Quantal Quetzal is in development – new icons, hud and loads more to come to the Canonical’s next iteration of Ubuntu
Founder of Ubuntu Mark Shuttleworth sheds some light on the OS’s next version
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) was released only last month, but we all know that Canonical’s Linux distro is on a quite brutal release schedule – rolling out in six-month bursts.
Like clockwork, Shuttleworth participates in an open discussion after each new version is released to shed some light on what to expect with the next version of the OS. Last week, 12.10 was the point of focus on the Ubuntu IRC chat.
Right – lets get on to the highlights of the chat.
What about Windows 8?
Mark admitted that he admires some of the “gutsy choices” Microsoft is making with Windows 8, making it clear that Ubuntu isn’t about slinging mud on competitors, but rather to fulfill a vision of the future that “only [Ubuntu] can create.”
We’re not here because we hate anybody else. We’re here because we have a vision of a future only we can create. Nobody else is trying to create that – not Microsoft, not Google, not Red Hat, not Debian, not Arch. It’s up to us to build that future: free, supportable, beautiful.
Well put. Most Linux distros (like Red Hat or Debian) are more suited for running enterprise systems or servers. Ubuntu, on the other hand, was created with intentions of bringing Linux to the less tech-savvy crowd. To more than just programmers and geeks. With its spot at number three on the OS charts (right after Microsoft and Apple), I’d say it’s doing a damn good job so far.
Ubuntu shipping on laptops and desktops?
When the question of OEM support for the current version of Ubuntu came up, Shuttleworth gave a quick and to-the-point, albeit satisfying response.
12.04 will ship on PC’s/laptops from all the major brands, in different parts of the world
Canonical has dabbled in the commercial hardware world a little bit, with Dell shipping slightly tweaked, previous versions of its OS on a couple laptops. But the fact that he stated all the major brands will be shipping Ubuntu, in different parts of the world make this sound a little bigger than before. I’d love to see Ubuntu gain some more popularity – it’d be great to see stores like Best Buy sporting Linux boxes.
How ’bout that Unity dash?
The majority of Linux users weren’t exactly thrilled about Unity at first, but developers are constantly making major changes to improve its image. As Shuttleworth put it, “Dash wants to read your mind, as does the HUD.”
The first Unity release was a little disappointing, and the version that shipped with 12.04 was a little better, but still not perfect. Completely changing the way a user goes about accessing their applications isn’t a light task – but like I said, Unity is constantly improving.
I don’t have a fixed, detailed, secret roadmap [for the HUD]. The framework enables you to plug in any sort of result set you like. So, it’s something to invite collaboration and inspire innovation. Lenses and scopes are a lot of fun to work with.
So it looks like nothing is concrete just yet, but I’d expect some nice changes and tweaks are coming to the HUD and dash with 12.10.
“We’ve wanted to do a new icon theme for years!”
It was announced that Quantal Quetzal would include a handful of visual changes, but specifics weren’t really touched on prior to the chat. Apparently, the folks at Canonical have been itching to bring a new icon set to Ubuntu for quite some time.
It’s not hard to start drawing. But yet another icon theme, without proper analysis of the framework that we use icons in, would not make the world much better. So, we’ve pulled together some experts, both artists and interface gurus, to look at the use of icons across the desktop. We’ll start with proper analysis, the art part will come later.
You can always go to sites like Gnome Look or KDE Look and download user-submitted icon sets till the cows come home, but it’s so much better when an OS just looks amazing from the start. Not that Ubuntu is ugly, but I think we’re ready for something new.
I’m definitely looking forward to checking out Quantal Quetzal – it sounds like a lot of interesting changes are coming to Ubuntu. You can find out loads more on Ubuntu 12.10 by checking out this post on OMG! UBUNTU! or reading the full IRC chat.
