-iso to do just that.
sudo apt-get install gmountiso

But I also think that it could be more obvious to do that etc.
Maybe Gmount-iso should be available by default, under right-click on images, like proposed.
40
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#6): Make it possible to mount ISO image from CLI w/o root access
Written by mikaelstaldal the 20 Oct 09 at 12:14.
Also make it possible to mount ISO images from command line without root (sudo) access.
-71
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#7): Solution #3: Mount it automatically once the user double-clicks the ISO file
Written by dexter_greycells the 24 Oct 09 at 07:41.
When the user selects the ISO file (through the keyboard arrow keys, Tab key or a single click) in nautilus a pop-up should come up asking the user to 'Double-click' the ISO file to mount it.
-12
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#8): Okay, here it is :)
Written by r0g the 28 Oct 09 at 05:09.
In the form of a python script for nautilus actions.

http://www.technicalbloke.com/iso_mount.py

I don't have time to do the unmount command too but it should be easy to adapt if you know a little python, consider that homework & pls post me a copy :)

I think it would be nice if Ubuntu came with some more useful nautilus action scripts and a nicer way of adding/removing them. At the moment getting them in and out is more of a pain than it needs to be. It ought to be as easy as Firefox (if not easier!) to install plugins, maybe then people would make more.

Roger.
-44
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#9): Drag *.iso icon onto computer/desktop/places
Written by Lachu the 28 Oct 09 at 11:56.
Automatically mount *.iso files dragged onto computer window/desktop/places menu.

See the 65 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 31 May 12 at 02:44) >>

Provide a simple interface for labeling partitions and external drives   forum
Written by descentspb the 3 May 08 at 13:18. Related project: Nautilus. New
This becomes especially useful with Hardy, which gives unrecognizable names to the unnamed partitions like "100 GB media" etc.
2715
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Easy and quick label in nautilus
Written by descentspb the 3 May 08 at 13:18.
For example right-click on the partition and bring up it's options, where you can change the label.
0
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Add facility to rename drives
Written by vkadal the 7 May 13 at 10:41.
Kindly add an option "Rename" to the drop down menu when a drive is right clicked. This will facilitate to assign meaningful names to drives and easy to search for files

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 16 Apr 12 at 20:48) >>

Create a better hardware database  
Ubuntu

In :  
Priority : Low
Definition : New (Needs guidance)
Implementation : Unknown
Assignee : Tomas Gustavsson
spec
Written by Ubuwu the 28 Feb 08 at 15:22. Global category: System. Implemented
People around the globe that are using/concidering using Ubuntu are afraid that some of their hardware won't work for them. And some are frustrated to buy additional add-on cards to work around unsupportad onboard chips. All this could be avoided with a lookup in an ubuntu Hardware Database Website.

Some problematic hardware can be used with more or less work if helping information is available together with the hardware compatabillity data.

The hardware database can be found at http://hwdb.ubuntu.com/

From idea #47: The data should then be available in a format that is simple for users to browse on-line when considering new hardware.

Developer comments
Work is on-going at https://launchpad.net/hwtest
5093
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #40
Written by Ubuwu the 28 Feb 08 at 15:22.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #40 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 47 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 12 Apr 12 at 08:03) >>

Be able to choose any color for theme   forum
Written by Eldmannen the 28 May 08 at 17:07. Global category: Look and Feel. Won't implement
Now when you use the Human theme, you're stuck with brown.

You should be able to pick a color of your own likening so that you can choose blue, green, yellow, white, orange, black, gray, purple, teal, pink or whatever you like.

Check this awesome artwork that I made!
* http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/317/coloredthemeyz9.png
* http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7682/colortheme2ls1.png
* Steel
* Rainbow


From idea #9139 (merged):

Currently the theming is all over the place and changing one place does not affect any other. Although that kind of tweakability is great, most users just want different default colors. (pink, blue, brown, black)

What we should be having:
A: wallpaper - changes every release
B: color-theme - human (easily configurable by user!)
C: splash-canvas - human (we need to create this)
D: gtk-engine - clearlooks with B as default colors
E: kde-engine - oxygen with B as default colors
F: icon-theme - tango with color-filter using B

From these we could generate:

[....]
1263
votes
closed
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #9190
Written by Eldmannen the 28 May 08 at 17:07.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #9190 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
24
votes
closed
Solution #2: Make the SVG icon colors change to match the theme
Written by Endolith the 6 Mar 09 at 02:16.
There's no reason why the color of SVG icons can't be changed to match the theme. The files themselves don't even need to be changed when the color changes; you just need to change the rules used to render them.

