Unity Desktop Introduction

More About The Unity Desktop

Either way a closer look is definitely needed for users with no prior Ubuntu experience, as even I had trouble hunting down certain settings and applications with all the changes.

Unity Desktop Features

• Use the new dash to quickly find and launch applications or files.
• With Compiz you can add many exciting effects to your desktop.
• Add all of your favorite applications to the new launcher for quick access later.
• Check out the cool new workspace switcher.
• Add more application indicators to your top panel to help you interact with all of your commonly used applications.
• Try adding extra lenses to your new dash to help you search for specific local and remote items.
• NotifyOSD will even display cool pop-up bubbles to let you know about new events and notifications.

Unity Desktop Installation

For users that wish to install the Unity desktop shell, you can. Installation instructions are provided.

Base Dependencies

Users can also get a general idea of the important packages and dependencies used by the Unity desktop. There are also several other useful packages that users may find helpful.

Unity Desktop Installation

Unity Desktop Components

Here you can learn all about the list of dependencies for the Unity desktop. Like other desktops Unity requires a long list of packages, other packages are recommended for additional functionality. This is for users who can a peek under the hood of Unity to see exactly how things work.

Gnome And Unity

Because the Unity desktop is simply a shell interface for the Gnome desktop environment some Unity components mirror the Gnome components.

Primary Components

Here you can learn about the LightDM display manager which is commonly used to login to the Unity desktop. Or you can learn more about the Compiz window manager which is really the heart of Unity.

Unity Desktop Components

Unity Desktop Extras

The Unity desktop has many other important components as well. Not only that, there are lots of fun little tools to use as well.

NotifyOSD

NotifyOSD is the new notification tool for the Unity desktop. This tool also uses GTK+ 3 and provides an elegant look that matches the desktop well. There is also fantastic support for transparency.

Zeitgeist Event Logger

This is the tool that is used to remember all of your recently files and applications. The Zeitgeist Event logger integrates well into the Unity desktop dash to display relevant information for the user. You can also control which information you would like Zeitgeist to monitor.

Unity Desktop Extras

Tags: 11.04, desktop, Gnome, Ubuntu, Unity | Posted in Desktop