compiz

Ubuntu 11.10's Compiz has been updated to 0.9.5 version bringing bug fixes and a new refinement to the Grid plugin (aero snap-like effect).

Compared to its Natty's version, now, when one push a window against the edge of the screen there is a fade effect (no more progressive zoom-like) and the color is brighter, making it very easy to observe and work with.

The shape of the expanded future window covers now the whole desktop (if you want to go fullscreen) and even the active window.

Oneiric Ocelot has received recently Compiz's Modal Dialog plugin and, although it is a gorgeous plugin, it has a bit of humor in it: the plugin itself was working only on Unity 3D (based on Compiz) but the modal dialog theming was working only on Unity-2D.

A just now update has landed in Oneiric bringing a modified shadowed fancy theming for the modal dialogs on Unity 3D making the plugin complete (however this is a work in progress, so we can aspect further development).

Last week the light themes received the modal dialog's theming and, just now the actual Compiz Modal Dialog plugin has landed in Oneiric.

Natty is still hot, but, at UDS-O, the developers are already discussing innovative design that will (probably) land in Oneiric.

As we all have witnessed, the Compiz's Desktop Cube has brought a great deal of popularity to Ubuntu, and, with the introduction and implementation of Unity-shell 3D, Desktop Cube could't anymore be used in Natty.
Yes, but, why?
Unity was depending on "Desktop Wall" and, by simply selecting "Desktop Cube", Unity was disabled.

Many we-want-the-cube-back related complains have been expressed, "forcing" developers to find a simply, yet smart trick, to allow the cube to be functional under Unity.

It is almost a habit that Natty should receive some bling each day and, as of today, Compiz's Grid plugin has just been enhanced with an awesome animation.

This comes as a feature freeze exception (the plugin itself can't do any damage to Natty, plus can be easily disabled with just one click).

The Grid plugin behaves just like Windows' "aero effect", it can resize a window dragged to top, right or left side of the desktop, making it fit perfectly (full-screen, right-half, etc).