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Contributor puxkggn on the Others category

update-manager should choose automatically a mirror to update in case of failure  
Written by barrientosa the 14 Apr 12 at 06:14. Related project: Update manager. New
This idea is related to bug #873468 in launchpad (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/873468)

The problem is sometimes when you are upgrading your distro, there is an upgrade failure due to overloaded mirrors.

Steve Langasek (vorlon) suggested in post #16 that in case that update-manager should offer "the opportunity later to try the upgrade again when it's more likely to succeed", i.e. when mirrors are not so saturated with requests.
89
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Solution #1: Update manager should silently use alternate mirrors
Written by barrientosa the 14 Apr 12 at 06:14.
I think it's nice to show a message to users in case of failure, however it would save time if the update-manager can just check other servers around if your local mirror is overloaded and proceed with the upgrade silently without bothering you.

Nevertheless as a last resource I agree that update-manager should show some sort of message to the user, but only in case that all the mirrors are collapsed or something like that.
9
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Solution #2: Update manager should visible use alternate mirrors
Written by puxkggn the 28 Apr 12 at 13:17.
Update manager should not be doing fall backs something without showing a message to the user that it does.
In this case the Update manager should pick another one until it has either found a working mirror or doesn't find one.
In the found a working mirror it displays a message to the user while continuing. (The message is for information not for confirmation.) And in the latter it's of course impossible to continue.
3
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Solution #3: Update Manager should be able to offer alternate mirrors with user input
Written by Aielyn the 4 Oct 12 at 12:34.
While Solutions #1 and #2 are good in general, it is not always appropriate to have the update manager automatically pull files from an alternate mirror without allowing the user input.

For instance, for some, there are limits to downloads from most mirrors, but unlimited downloads from certain ISP-related mirrors. This occurs with Telstra in Australia, where file downloads from the AARNet Mirror are unlimited. For large updates, a switch to a different mirror could result in a significant dent in the download limit for the user. However, for small updates, the user might not be overly concerned, and may allow it anyway.

Which of the approaches to use could be set on first use of the Update manager, with "Silent" being the default option (as many users do not require information on alternate mirror usage at all) and the other options being "Automatic", "Manual", and "Off", with obvious meanings.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 20 Jan 13 at 19:23) >>

friendly.ubuntu.com - filling with recent data  
Written by payload the 15 Dec 12 at 00:57. Related project: Live CD installer. New
Right now I'm searching for a new and recent laptop and I want to run it with Ubuntu. One year ago I buyed one and brought it back immediately because the wifi chip won't support Linux any time soon. No new laptop for me since that.

Right now I stumbled upon http://friendly.ubuntu.com but didn't found enough entries (3). I also didn't know about https://friendly.ubuntu.com/participate/ until recently. Despite I installed Ubuntu in different years several times.

I want a better overview about hardware, which happens to support Ubuntu. I think potential users of Ubuntu need more, reliable information about devices, which will give them a pleasant first-time experience with Ubuntu. (I also believe the world needs devices with pre-installed GNU/Linux, but this is beyond the scope of this idea.)

Let's propose many solutions and more than one can be done to solve this idea.

Category: Web Ecosystem ?
Related project: friendly.ubuntu.com
-15
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Solution #3: have a person check for new hardware
Written by payload the 15 Dec 12 at 01:09.
A dedicated person who gets paid to check for hardware (beginning with the popular or new) and
* either check the kernel and other related packages, if they documented any support for this hardware
* or buy and try this hardware.
30
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Solution #4: talk and write about it
Written by payload the 15 Dec 12 at 02:15.
Use all your blogs, feeds and casts to spread the word about Ubuntu Friendly and act by example. I want to see blog posts like "My Samsung NC10 is Ubuntu Friendly!" in the Ubuntu Planet.
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Solution #5: Prompt the user (say) four weeks after installation or distribution upgrade
Written by PaddyLandau the 8 Jan 13 at 13:46.
When the user freshly installs Ubuntu, or upgrades from a prior distribution, there often are teething problems. Four weeks is generally a good time span to iron them out.

Prompt the user roughly four weeks after a fresh installation or a distribution upgrade with a simple window, something along the lines of:

To help the community find out about hardware compatibility and fix driver problems, we would like to perform some Ubuntu system tests. The tests will take 15 minutes or less. All you need do is let the program run the tests for you, and tell the program which of the tests worked.
* Yes, please run it now
* Please remind me later
* No thanks (do not remind me again)
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Solution #6: Create open API for http://friendly.ubuntu.com
Written by aerse the 9 Jan 13 at 12:45.
I'm representative of aerse.com.

