quantal quetzal

Days ago, Unity 6.6 landed in Ubuntu 12.10, introducing, along with exciting new features and refinements, a new lens, Unity Shopping lens, that pushes (when the user searches items in Dash's home view) Amazon results, clicking on an Amazon result, opens it via the default web-browser (consequently, the user is able to purchase the clicked item).

Weeks ago, the developers introduced Unity Previews, handy manners of accessing extra informations about items exposed in the Dash, consequently, right-clicking on an item, opens a preview-dedicated Dash view, from where both extra details and control buttons are available.

Unity 6.6 has landed in Ubuntu 12.10 (via the regular updates), taking the Previews and Unity's overall look & feel definitely a solid step further.

What is new in Unity 6.6?

Onboard is Ubuntu's default virtual keyboard, that allows the user to benefit a full-fledged virtual keyboard, featuring full key set, number and function (such as F1, F2, F3, etc) buttons, etc, bundle of features contained into a desktop-integrated interface.

Onboard 0.98 has landed in Ubuntu 12.10, continuing its road towards further improvements, presenting itself as mainly an under-the-hood focused release.

Weeks ago, the Messaging Menu adopted a refreshed look & feel, introducing specific names for contained applications and various minor visual changes.

The latest updates landed in Ubuntu 12.10 add refinements to the Messaging Menu, further continuing the work on enhancing the Unity panel's envelope.

Along with numerous overall user interface changes landed in Quantal, Unity greeter has received minor yet numerous refinements, transforming the greeter into a more polished, visually precise and worked-on-detail login experience.

The latest updates bring a new version of Unity greeter in Quantal Quetzal, further adding subtle user interface changes.

At login, in order to select a different session, the user clicks the login box's Ubuntu logo, action that exposes the available sessions on the box, clicking on a session (such as GNOME), opens the clicked session.

GRUB is Ubuntu's default boot loader and manager, allowing the user, when the computer starts, to select a preferred operating system, a different kernel from an operating system, generate various tests, etc, via a minimalistic clear interface, usually (in Ubuntu) displaying a purple-ish background and text.

Although perceived as GRUB 2, Ubuntu uses (in its at-the-moment current version) GRUB 1.x (1.99 version), 1.99 release acknowledged and referred to across the internets as GRUB 2.

Days ago, Unity greeter was updated with various visual refinements, minor yet relevant visual bits, aimed at further polishing Ubuntu's default login experience.

The visual refresh has been followed by the handy addition of the Network Indicator, indicator exposed (by default) at login, furthermore, adding specific functionalities, such as enabling/disabling connections, access connection details, etc.

After selecting and landing the default wallpaper stack for Ubuntu 12.10, the developers have just published and landed in Quantal the default wallpaper.

The new default wallpaper definitely takes a different approach in terms of expressing the visual brand of Quantal Quetzal, combining warm colors with shadows, similar to a wave of colors.

The eye is to follow a solid yet fluid movement from the right-side to the left area of the screen, a movement of light encompassing the shiny Quantal desktop.

Unity Photos lens is a handy lens that gathers, categorizes and displays both local and online images, items exposed in the Dash.

The supported online sources (work-in-progress) are Flickr, Facebook and Picasa, consequently, uploading images to the mentioned services, automatically exposes them in the Dash via the handiness of the Photos lens.

Days ago, the developers landed Online Accounts in Ubuntu 12.10 (by default), presenting the user a global place where various online accounts are to be entered (authorized), mainly in order to make them available for the upcoming Ubuntu Web Apps.

Sometimes, for various reasons, there are issues related to one's accounts, consequently, resulting a situation where an account is not valid anymore and/or the user must authorize a specific account again (in order to make it usable).