Contributor fragro

In Xubuntu, The printer configuration application is in the Settings menu, but the printer jobs are managed from an application in the Accessories menu.

Why they are in two different menus is mind-boggling.

These should be the same application, or there should at least be a way of launching one application from the other.
(Sometimes a problem with a print job is due to a problem with the settings. So it makes sense that one should be able to switch between the applications.)

I don't use Gnome regularly, so I don't know if this is also relevant to other Ubuntu distributions.

At present, many new Ubuntu users are confused when they can't play their MP3 files, YouTube videos and DVDs out of the box. They then get confused when they then have to use this strange apt-get thing to somehow install them, and are then baffled by the term 'non-free'.

My proposal is as follows: either during the install or on first boot, a dialogue should be presented to the user entitled "Installing proprietary software", telling users about why you might need Java, Flash, MPEG-2 codecs and LAME, what they are, and why they aren't bundled with Ubuntu. These explanations should avoid the term 'non-free', because Joe User might not be able to distinguish between free beer and free man - the last thing we want to do is make the user think we're offering something he has to pay for. Ideally, they should use the word 'proprietary'.

If the user accepts and has an open internet connection, they will be presented with the EULAs, after which they will be asked to authenticate to gain superuser access (or, using PolicyKit, simply unlock the keychain to gain root access) and apt will automatically install everything they've asked for behind the scenes. It could even install in the background and operate on a "while you work" system.

I suggest the dialogue also offers users the opportunity to enable the universe and multiverse repositories, after explaining what they are.

It seems that for interpid openoffice 2.4 is planed as the office suite. I use openoffice 3 beta 2 every day and it seems that this ab is very stable. So I propose that you include the 3.0 version or an RC of it in the final interpid.

They have made really a lot of improvements and everyone will benefit of it.

I know that you would have to create a packet yourself and can't just import from debian, but I would really appreciate your work.

Fedora is currently working on improving the startup experience by implementing Plymouth:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Releases/FeatureBetterStartup

By doing this, transition from Grub to GDM (or KDM or whatever) would be done almost instantly. Plymouth will use a graphical boot mode with a fallback method to text for those computers that don't have hardware support.

No secret: a lot of developers out there don't want to bother making .deb or .rpm files because they consider it a waste of time.

My latest Ubuntu convert actually gave up Ubuntu because he's a habitual downloader and not many websites provide .deb files for installation on an Ubuntu machine.

Actually, habitual downloading completely destroyed the ability of anybody to even have pleasure in using Windows on his computer before I got him to try Ubuntu. Apparently, if you have too many items in the All Programs menu on XP, your computer freezes for like 15-30 minutes. I said: I'll give you a month of follow-ups for free if I don't have to fix Windows. While it would be better if he didn't download every app on the face of the planet, that's what he wants to do, even if it's just every Linux app on the face of the planet.

I really doubt this guy is the only habitual downloader out there.

In any case, offering to make .deb files for everyone that may want to offer a .deb would not only catch more of the habitual-downloader market, but help build greater brand ubiquity for Ubuntu.

For applications downloadable from a website, in which Ubuntu provided this service, there could be an image stating "Debian file provided by Ubuntu" or something similar. So not only would Ubuntu be providing a service for developers and improving the state of 3rd-party software distribution for all debian systems, these services could possibly be traded for free marketing.

First of all, here I mean only the user apps, like browsers, mp3players, etc. Not system components like kernel or alsa.

I understand Ubuntu's community concern about stability. That's an important point why Ubuntu doesn't get major updates to software included in current Ubuntu release. But I guess, I can suggest a way out.

As you might know, Ubuntu repos are divided the following way:
-main: the apps that are thoroughly tested since they are included by default and are percepted as important components of Ubuntu distro
-restricted: components that simply can't be supported by Ubuntu community, since they are proprietary software
-universe: packages that are being maintained by 3rd party, not officially supported by Ubuntu community itself.
-multiverse: non-free pieces of software

As you can see, only the components included in "main" are officially supported and thoroughly tested. My point is, why not offer more frequent updates to components in other repos? Say, Banshee, an interesting and relatively popular mp3 player got a final 1.0 release recently, featuring many improvements over 0.13 version which is in Hardy repos. And, this package is in Universe, so users don't get any guarantees from Ubuntu project anyways. Then why not update it? Just to the version that the original package devs consider to be stable. Or wine, which got a long-awaited 1.0 release. Why users should wait for months to get an update to a package that isn't supported anyways?

