Ubuntu 11.04 Beta 1 has been released today and iso images are now available to download. Ubuntu 11.04, is coming up with an entirely new shell for Gnome desktop - Unity, which was default for netbook edition in Ubuntu 10.10 and was based on Mutter.

However, Unity has beenfrom mutter. Classic Gnome Desktop will also be available in Ubuntu 11.04 but will not be default and users can switch to it from login screen.

There is also Unity-2D for devices/netbooks not capable of 3D hardware acceleration. Unity-2D is based on qt/qml framework and aimed at providing a faster and smoother experience on devices sans 3D acceleration support.

Also, Ubuntu 11.04 is not based on Gnome 3 stack but on 2.32.1. Gnome Shell will not be provided as an option for default Ubuntu interface but it will be installable either from a PPA or from Ubuntu repositories.

This was brief introduction to what is coming in Ubuntu 11.04, now some highlights of beta 1.

Unity Interface Explained





If you have used Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition interface, you will be familiar with Unity. Unity interface is made of a launcher on the left where active application windows, pinned application shortcuts and unity-places are shown. On the top left corner there is an Ubuntu icon that shows dash menu with shortcuts. The panel on top is not customizable and movable and on the right, all the app-indicators stack up. Unity launcher also supports quick-lists and some applications like Gwibber, Shutter, Take Screenshot etc. are already using them.













The dash menu appears once you click Ubuntu icon on top left corner of the screen. The menu contains broadly categorized shortcuts that take you deeper into applications and folders. You can also search in dash menu for files, folders and applications.









Unity-Places for files and applications are quick access launchers for applications and files. Both these places support quick-lists that directly takes you to a particular category. Results are neatly categorized under various headings and can be filtered. Similar to the dash, these places can be turned into fullscreen view by clicking on grab handle. There is also a work-space switcher icon that lets you to quickly drag your windows to different work-spaces and switch to them.













Application menus are shown on panel and are only visible if you hover pointer on the panel. I personally don't like this effect as this is confusing, specially for new users though it is minimal. Window controls for maximized applications also remain on panel.









here Most parts of the unity interface are easily accessible thanks to many keyboard shortcuts. Pressing super key takes you to the dash menu and pressing and holding super key shows keyboard shortcuts on the launcher. There are many other keyboard shortcuts, you can have a look









What I like the most in these shortcuts and in entire Unity interface is ALT+F2 combo. This key-combo lets you run command from a dash menu. Relevant results are shown as you type and all your past commands are stored for quick access. This key-combo is enough for me and I rarely use dash menu and unity-places-applications view.















As far as indicators on panel are concerned, network manager now has an app-indicator, there is new entrant - Ubuntu One in messaging menu, sound menu has now playlist support and you can already use this feature with Banshee, time and date indicator shows Evolution events/appointments etc. Many Unity settings like launcher behavior, transparency, blur etc. can be configured under Unity plug-in in Compiz Config Settings Manager (installable from software center)As far as indicators on panel are concerned, network manager now has an app-indicator, there is new entrant - Ubuntu One in messaging menu, sound menu has now playlist support and you can already use this feature with Banshee, time and date indicator shows Evolution events/appointments etc.











Unity-2D, is for low end systems and netbooks not capable of hardware acceleration. There is no change in interface of Unity-2D from 3D version but it is more snappier. On the other side though, without 3D effects, blur and transparency, Unity-2D is a Plain Jane.









Unity-2D, is for low end systems and netbooks not capable of hardware acceleration. There is no change in interface of Unity-2D from 3D version but it is more snappier. On the other side though, without 3D effects, blur and transparency, Unity-2D is a Plain Jane.