Contributor motang

I used thunderbird when I was a windows user (slave?) and I enjoyed it, when I switched to ubuntu I tried to use it as my default mail client. With passing months, I needed to manage my calendar, so I tried sunbird's but the lack of integration with gnome's clock was a big problem (because the todo list and the agenda that easy to get is a real advantage) so I switched to evolution. But it doesn't work well with a mailbox containing a lot of e-mails, especially via google's IMAP but thunderbird performs well.
So my question is why not creating a thunderbird add-on such as the one made for firefox to communicate with evolution-data-server, allow gnome's apps to see it's adress book, TODOs and calendars?

This is a simple one. When changing the volume slider there's no indication of the volume. This is a good thing IMO as you don't always want a loud *dong* when changing the volume. However, it would be handy to have a small button below the slider which plays a quick sample sound to test volume.

This would be handy when setting up a presentation and want to quickly test output volume. Or when playing with an external amp and need a quick test.

A similar button in the volume controls could be useful also.

Compiz Fusion is a great application, and most effects look awesome. However, it runs to 5% its capacity without compizconfig-settings-manager installed (unless you know how to configure it manually, thought that can be a pain in the ass). Thats why I think ccsm should be installed by default on Ubuntu for easier using of "other" plugins by new users.

EDIT: If you want simple-ccsm to be installed by default promote this idea, since they are pretty similar.
EDIT2: No, this will not make Ubuntu slower. Compiz Fusion is already installed by default since Gutsy, all I want is the configuration tool for Compiz (a very little app) to be installed.

I reported an earlier "idea" of better support for 1680x1050

Well, it turned out System -> Preferences -> Screen Resolution didn't do its job for me - but with grandr it was a different story - but the way I found it was pure luck.

I think this whole thing with graphic settings need a shape up. Now we have:

* Screen Resolution (That doesn't cut it)
* Multiple Screens/grandr that somehow replaces "Screen Resolution"
* Hardware Drivers (That only shows proprietary grahics drivers - and it shows up in the menu even though you have open Intel drivers and no need for proprietary stuff)
* Compizconfig-settings-manager that isn't installed by default
* Nvidia X-server settings

Well, as a matter of fact the whole administrative/system-menu needs to be remade, but I think the most urgent need is to clean up graphic settings.

One of the key things Ubuntu is missing is Parental Control. Now Linux Mint has something like that called MintNanny ( http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=350 ). What a great idea, it is a little program that lets the parent block domain name, but I am more than sure it will grow with other features as time goes on. This would be a great addition in Ubuntu.

I think this is an important feature missing in ubuntu now that ubuntu i offered by dell as an alternative to windows.

Macosx and also windows Vista already have these features installed in their latest operating systems and it is important for users to control the access of their children to offensive adult websites which could be somewhat harmfull as well.

Premise: 64 bit has now an extensive range of applications working but still one may want/need something peculiar with no 64 bit support, why should he renounce to it?

I've just read a guide on a blog about how to have any 32 bit application run on a 64 bit ubuntu installation and it is awfully baroque for average Joe, so here's the idea:

Ubuntu 64 bits could have a built in option to manage 32 bits applications, libraries and repositories as well.
If I am fine with 64 bit only I keep it off (or I do not even install it if I am given the option during the installation).
If I know that I need a 32 bit app I go to System > Administration and enable the whole thing.

At this point I should be able to install 32bit apps normally trough synaptic, and the system should take care of:

- letting me know (either by hilighting or UI separation) if the app I am installing is 32 or 64 bits, if it is 32 and there is a native 64 bits version it should prompt me so I do not "pollute" the system unnecessarily.

- installing their 32 bit libraries in a separate folder and take all the necessary steps to make them work and keep the system clean.

- managing 32 bit repositories so they do not get mixed up with 64 bit "main" repos, thus the system stays clean.

I think that having friendly tools to handle smoothly the 32 to 64 bit transition phase would, as we say here, save the goat and the cabbage, allowing a better user experience by not forcing the user to chose between an extensive range of applications and the full performance their hardware can express.

It's good to have the cursor out of the way when putting in text sometimes, it's a good option to have so users don't have to frustratedly shove their mouse out of the way really quick.

I'm sure the human brain is quite capable of picking up on where the invisible cursor is when they move the mouse again, but I'm sure it's not necessary to completely disappear the cursor for text entry.

Instead, it could be made mostly transparent but still opaque enough to know where it is. Perhaps when the mouse is moved again, some effect could be used to make it's location more obvious, like a halo or brief flash.

This may provide a minor improvement in accessibility for some users without drastically effecting the great many users.

There are many great ideas here on brainstorm that have gotten a lot of votes, but no official Ubuntu feedback. I think whenever an idea reaches a certain amount of votes - lets say 500 - it should warrant feedback from the Ubuntu team. Something short like
'yep this is a good idea, we'll seriously consider it'
or
'that is an awful idea, forget it!'
would suffice, so one can better tell if popular ideas have a realistic chance of getting picked up or not.

Some ideas already have this kind of feedback (or even more detailed) but I think a high number of positive votes should always warrant official feedback.

If possible, could suspend and hibernate be grayed out or hidden on any machine where it does not work?
If this is not possible in an automatic way, then make it a simple configuration option.

This is not a dupe of http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/6909/ that calls for disabling suspend and hibernate all out. I only want it disabled if it doesn't work on the machine in question.