Another point, is that there are some packages in main repo, that need updates, but can't get them again due to policy. But there is backports repo! Following Debian tradition, backports include fresher versions of apps without updating system-critical ones. For example, transmission in main has version 1.06. Actually the latest version is 1.22. And it also has vital changes: better multi-tracker support, etc. And they are actually really important. So why not include it to backports?

So, to sum up, my suggestion is to update apps in backports and all repos (besides main) more frequently to keep up with other distros (Mandriva, OpenSuSE).

[....]

the idea is simple. when an external mouse is found, to disable the touchpad, since you will be not using it and it messes up while typing.

Our bootloader (stored in the MBR) is generally messed up when installing another OS after Linux. Another problem is that swapping internal HDD's around, normally prevents booting too (because the hardcoded drive addresses change), with the only fix generally being to use a repair CD which will undoubtedly rewipe the MBR and delete Grub again.

I propose that we offer a new bootloader install method: The permanently connected memory stick (via USB).

By dumping the boot-loader on a USB stick (they are cheap), it can be removed when another OS is being installed, and it will be safe from getting overwritten.

And Grub 2, allows the use of scripts, which we could use to automatically detect operating systems and boot them without risk of booting breaking. We could also drop harddisks into the computer with OS's on them and boot without configuring grub again, or use the memory stick to help boot other computers with an already broken MBR.

There should be an easier method of deleting old kernels and their grub menu entries. Currently, the update script adds all kernel images in /boot into menu.lst no matter how old. Some administration app or a feature in Update Manager should allow one to delete old kernel images and their menu entries (if the images are removed prior to the script running then its an easy fix). All but the current kernel should be removed, allowing for a stable kernel entry and the new kernel (in case there is some kind of conflict with the newly installed kernel).

The only way to do so currently is the manually delete the kernel image and related file, then edit the grub menu list to delete the old entries.

The network manager prompts for password while accessing keyring to connect to wireless networks.. This is avoidable by some workarounds, but still doesn't work when automatic logon is enabled

Also in cases when wireless AP is down for sometime, it doesnt seem to connect back automatically when AP is *visible* again.

Network Manager should have the ability to identify the network that devices are on, and run appropriate scripts based on the networks (akin to what one can do using guessnet).

Ideally, one should define a set of network tests (wireless essids, arping, ping, maybe an API for using custom "plugin" tests). If tests pass, then one can run a shell script (e.g. enable/disable printers, connect to shared drives, set preferred Thunderbird profiles, etc.), enable/disable services, etc.

A separate feature would be to have a user-friendly wizard that allows one to add common tasks like default printers.

When one configures a device, one can associate tests with those devices (e.g. wireless tests for my wireless card, tests for my work network to the wired lan and vpn).

A wizard could create some default tests, such as identifying the router or access point one is connected to for a particular device.

This may also require authoring some useful companion (command-line) tools, such as something to select the default profile/accont/identity in Thunderbird. But with the funcitonality added to NM, this would encourage develpers to create such utlities.

For laptop users, this would be a great feature. One shows to work, school or returns home, connects the computer, and has custom settings enabled, or one connects to an unfamiliar location (e.g. a network cafe) and some services are locked down for extra security (or maybe even "phones home" in case the laptop is stolen).

Improve Dell's Laptops sales, through banners, mails, Ads.. also via Ubuntu website! (frozen news at june...)

And i think that other builders may get surprised and then "be cool", making a proper line of "Ubuntu"-oriented PCS

Make this plugin runnable for Monodevelop 1.0 and Backport them to hardy!

Bring some Translucency effects into Gnome.we can see nice translucency effect on button,Three actions while using buttons like Task bar Application button:
Normal without any effect and when pressed and when mouse over.add Glossy Panel,even translucency into Task bar,more translucent icons.Make Translucent Application Button in Task bar,it is barely visible and not good looking with present Ubuntu icon,Make it Bigger,Brighter,Translucent.i think some themes like clear looks tried a hand at making buttons Translucent.

