New Built-in Screenshot Feature in Enlightenment Desktop

Jeff Hoogland blogs about a new tool in the Enlightenment desktop, the default graphic interface for Bodhi Linux. Enlightenment users no longer have to download a third-party application to take screenshots. Instead, they can install a simple tool, similar to the screenshot tool in desktops like GNOME, to get the job done. This feature will come in handy whenever I get around to my review of Bodhi Linux 1.1.0.

Thoughts on Technology: HOWTO: Easily Take Screenshots in the Enlightenment Desktop

Greybird on Xfce-Look

If you like the look of the Xubuntu 11.04 default theme but don't want to actually run Xubuntu, you're in luck. Somebody posted the Greybird theme on Xfce-Look, making it available to Xfce users running faster distributions.

Greybird Xfce-Look.org

Xfce Theme: Pepperlake

Another complete Xfce theme has made its way to Xfce-Look. Pepperlake, according to its creator, is designed to "incorporate a dark style with light menus so items are clearly visible."  Here's a screenshot of the theme with the Elementary icon set and with the top panel's alpha level (level of opacity) set to 90%.

I set the top panel to be slightly transparent because the panel has the same gradient color as the window title bar. I found the effect visually jarring, and it disappears if you make the panel slightly transparent.

Pepperlake Xfce-Look.org 

Glow Pack: 3 Complete Xfce Themes

All three of these themes are dark with brightly glowing buttons. They look really slick but trigger the famous Open/LibreOffice dark themes bug. However, if you're using another word processor like AbiWord, this won't be a problem.

Glow Pack Xfce-Look.org

Bodhi Linux Introduces Windows-style "Service Packs"

Bodhi Linux lead developer Jeff Hoogland explains Bodhi's "Service Pack" system, which allows users to download kernel and distro updates and then install them offline without using a package manager. I'm not sure whether this is good or bad, since automatic package updating is one of the best features of Linux. Are there enough converted Windows users who are more comfortable with this arrangement?

Thoughts on Technology: Bodhi Linux Service Pack 1 Ready to Go

DistroWatch Weekly Highlights

Lightweight-distro related news from the new DistroWatch Weekly:

• Tiny Core Linux gets a graphic installer (from Linux Journal)
• Puppy Linux 5.1.2 "Wary" released

This issue also notes the release of Bodhi Linux 1.1.0, which I mentioned in a previous post, and points to the Mark Shuttleworth interview I talked about here.

DistroWatch Weekly Issue 407

Mark Shuttleworth's Column in Linux User #100

In the latest issue of the British magazine Linux User, the editors hand over their regular column on Ubuntu to Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of the Ubuntu project. Shuttleworth uses the column to explain the thinking behind the new Unity interface in Ubuntu 11.04. This little section caught my eye:

Touch and games are our inspiration. When we set about designing Unity, we drew inspiration from the world of consumer electronics. We wanted to produce something that felt more lightweight and easy to use than a traditional PC interface. We also wanted to take advantage of the incredible graphics technology that is found in every modern PC.

We studied game system interfaces, like the PlayStation and Xbox. We studied mobile products like the iPhone and looked for ways we could embrace ideas from those environments in the desktop. In particular, we took the view that touch-centric interfaces would come to the PC, and we made sure that key pieces of Unity are touch-friendly.

I had two reactions to these statements:

1. Does anybody think Unity is lightweight? In my experience, Unity, being based on GNOME, has been about as unwieldy as GNOME. 
2. Can an OS designed for tablets and mobile phones still be a good fit for traditional computers? If Unity trims its bloat and becomes a great OS for netbooks, tablets, and smartphones, will users of desktops and traditional laptops still be able to tolerate it? Can one OS really work on the variety of electronic devices available to the public? Or does Shuttleworth expect traditional computers to disappear entirely?

Linux User's Ubuntu Column #100, by Mark Shuttleworth

Shiki-Colors Light Menus Xfce-Look.org

Somebody on Xfce-look modified three of the famous Shiki-Colors themes to have lighter-colored menus. Here's a screenshot of Shiki-Brave Light Menus:

These themes come with window manager files for both Metacity and xfwm4, so Xfce users don't have to poke around for a window border that looks right.

Shiki-Colors Light Menus Xfce-Look.org

Distribution Release: Bodhi Linux 1.1.0 (DistroWatch.com News)

According to Distrowatch, Bodhi Linux 1.1.0 has been released. I enjoyed version 1.1.0, despite a few minor issues with the Enlightenment desktop, so 1.1.0 joins my ever-growing list of distros to review.

Distribution Release: Bodhi Linux 1.1.0 (DistroWatch.com News)

Dark Standards Xfce-Look.org

I just came on another Xfce theme, complete with xfwm4 theme. Dark Standards is supposed to be a combination of the default Xubuntu Studio theme and the standard Xubuntu theme.

Here's a screenshot of Dark Standards on my laptop. The icons are the default Xubuntu Elementary Dark. The wallpaper is Xubuntu Karmic wallpaper, which is available as an option in the Xubuntu 11.04 Desktop settings.

Dark Standards Xfce-Look.org