New default apps proposed in Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

Although Ubuntu 11.04 was released just a few days ago, work on the new version of Ubuntu 11.10 has already begun (and, by the way, repositories 11.10 are already available ) and some very interesting development planning projects for Ubuntu can be seen on Launchpad.

Important: these are only projects that still have to go through the approval stage, so it is not necessary that they become a reality. So far this is just a discussion!

Thunderbird instead of Evolution

Thunderbird is supposed to become the default program instead of Evolution, although Evolution has several advantages:

• Good integration with the work environment (including message menu, program menu and unity launcher)
• Integrated with existing translation structure
• Default calendar features, which are also integrated into the environment.
• Support for synchronizing contacts with U1
• Contact Sync with GMail
• GNOME Release Process Better Than Our Six Month Cycle
• Exchange Support

These are powerful arguments to leave Evolution by default in Ubuntu 11.04, but Thunderbird is gaining momentum - for example, it has already gained experimental integration with Unity (currently relevant for Thunderbird 3.3 alpha).

On the other hand, Thunderbird seems to be more developed, easier for beginners, has many add-ons and is good in terms of usability (these arguments are also recorded in Launchpad).

So which of them will live? Thunderbird or Evolution? I believe that we can find the answer in a few days through UDS-O (which will be held in Budapest).
Project

Default Déjà Dup Backup Utility

Many users resented the lack of a standard program for backing up data to Ubuntu. And, frankly, such a tool makes more sense than, say, the default email client (today most people use webmail).

The specification offers an "invisible" UI in the system control panel instead of the usual Deja Dup UI. Another interesting specification is the addition of support for Deja Dup to Ubuntu One, when in this way there will be the ability to quickly and conveniently synchronize backups in the cloud with comfort for the user.

Deja Dup seems to be the best candidate, but is there any CD space for this new app? We will see.
Project | Specifications

Unity 2D by default

Since Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot will ship with Qt libraries on the installation CD - it should be just to add both lightweight and low cost Unity 2D (Qt) .
Project

LightDM instead of GDM

LightDM can replace GDM already in Ubuntu 11.10. Want a cool login screen? No problem! LightDM supports HTML / CSS / Javascript, so making your favorite theme a snap.

Other reasons for the alleged LightDM:

• It’s easier to maintain code (GDM has more than ~ 50,000 lines in C and uses 36 patches. LightDM contains about 10,000 lines in C).
• A more flexible welcome screen environment - these screens are very easy to write under X, which suggests the possibility of having a Ubuntu-specific welcome screen without branching the rest of the code
• Run-time improvements - the ability to launch the welcome screen without the need for a GNOME session
• The display manager may be common to both Kubuntu and Xubuntu, Lubuntu, etc., but still provide each distribution with the ability to use its own welcome screen specific to each distribution.

Project

Default browser

Now both Firefox and Chromium have similar release intervals, so Chromium has a chance to become the default browser in Ubuntu. But does it have what such a browser should have? This is another issue that will be considered at UDS-O in a few days (beginning - May 9).
Project

Ability to switch to Gnome3

Due to the high priority of Unity in the Ubuntu 11.04 development cycle, the inclusion of GNOME3 in Ubuntu was delayed to version 11.10, and instead, in the release of Ubuntu 11.04, Unity was like an environment for GNOME2.

Without wasting time, development, as already mentioned, over 11.10 has already begun and GNOME3 packages are already included in Ubuntu 11.10, where you will have the opportunity to install GNOME3 directly from the repositories, bypassing the PPA (as it is now in Natty).

Moreover, since Unity will work with GNOME3 in 11.10, installing GNOME3 with GNOME Shell will not conflict with the Unity working environment and you will have the option to choose Unity or GNOME Shell in the welcome screen.
As for application indicators, many applications have been patched for the possibility of using the corresponding indicators in Unity. But as many Ubuntu 11.04 GNOME3 testers noticed, these patches do not involve working with the GNOME Shell. All of this will change in Oneiric.
The smart engine will be configured to use indicators only in a Unity environment. If the current environment is GNOME, the indicators will instantly turn into a normal way of displaying.

By the way, the last assumption about GNOME3 is most likely to be perceived as approved . But, nevertheless, we will see how it will actually be.