quantal quetzal

Along with major vital components (such as Unity, Compiz, etc), relatively minor desktop parts have been addressed in the Quantal development cycle, addressed in the sense of being constantly refreshed (from a both visual and usability-aware point-of-view), aimed at delivering a more polished, pleasant-to-the-eye experience while retaining Ubuntu's core values (such as ease of use, user-friendliness, etc).

Unity offers, along with the Dash and the launcher, a top bar/panel, from where indicators can be accessed via their (default) monochrome icons.

Installing Ubuntu, faces the user with its installer, where the slideshow exposes numerous key areas of Ubuntu, such as office (LibreOffice), images (Shotwell), social (Gwibber), web browsing (Firefox), etc, images bearing valuable informations needed to familiarize the user with the about-to-be-installed operating system.

Weeks ago, Unity Gwibber lens landed in Ubuntu 12.10, being implemented as a new default lens, gathering and exposing social accounts in the Dash via an enriched approach, in the sense of delivering, along with a regular view, Social Previews.

Recently, the developers landed (by default) Ubuntu (Unity) Web Apps' infrastructure in Quantal Quetzal, without use cases, meaning, there weren't actual Web Apps available (by default), excepting Ubuntu One Music and Amazon, two interesting Web Apps situated on the Unity launcher (without further actions, such as dragging & dropping their launchers on the Unity launcher).

The latest updates bring numerous specific Web Apps in Ubuntu 12.10, allowing users to benefit Web Apps.

Ubuntu Web Apps are a new web-based technology, mainly combining the power and versatility of the web with the warmth and handiness of the Ubuntu desktop, mix expressed as web content contained into a desktop icon integrated with Ubuntu's functionalities (Messaging Menu, Unity quicklist, desktop notifications, etc).

Unity Shopping lens is a recently landed lens, allowing the user to 1 click-away (by typing a word in Dash home's search area) access commercial online search results (from Amazon) directly from the Dash.

Since its implementation as default in Ubuntu 12.10, the lens has gathered various complains across the internets, especially related to its manner of communicating with (external) servers via HTTP, with loses in security.

Ubuntu 12.10 has reached its BETA 2 stage, strengthening the at-the-moment development cycle with numerous fixes and optimizations, as well as exciting new additions, bundle of freshness that definitely takes Ubuntu (the overall experience) a solid leap into high-quality top computer-related experience.

A definitely exciting new addition is the landing of three new default lenses

Adopting Amazon in Unity 6.6 (in Ubuntu 12.10) triggered various complains and concerns across the internets, mainly related to Amazon-specific results appearing on Dash home after typing words in the search area.

Shortly, various Ubuntu developers have step-by-step explained the decision behind the Amazon's landing, and, the developers have started the work on implementing a clickable user-friendly manner of disabling/enabling commercial results (touching all of Unity, not limited to Dash's home).

Unity Shopping lens has landed (by default) in Ubuntu 12.10's Unity 6.6, landing triggering various complains across the web, complains ranging from identifying Amazon-based Dash results as ads to concerns related to user's privacy and security, latter aspects widely known and acknowledged as Ubuntu's core values.