[ubuntu-art] How to provide more alternate wallpapers without influencing CD size requirements

[Who]

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 4:04 AM, Brian Fleeger <brianfleeger at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This is an idea I had to provide users with more alternate wallpapers
> without influencing the install CD's footprint.  If this is too off-topic
> for an art-team posting, please let me know and direct me to where this idea
> does belong.  At least it is tangentially related to Ubuntu's art
> experience.
>
> In addition to providing a couple extra default alternate wallpapers,
> Canonical could host a special wallpaper repository the same way it does
> with synaptic and install/uninstall.
>
> Scenario: Grandma May is using her Ubuntu for the first time and wants to
> change the wallpaper.  She right clicks the desktop, sees "change
> wallpaper," and clicks through.  After seeing there are only 4 or 5
> alternates (I am still optimistic), she notices the "Get More Ubuntu
> Wallpapers" button in the bottom right-hand corner of the nautilus window.
> (if granny didn't have an internet connection, the box would be grayed out
> and unclickable)  She clicks it and is connected to a repository of
> pre-selected Ubuntu art works.  In the repo, she sees small icons, and can
> mouse-over/single click to see larger previews.  After checking the boxes
> for the wallpapers she wants, Grammy clicks "Install Wallpapers" and is
> done.  Users could happily choose from hundreds of specially chosen
> backgrounds which have been selected for their color/composition to go well
> with the new Ubuntu default theme, instead of googling for hours for "free
> wallpapers."  Backgrounds could be arranged by topic, with options like
> "Select All Nature Wallpapers," etc.
>
> Canonical could thereby 1) redefine the user experience, 2) gain more
> control over Ubuntu's aesthetic appeal, and 3) streamline the CD install
> image all in one swoop.
>
> Is this a good idea/something that could be passed on to relevent parties?
>
> -Brian Fleeger
>
>

A very similar tool used to exist in universe - it gave nice friendly
access to all themes, wallpapers, lsplashes etc on art.gnome.org -
maybe it still does?

http://www.miketech.net/gnome-art/

Not maintained, but there is a potential successor.