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Contributor forteller

A way to open windows which were accidentally closed  
Written by Gaz Davidson the 19 Feb 10 at 13:21. Related project: Nautilus. Not an idea
Firefox and Chrome both have a wonderful feature where you can open a recently closed tab by pressing CTRL+Shift+T, I sometimes find myself pressing it in other applications after closing a window. It would be nice if it was supported outside the browser.
418
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Solution #1: Implement CTRL+Shift+T or similar in Nautilus
Written by Gaz Davidson the 19 Feb 10 at 13:21.
Have Nautilus remember which windows have recently been closed so it can open them again in response to a specific key combination.

Ctrl+Shift+T would be an ideal default
191
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Solution #2: Same as #1, but with all windows and apps
Written by forteller the 19 Feb 10 at 22:07.
Yes.
-227
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Solution #3: Close button.
Written by Lachu the 20 Feb 10 at 15:14.
Change behavior of close button. It should only minimize "closed window" for 10 seconds. After that the window could been closed.

This change should only change way of informing window with DestroyNotify. I don't know how change behavior of main windows of applications.
-87
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Solution #4: Extend session support of application
Written by Lachu the 21 Feb 10 at 12:27.
Extend way how application supports sessions. There should exist signals, like HIBERNATE(save session) to file, RESTORE SESSION from file, etc.

Window Managers could use this feature to achieve idea goal, but not all application could been integrated. The behavior is: give application order to save session in $HOME/.sessions-tmp/$CURRENT_DATE/pid/WINDOWID(or whole session if user wanna to close application instead of window).

To restore window, WM's will give only the same location with signal RESTORE.
-57
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Solution #5: 'Recently Closed' tray
Written by Afroman10496 the 21 Feb 10 at 23:52.
Put a recently closed tray next to the workspace applet that holds the last three (changeable by the user) windows that you closed in the state they were in when you closed it, showing when it was closed and a screenshot of it when you closed it. Clicking on it should open a menu showing options to open, close, minimize, maximize, move, or move it to another workspace.
http://yfrog.com/juscreenshotckp
55
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Solution #6: Allow applications to register that they can be resumed.
Written by Darwin Survivor the 23 Feb 10 at 00:02.
When an application closes, it would have the ability to "register" with the window manager that it is now closing and can be resumed by executing .

The window manager is now in complete control over whether or not to offer the session to the user.

This would allow:
-any app to be written to allow session resuming
-the app can de-register itself if the user resumes or creates a new session
-the app actually closes (no sleeping or anything)
-the user could chose how many "closes" to remember (wm disregards anything older)
-backwards compatible (would not affect apps that don't implement it)
-apps that already have a resume command don't need to change their switches (they tell the wm what to call)
-apps could create numerous sessions by registering with different commands (ex: app --resume )
2
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Solution #7: Add Option to 'protect' window (prevent from accidental closing)
Written by rayken_wong the 15 Apr 10 at 23:37.
In the right click drop down menu (ie the one w/ the always on top option) add an option whereby the close button is disabled
4
votes
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Solution #8: History of recent closed windows.
Written by Lachu the 1 May 10 at 14:52.
Add history of recent closed applications/windows. If application don't be integrated, the window would been added to recent closed. Applications, like OpenOffice, which asks user to close window can remove own windows from history. Also, integrated application can inform WM's that it supports signals to reopen window.

See the 19 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 26 Dec 11 at 18:31) >>

More info about media in Nautilus' statusbar  
Written by forteller the 4 Sep 08 at 13:41. Related project: Nautilus. Not an idea
When I select a music file, video file or picture in Nautilus I would like to get some basic information about them in the status bar:

- For video and music: Length and quality.
- For pictures: Size (in pixels)

I think it's annoying that I have to open a movie just to find out how long it is.
291
votes
closed
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #12782
Written by forteller the 4 Sep 08 at 13:41.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #12782 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 13 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Oct 11 at 14:32) >>

Usability study: how easy is Ubuntu/Linux for newbies?  
Written by turbolad the 17 Oct 10 at 20:04. Global category: Usability. New
Everyday desktop users of Windows hear about Ubuntu. They try out Ubuntu as an alternative to using Windows everyday for years.

How can we find out what their experiences are like? What is putting some people off switching to Ubuntu? What things about Ubuntu are hard for newbies to understand? What things CAN'T they do in Ubuntu that they CAN in Windows? Finally, what things are irritating about Ubuntu for them?