By defining a "base color" in the SVG, and telling the renderer to use a color from the theme while drawing it, you can make the icons any color.

For example, I've modified some SVG icons from Ubuntu Human so that they use the "highlight" color instead of a hard-coded orange. Firefox extracts the "highlight" color from your system when it renders, so Firefox will display them in whatever color you use for your theme:

http://www.endolith.com/svgiconcolors/icontest.html

We should do something similar so that folders and the like match the theme no matter what colors you choose.

See the 31 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Feb 12 at 03:09) >>

Graphical frontend to edit GRUB menu  
Ubuntu

In :  
Priority : Undefined
Definition : New (Needs guidance)
Implementation : Unknown
Assignee :
spec
forum
Written by aysiu the 28 Feb 08 at 18:51. Global category: System. New
Right now, the most likely successful migrations to Ubuntu happen for *nix experts and total novices who have someone install Ubuntu for them, but the most likely people to try Ubuntu are Windows power users--those who like a lot of configuration options but who are also used to using the GUI for tweaking options and not manually editing a text configuration file.

The most popular requests for editing the /boot/grub/menu.lst file involve changing the default boot option (to Windows instead of Ubuntu) and changing the timeout before a boot option is selected. The other less popular ones would be just bonus features, I guess.
2887
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #141
Written by aysiu the 28 Feb 08 at 18:51.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #141 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
73
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Include StartUp Manager by default
Written by Ubuwu the 5 Feb 09 at 17:24.
StartUp Manager, or SUM, is a gui tool for changing settings for Grub, Grub2, Usplash and Splashy.

http://web.telia.com/~u88005282/sum/

See the 36 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 27 Jan 12 at 15:27) >>

Use BitTorrent as primary protocol for apt-get  
Ubuntu

In :  
Priority : Undefined
Definition : New (Needs guidance)
Implementation : Unknown
Assignee :
spec
forum
Written by kevinfishburne the 28 Apr 08 at 19:10. Global category: Internet & Networking. New
This is an attempt at a unification of:

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7081/
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7390/
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7649/
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7725/

I can't think, nor have I heard, of any showstopper reason for why BitTorrent shouldn't be used as the primary download method of Ubuntu respository packages. Although the specifics of the implementation of this idea will be different for ISOs and repositories, I feel they should be unified in the brainstorm because the goal is to allow the rapid, efficient, reliable, and available download of Ubuntu software.

Implementation Benefits

1) Speed. All Ubuntu downloads (ISO downloads, dist upgrades, regular system updates, and new application installs) will as a whole be faster. Generally torrent download speeds benefit from higher numbers of downloaders that seed, which Ubuntu users have demonstrated they are prone to do. BitTorrent is better able to absorb (and eventually use as an asset) large numbers of users attempting to download data at the same time, such as with the recent mad rush of Hardy downloaders/upgraders.

2) Efficiency. The BitTorrent protocol has proven to be one of the most efficient methods of distributing data amongst a large number of clients. It will harness the collective upstream of tens of thousands of Ubuntu users, from DSL and cable connections to the fastest of corporate connections.

3) Reliability. Checksums guarantee the integrity of BitTorrent downloads, so data corruption is much less likely to occur. Only the pieces that fail checksum are redownloaded, contributing to points 1 and 2.


[....]
2220
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #7792
Written by kevinfishburne the 28 Apr 08 at 19:10.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #7792 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
8
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Make debtorrent active by default
Written by bukzor the 9 Apr 11 at 19:12.
There is already a system to do this: debtorrent (http://debtorrent.alioth.debian.org/)

The *main* problem with it is that there are so few users that have it installed. Making this installed and active in the default Ubuntu distribution solves this bug, as well as implementing Idea #7792 (and its 30 duplicates).

It seems fairly mature, but probably still needs some polishing for inclusion in the Ubuntu default. In particular, we need to ensure that the upload settings are very easily tweaked, both automatically and manually.

12
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Make debtorrent available at install
Written by lengau the 25 May 11 at 20:32.
Rather than making debtorrent the default, which could be harmful to a large number of users (some ISPs block Bittorrent, as do many universities, etc.), we should allow users to choose debtorrent an option in the installer (as well as being able to enable/disable it in the software centre).

