Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 22700 ideas, 138270 comments, 2629576 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas

Contributor tenplus1

Adding some startup.shutdown/notification s/etc sounds  
Written by OS.mium the 22 Apr 13 at 18:10. Global category: System. New
Ubuntu OS is missing this. Having a sound on booting up the OS is cool, also when the user will shutdown the computer, or even receive some notifications. This will make the Ubuntu much more interesting and exciting.
13
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Adding more cool system sounds is cool
Written by OS.mium the 22 Apr 13 at 18:10.
Add some additional sound effects in every part of the Ubuntu system. This will make the user feel the Ubuntu.
0
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Release-based themes
Written by ajw822 the 17 May 13 at 01:33.
add animal sounds for whatever build of Ubuntu it happens to be, like the wallpapers. Also leave a core set of sounds in a system settings section.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 May 13 at 10:50) >>

It should be easy to check for file system errors on HDD/USB drives and fix them  
Written by nastys the 30 Apr 13 at 06:43. Related project: Unity. New
Sometimes my friend and I get problems with our USB drives like damaged file system. It is hard for an user to check the file system (FAT32) for errors, fix them and format it.
-8
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Add a format option to Unity drive quicklists and automatically fix errors
Written by nastys the 30 Apr 13 at 06:43.
A quick file system check should be done when the drive is mounted and if errors were found Ubuntu should ask the user what to do: fix, ignore or format; a format option should be added to Unity launcher quick list to make it easy to format the drive if needed by the user.
-10
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Add format and file system check to Unity drive quicklists
Written by nastys the 30 Apr 13 at 06:46.
The user should check for errors or format manually by right-clicking on the drive on Unity launcher.
-12
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Automatically check the drive when mounted
Written by nastys the 30 Apr 13 at 06:51.
Ubuntu should check the file system for errors when mounted, then ask the user what to do: fix, ignore, format.
23
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Add a file system error check to Disk utility
Written by nastys the 2 May 13 at 09:55.
If the user thinks their drive is damaged they should open Disks from the dash and check the file system for errors manually, but very much easier than using the terminal.
4
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Add a file system error check to Unity, Nautilus and Disk utility
Written by nastys the 2 May 13 at 11:34.
If the user wants to check the file system for errors they could just right click the drive (in Unity Launcher, Nautilus or Disk utility) and select to check the drive for errors. To format the drive the user has to use the Disk utility, so any accidental formatting cannot happen.
3
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Hold on, #3 could have some sense, but with some revisions
Written by ajw822 the 19 May 13 at 16:11.
I'm thinking a GParted-esque option, which you can toggle on or off, that automatically checks for errors and then shows a little exclamation point next to the drive icon. Integrate the error message with the notification service to avoid pop-ups, and make it an action that can bee toggled. If off, the user can right-click to error check and the same thing would happen manually. I'm sure it would be fine is the system took 30 extra seconds to do a quick check and then mount. Some 3rd party Windows virus removers do exactly this.

See the 11 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 May 13 at 09:01) >>

Users can donate digital currency  
Written by osmosis the 11 Oct 12 at 06:46. Related project: ubuntu.com. New
Many users are now donating to their favorite online services using the bitcoin currency. Only offering PayPal as a way to donate will cause a loss of some potential donors who are willing to donate using Bitcoin.

5308
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: let users 'Pay with Bitcoin' and other donation methods
Written by osmosis the 11 Oct 12 at 06:46.
In addition to the new 'Pay with PayPal' donation option that Ubuntu gives to users before the they download the desktop install, give users a choice to donate using other methods.

One desirable option would be to donate using bitcoins. Ubuntu could use many of the free software packages out there to build their own bitcoin checkout, or a bitcoin payment service like bitpay.com could be integrated similar to how paypal is currently being used. Other examples would be donating using Google checkout or credit cards.

Reference:
Canonical asks desktop users to "pay what you think Ubuntu is worth"
http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/10/canonical-asks-desktop-users-to-pay-wha t-you-think-ubuntu-is-worth/
-5
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Alternative payment processor to Paypal
Written by Auzy the 14 Oct 12 at 00:22.
There have been numerous complaints about Paypal. And, a payment processor should be provided as an alternative (which doesn't screw its customers). However, Bitcoin has serious technical limitations (including, a limit of 21 mil currency units), which guarantees it will never be a practical currency, and that it will crash.

