Ubuntu's Unity NEXT (Unity 8) Preview.

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Oct 24, 2024

Oct 24, 2024

1.2K

Ubuntu's currently working on the custom display server "Mir" which will be replacing Xserver which we have used it for long years. (bye bye xorg, Imma take backup of my xorg.conf & reminisce)

Unity 8 a.k.a Unity NEXT which is being recoded using QML, so the Ubuntu Touch & Ubuntu Desktop will have similar environment. However, I was against of this as I firmly believe that bridging gap between Smartphone's UI & Desktop UI is not good. I love different UI for both platform & not same.

Then I saw this video :

I used to curse Canonical when they removed Gnome 2.x & replaced it with Unity in 11.04. Until the release of 13.04 Raring Ringtail, it was bloat, no shit. But in Unity 7.x in 13.04 version, I noticed very smooth Unity Dash panel will very fast response and I have to apologise the Ubuntu developers.

As you can see in the video, unity 8 is uber sexxah! It defines the term "beautiful"
Unity 8 will be shipped in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, the same time when Canonical is planning to release their smartphones.

What's your views, CEans ?
Do you like the new UI of Unity 8 ?

(Sidenote : I know you all love Windows, but why not just for sake of 'change', dual-boot Ubuntu alongside Windows, and enjoy the awesome Linux distro, atleast for once ? )

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Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 8, 2013

I am using Ubuntu 13.4, Virtual machine. It looks good and UI is definitely enhanced and responsive.
Unity 8 looks more pretty and responsive even running as application👍.
It looks like Unity 8 is designed as dynamic UI to adapt any screen resolution, that's great.

Edit--
PS:
BadA$$ Phone
#-Link-Snipped-#
Pensu

@pensu-8tNeGU • Jul 8, 2013

Holy cow! That's too damn sexy! I have reading about a lot of disputes about "Mir", but dude, it's doing wonders! Already in love with 14.04!
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 8, 2013

ianoop
It looks like Unity 8 is designed as dynamic UI to adapt any screen resolution, that's great.
Yes, it's indeed awesome.
Each & every gadget, Laptop,Netbook,Phablet,Tablet & Smartphones will get the support. Great move by Canonical.

Pensu
I have reading about a lot of disputes about "Mir"
Yeah, While Ubuntu developers have opted for custom display server "Mir", Gnome & KDE developers are still in dispute, whether to stay with Wayland, or move to Mir.
This is directly affecting the KDE & Gnome based desktop environments.

However, Opensource x.org drivers are getting matured & Ubuntu have shifted to Mir, and there's no video driver's support in Mir display for any cards at this moment. This seems like starting from scratch.
However, I feel that the development of drivers will begin from october 2013 & by 14.04 LTS release we'll have stable release.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 9, 2013
Update :

Canonical just kept Mir 0.0.6 release for ubuntu.

If you're curious impatient like me, then download Ubuntu 13.04 & update the distro to 13.10 saucy salamander using :
```
 sudo do-release-upgrade -d
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade 
```
Now, purge all the binary drivers of Nvidia or ATI (Obviously depends on your gfx cards)

TO install Mir :
```
 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mir-team/system-compositor-testing
sudo apt-get update 
```
Now, edit /etc/apt/preferences.d/50-pin-mir.pref with :
```
Package: *
Pin: origin "private-ppa.launchpad.net"
Pin-Priority: 1001
 
Package: *
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-mir-team-system-compositor-testing
Pin-Priority: 1002 
```
And then finally
```
 sudo apt-get dist-upgrade 
```
restart the light-dm & enjoy Mir.

Credit : A blog on Linux (I noted the steps early morning, but forgot to note the author : Apologies)

PS : I am doing it early morning tomorrow, anyone interested ?
If yes, just post back here & we'll post some screenshots in CE.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 9, 2013

So, I have installed Mir server in 13.10 Saucy Salamander

It is very fast even in beta, but the bug is that it has two mouse cursors, which confuses me :

I found it bit slow while interacting with applications though. Rest everything is like god-speed.
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 9, 2013

I tried installing on my virtual machine but seems it has 1Gb update and root doesn't have much space. I will wait for stable release😀

Btw, feeling 13.04 very smooth and surprisingly beautiful 👍
Ashraf HZ

@Ash • Jul 9, 2013

ianoop
I tried installing on my virtual machine but seems it has 1Gb update and root doesn't have much space. I will wait for stable release😀

Btw, feeling 13.04 very smooth and surprisingly beautiful 👍
Which VM are you using?
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 9, 2013

VirtualBox.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 9, 2013

ianoop
I tried installing on my virtual machine but seems it has 1Gb update and root doesn't have much space. I will wait for stable release😀
I had around 576 MB of update.
BTW, You won't have to install Mir server for Saucy Salamander, it's gonna be default display server in 13.10 : However, we have to wait for9-10 more months for Unity 8.

ianoop
Btw, feeling 13.04 very smooth and surprisingly beautiful 👍
No shit! 13.04 has very responsive Unity dash. But, 13.10 + Mir = Ultra fast.
i simply hate the minor glitches & those two racist cursors 😛

By the way, Firefox 23.0 has polished icon for Mir DS. 👍
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 9, 2013

I had around 576 MB of update.
It was asking for more than 1gb free space to update. May be because I am on 13.04.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 9, 2013

ianoop
It was asking for more than 1gb free space to update. May be because I am on 13.04.
i updated from 13.04 to 13.10 only.
13.04 to 13.10 ~ 576 MB
Replacing Xserver with Mir server = 86 MB

The update size depends on the applications you have installed. If you have installed 40 applications, then all the application will be replaced with latest version which are available in saucy salamander repository.Hence size increases.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Aug 2, 2013

Update :
Unity 8 is now available for Ubuntu 13.10.
Here's the source code : #-Link-Snipped-#

You have to launch Unity 8 from command line & two modes of Unity 8 i.e Mobile mode & Tablet mode will be shown.
Canonical developers are focusing on Mobile domain atm, 14.10 will be shipped with Unity 8. Until then it will be shipped with Unity 7 with default atop XMir.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Aug 22, 2013

Update :
Upcoming boot process changes in Ubuntu. Check this video :
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Sep 24, 2013

Tested Unity8 Alpha in Saucy Salamander Beta daily build.
Created 31 second video just to show how is it, for CE.

The UI is exceptionally fast & it can fit in any resolution (maybe it's main reason why Mir has been developed).
I can't wait for stable version of Unity 8. I hope Unity 8 ships in Ubuntu 14.04