Including the debtorrent and apt-transport-debtorrent packages on the CD/DVD will add just short of 300 KiB to the disc images.
7
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Stop seeding after reaching 1:1 ratio by default
Written by Lyfang the 24 Jun 11 at 08:01.
Make DebTorrent or Apt-P2P active by default and stop seeding after reaching 1:1 ratio by default.
6
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Run Torrend and HTTP download mixed.
Written by AdlerHorst the 29 Dec 11 at 10:49.
Run Torrend and HTTP download mixed. If Torrend is slowed down, the http download stil do his job. If torrend is faster, the HTTP plays the role of one of many download streams.

See the 75 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Dec 11 at 10:48) >>

Restoring the bootloader by Ubuntu LiveCD/USB  
Written by vinlos the 29 Feb 08 at 10:46. Global category: Installation. New
If I install Windows after Ubuntu, it's impossible to boot Ubuntu until I install again GRUB following several instructions.
My idea is adding the option "Restore bootloader" in the list which appears when Ubuntu installation CD start. The aim is to offer a simple way to restore GRUB without loading a live distribution, opening a terminal and following a long series of instructions

[Edit 06/03/2008]
In my opinion, the user SHOULDN'T boot the Ubuntu Live Distro. It would be an unuseful waste of time.
Instead, it should be possible to select a new option among those ones of the startup menu of the CD.
4429
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #1242
Written by vinlos the 29 Feb 08 at 10:46.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #1242 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
444
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Create a "Reinstall boot menu" option for installation disk
Written by Hetor the 31 Mar 09 at 12:57.
Create an option for installation disk that will install just Ubuntu's boot menu to make Ubuntu accessible after Windows installation.
180
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Create a "Restore Ubuntu after Windows installation" option
Written by stoffel the 31 Mar 09 at 21:39.
So, similar as the first solution, but with these differences:
* people do not understand "boot menu"
* it puts focus on the fact that the Windows installer is crap that can break the user's system, whilst at the same time pointing out Ubuntu has the tools to fix this crap
190
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: LiveCD should autodetect grub vs. MBR
Written by cheesehead the 31 Mar 09 at 21:50.
LiveCD should check for an existing MBR or grub, and offer to reinstall grub only if the LiveCD finds an MBR or broken grub
27
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Make a DUPLICATE of the mbr and place an option in boot.ini and vista bootmgr
Written by supermorph the 3 Apr 09 at 18:26.
as an option as WELL as placing grub into mbr , i would suggest Making a DUPLICATE of the mbr and place the mbr file in windows boot.ini and the vista bootmgr menu's (should windows be located in the install)

i had to re-do somebodys system, they was very dubious on linux (they had another distro and it didnt do wireless, so they over generalised and thought gnu/linux as a whole was not good) and i suggested to fix thier pc,
they left it with me, so i put thier media-centre xp first, all thier apps how they liked, installed a hidden user for me, and installed jaunty 9.04 at the end of the hdd, and made the users exactly like the xp, (both with firefox, and wine 4 ubuntu) i also took the liberty of extracting the installed mbr of ubuntu to a file "ubuntu.mbr" i called it, and placed it into thier xp partition (hidded,system applied) and added a menu "Ubuntu Linux" to thier boot.ini as the second option, i then proceeded to make a recovery image of this setup and put it to four dvd's with all of the dvd's bootable to a registered acronis 8 personal of myne, so if they restore it will ALWAYS work, and if they need whats on there they can remove the mbr and STILL use ubuntu (or put it back if they ask how to do it)

mabye this could be done, and add an option to restore this mbr file to the hdd in recovery mode on the live/alt disks?

sorry for the long post, but i think it will actually help because of the way i done things, theres no way ubuntu cannot be run in that configuration.

kind regards
supermorph
-35
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Create Downloadable Recovery CD
Written by jamesisin the 7 Apr 09 at 06:38.
Create an ISO available to Ubuntu users (linked probably in the Help menu &c) which has been set up specifically for repairing version x.y of Ubuntu.