At the very least, Canonical should find a community focused / moral alternative to Paypal and replace it for those who want to donate using credit card.
-11
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Allow Telegraphic Transfer donations
Written by Auzy the 14 Oct 12 at 00:29.
Allowing donations through telegraphic transfer cuts VISA/Mastercard/AMEX out of the equation, and, it cuts out some of the middle men.

2114
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Include other Major Payment Processors
Written by lewisgoddard the 16 Oct 12 at 17:42.
Many people already trust and use both Google Wallet and Amazon Payments, with very little difference between them.

The Humble Bundle processes the big three.

See the 17 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 May 13 at 01:30) >>

People forget to empty their trash and get problems with space  
Written by sucotronic the 18 Feb 09 at 17:00. Global category: Accessibility. New
I've observed in my job that most of the users forgets to empty their trashes regularly, and suddenly one day they start to have problems due space limitations, or they don't know where is used their hard drive space.
809
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Add a configurable reminder
Written by sucotronic the 18 Feb 09 at 17:00.
It would be useful to add a kind of reminders that prevents the users about their files in the trash or the occupation in the hard drive. And also it could be configured with an option under the System>Preferences menu.




-477
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Clean trash automatically
Written by snizovtsev the 18 Feb 09 at 17:43.
Add the "Trash size" option (percent or absolute value) and automatically clean oldest files from the trash to fit this limit.
-380
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Compress old files
Written by vlo the 19 Feb 09 at 20:05.
The operating system should silently compress some of the files. Perhaps this could be done when the system is not being used, or before shutdown.

The files that would be compressed would be the files that have been in the trash for a certain amount of time (configurable).
-338
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Trash with maximum size
Written by blaxter the 19 Feb 09 at 23:41.
Like in solution #2, add a "Trash size" option but instead of automatically clean oldest files form the trash, just say "the trash is full, please clean it up" when the user try to send more files to it
171
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Notification with "Delete now"-Button
Written by rakudave the 21 Feb 09 at 20:39.
Same as #1, but with a button to empty the trash directly from the notification-bubble
291
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Don't put unnessecary distractions in the system!
Written by kapipi the 21 Feb 09 at 21:17.
This solution is a response to solution #1. Solution #1 is great, except that as a default the user should not be notified about the size of trash, unless space on the partition is getting critically low.

The rationale:

- We don't want to distract the user's attention unnecessarily
- We don't want to force or lure the user to empty his trash unnecessarily.
358
votes
up equal down
Solution #7: Low disk space notification instead of trash notification
Written by argon the 22 Feb 09 at 00:35.
The rationale of this problem is that sometimes people run out of disk space. So the notification should directly address this issue, and not just target the trash at an arbitary point, which will just lead to more annoying notifications.

Windows also does this when disk space is low...
777
votes
up equal down
Solution #8: Create a System Cleanup widget
Written by 311005901 the 22 Feb 09 at 15:59.
A notification alerts users when the system is running low on free space.


When clicked on, users can use a widget to remove unwanted files.


(Click to see full sized image)
-347
votes
up equal down
Solution #9: auto-remove when disk-space is low
Written by koenfloris the 25 Feb 09 at 14:00.
ubuntu begins to fragment when you've got not enough disk-space. lets say that the limit is about 20%.

when disk space is to full...
ubuntu should auto-remove unnecessary things to free it up. of course, it should ask the user the empty the trash, to prevent data-loss. but other cash-like things should get cleaned up.
173
votes
up equal down
Solution #10: Extend computer-janitor to support low disk space and trash notifications
Written by ziroday the 27 Feb 09 at 12:07.
computer-janitor (only in jaunty) is a small utility to clear up left over packages and left over files that have no use. It could easily be extended to support emptying the trash and notifying the user when disk space is low.
37
votes
up equal down
Solution #11: Use the desktop icon to provide information
Written by Menti the 7 Mar 09 at 12:23.
As proposed in idea #14699. Desktop icons in general are static and do not provide any useful information. Trashcan icon is slightly dinamic: it has an empty state and a full state. Let the icon change to show how much trash there is. There could be a (configurable, with a sane default) max limit to the trash size, and the desktop icon could show what percentage of that limit is already in use.