For Canonical to win-over more happy users (such as myself), how can the Linux world be more understanding of newbies?
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Solution #1: Give newbies 3 months to try Ubuntu and provide their feedback
Written by turbolad the 17 Oct 10 at 20:04.
Canonical and the Linux community could study how new users get on with Ubuntu for 3 months. See how people use computers and get feedback about what could be improved to increase Ubuntu/Linux adoption.

3 months is sufficient to see how users cope with things such as: usability, installing new software, performing updates (and possibly upgrades to a new version of Ubuntu), managing files and folders, finding alternatives to Windows apps - or running them in Wine, find out what they MUST use Windows for etc. etc. etc.
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Solution #2: Add a "feedback" item to the help or services menu.
Written by Darwin Survivor the 18 Oct 10 at 06:53.
Users don't like having things pop up at them unanounced after having their computers set up and going. However if a user is really happy (or unhappy) they may want to praise/rant into a feedback form. These polarized views could be used to easily find out what people really love and what people really hate.
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Solution #3: Update the newbies daily about the changes made in Ubuntu
Written by Mrinal Saurabh the 22 Oct 10 at 13:23.
If the users remain updated of the changes that are being made daily in non technical language, they feel a sense of solidarity towards using the thing.
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Solution #4: automated improvement system
Written by maxpowers43 the 25 Oct 10 at 21:40.
we need an unobtrusive, easy to use system for providing general usability input from users that they don't have to hunt for that allows for more specific info as well that collects non personally identifiable info(detailing running programs, log data, etc.) and submits to devs in a way devs can actually use /interpret it without additional work. an expansion & improvement of system testing already included w ubuntu. when choosing whether to participate users could answer a couple questions if they choose to including their experience level with linux/ubuntu.
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Solution #5: Lab study
Written by leggy the 1 Nov 10 at 00:28.
Take a group of random people, stick them in a room with a computer, ask them to do some typical tasks, and record what they do. Make recommendations considering the group's behaviour and the tasks they struggle with.

An OS should target pretty much everyone, so just ask anyone who happens to be near the lab to participate, and offer some some small monetary or food compensation for their time.
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Solution #6: Give access to ubuntu system through vnc to every one
Written by rohu1990 the 2 Nov 10 at 10:38.
Every one who wants to test ubuntu and tell their feelings should be granted with free vnc access to ubuntu system,so that they can use ubuntu without installing and tell what they feel about it directly as part of web site or something like that. This will help the non ubuntu users to test ubuntu easily than ever before ! :)
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Solution #7: Similar to #2 - Feedback item in help menu with GUI and macro recorder
Written by michaelwheatland the 5 Nov 10 at 04:00.
If someone does not entirely understand or like the way an item is displayed, or they think something is great they go to the help menu and click 'Feedback'.

A GUI pops up (Like the Shutter overlay) which allows them to write a small comment and then click :) or :( and then perform their task, then click submit.

This will record a small macro of the items they clicked. This will give developers direct feedback on specific items of their interface and help to improve the right areas.

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Solution #8: Learn from Mozilla Test Pilot - Make it automatic and fun!
Written by forteller the 7 Nov 10 at 23:18.
Test Pilot[1] is an extension for Firefox that Mozilla uses to unobtrusively run user studies that collect anonymous data on how Firefox is used. The user is asked if she/he wants to participate each time a new study starts. At any time you can click on the Test Pilot icon to look at a list of all the studies that has been done, which ones you've participated in (you get a little medal for each), and all the extensive data that came out of the study.

A system like this could be really great for Ubuntu. Create a "Test pilot" indicator applet, connect it to Ubuntu One, where you can collect your medals for studies you've taken part of. Make it as easy as possible to take part in studies (in Firefox you don't have to do anything except clicking yes when asked, and then keep using Firefox as normal while your interactions with the GUI is being recorded), and make it fun! Something you're proud of being a part of, whether you're a noob or a pro (maybe integrate it with Ubuntu Forums, so that your medals are displayed below your coffee beans).

[1] https://testpilot.mozillalabs.com/
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Solution #10: Solution #10: An Introduction to Ubuntu
Written by apaposuek the 9 Nov 10 at 00:04.
When a user inserts an Ubuntu CD into a Windows Machine, have a window with two buttons pop up saying Select One: "I don't know what Ubuntu is/does" or "I know what Ubuntu is, and I'm ready to install it" Have the first option explain what Ubuntu is, what it does, and how to safely install it onto a computer. If anything, have it redirect to a webpage. The latter option will just have an installation prompt.

