The moment Ubuntu enthusiasts have been waiting for has arrived. Canonical has announced the rebranding of Ubuntu and showed us the new logo, color schemes, desktop themes, and more. According to them, the new style of Ubuntu is driven by the theme called "Light", which will be used in version 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" and will define the look and feel of Ubuntu for several years. But are there really a lot to be excited about with this redesign?
First of all, I would like to give credit to the Ubuntu team for all their efforts in trying to give this already excellent Linux distro a more polish and simple appeal. Personally, I love the new set of logos (see below):
...except for this one:
Now let's take a deep look at the brand new "Light" theme (click to enlarge):
Compare it to the Mac OS X desktop:
Can you see the similarity? I guess I was right in saying that Ubuntu is trying to imitate the Mac OS X look (read Ubuntu Goin' Gray...) .
First, look at the top menu. Does it not closely resemble that of Mac OS X? --The light-gray menu bar (although the Ubuntu menu has a little shades of brown), the all black menu items, and the WiFi signal strength meter among others are telling us that they are Mac-inspired.
The new Ubuntu window area (Gtk theme) is also quite similar to that of Mac OS X. It looks like they slightly copied the circle buttons and even place them on the left side like that of (you guessed it) the Mac OS X.
The wallpaper completes the pale imitation. As most of you may know, the purple aurora wallpaper is the default wallpaper of OS X "Leopard" and "Snow Leopard".
I think Ubuntu is having an identity crisis right now and should seriously consider changing several things in terms of look and feel to avoid being branded as a Mac OS X rip-off, or worse, get sued by Apple.
I believe the fans are divided right now. Some have learned to love the brown color scheme since it uniquely represents Ubuntu, while others wanted change. Now that the change has come, are you willing to accept it? What are your thoughts regarding the new design?
First, look at the top menu. Does it not closely resemble that of Mac OS X? --The light-gray menu bar (although the Ubuntu menu has a little shades of brown), the all black menu items, and the WiFi signal strength meter among others are telling us that they are Mac-inspired.
The new Ubuntu window area (Gtk theme) is also quite similar to that of Mac OS X. It looks like they slightly copied the circle buttons and even place them on the left side like that of (you guessed it) the Mac OS X.
The wallpaper completes the pale imitation. As most of you may know, the purple aurora wallpaper is the default wallpaper of OS X "Leopard" and "Snow Leopard".
I think Ubuntu is having an identity crisis right now and should seriously consider changing several things in terms of look and feel to avoid being branded as a Mac OS X rip-off, or worse, get sued by Apple.
I believe the fans are divided right now. Some have learned to love the brown color scheme since it uniquely represents Ubuntu, while others wanted change. Now that the change has come, are you willing to accept it? What are your thoughts regarding the new design?
Out of all possible color combination few only looks good... As long Ubuntu theme is good looking it's fine
Ubuntu has had a similar, slightly evolving look since 2004. They decided to switch things up after five years of the same logo and color scheme. Big effin' deal. They're *not* trying to copy anybody but to market themselves as *different* from everyone else.
The default theme may or may not have the buttons on the left (it's a general consensus that it won't). Otherwise the pictures you posted have *nothing* in common regarding the actual themes (I see you put the windows in similar locations... clever you). Sure, the gnome-panel (which has been part of GNOME for ages) has similar styling for the icons. So does Windows. It makes sense to have solid-colored icons on a panel. As Anonymous said (at 3:05), the default theme can be changed with two clicks and will be by most users.
And the default background... it's purple because that's new accent color of Ubuntu. Apple does *not* use purple in any of its branding or themes. I don't know of any popular operating systems that do; another example of Canonical doing something *different* with Ubuntu.
Not good.
When I boot up my super cool Ubuntu desktop or steer someone to try it out I don't want them to think "This looks an Apple"
Can any one say Lindows?
Why Purple? Why? Why? Why?!
Heck I don't even like Apple's theme.
the key is what is under the hood.
and with Ubuntu, you aren't tied to Apple's hardware or company.
Linux>Apple>Windows.
Linux = True Freedom.
- Put X in the corner (it's actually on the inner-left side)
- Dock
- Size of top panel
- Functionality of top panel
- Main color of icons
That is: most of the user experience. Just because they changed the background to purple, you claim it looks like Mac? Very poor judgment.