This way, we could have more information without actually adding anything to the current setup, no more clutter; only better use of an already existing and underused graphic element of the desktop.
-82
votes
up equal down
Solution #12: Put the trash icon on the desktop
Written by dubrict the 10 Mar 09 at 06:19.
The reason people forget is because by default, the trash icon is as tiny as can be and hiding in the corner. Placing it on the desktop instead puts it more directly in the user's conscious, reminding them to empty it while not being obtrusive or complex.

The "running low on free space" reminder is reasonable, because it would solve this problem while taking on another. There's no reason to add any complexity to the system beyond this.
-119
votes
up equal down
Solution #13: Empty Trash On system Shut down
Written by MOSAM the 10 Mar 09 at 20:06.
Have the system ask you if you want to empty the trash when shutting down the as it does when unmounting disk drives.
39
votes
up equal down
Solution #14: make gui to let the user decide
Written by linuxrules the 12 Mar 09 at 23:28.
settings dialog _ +/- X
=============================================================
put trash icon on desktop "on/off"

Empty Trash On system Shut down "on/off/ask/auto"

Use the desktop icon to provide information "on/off"

auto-remove when disk-space is low "on/off/ask/auto"

Notification with "Delete now"-Button "on/off"

Trash with maximum size & if to delete when size limit is exceeded "on -size-/off"

Compress old files "on/off/ask/auto"

Add a configurable reminder "on/off"
|advance..|
216
votes
up equal down
Solution #15: Beyond Icons
Written by trustno1uk the 16 Mar 09 at 20:02.
Icons that represent valuable information at first glance can really save you some time.

Some users don’t care about emptying their thrash and also use it as another folder at times, this will remind them to empty it.

trash

REF: http://www.kumailht.com/blog/linux/10-features-ubuntu-should-implement/
-6
votes
up equal down
Solution #16: Automatically delete after 30 days
Written by OrelEagle the 5 Dec 09 at 20:38.
I'm using a script to delete files permanently after 30 days spent in the trash:

find ~/.local/share/Trash/files -maxdepth 1 -ctime +30 -exec rm -r \;
find ~/.local/share/Trash/info -maxdepth 1 -ctime +30 -exec rm -r \;

This way the user doesn't have to worry about emptying the trash but still has a "second chance" in case a file was deleted by mistake.
3
votes
up equal down
Solution #17: Provide a suite of tools for the user to save/recover disk space
Written by yoda2031 the 28 Mar 11 at 17:26.
Computer Janitor already fulfils the requirement to recover disk space from files which are temporary/cached/etc.

Squashfs more-or-less fulfils the requirement to conserve space, but should be provided as an option on installation ("compress home directory" and "compress system directory" options)

A utility to automatically compress/remove components which have not been used for more than 30 days.

A utility which lists your installed applications in order of size and last used date. Allows the user to remove the bigger, unused packages.

A utility which allows you to "reorganise" your partitioning scheme.

Where applicable, these solutions should be accessible under an umbrella utility, possibly as an extension to the existing Disk Utility, or as a stand-alone utility.

See the 17 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 May 13 at 15:00) >>

Add ability for online accounts on the sidebar to be opened in a new tab  
Written by Mathias the 29 Apr 13 at 06:11. Related project: Firefox. New
The online accounts that you can enable on the sidebar like facebook, youtube, amazone, etc always open in a new window all though I have firefox already running. I would like to have the option to be able to open them in a new tab instead.
2
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Open in a new tab using the ctrl key
Written by Mathias the 29 Apr 13 at 06:11.
I propose that when you'd have your internet browser already running and you press for example ctrl + the facebook logo that facebook would then open in a new tab of your current browser window.

I say to enable it only with the ctrl key so that people who would not want to open these websites in a new tab won't have to.

and why 'ctrl'? because it is a standard worldwide option. Whenever you click on a link on the internet while holding 'ctrl' it will open automatically in a new tab.
5
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Solution #2: Always open in a new tab if Firefox is running on current workspace
Written by PaddyLandau the 29 Apr 13 at 14:14.
If Firefox is open on the current workspace, open the bookmark in a new tab in that running window.