This would allow users who are just given installation media. Many a time have I given out Ubuntu CD's, but people don't know what to do with them. Of course I help them out, but something that would do it automatically may be useful.
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Solution #12: Ubuntu needs to just use Firefox's feedback system
Written by iz268 the 31 May 11 at 04:20.
Super awesome/simple design pattern [no signup required]. Firefox => Help => Submit Feedback => "Firefox made me (happy|sad) because...." [textbox]. *Try it*

Submit:
http://input.mozilla.com/en-US/feedback

Source:
https://github.com/fwenzel/reporter

Dashboard:
http://input.mozilla.com/en-US/

From this dashboard those of us who are more active can easily dispatch this feedback to the right pieces of our current infrastructure.

See the 13 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Oct 11 at 11:36) >>

Nautilus should have a progress bar for those files you're downloading  
Written by ironfisher the 23 Mar 10 at 15:52. Related project: Nautilus. New
Nautilus should have a progress bar for those files you're downloading so it let you know if the folder where you are has some files being downloaded and they might be corrupted.

Of course, this can be extended to the files being transferred (copy/move).

For example: You are downloading some file with transmission. Let's say "movie.mkv" on the folder "Downloads". If you go to that folder Nautilus should tell you that the file might be corrupted. So if you open it, totem will fail.

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Solution #1: Nautilus plugin that show the progressbar and sync whith the download manager
Written by ironfisher the 23 Mar 10 at 15:52.
Nautilus can have some plugins to get the progress status and show a progressbar on the file (below or wherever)

For example: A plugin may get from Transmission the percent number of the progress for the file. This progress is shown as a progressbar below the file
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Solution #2: That plugin may be in the downloader program
Written by ironfisher the 23 Mar 10 at 15:55.
Transmission, for example, tells Nautilus to show a progress bar as the file is not completed.
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Solution #3: Additional ".download" file
Written by michele74 the 23 Mar 10 at 19:23.
A simple way to do this, is that other programs like web browsers and download manager write an additional file, for example, with extension ".download" and a dot prefix.
This file should be like a conf/ini file, with lines like "progress=59%".
When download finished, the file is deleted.
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Solution #4: Just notify that the file is being downloaded
Written by la_serpe the 23 Mar 10 at 20:00.
Use a different icon for "files in progress" so it would be clear that the file is currently being downloaded. Let the browses download plugin to do the rest.
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Solution #5: Use D-Bus/create a daemon for all file transfers
Written by matyy the 25 Mar 10 at 10:50.
Well I am not really clear about the technical side of it all, so someone else has to "refine" it. My idea is that it should be a consistent solution for all kind of file transfers - accessible for a lot of download programs and file browsers. A solution just for transmission and nautilus wouldn't be much more than a dirty hack.

When you have a daemon that controls all file transfers it can manage the download status and send notifications when downloads are done. This could also solve idea 24057 ( http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/24057/ ).

The best would be if you could configure everything at one place than - tell it where progress bars are shown, when it should send notifications and so on.


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Solution #6: Make it themeable
Written by forteller the 28 Mar 10 at 17:14.
This is a fantastic idea, but some people might not like the way it looks in this mockup. Some would like to have a progress bar underneath the file, some would like a bar on top of the icon, some might rather want the percentage shown on top of the icon, or in a small badge in the top right corner of the icon, etc.. It should be easy for theme creators to change the look and feel of this.
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Solution #7: File/dir metadata: target size
Written by sllih the 30 Mar 10 at 19:48.
Add target size as additional metadata of files or directories. Then show and update progress bar by the difference between target and actual size.
For example, the target size is 10MB and the actual size is 5MB, so the progress is 50%. This could work even if downloading is paused, postponed or abandoned.
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Solution #8: xattr
Written by a.shaferov the 22 Apr 10 at 13:52.
Extended attributes:
- downloaded_from
- downloaded_percent
- downloaded_by - application which downloads this file of dir. To use in context menu.

Update attributes from download manager (or torrent client).
Simple plugin to display info from xattrs.
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Solution #9: Also add a progress bar for files that are moved to another location
Written by elypter the 27 May 10 at 19:19.
to be able to distinguish it the download progress should be aligned to the right
eg:
_________######
instead of:
######_________

See the 14 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 25 Sep 11 at 18:28) >>

(RSS/Atom) Feeds for Brainstorm ideas, comments, etc.  
Written by forteller the 6 Mar 08 at 18:26. Related project: brainstorm.ubuntu.com. New
It would be great to have feeds for everything in Brainstorm; Comments, newly submitted ideas, most popular ideas, and anything else that I haven't thought of yet. As it is today it's quite hard to follow a discussion here. And good discussions about the ideas are half the point if this site, right?