Main reason being that I know of some people who keep accidentally trying to suspend and/or hibernate out of habit from when they used windows, where this did work [bleh]. I'm tired of hearing them complain about it.

There should be a way to automatically set the weather applet to the current location you are at, using GPS.

This will make life easier for people who move around alot with their laptops, whilst eliminating the need for any configuration when they travel.

Mail Notification monitors your mailboxes for new mail. When new mail arrives, Mail Notification alerts you by displaying an icon in the notification area. Moreover, a mail summary an be displayed in the icon tooltip, a sound can be played, and notifications containing useful action buttons can be popped up.

One of the goals of Jaunty is the blurring of web services and desktop applications. This is an easy chance to integrate email into the desktop, no matter if it is webbased or not. Mail notifier supports everything from yahoo, gmail and hotmail to evolution and thunderbird, blurring the line between webmail and desktop email applications.

More information on http://www.nongnu.org/mailnotify/
Available from the repositories: apt:mail-notification

I recently gave an Ubuntu Live CD to a Windows user who has never used Linux. And after a month when I happened to meet him again, I found that he wasn't using most of the COMPIZ FUSION plugins, the reason is that he wasn't even aware of it and was amazed when I showed him the simple rotating cube plugin.

This just shows that if you want new users trying out Ubuntu, you have to educate them on what exactly they can get from it. Maybe a video tour on the first installation will be more useful, or some other form of media.

I have another idea about having Daily/Weekly Pop-Ups to help Newbies as an option, read more here
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/13831/

The old file sharing gui used to allow you to create NFS shares easily, but now it is a complicated cli process.

Gnome 2.24 has been released with some great new features, focusing on improving user experience through its GUI.

http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Upgrade_Your_Linux_Desktop_Experience_With_GNOME_ 2DOT24

I imagine that it's too late to include them... BUT AT LEAST, include its new beautiful wallpapers, to TRY TO SAVE this release...

--------------------INCLUE THEM BY DEFAULT--------------------

Since, at least for what I've seen in Alpha 6, is almost Hardy with a different name.

EDIT: Is sad to realize Dev's still DON'T GET IT.

At the beginning of each release cycle, the improvements other major distributions have made in their last release should be reviewed by the Ubuntu developers for their suitability to be integrated with Ubuntu. Many distributions have detailed lists available of all new features:

Fedora
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Releases/10/FeatureList

OpenSuse
http://en.opensuse.org/Testing:Features_11.0

Mandriva
http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/Development/Ideas/Technical_specs_2008

This way we will get some new features for free and will avoid reinventing the wheel on other problems. Also it can be an inspiration to come up with even better solutions.

LXDE is a Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment. Its lighter and faster then Xfce but much more beautiful and featureful then Fluxbox.

http://lxde.sourceforge.net/

I hear a lot of talk about the distribution of ubuntu. I think its one of the major problems for ubuntu. Yes, anyone can download it for free online, but if you really want people to try it out, you have to put it in their hands.

This idea is only if the ubuntu community and canonical are really serious about disturbing the OS to Everyone. If you think its ready for prime time, than this idea will bring it to prime time status.

----------

I am a student at the University of Central Florida. UCF is the 6th largest University in the United States with over 50,000 students.
http://ucf.edu/
I am a Junior with a major in Digital Media (specifically web-design).

I have an idea to distribute ubuntu to people that can make a difference. In class the other day, we were talking about how people don’t use Open Office, because they either don’t know about it, or they are afraid of change. The interesting thing about my generation is, is that with the always changing internet, we are more adapt to change then any generation before it. This makes students today ideal candidates to try out ubuntu.

The other problem is what I can help do something about. What I have noticed by asking people around campus, is that if they have heard of Linux (some have) or ubuntu (most haven't) then they have a very bad opinion of it. In general, most people think that it is for technical engineering students and that there is a huge learning curve to using it. Most people i talked to are not willing to put the effort forth to download it to try it, but they would be willing to try it if they were given a copy.

Alright, before you scream..we can’t afford to do that...HOLD ON!

So, most Universities (including this one) have a ‘new club’ budget policy. From what I have found, If a new club is started they get a $500 budget to use to improve the students, the community, etc. This money would go to support the ubuntu community and the students by distributing open source software (ubuntu). The University will evaluate the budget every year and alter the budget based on the club’s request and what they did with the money they had. So, next year, we could end up with thousands of dollars to distribute ubuntu.

[....]

On low resolution screens often comes problem with large dialog/window, which is over display range, so there is no possible to reach buttons placed on bottom of window (no visible - no clickable).

This problem concerns about FailSafe mode (640x480), and also about normal working on new small laptops (Asus EEE, HP mini, Dell 910, Acer one... screen height 600px or 480px!) and eventually old computers.

I think, there should be possibility to switch to fit more into small screen. Ideally to make it by one button:
reduce fonts, window decorations, ribbons/panels, icons, space between rows... I know, there is possible to set "pixels per inch", but this don't apply on all elements (buttons...) and looks ugly. Better is special theme.

Apropos... the MS-Windoze is more thrifty than Gnome Ubuntu to fit contents on screen, and additional - the XP offers switch to very thrifty Win2000/Win95 mode.

It makes me angry especially when trying to select higher resolution in nvidia-settings during 640x480 failsafe -> it's impossible !!

Where is no special icon for *.pgp file type in Nautilus.

(*.pgp files are produced by right-mouse-btn -> "Encrypt..." on any file)