Ubuntu Netbook Remix UI Gets Tweaked Again

Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 4 brings another Ubuntu Netbook Remix user interface redesign. The colors has been lighted, the menus now dynamically resize to allow more of the background to be seen and launcher animations have returned.

Favorites-


Files & Folders-


System Preferences & Administration


Launcher Animations-


If you want to try out Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 4, you can download it here

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Ubuntu Netbook Remix's New User Interface

Ubuntu Netbook Remix's user interface is receiving a redesign for Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala.


- The original interface (Click image for a larger view)


- The redesigned Ubuntu Netbook Remix (Click image for a larger view)

I don't hide my love for Ubuntu Netbook Remix, but I'm well aware that the interface wasn't exactly perfect at first. It was clunky and misused screen space, two shortcomings that have thankfully been addressed in the redesign. The right side of the the launcher was removed and integrated into the left panel, and the color scheme was cleaned up, albeit with a slightly darker tone. As it stands, the new interface is sleek, sexy and feels more responsive.


- UNR now lists the folder shortcuts and drives in the left panel. (Click image for a larger view)


- Each icon now has an "Add to Favorites" menu button. You no longer have to drag and drop it into the "Go Home" applet to create a shortcut. The integration of the Ubuntu notification system is also a nice touch. (Click image for a larger view)


- The preferences and administration tabs were merged into the System category. This seems like a minor tweak but allows users to find everything they need to configure or edit their system in one tab.


- The launcher was changed. It no longer animates and has a sleek look that fits in with the tone of the redesign. It's faster and less distracting, a definite plus in my book. (Click image for a larger view)

I've already written about the exciting improvements in-store for Ubuntu 9.10, and Ubuntu Netbook Remix's redesign is making the wait unbearable.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Hack The Ubuntu Netbook Remix UI

With a little bit of work you can really change the look and feel of Ubuntu Netbook Remix's user interface.

- This only took me 2 minutes. It removes almost all of UNR's user interface and lets me show off my desktop wallpaper.


- The default Ubuntu Remix User Interface

The Netbook Remix user interface files are stored in:

/usr/share/netbook-launcher

To edit the files
In a terminal type:

sudo nautilus

- then navigate to /usr/share/netbook-launcher

The files are saved as Scalable Vector Graphics. To edit them, I recommend Inkscape, a free and open source vector graphics editor. It is a powerful graphic editing tool that is fully compliant with the XML, SVG, and CSS standards.

To install Inkscape
In a terminal type:
sudo apt-get install inkscape

After editing the files, Log Out and back in for the changes to take effect.

My Inkscape skills are sub-par at best. My hack just erased the background. I would really like to see what the community comes up with. Feel free to take a screenshot (FN+Prnt Scrn) of your custom UNR interface and link to them in the comments. If you want, I can host your pictures and files and share them with everyone. Email me at redDEADresolve [at] gmail and I will put them in the article.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Nautilus User Interface Tweaks

Canonical's Design and User Experience team has launched the One Hundred Paper Cuts project to improve Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala. A paper cut is a trivially and fixable usability bug that the average user would encounter on their first day of using a brand new installation of Ubuntu Desktop Edition. They have identified 100 paper cuts, and are going doing their best to fix them.

One of the paper cuts discussed this week was Nautilus' user interface. Users identified Nautilus complexity and inefficiently of the windows used screen space. David Siegal's blog discussed some proposed changes that were impressive but ultimately rejected upstream.

I agree that Nautilus' user interface is overwhelming (especially on a netbook's small screen) and it's use of screen icons, labels and space excessive.


- Notice the icons have labels. Explanations of the icons is unneeded. The icons themselves do a great job defining their actions.
- The top nautilus bar takes up almost 20% of the Mini 9's screen space.

Below is a pic of the rejected changes to Nautilus that were outlined in David Siegel's blog. Even though they were rejected they show were Nautilus should be headed.

- Notice the streamlined icons without labels
- The redundant home and computer icons just appear in the left plane.
- Location bar bar moved to the navigation icons.
- Space is efficiently used.

Hopefully we will see some of these proposed changes end up used in Nautilus. Until then we can save space by changing Nautilus settings in Appearances.

To get there go to System>Preferences>Appearance
Under the Interface Tab you can save space by turning the icons in the left plane off, and change the appearance of the icon layout with the pull down menu.


Icons Only


Text Only


It's not a perfect solution but it does make Nautilus easier to look at and use.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.