Developer comments
RSS feeds are available for every idea lists, but not for comments yet.
Check the RSS icon in the right of the Firefox toolbar.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #3586
Written by forteller the 6 Mar 08 at 18:26.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #3586 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 9 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 3 Sep 11 at 07:12) >>

New windows should open at the center  
Written by visualreactor the 11 May 09 at 08:48. Related project: Gnome. New
Hello,
I am quite annoyed that everytime I open a terminal windows or any other application for that matter - the windows appears either in the top left or the bottom right corner.

I think all new windows should appear at the center of the screen. This is especially for people with large screens because you then have to move the window back to the center :(
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Solution #1: Make all new windows open at the center of the screen
Written by visualreactor the 11 May 09 at 08:48.
... or atleast give an option to allow the user to choose.
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Solution #2: Remember last position
Written by forteller the 11 May 09 at 18:39.
All windows should remember where it was last time you closed it and open in the same spot.
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Solution #3: Keep it the same
Written by Darwin Survivor the 11 May 09 at 19:05.
Right now if you open multiple terminals, calculators, etc, they place themselves at different locations (sort of tiled). This makes it much easier to:

-see how many you opened
-start using them (you don't have to scatter them yourself

Having all windows show up in the centre, or their last position is annoying if you want a few of them open, they all end up directly on top of each other!
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Solution #4: Use existing Compiz plugin
Written by aadityabhatia the 12 May 09 at 03:18.
Compiz has a plugin called "Place Windows" that does exactly this thing. Use that.
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Solution #5: Pin it
Written by stellarvortex the 15 Dec 10 at 15:35.
Support right-clicking the title bar and selecting something like "Pinned to this position" or "Pinned to this monitor/desktop", which makes it appear in the same place next time.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 28 Apr 11 at 09:33) >>

Clicking on the link to the comments should send you directly to the comments  
Written by forteller the 19 Mar 08 at 22:19. Related project: brainstorm.ubuntu.com. New
After reading an idea on one of the category or most popular pages some times you want to read the comments, or add your own. But when you click on the link to the comments you're sent to the top of the ideas page, not to the comment area. So every time you click that link you have to scroll down to get to the actual comments. I know it might not sound too bad, but after a while it gets quite old. So it would be nice if we could be sent directly to the comments area when we click on the link to the comments, just like in e.g. WordPress bloggs (they use #comments)
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #5159
Written by forteller the 19 Mar 08 at 22:19.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #5159 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!

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Validate the Brainstorm feeds (RSS)  
Written by forteller the 17 Mar 08 at 00:53. Related project: brainstorm.ubuntu.com. Implemented
Please make the (RSS) feeds for Ubuntu Brainstorm valid. Right now I can't use the feed for the latest ideas as I want because it hasn't got a valid date/time stamp. Take a look at the validator results:

http://validator.w3.org/feed/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainstorm.ubuntu.com%2 Flatest_ideas%2Frss2
72
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Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #4880
Written by forteller the 17 Mar 08 at 00:53.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #4880 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 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 Mar 11 at 08:16) >>

Select your photo on About Me (and showed on indicator-applet and logon screen)  
Written by marco_macarena the 24 Mar 10 at 04:27. Global category: Usability. New
When you are on About Me, you can select you own photo by clicking on the 'person icon'. Then you can choose a photo already taken (and salved somewhere), but you should be able to take a picture directly from your webcam! (Just like other places like gmail, skype, etc...)
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Solution #1: You can choose what to do.
Written by marco_macarena the 24 Mar 10 at 04:27.
If the computer has a camera already installed, the user can choose what to do, picking up a file or shooting a new picture.
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Solution #2: Option to download photo from Gravatar and other online avatar services
Written by forteller the 29 Mar 10 at 13:43.
Use the e-mail address entered to download the Gravatar, the URL entered to download the OpenID avatar, etc. and let the user choose one of those if they want.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

"Social from the start" must not strengthen the burgeoning online monopolies  
Written by forteller the 11 Feb 10 at 12:16. Global category: Internet & Networking. New
The next Ubuntu version 10.04 (Lucid) is going to be "Social from the start", that's to say that it's going to integrate Gwibber and the MeMenu to make it easy for all Ubuntu users to connect to online social networks. This is a good thing, but it's also dangerous. Let me explain:

As it is now, Gwibber only supports connecting to Twitter, Identi.ca, Facebook, and Flickr. All except one of these services are the most popular in their field in the US and parts of Europe (microblogging, social network, photo sharing).