Hey,

Why do i need to restart my pc to get the nvidia driver working?

insmod nvidia and a X restart should be enough right!

So with that knowledge again: Why do i need a restart?
It's not modifying the base kernel which is about the only thing that requires a restart on linux and you can only get it that far if you install a new kernel or compile a new one.

My suggestion:
Kick out the restart demand and just restart X.

Edit//
If you vote this idea down tell me why because i can't think of a reason where a reboot would be better then my suggestion.

Hello everyone!

I am using hardy heron 8.04 with user-compiled ipw3945 driver for my wireless network card, because default iwl3945 doesn't work with my university's network. But so far I've seen, ipw3945 has more features than iwl3945:
1.) better scan sensitivity
2.) works with wireless networks that require 802.1X authentication
3.) excellent power saving features (using ipw3945 over iwl3945 increases my laptop battery life by cca 45 minutes)
4.) ipw3945 is open source driver and not proprietary (although jockey-gtk detects it as proprietary) - sources that I have include GPLv2/BSD licence

QGTKStyle is a Qt Style which uses GTK native widgets to provide GNOME native look and feel.

It would be nice if a package of it was present in the repositories. It would be greater if it was automatically installed with the Qt4 libraries and KDE4.

Links:
* Home Page: http://labs.trolltech.com/blogs/2008/05/13/introducing-qgtkstyle/

there are some ideas like http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/4901/ that are, as you can see here, already implemented - to make http links work automatically in Brainstorm.

But it would be also useful to have the keywords "Idea #XXXXX" interpreted as a link:
Then I could write just "Idea #10660" or "idea 10660"
and it would automatically appear as "Idea #10660"
without the <a href="...">foo</a> tags.

Same could be done with "bug #XXXX"
I like cross - linking.

http://launchpad.net and http://bugs.kde.org does this fine.

An OS, no matter how technologically or ideologically advanced it is, should also be visually appealing.
And Ubuntu, being one of the most beatiful (I mean the default appearance here) distribution of Linux still can't compete with Vista (not to mention Mac OS X).
Here I imly the following:
-icons. All the icons should be converted into vector graphics, so that they were scalable (so that they could look the same everywhere).
-fonts. Even Liberation fonts look better than default GNOME's dejavu, but still they leave much to be desired.
-screensaver. Currently, it's just a black screen. Enough said, I guess. Ubuntu should offer aset of nice screensavers, basic, or OpenGL-driven.
-applets. GNOME applets should grow in numbers and functionality. At least I would suggest a wrapper that could display a Web widget as an applet, so that user could simply paste BB-codes from YouTube, Jaiku, Vimeo or else and see it on his desktop.
-3D effects. There shouldn't be a vast number of them, but all of them should be quality-driven. Just look how bad is Compiz rendering as you make anything that drives windows borders into curves - they are edgy and twisted.
-wallpapers. I know, Deviantart contest is on, but here is also another point: Ubuntu should provide numerous wallpapers out-of-box, and all of them should suit the default colour scheme. The same stays for login screen.
-themes. Ubuntu should provide themes that change the appearance more globally. Not only GNOME's appearance, but all the apps, bootloader, login screen, screensaver.
-customization. Changing Ubuntu's appearance isn't really easy these days, since you can't tune up all the aspects in one place. I mean, you can change the theme, but you should work really hard to make your style as sole as the defaut one - Qt, GTK and other (wxWindows, etc) applications share different configs. Just try to switch to a darker theme and you'll learn how many elements would require tuning. Ubuntu can offer great means of customization, but that doesn' mean that an average user is able to make a cool-looking style.
-bootloader. That was already mentioned, but still. Ubuntu should show text mode at all. Currently, it can occasionally fall back to console for a while, which is discomforting.
-hibernation/suspend screen. The same.

[....]

I have two batteries for my laptop. The original one with very low capacity and a new one with good capacity.
When I swap the batteries, Ubuntu doesn't notice the difference and predicts the wrong "time remaining", because it thinks the old battery is still in there.

There sould be seperate predictions for different batteries.
(by capacity, serial number or producer)