FREE LOOK

Time flies when you�re in a development cycle, I guess. To acknowledge the ace-ness of the alpha release (cos alpha�s are always ace, beta�s are brill� and stables are swell) I�ve decided to write this post as if I was still twelve. And writing about Doctor Who.

So, to the crunch, what�s new and is it worth trying out yet? Buckle up and we�ll take a gander�.

Disclaimer: Ubuntu 11.04 is only at alpha 2. What you see listed below is not finished. I don�t know how many times I have to reiterate this to stave off mini-rebellions against Canonical in the comments, but folks: alpha. Remember �alpha�.

Unity, being the default desktop session in Ubuntu 11.04, has received all sorts of tweaking, fixing and honing.

The Launcher now respects your system theme and has intellihide enabled by default. Other important parts have also landed in Unity since Alpha 1, including: -

A initial version of the Dash is now present.

Browsing for files and applications is a mite easier in this second alpha thanks to theinitial deployment (why am i writing like this is a company report? No idea, I�ll continue) of Unity�s �file� and �application� places.

They look a bit inelegant right now but it�s an alpha, folks. As D:Ream once sang:�things can only get better�.

As a long-time Sound menu advocate (Yes, being an advocate comes with a Unity-branded beret and sash) I was super pleased to see the return of playlist support to the menu. It�s not 100% as it should be in the Alpha (keyword being: alpha) but it works, therefore making it useful already for playlist aficionados like myself.

The new look �Ubuntu One Dashboard� is included by default in Alpha 2. The overhaul is welcome � it certainly helps make syncing and managing your Ubuntu One account easier.

A nifty Compiz plugin now enabled by default is the �Aero Snap� style �Grid�. Drag an app window to the top to maximise, left or right to resize windows side-by-side.

For the times when auto-sizing doesn�t do it you�ll find a new �grip� handle on window borders and an invisible  �border aura� make manual resizing much, much easier (particularly on touchscreens).

Ahh, and so we come to Ubuntu�s �app store�. Notable additions present in Alpha 2 include: -

Long wanted and now they�re here: give your favourite apps a star rating, fill in a short review and then tweet your verdict to your social buddies via Gwibber.

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