Thoughts on 12.10

[Len Ovens]

For those of you who missed it on IRC...
<len-dt> Ubiquity fails on install. Bug #1066173
<ubottu> Launchpad bug 1066173 in ubiquity (Ubuntu) "whole disk install
puts grub in wrong place" [Undecided,New]
https://launchpad.net/bugs/1066173

<len-1210> ailo, we don't have a volume control in the systray any
more/still.
<len-1210> and the ability to make the window buttons expand to take up
space seems to be gone... but the separator after can instead.

We should maybe do that so the time/systray/workspaces don't move around
all the time.

<len-1210> the sub menu item for you can help is only directed at the
-devel mailing list page and that page is not great for explaining
anything.
<len-1210> we should be pointing to a better web page for this I think.

To expand, I think the mailing list is a great place for people wanting to
help to learn more... they are less likely than with IRC to expect an
instant response. However, I think there could be a friendlier page that
makes them feel that yes we do want your help even in small things.

<len-1210> anyway, I passed the live ISO and the post install, but not the
install.  It made it so my normal boot no longer worked :P  see bug above.

<len-dt> bug #1066214
<ubottu> Launchpad bug 1066214 in Ubuntu QA Website "The "volume applet"
does not exist in the systray " [Undecided,New]
https://launchpad.net/bugs/1066214

We (micahg actually) took this out because of version problems that
stopped the ISO from building. I don't know if the problems were fixed,
but the testing procedure says to check it... might be easier at this
point to remove it from the test procedure :P

<len-1210> for recording or other sound work where there is no special
mixer for the sound card, I think QASmixer is better than the xfce alsa
mixer.
<len-1210> It is more configurable, can be shrunk farther while still
being useful and nicer to look at.

We had already decided that for desktop use pavucontrol was the best thing
to use and I still agree. For Firewire, ICE1712 and RME cards there are
special control apps in our mixer submenu, but for USB and other internal
cards all there is to use is the xfce-ALSA mixer (xfce4-mixer). It's kinda
lame, not all that easy to use and on a small screen takes a lot of
space... qjackctl with it's connection window and logs plus the mixer
don't fit the screen. QASmixer can shrink so it does and the controls are
still visible/usable. Stereo pairs when linked become one control and the
mouse wheel offers finer control too. Both capture and playback controls
can be on screen at the same time (or not). In short QASmixer is mudita
for normal cards. I actually find alsamixer in a terminal easier to use
than the xfce version to be honest, but that is just my opinion :)

Personally, I will be using 12.10 on my computers. I hope someone else at
least is going to be running 12.04(.1 or whatever) to notice if things go
weird.


-- 
Len Ovens
www.OvenWerks.net