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The Ubuntu community has contributed 22700 ideas, 138270 comments, 2629576 votes
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Popular ideas Here are the latest ideas about Ubuntu that have been approved.

Unlock HDTV copy protection in Ubuntu  
Written by justanidea the 15 Sep 10 at 14:59. Global category: Multimedia. New
Digital Content Management (DCM) prevent consumers from exercising fair use rights on the DVD's and Bly-Ray discs they bought.

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Solution #1: Unlock HDTV copy protection in Ubuntu
Written by justanidea the 15 Sep 10 at 14:59.
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) has allegedly been busted, according to http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/high-bandwidth-digital-content-protection-hd cp-could-be-fatally-busted/9697

Please investigate if this can be used to unlock HDTV copy protection, in order to play HD DVD and Blu-Ray films more easily on Ubuntu.

(Legal Notice Patent and copyright laws operate differently depending on which country you are in. Please obtain legal advice if you are unsure whether a particular patent or restriction applies to a media format you wish to use in your country.)
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Solution #2: Look into using Libbluray
Written by emanuel.b the 12 Oct 10 at 21:40.
The folks down at VideoLAN are working on a library (libbluray) similar to libdvdcss. The Ubuntu developers should help contribute to this project, in order to make Blu-ray disc playback a reality. More info at http://www.videolan.org/developers/libbluray.html
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Solution #3: Add packages to Medibuntu
Written by gumshore the 14 Oct 10 at 18:50.
Ubuntu users should be able to choose to install a meta-package from Medibuntu that contains libbluray or other software to unlock copy protection if it is legal in their juristiction.

See the 2 comments or propose a solution >>

Restricted drivers system tray icon  
Written by l0xin the 2 Sep 10 at 23:29. Global category: Installation. New
After a clean installation of Ubuntu 10.04 a restricted drivers icon appeared in the system tray, with no information about what it was before clicking it.
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Solution #1: Popup + tooltip on hover
Written by l0xin the 2 Sep 10 at 23:29.
A pop-up to draw attention to the icon and a tool-tip when hovering over it ("Restricted drivers are available, please click for more information") would be descriptive.
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Solution #2: Popup + Tooltip + More Info
Written by matthewburmeister the 10 Sep 10 at 06:44.
I like l0xin's idea, but i think a popup message with more information is justified. Something along the lines of "Ubuntu has found hardware that requires restricted device drivers to function properly. Please click for more information."

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Explain propietary formats situation.Make installation of restricted codecs easy  
Written by Apiman the 16 Dec 09 at 09:08. Related project: Live CD installer. New
Many users may be smart enough to install Ubuntu by themselves, it's quite easy. At least they have some "ubuntish" friend, it's probably that one night they will try to watch a dvd movie they've just hired and what is going to happen... The movie won't play at all. At this point they will feel disappointed about their linux box.
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Solution #1: Display a dialog suggesting to install libdvdread
Written by Apiman the 16 Dec 09 at 09:08.
I think it would be a good idea to present a dialog suggesting to install libdvdread or any other propietary codec. I know this is done already for many of the usual formats, but I think that an eye-candy explanation of why they are not installed by default would be very interesting.

Anyway I'm OK with those formats not being installed by default. People should be aware of the world they are in.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Problem With Restricted Software Installation Warning  
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Information is updated every 5 minutes.
Please wait till the next update.
spec
Written by makru the 18 May 09 at 00:28. Related project: Add/Remove program dialog. New
After installing Ubuntu on several computers for friends, I received the same question: "Is it ok to install restricted software? I just got a warning when trying to install .mp3 and flash codecs."
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Solution #1: Remove The Warnings Completely
Written by makru the 18 May 09 at 00:28.
Now, it is pretty evident that most computer users have no idea what "open source" or "restricted software" refers to. After all, Windows and OS X do not give you warnings when installing open source software. Thus, this impediment for new users should be removed. It serves absolutely no purpose aside from confusing them. Linux veterans know what is proprietary and what is not, because that is their passion. New users could not care less and just want to install whatever they desire. Of course this same mentality should be carried across add/remove installations and video codecs. After all, nobody cares that Totem needs to install new codecs to play a movie, so it should happen automatically without any user input. If open source advocates dislike propriety features, they should be able to disable this feature through the software sources section. Also, I realize that ubuntu restricted extras resolves most of these problems, but would that be the first thing you would search for when introduced to a new operating system? No. That is why a video player like VLC (that just works) has more downloads than the entire Ubuntu user base.
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Solution #2: Rename the restricted software user warning
Written by tuxxy the 18 May 09 at 14:36.
The warning may benefit from being renamed to a less technical orientated recommendation. This new warning should allow even the newest Ubuntu users to gain an understanding as to what this process will do and how it will benefit their new installation.

Examples could be "Is it OK to install the Recommended / Appropriate / Multimedia / third-party software for your system"
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Solution #3: Rename the restricted software user warning and add checkbox
Written by Glich the 18 May 09 at 17:42.
The same as solution 2 but a check box should exist to disable future warnings. The option should also exist somewhere to re-enable warnings.
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Solution #4: Just insert a proper short description in the warning.
Written by Psycho_zs the 19 May 09 at 04:49.
Description in the warning, as short as possible:
1. what it is,
2. why it is sometimes necessary,
3. but why it is better to stay away from it.

and links on further reading of course.

Proper education is the key.
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Solution #5: Rename restricted software.
Written by Lachu the 19 May 09 at 06:56.
Rename restricted software to stricted licensing software. Add warning this is a third party software and Ubuntu team don't give quarantine it's should worked.
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Solution #6: Move warning text from the alert to app description, remove alert at all
Written by Dim the 19 May 09 at 10:59.
Alerts always stand in the way. The problem is not only with the text of warning but with the alert itself.

