Contributor vikasbn

I think this is a very useful usability improvement. When I highlight a particular field and start typing in it, I don't want the mouse cursor blocking my view. It would be really nifty if the cursor just became invisible for the period of time that the keyboard is being used.

While it is common for modern machines to have at least a GiB of memory, older machines (2-3 years old) are (or IMO should be) a major target audience for Ubuntu.

Unfortunately, having 256MB of memory makes the machine almost entirely unusable for more than one task at a time.

Even the "minimalist" xubuntu is barely usable with this amount of memory.

I think Ubuntu should do some work on reducing memory usage to this level, at least for the xubuntu variant.

I find the functionality of docks like the Avant Window Navigator to be supremely useful. I.e. an application launcher that doubles as a kind of window manager in a similar manner to OSX.

I would like to see one of these products integrated into ubuntu so that it is easy to install and is consistent with the overall look and feel of the OS. It would also be good if it didn't necessarily require compositing to work, or was implemented as an applet for the gnome panels.

Provide an area that will show all pertinent system info in one place. Like in windows with my computer properties. Should show the flavor of ubuntu, the release, ram, swap, cpuinfo, battery (if any), kernel version, disk usage, etc.

I would like to switch my Monitor from Landscape mode to Portrait mode on the fly. Say by right clicking on the desktop like I do in MS Windows at this time.

In any of the Linux's, I have to edit the xorg.conf file to make this change and it's not on the fly.

Thanks

Organize a web-based Debian Recognition/Appreciation Day every year. Doesn't have to be anything formal, but the Debian maintainers are a key factor to the huge success Ubuntu is experiencing these days and they deserve the props.

On startup Ubuntu will sometimes say the disk "has been mounted x times without being checked, check forced". Then it will make me wait to use the computer. Why not do this at shutdown instead of startup? When the user starts up the computer, they're sending a message to Ubuntu saying "I want to use my computer now." Not later. When they shut down, they're telling Ubuntu "I don't want to use my computer now." Do it then.

While the default Ubuntu theme in Gnome is OK, there is room for A LOT more refinement. I would like to see things like:

- Beautiful icons like those in OSX
- Cutting edge, highly readable fonts

I would especially like to see tremendous attention to detail paid to all kinds of small things, such as default icons, etc. Much of this may come in the form of enhancements to the default Gnome/KDE themes.

There is just something incredibly pleasing about the look of OSX, and Ubuntu deserves to look at least as good.

With the right input from top designers, this is possible.

example from duplicate idea 5581 :
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs22/f/2007/321/2/f/Ubuntu_Theme_Mockup___Light_by_b radwjensen.jpg

I'm constantly frustrated by applications stealing my focus. There should be some way for me to ensure that when I begin typing somewhere, an overzealous application will never pop up in front of what I'm working on.

If an application needs my attention, it's task bar button should simply pulse so I can turn my attention to it when I'm ready. Pidgin does this; why not everything else?

On Mac OS X, Growl provides a system-wide way to notify the user that something has happened without getting in the way. I'd very much like to see Ubuntu adopt something like that.

Too often I have to select images with cryptic file names from a file chooser. Because I can't see the images I typically have to open the folder I am browsing separately so I can find image I am looking for, remember the cryptic name, and return to the file dialogue to select the file I want.

This could be easier if their was an option to view thumbnails, or to at least preview the image.

I think it is important for the update notifier to be color coded to stress the importance of security updates. Red updates could signify that there is an important security updates while all other updates could stay the original orange color.

If i want to share the "look and feel" of my desktop with someone else, i have to send many different files: wallpapers, gtk-engines, gtk-themes, metacity themes, iconpacks, screenlets and so on.

I would like to press an "export look and feel"-button to get a file with all the look-and-feel-related stuff included, so that i can reproduce my complete look and feel on another machine.

Automatically disable the touchpad when you are typing by specifying a number of seconds the touchpad stays inactive after you hit a button on the keyboard. This is very useful on laptops where it is very easy to accidentily touch the touchpad while typeing.

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.

For example, 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).

I propose 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.

Ubuntu should include a way to add/remove fonts from a repository just like the add/remove program panel. When a user needs a new font, they could open up the window, and the program would download the latest repository fonts. The user could look through the fonts and choose which ones to install by simply checking a box and clicking "apply." A user could search for font keywords to find certain styles of fonts. For example, someone could search for keywords words "serif","sans serif","cursive", and the GUI would display fonts that match the search. This would be a killer tool for designers.

Furthermore, the GUI could be very helpful. When a user browses a font, a sample image of it could be automatically loaded so that the user can quickly find fonts that are appealing to them. A rating system or popularity gauge could be used so that the best fonts can be highlighted.

A tool like this would create inscentive for font designers to make their designs free/public. Credits could be given to designers in the font descriptions.

There is a wide community of online artists capable of creating brilliant, unique artwork.

heading: Get your artwork on 10 million desktops

Ubuntu, the world's most popular Linux distribution, needs a new theme. The winner will appear in the default desktop of Ubuntu 8.10.

We're looking for original wallpapers, that match Ubuntu's color palette. You entry should also include a suggested combination of application, icon, and window themes. These can be existing themes, or your own original works - you only need to submit a wallpaper to win.

Work must be CC licensed, and be openable in either Inkscape or Gimp (rest of criteria continues)

Submit your works to DeviantArt and include the words [Ubuntu810].


Good luck!

Summary:
Ability to download only changed bits of files and use much less bandwidth.
Scope and Use Cases:
Ann has slow internet connection. She sees that there are 150MB of updates and decides not to update at all leaving her with vulnerable and buggy system.
Implementation Plan:
Adopt it from Debian?

Previously discussed here, but still not implemented: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=409916

It would be useful to create a graphical user interface for the new ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) in Ubuntu. Would be useful to make every new release with an enabled firewall by default and with this graphical firewall utility also.

As a user I want to be able to listen to audio or watch videos with the least amount of setup. I would like to have a single interface (Codec Manager) that lists all of the most common audio and video formats and shows me if I am missing the necessary codec for playback.

Use Case: Enable MP3 playback.
Precondition: MP3s are not currently playable.
1. User logs into the system.
2. User opens the Codec Manager.
3. System displays a list of common audio/video formats.
4. User selects MP3s.
5. System displays some info about MP3s.
6. System displays a list of available codecs.
7. User selects a codec and clicks Apply.
8. System downloads and installs the selected codec.
9. System informs the user when completed.

Other possible features:
- Display a list of audio/video types that are missing codecs.
- An auto-setup function, that grabs the recommended codec for all formats.

Audio and Video formats that should be supported:

Audio:
- MP3
- OGG
- AAC
- FLAC
- Real Audio

Video:
- MP4

[....]

There are lot of people having troubles syncing their devices (pda, smartphones, etc.) with ubuntu. At this poing there is only one solution available, multisync, and works for only a few devices, and it's very limited on their functions.

And I think, this is a very important point for lots of people.

**Suggestions from duplicate idea 397 work on that idea :

1) Clean up the Opensync and SyncML plugin packages to work properly with Evolution by default.

2) Set up an official Ubuntu SyncML server for Ubuntu users.

3) Possibly clean up open source SyncML clients for the different mobile platforms.