But if Firefox is not open on the current workspace (or not open at all), open the bookmark in a new window of Firefox.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 3 May 13 at 10:59) >>

Removing metadata from shared files  
Written by oxym the 23 Apr 13 at 19:44. Related project: Nautilus. New
Rationale behind this idea is: usualy on your device you wish to keep different kinds of metadata related to your content (for example exif tags in jpeg ) and make use of them. However when you wish to share your content it might be best to remove sensitive parts of it (metadata).
I know it is possible to prepare a separate copy of the files and to remove the metadata using some script, but having a method to do it automatically would be benefitial, especially on phones and tablets.
4
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Add an option to securely share content on Nautilus "Send To"
Written by oxym the 23 Apr 13 at 19:44.
Exif data can be considered and removed completely.
Later on there might appear options to remove only parts of it and extend it to other file types.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 1 May 13 at 15:17) >>

Improve file/folder sharing experience (Samba)  
Written by bartong the 29 Feb 08 at 01:35. Global category: Internet & Networking. Implemented
Currently it is very difficult to setup and control access to shared folders without editing conf files and reading detailed instructions on all the variables. I propose that sharing (specifically Samba) be given a well worked GUI and some real TLC to bring it up to standard with the experience on Windows or OS X.
5396
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Defaults and GUI Options adjusted appropriately
Written by bartong the 29 Feb 08 at 01:35.
By default a share should be accessible as Read Only by anyone on the network without a username or password (guest access). While guest access should be turned on by default, it should also be easy to turn it off, and if desired to give guests read/write access to the folder.

You should also be able to specify local users who will have read/write access, and these local users should sync with smb users invisibly (ie: the user doesn't need to know that there are two password databases being used).

The Properties window for a folder should contain a Sharing tab with all the options available to choose. I also propose a Shared Folders option in the Preferences menu should list the currently shared folders along with their settings, and provide a button to take you into the dialogue where you can set the options.
127
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Samba Server Configuration Tool
Written by dfme the 26 Jan 09 at 12:36.
There is already an application which allows this.
If the samba package is installed on ubuntu also install this application: Samba Server Configuration Tool - A graphical interface for configuring SMB shares
29
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Accueil - Samba Share w/ Nautilus Integration
Written by fermulator the 2 Sep 09 at 12:44.
How about: Accueil?

http://gentoo.ovibes.net/nautilus-share/mediawiki-1.4.4/index.php/Accueil

Actually ... this may have been replaced with "nautilus-share"?
21
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): Samba Server Configuration Wizard
Written by Agafonov the 18 Nov 09 at 21:29.
We need a simple to use step-by-step wizard which will ask some really simple questions and generate an smb.conf file based on the user's choices.
How about https://launchpad.net/sscw ? It is a working example, although right now it's using zenity. If re-written using python it would become a very handy companion to nautilus-share.
We even should not include smb.conf in the samba package: once installed, samba server will not work until the user has defined how it should behave.
56
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#5): Share Sub-Folders by Default
Written by Klau3 the 11 Mar 10 at 01:51.


Right now, when right clicking on a folder and selecting “Sharing Options” – for example you want to share your Music folder and create a guest access to it – Samba will only share the files within the music folder but NOT THE SUB-FOLDERS where all the music is.

When sharing a folder, most people want to give access to sub-folders. For that reason, I suggest to reverse the handling of Samba sharing, so that you would have to click on an extra box to show that you don't want Samba to share sub-folders.
10
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#6): Create A Ubuntu NetWorkOne App
Written by geekgaurav the 30 Jul 10 at 17:17.
Able to handle connectivity Issues as Well As Sharing in Wizard Like Simple Interface for A New User

PS : More Ideas Can be Implemented In it
3
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#7): Allow Ubuntu to change the mounting options of FAT partitions
Written by qwerty800 the 6 Feb 11 at 21:05.
I personally have a file depot on my network where users can drop the files they want everyone to access.
It used to be on a NTFS partition, but is now hosted on the samba network. Doing such was a fairly hard task, since NTFS doesn't save permissions for each file, and is mounted with the 700 permission, while Samba requires XX4 or superior. I had to modify my fstab config file for that, and that's definitively not what I'd call user-friendly.
7
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#9): Centralized file-sharing administration
Written by komputes the 17 Aug 11 at 22:42.
The question on many user's mind is "What am I sharing (and to whom)?"

“System > Administration > Shared folders” is a feature that has been removed since 8.04. There has been no replacement for this tool since its disappearance.

