Ubuntu 12.04 to replace traditional menus with new HUD

So should we expect a variation of this in Windows 8 or will we have to wait till Windows 9?

Instead of HUD, something like Metro has a better chance of succeeding in the market place, simply because it will be much easier for a novice user to master such interface in a hurry. I find myself using the good old DOS prompt many times so ........ for a power user it make sense.

I can imagine this working on a simplified OS, something like iOS, but not on a complex desktop OS due to the sheer number of commands that would have to be exposed to allow for all of the actions.

It sounds like the voice commands will be limited to certain applications at first. That should make it easier for newer users to adapt to the new VUD.

Another marketing gimmick from a marketing company...

Do I really need my PC to lead me on a journey? For me this is an EPIC FAIL...

I don't know how I feel about this. Already not too thrilled about the Unity interface. I miss my drop down menu where I can look through the programs installed. sometimes forget the name of a program I want, but know what category to look it and have to scan through them to find it. Can't really do that with Unity, only look thru the list of all the programs. This could be worse or better. If I type in "game" will it give me a list of all the games I have installed or just things that have the word "game" in the name of the program?
Or I forget what option I'm looking for, but remember what menu it was in. How am I supposed to find it now?

Assuming voice commands next
this is the first step

This is a new creative idea in menu and control; Is it going to be useful and easy for the average user? If so then this concept will take off, if not it will be just another BEOS type of thing. Cool idea that doesn't last.

Voice control is nice in a mobile device but for a desktop PC running complex scripts and shifting to a console box when desired? I doubt it. I'll put on my red Star Trek shirt and give it a go anyway ("Computer: Mix me a martini" beep-beep) since I kinda like Ubuntu for trying new approaches. I'd like them better if they borrowed Mint's approach and included a good bridge between traditional menu and their new UI. Plus they'd catch less user grumbling that way.

OMG thats horrid...

I felt so confined just watching (him) that video. Thats a "Coder's" UI.


Once a proper GUI is set up, u never have to touch ur keyboard. Window 98 was great at this.. MS better get it right with Win8. Desktop operating system.. (D E S K T O P !!)



-particle_z00

Lol, this is horrible. Seriously, what are they thinking? It's a desktop operating system, not an IT operating system.

"One major drawback would be for beginners, the company acknowledged, who could struggle without a menu in which to search if the exact commands are unknown. But they firmly believe the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in this scenario."

Because they're complete flaming loonies.

"This is a new creative idea in menu and control"

Er, it's a command line.

What? Everything is like a terminal now? What wrong with point and click? I think this just makes it easier for the programmers not us. As they don't have to make a click-able GUI.

I think Ubuntu is killing itself in doing so. Already, the Unity itself was dumb where you have to to click four to six times to open a program instead of just one/two clicks before, now they are introducing something that has no menu at all? This is a big step backward because you have to remember the name of the program which is the same as remembering commands in command line.

well i see it as a strategic move towards mobile , then u think of this think of voice not just writing
UBuntu main target now is mobile and differentiating itself from others systems is not a failure , on the other hand imitating successful OSs is.
give them a chance

Yes. HUD may be good for developers and for IT people in general. And I agree that it may be challenge for a newbie who does not know the application and know what exactly to search for. But I am thankful that Canonical is working on new ideas and innovations. Some ideas work and some don't but I would like my OS to evolve and be a leader in the evolution. HUD may be very well suited for MUbuntu (the mobile OS, Mr. Mark S. is probably thinking ahead on this already). Keeping in my Ubuntu's linux for human being idea, I would have the option for enabling the traditional menus so new users are happy. Thank you.