Only supporting the most popular services out of the box is a terrible idea. It helps perpetuate the semi-monopoly that these services holds in the market. The huge market share that some services has is a Bad Thing, and the more 3rd party apps that only work with these services out of the box, the harder it is to switch to something else. If your whole OS is designed to work with only one online service, then the chance of you switching away is even slimmer.

The web is slowly taking over for the OS as the place where you run your apps. Lets compare it with the OS scene a few years ago. Lets say you had a lot of apps that only worked in Windows. Maybe you had to use them for work, or maybe you just enjoyed them. The chance of you switching to Linux would be pretty slim. And the more Windows only apps you got, the slimmer the chances became.

Today it's kinda the other way around: You have online apps you want to use, and the more third party apps that only works with the online apps you use today, the slimmer the chance is you're going to switch to something else. Just as Windows had a virtual monopoly in OSs then, Flickr and Twitter has virtual monopolies in their spaces today.

In a way third party apps works like DRM for online services. Can't play your music on anything else than an iPod? Next time you need an mp3-player you're going to buy an iPod. Can't use an online service with the third party apps that are built into you OS? You're not going to switch to another service.

But OS's wasn't social back then, there was no immediate benefit for you if you used the same OS as most others (except for more working apps, just like with online services today), so it was (and still is) easier to switch OS than it is to switch social networks, microblogs, etc. This is why the online services that's competing with the most popular services, needs all the help they can get. Linux shows how important it is to have real competition. Now you need to be the ones fostering competition, trough supporting as many services as possible out of the box, not only StatusNet and other Free/Open Source project like it, but especially those.

[....]
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Solution #1: Support as many online services and protocolls as possible
Written by forteller the 11 Feb 10 at 12:16.
Twitter and Identi.ca are only two of many different microblogging services. Facebook is only one of many social networks, and Flickr is only one of many photosharing sites.

Gwibber and the MeMenu must support as many services as possible, both in these three categories, and in others (like video sharing, lifestreams etc.)

A few examples:

Microblogging: Google Buzz, Plurk, Emote.in, Squeelr, Beeing (Tumblr?)

Social networks: Bebo, hi5, My Opera, Plaxo, LinkedIn

Photo sharing: Redbubble, Ipernity, Zooomr, Shutterfly, SmugMug, Zoto

See many more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites

As many open protocolls that can be used by online services must also be supported. Examples are OMB, PubSubHubbub, OneSocialWeb, (RSSCloud?)
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Solution #2: Gwibber/MeMenu must be constantly updated with support for more online services
Written by forteller the 11 Feb 10 at 12:23.
New online services pops up every week, and there's already too many for Gwibber to support them all in time for Ubuntu 10.04. Therefore it is important that we don't have to wait another six months for more services to be in place in Gwibber. When the suppport of new services has been baked into the code and tested, this new functionality should be sent out to the end users along with security updates, and not sit and wait until the next version of Ubuntu.
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Solution #3: Give preference not to popular services, but to open source services
Written by Menti the 13 Feb 10 at 16:07.
For example: Twitter is more popular, but Identi.ca server software is open source. So, if support is provided to both services, display Identi.ca more prominently or "recommend" Identi.ca.
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Solution #4: Make each and every ubuntu machine social! - skip the need for websites!
Written by Blinky the 16 Feb 10 at 12:03.
There is no reason why our own machines can't BE the social networking site. Stop connecting to other social sites and make one that is where social sites might develope... the net will in the future decentralise... everything does. From political systems to android operating systems.

We can either have our social networks centralised or decentralised. Centralised is everything on facebook's server. If facebook's servers go down then no one can communicate. Or decentralised, i am my own host and just send messages/packets to you. this means I have to be online all the time and the computer shares my status or information is swarmed (if i send out my status to the internet its partially hosted on others computers or web servers). If my computer goes down then no one else is affected and other can still share there information i.e. there is no centralised server that can go down.

We need computers that talk to each other... not log onto a website.

We can do it a number of ways. I see two big ones 1) I have a home server that is online all the time and my info is there i.e. my home server is the social networking site and connects direct to other computers to shares info. I then connect directly to my home server directly when i log onto my computer. With this idea there is room to start serously integrating the Ubuntu server with the desktop version - not a bad idea. Even before I open my web browser i am sending and receiving social networking info via my personal server etc. Add notifications to ubuntu inbuilt etc or 2) my computer is the server and shares information to tother computer (negates the need for internet servers at home).