What I propose is to move the warning text (improved according to solutions above) from the alert to the description of the application. Of course, the text should not be merged with the description and should look different.

Why is this better:
1. Nothing stands in the way.
2. When you have "restricted software" enabled, you still know which app is "restricted",
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Solution #7: Change the Warning Icon to an Information/Question Icon
Written by OpenNingia the 20 May 09 at 09:52.
Common users are scared of "Warning" icons (those with the yellow triangle ), so they rather click 'Cancel' or go in panic :D

Why don't we just replace the Warning message with an Information message ( or Question message ) with the more friendly ( I ) icon?

( Tango theme has a light bulb )

Here a mockup:

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

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Solution #8: Split into non-free and possibly illegal.
Written by natetechboy128 the 13 Jun 09 at 06:05.
"The package foo is non-free software. There are restrictions on the use of this package, which can be found here. "

"The package foo may be illegal in some countries; please check relevant laws before installation."
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Solution #9: Split restricted into restricted and restricting, let user disable this warnings
Written by Felitaur the 20 Mar 11 at 00:59.
There is much difference, some software is free itself, but restricted by wrong laws and some software is restricting users. Ubuntu should not display any warning if it is know, such software is legal withing country user selected on the system settings, but is should display such warning about software restricting user rights, also, dialog windows should describe what is wrong with such software.
Also, there should be options to install or deny software from both categories without further questions.


See the 14 comments or propose a solution >>

Restricted Drivers Manager should show download time  
Written by preben4 the 14 Apr 09 at 10:31. Global category: Look and Feel. New
When installing restricted drivers it starts a progress-bar, but it is not showing any progress before the packages are downloaded and are being installed. If I was a new user coming from windows or any other os, I would think the program had frozen, especially if my Internet connection is slow. this gives a bad impression and should be changed.
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Solution #1: Add a "Downloading drivers (1:37 remaining)..." line
Written by preben4 the 14 Apr 09 at 10:31.
Add a "Downloading drivers (1:37 remaining)..." line like when installing languagepackages during ubuntu installation, just leave out the "skip" button:) this will make it seem less stupid waiting for a progress-bar that does not move.
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Solution #2: Restricted Drivers Manager downloads via synaptic
Written by eierdieb the 5 May 09 at 07:06.
Synaptic works well as we all know. Why not using this mighty tool of ours and create ...

Sections -> Restricted Drivers

... and RDM opens synaptic with the specific package marked for installation. The user just needs to apply.

Advantage:
- synaptic as main download tool
- our actual problem gets solved as well ;)

Disadvantage:
- I don't actually know whether the restricted drivers (packages?) are compatible with synaptic - but I'm sure this may be implemented, too
- new users could spontaneously be confused (synaptic is just confusing first time seeing it)

(inspired by fluxy (see comments))
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Solution #3: Keep Restricted Drivers Manager but use Add/Remove to install
Written by lord_atreide the 9 May 09 at 16:44.
I like the way Ubuntu works but I think it would be better that, when you try to install a new driver, ubuntu opens the add/remove software. This way you will have all the features of this program and you will show the user where to find aplications in the future.

Aditionally installing software will be more centralized in the user's mind.

Sorry for my bad english.
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Solution #4: Add a "Downloading drivers (1:37 elapsed)..." line
Written by cawas the 11 May 09 at 12:05.
Rather show it working than trying to predict how long it will take. The bar itself should already not freeze and be a reference for "remaining" time, but if it's not working there's clearly already an issue for calculating the total / remaining info. Important to remember that this can't be just a clock and it MUST freeze if a bug occurs.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

The Restricted Drivers dialog should be expanded with other restricted software  
Written by cumulus007 the 21 Mar 09 at 21:19. Global category: Multimedia. New
Ubuntu's Restricted Drivers dialog is pretty cool. Installing the drivers for your hardware with one click is on no other OS as simple as it is on Ubuntu.

However, there is a lot of software that can't be installed that easy. For example, Microsoft fonts such as Arial, aren't available on a default Ubuntu installation. Almost every new Linux user doesn't know that these fonts can't be shipped with Ubuntu, because of their license. When they open OO.o Writer for example, they are unpleasantly surprised by the fact that their favorite fonts aren't available.
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Solution #1: Add restricted software
Written by cumulus007 the 21 Mar 09 at 21:19.
So what I think, is that the Restricted Drivers dialog should take care about other restricted software. This would make Ubuntu a lot more user-friendly for all Ubuntu newbies.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Remind users that drivers are available when connected  
Written by Warbo the 19 Apr 08 at 14:31. Global category: System. New
If a user does not have an Internet connection then the Restricted Manager and codec tools become pretty useless. This can be an issue if the Restricted Manager is needed for a Wifi card, for instance.

However, if the user doesn't specifically decline such drivers/codecs then they should be reminded when they do get an Internet connection.

For example, a user needs non-free firmware for her Wifi card, but can't download it since she can't use Wifi. Later on she tries playing an MP3 which doesn't work either. The next day she is at a friend's house and plugs an ethernet cable in to browse the web. Ubuntu should notify her that she can get the components she was trying to access earlier.

I think this would be a good idea because making users remember what they were after is unneeded when Ubuntu can do it, especially since they may have completely different things on their mind whenever a connection is available and thus not realise that their earlier problems can now be fixed. Also, a user might not be attempting to play MP3s at the exact time they have an Internet connection, but this doesn't mean they haven't been trying earlier, so Ubuntu should pick up on this.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #7267
Written by Warbo the 19 Apr 08 at 14:31.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #7267 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!

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