Solution is to create a utility that should provide a graphical front-end to configure both samba system shares (managed in /etc/samba/smb.conf) and samba usershares (/var/lib/samba/usershares/).

Stepping a bit outside the scope of the issue (samba), this application should have a pluggable infrastructure which can also be used to show and configure other types of shares (nfs, ftp, ubuntuone).

Central administration, what a concept!

See the 49 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Apr 13 at 23:07) >>

The shutdown screen is very outdated  
Written by Bezzy the 24 Apr 12 at 20:22. Related project: Unity. Implemented
I would suggest a more modern and clean screen
130
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): New Screen - Shutdown, Restart and Hibernate
Written by Bezzy the 24 Apr 12 at 20:22.
The proposed solution is to modernize the ubuntu shutdown screen, as shown in the video link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMFCIr06kI&hd=1

[Unity Integration - optional]
http://i.imgur.com/nQzXg.jpg

[Simple mode]
http://i.imgur.com/SMnHD.jpg

[Lock Screen]
http://i.imgur.com/JRdej.jpg
62
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Add an automatic count-down.
Written by alanh the 1 May 12 at 21:45.
Add an automatic count-down timer of about 1 minute to the default selection. I've had several instances when I've selected "shut down" on my machine only to come back hours later and notice that the machine is still on and the "Are you sure you want to close all programs and shut down the computer?" dialog is happily waiting for my click.
-14
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Keep the present basic shutdown screen but enhance it
Written by chunkyboy the 5 May 12 at 02:13.
Althought the present shutdown screen seems somewhat bland, the basics of it are quite good because it
1.has the ubuntu theme style wise
2.Is quite compact.
It just needs to have suspend,log out, and lock screen buttons added in line with and in the same style as the current restart ,cancel and shutdown buttons and also a little "pizaz" added in order to set it apart from the other windows within ubuntu.(becuase it is a special window obviously).
In other words, don't overdo the restyling, but restyling does need to be done.

See the 21 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Apr 13 at 16:25) >>

Easy way to add start up program  
Written by vkadal the 17 Apr 13 at 07:30. Global category: Usability. New
I find it difficult / impossible to add any program / application to my startup list.

For example, if I want to add my bittorrent to my start up list. I should know where the bittorrent is installed and what is the exact file name to be chosen. Else I can not add the program.

I do not have an idea where the program is installed and which is the file to be chosen
1
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Allow addition of program from Dash
Written by vkadal the 17 Apr 13 at 07:30.
it should be possible to add by just giving the name.
10
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Add a drop down list
Written by vkadal the 17 Apr 13 at 07:32.
A drop down list can be provided in the Add Startup application to add the programs to start automatically, every time I start the machine
10
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Right Click in Dash and Add
Written by vkadal the 18 Apr 13 at 07:38.
After locating the program / application in Dash, it should be right clickable and added to start programs
3
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Drag and drop from dash
Written by cheesehead the 9 May 13 at 12:51.
A "Startup Applications" program should be able to monitor dbus for Dash icons dragged onto it. Then it reads the application name from the .desktop file. Or links to the .desktop file

Good small project for someone starting to learn about Dbus and the Unity UI.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

user-friendly error messages  
Written by cumulus007 the 18 Sep 08 at 14:25. Related project: Gnome. New
"Make Desktop Linux Better than Apple" is the title of this article: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Shuttleworth-Make-Desktop-Linux- Better-than-Apple/. Well, if they want to make it better, it has to be user friendly. And the error messages in Ubuntu mostly aren't user friendly. They don't explain:

-How to fix the problem
-The reason of the problem in noob-understandable language

For complex and difficult problems, a link to a page in the Ubuntu User Guide would be nice.
Advanced users want to see the technical error message, so a details section should be added. The details section can be collapsed.

I think this can be done easily by using a common framework integrated into GNOME.

Merged from http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/13011/ :

When possible, a Revert button should be added to the message. This button will fix the error automatically, in case of an interrupted package install, for example.

I made a mockup for this:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9004/schermafdrukerrormessagov9.png

I did this in Glade.



[....]
220
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #13387
Written by cumulus007 the 18 Sep 08 at 14:25.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #13387 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 14 Apr 13 at 12:18) >>

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... Next >>