http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/14082/
I see for the sounds they made the packaging more freedesktop-friendly, but it still doesn't mean I like it.

Hardy
wall: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/hardy.png
login: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/hardy-login.wav
logout: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/hardy-logout.wav

Intrepid
wall: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/intrepid.png
login: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/intrepid-login.ogg
logout: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/intrepid-logout.ogg

(Feel free to use the links (temporarily) for your blogs. For the wallpapers, see ubuntu-wallpapers or /usr/share/wallapapers. For the sounds, see ubuntu-sounds /usr/share/sounds)

I personally - as a computer nerd - don't care much about the default wallpaper in an operating system as I know it can be changed, but first impressions mean a lot to others. It does mean a lot to me, however, as someone who is in marketing and who has been trained in design for a number of years.

When I speak with my sisters, my father, my mother, my neighbours, my (non-nerdy) co-workers, designers and other general populace, they all thoroughly enjoy the Hardy background but are not impressed with the wallpapers I show from Warty to Gutsy (previous version of Ubuntu).

I feel that Hardy set a new standard for Ubuntu but that the new theme for Intrepid (wallpaper and sounds) are a regression to previous versions of Ubuntu (even though they at least had the better sound sample).

A better default - as a quick and temporary fix - would be the orange marigold photo with a soft focus roll, included in gnome-backgrounds: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/FreshFlower.jpg

I like brown and know it can be used quite tastefully and eloquently, but the vibrant orange and reds in the Hardy wallpaper were a step above any default wallpaper used previously.

A supporting article: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Njc1NA

Testing PPA for sounds: https://launchpad.net/~kwwii/+archive [Kenneth Wimer]

[282 votes] Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #14082


]]> en-us Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:55:03 +0000 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:39:50 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/14082/
The background doesn't look that professional compared to other OS's:
http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/img/img-wallpapers-mac-osx-leopard-wallpaper-apple-osx-7820.jpg
http://www.haaland.no/documents/files/Pynt/Vista%20Aurora.jpg
http://media.arstechnica.com/images/tiger/aqua-blue-panther.jpg
]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:05:00 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:05:31 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:11:27 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:29:05 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:57:25 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:10:14 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:51:42 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:04:50 +0000
but don't mess gnome with ubuntu.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:39:54 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:56:40 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:58:08 +0000
It's the colors. The Hardy one makes brown look beautiful, but this one makes brown look like shit, literally. ;)

Give it more saturation and more variation, like before.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:36:48 +0000 1) I forgot to make a link for the orange marigold wallpaper
2) It looks like a lot of folks don't agree on BOTH the wallpaper and sounds problem. I should have split them up. Please continue to make comments on both.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:15:37 +0000
However, when you compare it with the heron in hardy, it is a huge step backwards.


Also, that fresh flower you are suggesting is a ridiculous alternative, so -1.

Now that I am hearing the sounds, big no, really the drums and clock stuff were so nice and part of ubuntu's identity, don't screw up like this...]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:31:02 +0000
It's been said a million times before, but you could get a theme a million times better by just grabbing the highest rated themes off gnome-look.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:49:14 +0000
Even Gnome's wallpaper gives it a much more friendly, uplifting and welcoming look: http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.24/

Ubuntu has enough dirt color in the theme as it is. Do we really need to insist to make everything look like dirt?! Can't we add some flavor and pick a colorful background?! Perhaps a nice micro photography shot, scenery, or nice sublime abstract wallpaper!

As for the audio. I partly agree. The current sounds are more intricate. Though the 70's electronic sound is somewhat appealing to me :)

P.S.: Dan Rabbit, for the love of everything that is Ubuntu, get on the design team. As this illustrates, we seriously need more people like you.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:21:21 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:24:21 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:31:40 +0000 The background doesn't look as appealing s rival operating systems.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:41:58 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:23:58 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:28:52 +0000
Not only that, I am beginning to think we are sticking to to the old brown and orange human theme that Canonical have promised to change for at least 2 releases now. I hope I am wrong and in a future beta/RC we will see a new theme but to I'm not holding my breath. Are they hoping we have all forgotten that they promised a new theme?

