Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has announced that the Unity shell currently used in Ubuntu's netbook edition will become the default user interface for Ubuntu's main desktop edition as well, starting with the next version of the operating system. Unity became Ubuntu's netbook UI with the release of the current version of the OS, 10.10 Maverick Meerkat.

Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal is set to be released before the end of April 2011, and will represent a significant milestone in Ubuntu's history. It will be the first version of the OS not to ship with the Gnome shell as the default UI. Gnome will continue to be the underlying framework, as Unity is based on it, but the interface layer will look nothing like Gnome.

The reasons for this shift are many, but consist mostly of differences of opinion between Ubuntu's leadership and the upstream developers of Gnome. According to Shuttleworth, Ubuntu tried to participate in the Gnome shell design process but found many philosophical differences that were impossible to reconcile. They decided to go their own way and improve Unity to the point at which it will become a viable replacement for the Gnome shell.

Gnome's rejection of global menus as well as performance issues with Gnome's new Mutter window manager are also to blame for Ubuntu's change of direction. A key factor was also multi-touch, and Shuttleworth's clear belief that extensive support for it should be built into the OS. Unity is already multi-touch-enabled in Ubuntu 10.10 but the plan is to bring richer touch interaction to the desktop with Ubuntu 11.04.

This move could anger at least some open source enthusiasts, but it probably shouldn't. Ubuntu is clearly trying to further differentiate itself in a Linux world filled with UIs and user experiences that are extremely similar. It is a risky bet, but Shuttleworth says that developers need not worry because fragmentation can be avoided by using FreeDesktop.org to ensure that desktop integration mechanisms are standardized and interoperable. Whether that will be enough to alleviate all possible issues or silence the critics of this decision remains to be seen.

The standard Gnome shell will continue to be available as a non-default installation option.

Ubuntu 10.10 was recently released, and one of the many feature additions Canonical is excited about is the introduction of the uTouch gesture framework, which brings multi-touch support to the popular Linux distro.

Using uTouch, users can perform a range of actions ranging from displaying the task switcher you see above to minimizing, maximizing, and restoring windows. Curious about how Ubuntu's Unity interface and uTouch might work on your own touch-enabled system? Check the video after the break!

A note for the impatient: up until the 39s mark or so, it's mostly one-finger UI poking.

[via Canonical]

Ubuntu 10.10 is due to arrive next month (10/10, of course), and if you've been waiting for Canonical to make the jump from alpha to beta before taking an early peek at it -- today's the day! The download page is up, torrents are seeded, and you can finally get your paws on the Maverick Meerkat beta.

The new release features refined visuals from the background to the default icons. The simplified installer also now features an option to download an MP3 decoder during the setup process -- giving users the ability to play back the popular audio format from the get-go. There's also a slick new audio menu which display album artwork and playback controls.

Multi-touch support has been added and the Unbuntu Software Center refined, and some of the default applications have been replaced as well. Ubuntu Netbook Edition has also been overhauled, and now sports the new Unity dock and a snazzy home screen.

WebUpd8 has posted loads of screenshots and a video walkthrough which are well worth a look if you're keen on seeing what Maverick Meerkat brings to the table.

With the final release of Ubuntu 10.04 due in just under a month, things appear to be right on schedule at Canonical. Yesterday the Lucid beta download page went live and eager testers rapidly descended upon the mirrors.

Watching Lucid evolve has been exciting. It's clear that Canonical is intent on creating a version of Ubuntu which can appeal to a broader base of computer users with a more select set of default programs, new visuals, built-in easy access to social networks via Gwibber, and loads of other improvements.

One key addition to the beta is Wubi. If you're not familiar with it, Wubi is a Windows program which allows you to install Ubuntu on the same drive as your Windows install. It's an extremely simple way to take Ubuntu for a test drive -- or make it a permanent fixture on your system.

As Canonical continues work on Ubuntu 10.04, it's becoming more and more apparent that they're serious about delivering an OS with some serious consumer appeal. Ubuntu One -- Canonical's cloud sync service -- and the U1 Music Store will no doubt contribute to that appeal.

After showing us a handful of early screenshots of the Music Store, self-professed Ubuntu fanboy Popey has been digging again and discovered something interesting in Rythmbox, the distribution's default audio player.

During the installation of the Rythmbox U1 Music Store package, a hidden folder (~/.ubuntuone/musicstore) is created on the system and linked to Rythmbox's libraries. Popey believes that since you wouldn't normally expect a user to save files in a hidden location -- and since subfolders in the ubuntuone directory are synced via the Ubuntu One service -- that your audio downloads could be automatically stored to both your own hard drive and Canonical's cloud.

With Ubuntu One's web interface at the ready, you could theoretically be enjoying tunes purchased through the U1 store on any (and all) your systems with minimal fuss. Once the Ubuntu One desktop client makes its way onto Windows and Mac, the process should be even simpler.

It's a guessing game for now, but as Alpha 3 approaches and Canonical begins work on the Lucid Beta we'll start getting a better look at how (or if) Ubuntu One and the Music Store will work together.