Aerse is a Database that contains specifications of mobile phones, computer hardware components and other electronic devices.

Having open API allows us to get compatibility data for every hardware component we have. Aerse provides general hardware information (CPU, RAM etc) and could additionally provide Ubuntu support, i.e. "OS: Ubuntu 12.04"

API pseudocode example:
List getUbuntuSupportVersions(String modelName, String vendorName);

There are a lot of content providers like Aerse on the market. For example, the biggest is http://www.icecat.biz/

It is possible to reach them and promote Ubuntu support API.

Having open API will help to reach retailer's PIM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_information_management ) systems hence spread the word about Ubuntu compatibility.


See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 6 Jan 13 at 13:47) >>

Ability to turn of notification  
Written by motang the 28 Jun 12 at 23:11. Global category: Others. In development
At times when I am working on projects I like not to be bothered, and this not just goes to people in real life but also people on the Internet. It would nice if there was an option to turn of notification (emails, IM, private messages, etc.) from showing up via Notify-OSD similar to what Apple is implementing in OS X Mountain Lion.

Developer comments
The Canonical design team has specified a "presentation mode" which should help in a lot of cases:

http://design.canonical.com/the-toolkit/unity-multi-monitor-interactions/ → Multiple Monitors UX Specification, Phase 1

However, nobody is currently working on implementing this, so any contributions welcome.
62
votes
inprogress
Selected solution (#1): Ability to turn off notification in Unity
Written by motang the 28 Jun 12 at 23:11.
Turn off notifications with a slider via a drop down option where the power button sits in far right corner. This was no notification bubbles are shown till the user turns it back on.
19
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inprogress
Selected solution (#2): A New section in "Systemsetting"
Written by Nilss the 8 Jul 12 at 05:23.
I think you can have a Own Section in The SystemSettings Programm!
A section "Notification"!
Herr you can Turn on and Turn of The Notification for every Programm.
For Example: You don't like The Notifications from Rythmbox, then you Turn Off "Rythmbox".
But The other Notifications of The other Programms are activated!

(Sorry for my English, i'm German)
4
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inprogress
Selected solution (#3): Notifications on the message menu
Written by gustavokrm the 27 Jul 12 at 16:43.
The message menu will have an area above the Ubuntu One section called "Notifications" that will display every notification the user had in a given amount of time. Say, we could store the notifications of the last 10 minutes. If you miss a notification, you can always go there and look for it. If you disable the notifications to do work, they will always be there.

Think of this like the "transmission" area or something that expands as soon as it is used.
Gwibber notifications will not be stored, since you could always open the application itself and read your Twitter feed, but they will stop appearing.

How this will work? Simple. The user clicks "Occupied" on the message menu and then he/she will see a notification bubble saying: "You have currently set up your status as Occupied. All your notifications will be stored in the message menu". When the user sets the status back to "Available", everything goes back to normal.

Also, the message menu should have a counter near it so the user can know that something awaits his attention.

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 14 Dec 12 at 02:08) >>

Suggest other ways to contribute to Ubuntu at the donation page before download  
Written by neptunno the 22 Oct 12 at 16:49. Related project: ubuntu.com. New
Well, my suggestion is that, together with the donations, there should be a visible link redirecting to other ways to contribute and get involved with Ubuntu.

I say this because of course we all would like to donate to projects such as Wikipedia, LibreOffice, our favorite distro, GNOME, in the end there is no money for all that.

However, sometimes we do have a bit of spare time which can be applied on contributing to Ubuntu, so yes, I think it makes sense to suggest, right below the donations, other ways for any user, even without tech skills, help to make Ubuntu better.

34
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Solution #1: Create a link for redirection next to the donations.
Written by neptunno the 22 Oct 12 at 16:49.
Create a link for redirection to a section where Ubuntu users can see what they can do to help making Ubuntu better.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Advertise Ubuntu apps in independent websites  
Written by dmendizabal the 4 Sep 12 at 11:48. Global category: Others. New
Developers providing apps for Ubuntu need a branding banner to promote their apps and inform users about their availability in Ubuntu Software Center.
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Solution #1: Provide a web tool to generate banners
Written by dmendizabal the 4 Sep 12 at 11:48.
Implement a tool in developer.ubuntu.com to create custom banners to be included in independent websites.
The banner should be designed according to Ubuntu's design guidelines.