Shuttleworth *did* say he wanted to increase usability, and said that Mac OS was a target. A target to surpass, that is.
I don't use Ubuntu though, I use Mint, which is still much better at detecting drivers and an overall improved product than it's parent distro. I'm curious to see what Mint will do with the new interface.
Unfortunately, I still don't like it. The first screenshots look unpolished and unprofessional.
Compare that with the open source Enigma Desktop
many thanks for bisigi themes developers. we have a lot of things to choose from
Its not about if it looks like something else!
It´s about anyone being able to make it look the way they want it!
No.... really?
This is not a new thing, althoug the only thing missing from this version is a fruit logo.
I have yet to meet a destkop that I can use the default settings (besides the fact that like all people I know with weak eyes the fonts are waaaaaaay too small) and the first thing I do when I get one is take all the stuff down.
I like my own wallpapers (preferably with a KDE type slideshow to change automatically) and I make the taskbars, since back in the Win98 days, disappear from sight when I dont use them.
So I might not be the right guy to 'appreciate' hype when it comes to eyecandy (whch I love), wallpapers, icons and fonts.
But that's what this is: the promotion of fluff to get some buzz going which as we all know is how you get to be popular.
Pretty soon, we will have the same kind of PR stunts but instead of knowing ahead of time, there will be secrecy involved in the unveilings because we know that hiding things and then releasing them drop by drop is the way to wet the appetites of the tech blogs. Most likely have some big online event called "One new thing" where the world will be invited to gather and admire the new wallpapers and logos.
That's how you create hype/buzz/BS.
If youre going to ape something, you might as well do it like pros all the way through.
In the greater schemes of things, this is wholly unimportant for most Linux geeks who know how to change things (my long retired parents know how to change themes as well so it cant be that hard).
The strength of Linux is that we have many desktops to choose from (and as someone who has converted over 40 people Linux, Gnome is not popular with Windows switchers because it looks like Mac, the look and feel of GTK and fonts is different) and this is one of many looks that Linux can have.
As long as we dont act like this is THE definitive Linux desktop, then its fine.
Choice is good.
Choice is what we are about.
Whether you want satanic versions or Mac copies, its all about what the USER wants.
But let's not kid ourselves, the Gnome has always copied Mac, this is only another step in that direction.
Mother: Well that's great son! Now it's time to replace your crappy old laptop that has an Apple sticker on.
the theme is just another ubuntu copy. just like they copy everything else. just a clone, clone of debian, with a gui clone of mac. and it does matter what it looks like, i don't want to use software that I HAVE to change the theme because the developers made it look like mac.
ubuntu sucks, just a bunch of fanboy newbs that don't know any better. performance sucks, hardware setup sucks.
run real linux, then maybe people will take you seriously
The shades are good though. I feel we can now let some brighter and IMO different color to the ubuntu desktop.
As for Gnome aping the OS9/X I feel that's only partly true. Gnome has been clean and intuitive always without being a major system hog or eye candy hog!
Copying good things from anywhere without stiffling choices is always great. It's about human beings remember! So overall, I feel this new theme is a welcome change ... besides we'll still have the older themes to switch too!
http://tinyurl.com/ye2pl8m
http://tinyurl.com/yd96fmr
http://tinyurl.com/yc7w67s
the icons are a little messy for the change of resolution in the virtual machine...
greetings from Chile! ;)
I have OS X 10.6 and Windows 7 on my Macbook Pro
And I'm install Ubuntu 9.10 right now on my PPC G4 Mac Mini as its only OS.
I grew to like the brown.
I really like the new theme for Ubuntu but I will be choosing the dark grey that is the grey of the Professional Video Editing apps from Apple.
I think what I see from Ubuntu overall is generally good from release to release. I can see them trying which is more than I can say for others.
I don't agree with mono, especially in a default install.
I'm agnostic over Gimp or OpenOffice inclusion as I don't run them often enough to form an opinion.
I do a lot of coding and have taken up a lot of python lately and Ubuntu is a good distro for python, just watching the installer complete which is written in python and humming along quite nicely.
The only thing giving me grief in the Python world is I like the eric4 editor but its written in Qt. Qt is utter crap when you are not on a Linux platform because the additional software building on it, Scintilla etc, have no binaries or easy install. Just dump a Linux package with source at the user and say figure out how to make it on your computer.
