1. There are deeply invasive performance/scalability/latency fixes for CFS regressions (vs. 2.6.24) in the 2.6.25 tree. These fixes are too invasive to be ported to the 2.6.24 kernel without significant risk.

2. Many of the driver updates/new drivers in the kernel-ubuntu package are merged into upstream as of 2.6.25. (This is always true, but the smaller the delta against upstream the better on release day).

3. Fedora 9 is based on 2.6.25 which means that key RH kernel developers are aggressively working to get the feature and performance/scalability regressions vs. 2.6.18 & 22 fixed.

4. The kgdb patch will probably be merged at the start of the 2.6.26 cycle which means the delta vs. 2.6.25 kernel should be pretty manageable. This would be really valuable from an LTS ongoing perspective.

5. The RT patch will be better maintained (and smaller) against 2.6.25. (see #3)

6. Better virtualization and SELinux support (see #3).

Given the life-cycle of an LTS release (especially this one which will finally have a meaningful chance to enter the data center) these considerations are especially important.

Obviously 2.6.25 would have to be in addition to 2.6.24 for the Hardy 8.04 LTS release time-frame, but it does allow the aforementioned benefits to be propagated forward.

Whenever users plan to buy new hardware for their ubuntu machines, they first have to search the web to find informations about kernel/driver support or incompatibility issues.

It would be really helpful if a sticker on the outside of the box of a scanner/printer/usb-dvb-tuner/mp3(ogg)-player/digicam/... simply said "works with ubuntu" or "designed for GNU/Linux" to guarantee that the product runs "out of the box" with Ubuntu or other Linux distributions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkomen/155060941/
http://forum.ubuntuusers.de/topic/88743/next/

Edit (2008-03-04): This project seems to be on the road already: http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/hardwareprogramme

Ubuntu is built on the philosophy that every user should be part of the community. Many users help out in various ways, however very few start programming because of the traditional difficulties.

1) Many people just don't know where to begin. Create a developer resource website and a "Beginner Developer Package" as mentioned in idea #4354.
The website should mostly contain articles aimed at new developers. It can link to external resources (e.g. the KDE and GNOME developer websites) for more advanced information.

Both the website and the developer package should be maintained by the general Linux community. Although the project will not be distro specific, The Ubuntu community will benefit greatly by sponsoring the project.

2) Bring back Canonical Code Bounties to motivate new developers.
Integrate them with community bounties as mentioned in idea 1295.

3) Create a Ubuntu Design Rewards website. (Idea 2961.)
Most developers coding for OS X and Windows have never even heard of Ubuntu. Mac OS X in particular has a costant stream of neat new apps. We need to capture their attention and bring them to Linux by way of contests and prizes.

In particular, Canonical should focus on attracting high school and university students. Google has been sucessful in bringing students to open source by using prizes and monetary incentives (GSoC and GHOP). We need to be more welcoming and do the same.

Many post request new or improved features for programs that are available for use with Ubuntu. Ubuntu should organize programmers within the community who are willing to volunteer their time to help projects develop or improve features the Ubuntu community is asking for.

Think of it as our (modified) version of Google Summer of Code. As an example, say the community is asking for a web cam feature in Pidgin Ubuntu can ask for volunteers to help get the feature implemented then move on to the next third party feature request or bug fix.

Basically its Ubuntu saying to the community “hey, Ubuntu would benefit if this third party program had this bug fixed or new feature added. Please help by donating your programming skills or a few bucks”

A community mentoring program would also be great that created more programmers to assist in the future.

Please provide a way of comunication for brainstorm users. So we can contact each other and send messages, e.g. to start implementing a brainstorm idea.

As apparent when reading https://bugs.launchpad.net/debian/+source/network-manager/+bug/183303 , the "Create new network" feature of Network Manager has been broken for many people for a very long time.

Creating an Ad-Hoc network (even with internet connection sharing) is dead simple in Macs, and also rather straightforward in Vista, but is a very complicated undertaking when using Ubuntu as soon as one discovers that this feature is broken.

Even though this feature is available by replacing NetworkManager with Wicd (http://wicd.sourceforge.net), but using a separate software for this feature is more of a work around for advanced users. Having this feature fixed directly in Network Manager would be the ultimate solution.

(Note: Internet connection sharing is best treated through a separately submitted idea: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/10427/ )

On the 'My Dashboard' in Brainstorm a best solution contributor ranking is provided under the 'My global stats' heading. I know personally seeing my ranking rise encourages me to contribute more and better solutions.

But how is my ranking changing over time? How far behind am I to the contributor ranked just above me? What about the contributor just behind me, are they catching up?

A single figure is unable to answer these questions.

Add a security category in brainstorm.

It would be great if Avermedia AverTV Hybrid + FM Volar USB (A828) drivers will be fixed to work with newer kernels than 2.6.23 I have not found anyone who can compile this driver for Intrepid kernels (maybe the same with Hardy). Intrepid uses 2.6.27 kernel.

These are compilation errors:
/tmp/avm-install/installer/src/aver/osdep.c:78:27: error: asm/semaphore.h: No such file or directory
/tmp/avm-install/installer/src/aver/osdep.c: In function ‘SysPciMapSingle’:
/tmp/avm-install/installer/src/aver/osdep.c:944: warning: passing argument 1 of ‘pci_dma_mapping_error’ makes pointer from integer without a cast
/tmp/avm-install/installer/src/aver/osdep.c:944: error: too few arguments to function ‘pci_dma_mapping_error’
make[3]: *** [/tmp/avm-install/installer/src/aver/osdep.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** [_module_/tmp/avm-install/installer/src] Error 2
make[1]: *** [sub-make] Error 2
make: *** [default] Error 2
ls: cannot access /tmp/avm-install/installer/src/a828.ko: No such file or directory
ls: cannot access /tmp/avm-install/installer/src/averusb.ko: No such file or directory

I'm trying to make some changes in the source, but with no luck till now. Any ideas are appreciated.

Drivers can be found on http://www.avermedia.com/avertv/Support/Download.aspx?Type=Software&id=31&tab=A PDriver

Evolution's notification icon appears in the tray as the new messages are delivered. But if I just switch to Evolution with alt-tab (not clicking on the icon) - the icon would keep on blinking, even though all the messages are read.