As for the sounds, the new ones are horribly cheap and amateurish sounding. The old ones were far better.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:29:51 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:33:43 +0000
It needs to change.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:36:58 +0000 dunno why they still make brown wallpapers.it's nonsense and ugly]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:37:08 +0000 https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Artwork/Incoming/Intrepid/Earthenibex_wallpaper

I really agree , the sounds are awful!!]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:45:14 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:45:38 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:10:09 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:41:09 +0000
+1]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:57:03 +0000
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Ubuntu+Sky+wallpaper?content=75109

Or even:

http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/ubuntu+wallpaper+pack+3?content=79563

This new wallpaper looks like a red-green colorblind eye test to me:

http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/ishihara.html

Please rethink this before release.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:44:17 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:39:36 +0000 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:47:35 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:10:56 +0000
this is ridiculously beautiful

so much better]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:11:01 +0000
Please, if a developper read this, just show you are paying a minimum attention to what the community says !

At least, just explain somewhere why you choose this wallpaper. Because now it seems like you don't care at all about appearance, and you never read any topic about this, and that all the work people do on gnome-art doesn't interest you at all.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:36:55 +0000
Thank you for sharing!

I can see why they may not want to include that by default (too much contrast, too dark), but I still prefer it over the current Intrepid wallpaper.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:57:52 +0000
Ouch...]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:55:59 +0000
The Earthenibex wallpaper that is referred to above and in an earlier post is outstanding. It looks stunning, and carries through a consistent look and feel from Hardy - a high quality, professional looking, artistically stiled drawing of the animal the release is named for.

I would go with the Earthenibex wallpaper and the same sounds that are in Hardy.
]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:03:56 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:17:06 +0000 http://www.quicktweaks.com/2008/10/02/ubuntu-810-beta-hits-beta-the-look-lets-the-fans-down-again/]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:18:10 +0000
Way to ignore the majority, but hey, at least you're honest. Seriously, I can't count the number of times a good idea has been locked because of reasons along these lines: "A [half-a**ed] solution already exists", or "Even though everyone thinks this is a good idea, it is actually a bad idea because [nonsensical and convoluted justification]", and "At this point in time it is unclear as to whether we can realize something like this..."

I like this response, however. It doesn't sugarcoat the real reason like those other responses.
]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:33:04 +0000
real nice of you. develop some taste in wallpapers well your at it.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:48:24 +0000
His saying that he doesn't believe the majority likes it. And maybe thats because at the end of the day its a bunch of circles on a brown background (something some people might like, but the colors dont blend well, and its certainly nothing that says "I am an awesome computer".

Whilst working at the applecentre, I ensured that the backgrounds on the computers were always chosen by their vibrance and attention to detail. This helps the macs really stick out and demand to be tried. ]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:47:24 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:24:52 +0000
(Its sorted by the vibe given)
OSX Leopard start video
NAB 2005 Reel
NAB 2007 Reel
NAB2006
Us (We don't have any demo reels or anything to get people rev'ed.. but we do have a background...)

Spot the odd one out. All of these except one hint at something that is powerful, easy to use, and is popular. And all of these except one are extremely detailed every single frame, have been post processed, refined and revised. One of these links, kinda feels like "rand() color splotch. If color is vibrant, replace with dullness and boredom". Finally, all give a powerful vibe. well.. most..."


Whose actually in charge of selecting the wallpaper, because no offence, but its starting to make sense to simply fork Ubuntu to simply give it decent defaults.. I think if we continue going this overboard trying to maintain a color that doesn't work, we may need to respin and release an enhanced version for humans.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:48:47 +0000
Intrepid new features are cool, but it's probably the ugliest version of Ubuntu...]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:48:53 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:09:34 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:19:47 +0000
why wouldn't it be possible to change the wall paper for the full release? you guys have to integrate the beta updates anyway. it would be a little against the normal deadline rules. but most people won't use an OS if it doesn't look good. and compared to hardys wall, this one is kind of cheap looking. hardy's looked like it was made by a pro, this looks like something i could make in 2 min. ]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:05:58 +0000
I think the Ubuntu designers are toying with us.