Therefore Qt is an absolute No for choice for development, and I do all my work in WxWidgets which has complete and easy binary installers for every platform, even Windows.
I see these as more typical areas for debate, even heated than what I consider wanker opinions on what a theme color is or if it looks like OS X.
We all need to check ourselves at times.
Ubuntu is doing a great job and I believe that Ubuntu should copy a bit more of easy to use interfaces such as the Mac operating system. Also Ubuntu has awesome performance and reliability. Ubuntu has saved my digital life by serving as the most secure operating system of my life.
Ubuntu 10.04 is decently an awesome release and I can see Ubuntu with even more action with Ubuntu 10.10. I can't wait till this new release is out. Ubuntu saved over $43,000 on licensing for all my business computers and it has saved me from purchasing software.
Ubuntu's new UI is brilliant! I am proud to have installed Ubuntu on all my business and personal computers. Ubuntu is a pure blessing and a life saver.
Personally I don't want my window buttons on the left either. It feels unnatural to me now to manipulate the window over there. And the buttons themselves look like copies of KDE...and I must say the buttons in their last release were very pleasing to the eye. But anyway just give me my flat icon buttons on the right and call it a day. When I get tired of Dust I'll visit Gnome Look or Ubuntu Look like everybody else and look for something new.
Kudos to Canonical for the great job.
I've been fed up of brown after one year, like 3 years ago at least. Then I stuck with dark themes like ubuntustudio's one and new wave.
Linux is about freedom and not companies/distros choices.
A theme is copied from OSX, an other one from 7, who cares ? Some others are better and far more innovative.
But Ubuntu has aim to convince and convert windows/osx users. And to accomplish that they tend to mimick. In my pov this is the sad way of converting people to something better.
"Linux will never be as good as OSX blah blah blah..."
"Ubuntu looks too much like OSX blah blah blah..."
Can we just settle on a meme and stick with it please? Can't you follow Microsoft's example, they will be blathering "Windows is cheaper and more secure" all the way to the grave... hahaha... man that one always gets me.
Don't worry, just think of OSX as having a new twin sibling one that's smarter, more popular and more attractive, and loves you.
Be happy!
:)
You are stretching things too far.
You might as well say every car is the same and copy everyone else.
I like the new theme, they will refine it. People complain about brown now they complain about this. There is no pleasing people, therefore, I hope they don't try.
Ubuntu: An old African word for, "can't configure Debian"
Q: What's the difference between an Ubuntu user and an AOL user?
A: About ten years.
Personally, I can't stand Apple. The only product I ever liked was the iPod Touch, but it's still outrageously overpriced. Furthermore, I don't know what everybody's saying about usability, because I. CAN'T. STAND. IT. I mean, seriously? If I want to use my mouse and have a window in the bottom right corner, I really have to travel alllll the way across my desktop to the top left corner just to go to the file menu? Pathetic.
Quit being so vain.
Still, I don't like the new ubuntu look. The buttons are wrong, and grey just doesn't cut it.
I wish they would go for a deep brown.
Not that I'd use it, I change everything to black as soon as I can, but still.
anyway we all will change the wallpaper just as we install the distro.....and maybe the colour scheme as well.....really babyish of to complain sm thing like this....
Some peoples children ...
Naming the latest version of Ubuntu "Lynx" is kind of Apple-ish - Quoted from the Mac OS X page on Wikipedia: "Apple has also registered 'Lynx' and 'Cougar' as trademarks, though these were allowed to lapse." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X#Versions)
-SOS
Congrats to Ubuntu for moving in the right direction. I'm liking what I see with each new release.
However, for me it's not big deal, one of the first things I do on freshly installed OS is to change its look. So my Ubuntu doesn't look neither like Win7 nor OSX but just like... my Ubuntu!
In my point of views, Linux is Linux so why should Linux have to had a start menu like in windows.
So, this might answer your question about Linux looks like mimicking other OS. It's not that Linux want/purposely mimicking Windows or MacOS but the end-user that want it that way.
Ubuntu is free anyway so I doubt Apple can sue...
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/detail/taws-the-amiga-workbench-simulation/img/ahBjaHJvbWV4cGVyaW1lbnRzchgLEg9FeHBlcmltZW50SW1hZ2UY-Y7oAQw/large