In both cases the apps on facebook are parts of the computers operating system (facebook's message app is essentially our mail app just hosted by a home server or my own computer). Start making the look of ubuntu based on how we interact and how we want to interact. Send messages, status updates, photos, video, social bookmarking etc... make the ubuntu optimal for doing this not in the web browser but the operating system.

Make the computers background a live back ground with updates etc.

Of course there are security issues but these can be overcome I'm sure. I mean how many times is my email compromised at google!!!
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Solution #5: gNewBook support
Written by Aljullu the 20 Feb 10 at 22:16.
gNewBook (www.gnewbook.org) is a small social network in Spanish. It's based in elgg software and it's similar to Facebook in features. It's open-source and it's provided by GNU Chile. Ubuntu should give them support because it's the only free (libre) alternative to Facebook.

(excuse me for my bad English)
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Solution #6: Don't be "social from the start", in that way
Written by cladelpino the 8 Mar 10 at 01:36.
Allow the user to install the different applications that support different social networks, or none, if he will not use that feature.

This could be implemented as a final instance of the installation process.

Attempting to have a one(or two)-fits-all application for social networks is not only against modularity, but installing them by default (I'm thinking there's a lot of people that install ubuntu that don't even think about social networks) points in the exact direction I don't want Ubuntu to go.
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Solution #7: Ask user in a friendly first login configuration dialog
Written by kpk187 the 4 Apr 10 at 04:31.
Many users want to be tightly integrated into their favorite social networking services. However, just as many want nothing to do with social networking.

Make it an easy option and choice. If users want nothing to do with it, they choose so and never be bothered again. If users want to use the integration features, ask them what services they would like to use and set it up for them.

If the service is not listed, let them request support for it.

Give them an easy option for privacy settings. Maximum privacy by default, ask users how much they are willing to share about themselves and configure it for them.

Users should not have to feel like the settings are a chore.

Keep local copies of all social networking data sent or received, unless user says otherwise. Use this local data for easy migration to other services.

Make it a utility, "Move me to another service" "Sync to both services" "Close my account at X" "Open a new account at Y"

Put the user in control, make sure they don't need to know a thing about tech or software.

Users should not feel overwhelmed with these tools. It should be simple, and not do anything unexpected.
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Solution #8: decentralize and secure our social existance
Written by riondluz the 7 Dec 10 at 00:06.
Another vote in support of Blinky, make social sites irrelevant. But considering that this crowd downmodded him into oblivion while upmodding just the opposite makes me suspect little traction for what I propose.

Though still 1/2-baked, what he (and I) recommend would be totally different and only really capable (IMO) through a major distro and custom, signed, secure, packages.

My suggestion is firstly to decentralize our social 'footprint' from all websites like FB; the second is to promote Linux generally and Ubuntu in particular as the OS/distro whose awesome app encourages users to migrate away from Windows.

The first purpose is to operate in a secure medium (GPG/SSH/SSL) and have full control over OUR content OUR data; as it would reside on localhost AOT someone else's server. No more data-mining, ads, etc..

Please note that this is just off the top of my head, but I believe that the next big thing (NBT) can be decentralization of the social web; somewhat like P2P; when average computer users can run both clients AND servers (just not public-facing servers) from their boxen.

In addition to have releases scoped to "workstation" or "server" how about a 'Social Edition' that enhances the workstation with special server packages designed to do everything FB does, only on localhost.

There is no reason why a non-tech user (a noob) could not run servers on their localhost, provided its easy to setup, use and is secure.

This distro I envision would include something similar to TOR, or Freenet, .... but contain components/modules that
permit users to connect with each other and share info just like FB. (I like to think of it as flocking)

Sort of analog to P2P (or RSS), but for sharing our individual information with those who are mutually white-listed.

These server packages would include AMP plus
web applications which would permit users to connect to
a localhost interface. This interface would control configuration (vhost), firewall, buddy-lists, etc..

Thus all data among users would be transported via port 443, store the info in DB/XML or other; and from which native apps could be used to render the data and interact with http://localhost/ as the 'proxy' for the native apps.

The idea that ISP's disallow servers is moot now that settop appliances are commonplace. Is all the userspace needs now is to move into server-space, with some good apps backed by the reputation of a great distribution.

Making this possible would also be incentive to abandon windows as it sucks in server space.

See the 13 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 27 Aug 10 at 01:30) >>

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