I'm betting they'll shock us with the REAL wallpaper come time for official release.

This is just a tease.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:56:06 +0000 https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Artwork/Incoming/Intrepid/Earthenibex_wallpaper ]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:48:44 +0000 "@rainstride & alex, whose side are you on? His admitted that there is a general consensus that the wallpaper sucks."

I'm on the side of making Ubuntu the best it can be. The original comment as quoted implied that while you all agree (the majority), you all don't matter since it's up to the ones that do matter (the minority). The developer has since clarified what was meant, though now it begs the question as to what the point of this site is, if the people who make the calls never care to look here.

In any case, I didn't mean to sound harsh; just a bit of friendly sarcasm. I think Linux Hater's blog has gotten to me :)

I'm glad the issue is being addressed now though.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:33:07 +0000
Totally right.

And the earthenibex wallpaper rocks, really It has my vote.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:23:57 +0000
The wallpaper is IMHO not a disaster, just boring and not very original like e.g. the one for Hardy, which I almost consider a piece of art.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:28 +0000
Can someone play or record some Kora? (as cc-nc-sa or gpl, of course...) - or even something more afro-zouk, or whatever - This would be really great! =)

]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:49:36 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:52:52 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:29:27 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:44:37 +0000 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:32:36 +0000
So, +1 for the Wallpaper but 0 for the sound.]]> Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:28:51 +0000
I just can't understand who is standing behind of this kind of artwork. We've already accepted that you will never chance default theme from Human to other but is it some requirement that wallpaper should be ugly too?

There is so much wonderful themes, beautiful wallpapers and more readable fonts available but you just throw away them all... Here is more than one or two topic about new theme and better wallpapers etc. It should tell you something.



]]> Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:17:46 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:14:10 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:42:20 +0000
now im just gonna cross my fingers for a new wall.]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:48:46 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:51:17 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:55:11 +0000
I'm supprised that some people see the colours of the background as dirty. To me they seem stylish and refind (I'm not quite sure if those are the best adjectives here, because I'm not a native speaker of english).

I agree that the Earthenibex wallpaper, supported by many, is excellent. I too would reduce the contrast though and perhaps slightly unify the textures in different parts of the picture. Partly related to that, I can't help getting the impression that the ibex in the picture is sneezing and spattering around.]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:17:28 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:28:32 +0000 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:54:50 +0000
"Ken announced that Mark wants us to revert ubuntu-sounds to the hardy version. The new sound theme allegedly sounds too similar to Windows Vista's. This raised some concerns about the rather intransparent way such kind of decisions are taken right now, but we generally understand that this is a SABDFL-ism."]]> Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:13:10 +0000 Any official word on the status of the wallpaper?]]> Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:15:36 +0000
The circles and the colors make my eyes and brain mix everything... I get the same kind of feeling as If I were looking to this picture: http://www.scientificpsychic.com/graphics/squares.gif



]]> Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:38:48 +0000 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:30:10 +0000 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:40:38 +0000
Well, that's no news. That's why we love him!]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:11:50 +0000
Thank you for putting my fears to rest.]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:34:12 +0000
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=943693]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:03:41 +0000
Use that and I may forgive you for using the Human theme yet again.]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:45:05 +0000 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:52:06 +0000 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:35:14 +0000
It is very possible that this is the new Intrepid wallpaper: http://staging.altonlabs.com/ubuntu/intrepid-new.png.

Source?
https://launchpad.net/~kwwii/+archive [Kenneth Wimer] ]]> Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:53:16 +0000 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:43:34 +0000 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:47:53 +0000 I liked the login and logout sounds!
The background just plain sucked, but the sounds were far better than those of hardy.]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:42:40 +0000 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:04:02 +0000 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:20:58 +0000