See the 1 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 5 Sep 12 at 06:58) >>

KDE native application should be marked in Software Center  
Written by michal_s the 24 Feb 12 at 11:00. Related project: Ubuntu Software Center. New
In my humble opinion, KDE native apps should be marked in Ubuntu Software Center to avoid UI incompatibilities and unwanted dependencies for less experienced user. Now, this situation is particularlny important, because we have KDE apps incompatibilities in GTK2/3 desktop environments and GTK2/3 apps incompatibilities in KDE.
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Solution #1: Marking based on dependencies
Written by michal_s the 24 Feb 12 at 11:00.
If some app have large KDE dependencies or some defined set of KDE dependencies (remember about Qt environment which have some KDE dependencies, but not so large), then it will be marked automatically as KDE app in Software Center.




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Solution #2: But with a mouse-over explanation.
Written by pseudo the 26 Feb 12 at 20:55.
I know some inexperienced Ubuntu users. Just a small sign will nothing tell them. You will need to add a short explanation, on mouse-over on the sign, I suggest.
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Solution #3: Marking based on testing
Written by Aielyn the 9 Mar 12 at 06:35.
How about having logos for each of the various environments, and marking products according to which environments they have been *tested* on?

That way, if a KDE-specific application hasn't been tested for Unity compatibility, it doesn't have the Unity logo, and vice versa.

This could also provide an option to only display products that have been tested for a specific environment. Think of this as a "certification" approach. It shouldn't add too much extra work, as the environment that the program is developed for would be marked immediately, and users who are more adventurous could test untested programs in their environment.

This goes beyond Solution #1, in that satisfying dependencies doesn't guarantee proper working of the program.
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Solution #4: Mark Gnome and compatible applications
Written by Sepero the 11 Apr 12 at 18:59.
Marking the incompatible software only brings more attention to them. Instead, put a little "star" or "check mark" by software that works well. Almost like editor approved software.

Also, there could be a way to open a window showing "314MB install. Listed dependencies are lib...", to indicate how much harddrive space will be used after installing the software.

See the 16 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 14 Jun 12 at 03:06) >>

System Info  
Written by Drak the 20 Oct 11 at 17:16. Global category: Others. New
In KDE there is a handy utility Kinfocenter it shows a lot of information conveniently in one place. Why would in new Ubuntu System Info window also did not display some information? For novice users it will be very useful (after all, not everyone knows the appropriate terminal commands).
That's how I see it:


Also, the button "System Testing" to open Ubuntu System Test app, I think it is very good looking.
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Solution #1: Add more categories
Written by Drak the 20 Oct 11 at 17:16.
I think we need to add these categories:

Audio
Shows vendors and models of audio devices.

Disk
Shows disk vendor, mobel, size, and other information about this.

Network
Shows network adapters information (see example on first picture). "Settings" button open "Network" app for charge properties.

USB Devices, shows:
Connected USB devices.

Operation System, shows:
Version (example 11.10)
Codename (example Oneiric Ocelot)
Kernel Version (example 3.0.0-12-generic)
Hostname
Uptime (shows results of comand "uptime")
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Solution #2: Add HardInfo to Ubuntu
Written by Drak the 31 Oct 11 at 16:14.
We can add hardinfo app in ubuntu CD, so users can learn all the necessary information in a convenient form, on Live CD and after install, without any additional software.
The program is small, so that it does not take much space on the cd.


HardInfo screenshot.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 Jun 12 at 12:59) >>

Change file organization to make more sense  
Written by anadon the 19 May 11 at 14:53. Global category: Others. Won't implement
The file system has become encumbersome to programmers and glazes over the eyes of typical users. It is complex, and, my self, after over a year of using linux have a very hard time making sense of what's where. programs aren't in just one spot so un-installing never removes everything (I've ran into prank ware that exploits firefox, ieX, safari, chrome that takes advantage of this) and as a programmer, I find it hellish that I have no idea where I should even put what small projects I finish. I don't know how ingrained this madness is, but for the sake of the sane, it needs to change.

