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Ubuntu 8.10 alpha 1 packs a new theme (finally)
Never one to rest on their laurels, the Ubuntu team is hard at work on the next cutting edge version of their popular distro, Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex (who the heck names these releases?). As with most other Ubuntu alphas, there isn't much to write home about yet. However, much to our surprise, it has a new interface theme, for the first time since Dapper Drake. "That ugly brown theme", as many people on the internet referred to it, has been the standard on Ubuntu for over a year now, and you either love it or hate it.
"NewHuman" takes the art of Ubuntu in a new direction, and only time will tell if it makes it into the final release, scheduled for October of this year. Those who are interested in participating in the testing process may download an ISO image from the official site. As always, the Alpha versions are not recommended for production machines, so distro shufflers need not apply.
Comments
16
Subscribe to commentsxxdesmusJun 30th 2008 9:21AM
Personally I think the new theme looks horrendous. I think a dark theme will be a very bad idea for Ubuntu. It'll turn off a lot of new users (even though it's simple to change the theme).
GeirJun 30th 2008 10:23AM
I think too much attention is put on the themes, I worry far more about other parts of the OS. However, I have never been a big fan of brown or any shades thereof. Give me some dark themes and some colorful themes, and I'll be happy.
Oh yeah, Go Ubuntu!
DiRTJun 30th 2008 11:29AM
Is there a link to a larger version of that screenshot?
Karolis [Pocius.lt]Jun 30th 2008 3:54PM
Here you go:
http://arstechnica.com/news.media/ub3.png
http://arstechnica.com/news.media/ub4.png
http://arstechnica.com/news.media/ub5.png
I think they went from bad to completely f*cked up! What are they trying to do? Scare people off with such theme?
Thank God we have Linux Mint :)
LostOverThereJul 24th 2008 2:16AM
Karolis [Pocius.lt], that theme isn't final nor is it the default theme! It's just Canonical testing stuff out, the Artwork team's first deadline isn't until a month and a half away.
BufsabreJun 30th 2008 3:25PM
/me likes that ugly brown theme
come one ever notice with every release it got less brown and more orange? honestly that dark theme is horrible
aanidaaniJun 30th 2008 5:54PM
Way too dark for a general theme. Most new users to linux won't bother to customize their theme and that team will definitely drive people away.
MysteriusJun 30th 2008 5:57PM
This is more dusky brown than true dark. Still an improvement, IMHO.
I, for one, *do* dislike the ugly brown/orange theme.
It may be distinctive, but that's because no one else uses it...
I encourage Ubuntu to mix it up with their theme, though I hope they keep mixing it a bit more.
And don't worry too much about negative comments. Remember that virtually any big change will piss off many at first, before they see the error of their ways. ;)
SuperevilJun 30th 2008 6:57PM
Meh, I like dark themes but this one does nothing for me. Personally I think they should use a murrina based theme.
timJul 1st 2008 7:38AM
please make a lighter transparent theme. make things minimalist. white. white is universal. we all like white. I won't mind seening a clock and a calendar and the weather on my desktop. Just dont have it like the mac or windows have it. A lot of newer cellphones are pulling it of quite nicely such as the HTC diamonds theme. please. Other than that Ubuntu is great.
RolandixorJul 3rd 2008 2:23PM
I use 8.04 (all like now). I'd prefer green or blue or even black. that theme sucketh...
D. AllenJul 6th 2008 12:14AM
I don't really care for light text on a dark background, even if it isn't that ugly chocolate (to be polite) brown. I'll stick with black text on light brown, gray, silver, etc., preferably light neutral colors. Did you ever notice that the most-read websites have light-colored backgrounds? There is a reason for that.
L BrownJul 6th 2008 12:22PM
If Ubuntu wants to show diversity of life in its' themes,
then instead of using the colors of mud, dead leaves, and
dung, they should use the live colors of nature: greens,
blues, reds, yellows, and oranges. If not, they might as
well pick the dung beetle as the new mascot. The present
themes may appeal to the aborigines, but most cultures
wouldn't choose them.
RolandixorJul 13th 2008 1:18AM
That was a fine reply until you insulted the Aborigines. I hate when people do that.
anyway, your response is pretty funny otherwise.
pauloJul 15th 2008 6:48AM
This theme is too dark. We need something clean, with small and crisp fonts. I like ubuntu, but this brown palette is a pain. I always install blended metacity theme and blue icons.
linuxmint is a good choice.
LostOverThereJul 24th 2008 2:09AM
Guys Guys! This isn't the default theme! Canonical just put this out to test the reaction of the public. Even if the reaction was good this would NOT have been the default theme. Trust me, the Ubuntu Artwork team are working on something. :)