(Part of my "Keep the installer trim" philosophy.)
232
votes
up equal down
Solution #7: Add an option to restore GRUB in GParted
Written by codeslicer the 27 Feb 09 at 20:33.
One of the options for a bootable partition in GParted would be to Reinstall Boot Manager, after which an option to install either GRUB or LILO on to the hard partition.
46
votes
up equal down
Solution #8: add how-to on LiveCD
Written by TheLions the 1 Mar 09 at 20:41.
instead making repairing tool why not include a easy-to-understeand-do-it-yourself guide how to repair GRUB?
13
votes
up equal down
Solution #9: Super grub disk
Written by josinalvo the 7 Mar 09 at 04:08.
There is a windows app called super grub disk that is able to solve the problem (The odd name comes from a live cd that does the same job)

I propose this app should be on the livecd, on that part that is acessible from windows (a.k.a. outside squashfs)
152
votes
up equal down
Solution #10: Grub install from Windows
Written by pengo the 9 Mar 09 at 02:25.
This will probably get voted down for mentioning MICROSOFT, but as this problem is generally a problem with Windows rudely taking over from Grub, why not make a Windows application that installs or restores GRUB?
22
votes
up equal down
Solution #11: Rescue option for both Ubuntu and Windows
Written by jekristiansen the 10 Jan 10 at 01:45.
It would be nice if there was an option to re-install boot loaders for both Ubuntu and Windows. Remove Ubuntu + Grub, and the Windows boot is missing.
Install Windows, and there's no Grub
I installed windows again because of that...
-4
votes
up equal down
Solution #12: App to install OS from inside of Ubuntu. . .
Written by LordHawke13 the 8 Feb 10 at 04:34.
I suggest an application that will run the contents of a boot disk either to an internal guest display (as in a Virtual Machine) or to an attached external display (like a second monitor) to install an operating system for dual booting. Since it can be done from inside the host OS, it can suppress the secondary OS' process of overwriting the MBR, preserving the primary bootloader, and optionally writing entries to the bootloader's boot menu for chainloading the secondary OS. Such an app would eliminate the need of a bootable LiveCD as the bootloader will be intact and in no need of restoration.
21
votes
up equal down
Solution #13: Installer disc universal bootloader repair tool
Written by pfelelep the 15 Feb 10 at 07:40.
25 years ago today, I was able to simply change mac os 6 boot folder by just removing or adding the Finder file. That was useable.
25 years ago today I was able to repair most non booting DOS issues by just typing SYS C: That was almost useable.

What do we have in 2010 ? A OS that breaks its own bootloader when you try to update it. And that's when you managed to install it in the first place... And if you're to fix it (I guess most debuting users will just wipe their disk and start over again from here) you have to download 3 different discs to try from (live, alt, supergrub) . That's progress I guess ?

Grub is excellent software, but its useability and reliability need to be reinforced !

What I need on the install disc is a tool that lets me :
step 1 : describe partitions in my system. no installer or tool can guess that stuff in a mildly sophisticated system. there could also be an automatic mode for simple 1 or 2 partition setups. LVM should always be natively supported.
Step 2 : choose mbr or grub partition target
Step 3 : Click Fix and reboot !
20
votes
up equal down
Solution #14: Whatever the solution is implemented, it should have its fair counterpart
Written by leorolla the 11 Mar 10 at 17:26.
People who try Ubuntu for one day (perhaps because a friend insisted) and then decide to wipe it out, find themselves desperate when they realize that their computer is not working at all.
And they say that it's Ubuntu's fault!
And they are right!
In fact it is the installation of Ubuntu that has just broken the user's system.

If this or that OS is crap, it will be obvious from the facts. It is for the user, and only for the user, to come up with that conclusion.

What Ubuntu has to do is to be as good as it can, and other OS's won't provide equivalent tools.
As for today, they don't come even close, but who knows...

If an Ubuntu application will propose the user to "fix" the MBR, it should propose to "fix" the MBR in both directions: to replace the current MBR by Grub, or to replace it by another OS's bootloader.

No matter if it will do it at the Live CD, a Desktop application or an application to be run inside other OS's, it should offer both possibilities.

This would make Ubuntu inarguably superior.

If the user chooses to fix the MBR using another OS's bootloader, and the application can still detect that some Linux partition, then it should implement an ingenious procedure to chainload Grub from the other OS (as described at Solution #5, for the case of Windows).
5
votes
up equal down
Solution #15: Make Grub Die Hard
Written by checoimg the 1 Feb 11 at 03:06.
Auto restoring option on grub (don't tell me if it is posible or not).
Make Grub Reinstall itself until you enter Ubuntu and change that option, so after any change grub will overwrite the new loader and persist to be the used loader. Of course updating the list of OS and maybe add on Gparted a detct OS option in case of problems detecting new OS installed on same Hard Disk

See the 43 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 21 Dec 11 at 04:15) >>

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