I get the strangest feeling that alot of people are going to tell me don't bother...
-33
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Solution #1: New file system organization
Written by anadon the 19 May 11 at 14:53.
/
/
//core
//core/kernel
//core/kernel/
//core/essential_drivers
//core/active_drivers
//core/hardware_in_streams
//core/hardware_in_streams/visual
//core/hardware_in_streams/auditory
//core/hardware_in_streams/tactile
//core/hardware_in_streams/internet
//core/hardware_in_streams/system_internal
//core/hardware_in_streams/
//core/libraries
//core/essential_programs
//core/emergency_programs
//core/resurrect //ultra basic mini system preferably able to run on all possible hardware with the sole purpose at fixing the OS(s?) from anything and everything by any possible means. Should first check online repositories or any it can access. Being able to connect to file transfer services such as internet, HDDs, CD drive, etc. critical. Should only perform a "system resurrection."
//core/hardware_out_streams
//core/hardware_out_streams/auditory
//core/hardware_out_streams/visual
//core/hardware_out_streams/internet
//core/hardware_out_streams/system_internal //fans
//core/hardware_out_streams/
//users/
//users/default //contains files every account will have
//users/default/programs
//users/default/programs/
//users/default/programs//executables //executables can access libraries from the core and any in or inherited libraries from the profile and libraries in its folder.
//users/default/programs//libraries
//users/default/programs//
//a program MUST exist only in its folder and may not have any components in ANY other folder. Write permissions must be defined during install and be approved by the system and the user, or root. Read permissions?
//users/default/libraries
//users/default/personal
//users/default/personal/ //typical
//users/root //profile to be inherited when a user or the system invoke root
//users/root/programs
//users/root/programs/
//users/root/libraries
//users/root/personal
//users/system //the system has its own account!
//users/group0 //administrators
//users/group0/default
//users/group0/
//users/group0//
//users/group
//users/group/default
//users/group/
//each numbered group has its own set of defined limits

I don't know much about the symbolic relation to files in the FS to their data, but if its fully symbolic, it would be very flexible.

I would like it if programs run with absolute minimum permissions by default and can only go up to the user's permissions with the user explicitly giving that permission. e.g. a text editor at install would have to be given permission to read and write from the user's personal folder, and if denied it can only access its own folder for saving documents.
4
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Solution #2: Adopt GoboLinux file system hierarchy
Written by puxkggn the 25 May 11 at 15:28.
Adopting GoboLinux file system hierarchy would do much good long term.
How it looks:
http://gobolinux.org/index.php?page=at_a_glance

Introduction:
http://gobolinux.org/index.php?page=k5

FAQ:
http://gobolinux.org/index.php?page=doc/articles/clueless

Personally having each program in it's own folder allows relative path names reliable and effectively.

(Read the FAQ for answers about advantages and solved disadvantages about the GoboLinux File System Hierarchy.)

See the 18 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 15 May 12 at 07:11) >>

No alternative to Windows Live Writer  
Written by dckirba the 2 Apr 11 at 13:25. Global category: Others. Not an idea
As a blogger I tend to use Windows Live Writer a lot. In fact, it is the only reason I restart my laptop and log into Windows.

I have tried the native solutions available for Linux, most notably BloGTK! but even this comes well short of Windows Live Writer which is a simple tool that makes posting to your blog a breeze.

Why is this important?

Because blogging is one of the most popular ways for people to find a voice today. There are more bloggers today than ever before and tomorrow there will be more. If Ubuntu comes with a blogging application that meets or beats the standards we will be giving them a very good reason to choose and stick to Ubuntu.

Idea #5562 was also about the same idea but for some reason it was marked "Implemented" despite the fact that it is not.

Ask any serious blogger who has used Writer and is now using Linux and they will tell you that this is one thing about Ubuntu that is disappointing.

Ubuntu has been presenting itself recently as 'Social from the start', but we are missing a decent tool for a very important sort of community.
2
votes
closed
Solution #1: Aid development of BloGTK
Written by dckirba the 2 Apr 11 at 13:25.
From all the blog applications I've tried on Ubuntu (made for Gnome, therefore excluding Blogilo), BloGTK seems to be the closest one to what is needed.

Is there some way that Ubuntu developers can aid in the development of BloGTK or use the code to built something new and improved?

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 15 May 12 at 07:09) >>

Display downloading speed software center  
Written by seiryu89 the 12 Apr 12 at 20:08. Related project: Ubuntu Software Center. New
It will be a great idea to display the current downloading speed of a package that it's been installed.
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Solution #1: Display under the progress bar the current downloading speed and time remaining
Written by seiryu89 the 12 Apr 12 at 20:08.
Display under the progress bar the current downloading speed and the time remaining

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 15 May 12 at 07:08) >>

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