Petter Reinholdtsen: What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu

What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu

2011-07-29 08:10

While at Debconf11, I have several times during discussions +mentioned the issues I believe should be improved in Debian for its +desktop to be useful for more people. The use case for this is my +parents, which are currently running Kubuntu which solve the +issues.

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web.

+ +

+ What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu +

+ 2011-07-29 08:10 +

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu

2011-07-29 08:10

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

Hva utgjÃ¸r en vellykket offentlig tjeneste?

2011-05-04 09:10

Artikkelen i Aftenposten i dag om de som fikk -tauet -bort bilen etter Ã¥ ha trodd pÃ¥ Oslo kommunes oversikt over nÃ¥r -ulike gater skulle feies i pÃ¥sken, fikk meg til Ã¥ ta en titt pÃ¥ -kommunens -oversikt, og der ble jeg fascinert over fÃ¸lgende lille gullkorn:

- -

-
Hvorfor har dere ikke SMS-varsling? -
ForsÃ¸ksordningen i 2005 viste dessverre at SMS-varsling i liten -grad reduserte antallet borttauede biler. De som abonnerte pÃ¥ -ordningen unngikk naturligvis feilparkeringer, men plassene ble brukt -av "fremmede" biler altsÃ¥ av bileiere som ikke abonnerte og dermed -ikke ble varslet.
-

- -

Det gir inntrykk av at kommunen i stedet for Ã¥ se pÃ¥ SMS-varsling -som en tjeneste for innbyggerne, som kunne gjÃ¸re at de innbyggerne som -benyttet seg av tjenesten slapp Ã¥ fÃ¥ tauet bilen sin, sÃ¥ pÃ¥ det som en -tjeneste for seg selv for Ã¥ redusere antall tauinger. Forklaringen -synes jeg illustrerer veldig godt hvorfor det er sÃ¥ viktig Ã¥ se pÃ¥ hva -som er fokus for tjenester som leveres og hva som er -suksesskriteriene. Jeg mistenker at hvis suksesskriteriet for -SMS-tjenesten hadde vÃ¦rt hvor fornÃ¸yd brukerne av SMS-tjenesten var, -sÃ¥ ville den blitt viderefÃ¸rt. Eller hvis suksesskriteriet var Ã¸kt -bruk av tjenesten. Jeg vet i hvert fall mange som gjerne vil slippe Ã¥ -bÃ¥de daglig besÃ¸ke bilen sin der den er parkert i Oslo, og som gjerne -vil varsles i stedet for Ã¥ oppdage at bilen er tauet bort nÃ¥r de -trenger den.

- -

Mon tro hvor mange som mÃ¥ bruke en slik tjeneste fÃ¸r andelen -bort-tauinger blir redusert? Jeg mistenker den mÃ¥ vÃ¦re godt over 50% -av alle med bil i Oslo, fÃ¸r det er stÃ¸rre sannsynlighet for at en -ledig men risikofylt parkeringsplass blir stÃ¥ende ledig enn at den blir -tatt umiddelbart. Det er for stort press pÃ¥ parkeringsplasser i Oslo -i dag til Ã¥ tro at en ledig parkeringsplass blir stÃ¥ende ubrukt med -mindre sjÃ¥fÃ¸ren vet at det er risikabelt Ã¥ stÃ¥ der. Hvis reduksjon i -antall bort-tauinger var suksesskriteriet for SMS-tjenesten var en -dermed garantert Ã¥ konkludere med at den feilet, da det er umulig Ã¥ fÃ¥ -sÃ¥ stor bruksprosent i en prÃ¸vedrift.

- -

Fokus for FiksGataMi er -innbyggeren, og et av suksesskriteriene er at innbyggerne som bruker -tjenesten er fornÃ¸yde med at rapportene blir synliggjort og levert til -relevant offentlig myndighet. Det er naturligvis fint om de som -mottar meldingene ogsÃ¥ har nytte av tjenesten, og at problemene blir -fikset, men det viktigste er innbyggernes opplevelse. Innbyggerne -skal oppleve tjenesten som enkel og effektiv, slik at vi sikrer at -flest mulig klarer Ã¥ bidra til Ã¥ forbedre offentlig infrastruktur.

- - - - Tags: fiksgatami, norsk. - -

@@ -619,7 +632,7 @@ flest mulig klarer Ã¥ bidra til Ã¥ forbedre offentlig infrastruktur.

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@@ -729,7 +742,7 @@ flest mulig klarer Ã¥ bidra til Ã¥ forbedre offentlig infrastruktur.

@@ -765,7 +778,7 @@ flest mulig klarer Ã¥ bidra til Ã¥ forbedre offentlig infrastruktur.

vitenskap (1)

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diff --git a/blog/index.rss b/blog/index.rss index 0556b880a9..cefc6b7934 100644 --- a/blog/index.rss +++ b/blog/index.rss @@ -6,6 +6,77 @@ http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/ + + What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_is_missing_in_the_Debian_desktop__or_why_my_parents_use_Kubuntu.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_is_missing_in_the_Debian_desktop__or_why_my_parents_use_Kubuntu.html + Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:10:00 +0200 + +While at Debconf11, I have several times during discussions +mentioned the issues I believe should be improved in Debian for its +desktop to be useful for more people. The use case for this is my +parents, which are currently running Kubuntu which solve the +issues. + +I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source. + +<ol> + +<li>Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.</li> + +<li>Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.</li> + +<li>Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.</li> + +<li>Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.</li> + +</ol> + +There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much. + +I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better. + + + Skolelinux-intervju: Frode Jemtland http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Skolelinux_intervju__Frode_Jemtland.html @@ -462,63 +533,5 @@ utviklingstimer for Ã¥ tilpasse eksisterende portal til norsk. - - Hva utgjÃ¸r en vellykket offentlig tjeneste? - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Hva_utgj__r_en_vellykket_offentlig_tjeneste_.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Hva_utgj__r_en_vellykket_offentlig_tjeneste_.html - Wed, 4 May 2011 09:10:00 +0200 - -Artikkelen i Aftenposten i dag om de som fikk -<a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/oslo/article4110329.ece">tauet -bort bilen</a> etter Ã¥ ha trodd pÃ¥ Oslo kommunes oversikt over nÃ¥r -ulike gater skulle feies i pÃ¥sken, fikk meg til Ã¥ ta en titt pÃ¥ -<a href="http://www.samferdselsetaten.oslo.kommune.no/miljo/renhold/varrengjoring">kommunens -oversikt</a>, og der ble jeg fascinert over fÃ¸lgende lille gullkorn: - -<blockquote> -Hvorfor har dere ikke SMS-varsling? - ForsÃ¸ksordningen i 2005 viste dessverre at SMS-varsling i liten -grad reduserte antallet borttauede biler. De som abonnerte pÃ¥ -ordningen unngikk naturligvis feilparkeringer, men plassene ble brukt -av "fremmede" biler altsÃ¥ av bileiere som ikke abonnerte og dermed -ikke ble varslet. -</blockquote> - -Det gir inntrykk av at kommunen i stedet for Ã¥ se pÃ¥ SMS-varsling -som en tjeneste for innbyggerne, som kunne gjÃ¸re at de innbyggerne som -benyttet seg av tjenesten slapp Ã¥ fÃ¥ tauet bilen sin, sÃ¥ pÃ¥ det som en -tjeneste for seg selv for Ã¥ redusere antall tauinger. Forklaringen -synes jeg illustrerer veldig godt hvorfor det er sÃ¥ viktig Ã¥ se pÃ¥ hva -som er fokus for tjenester som leveres og hva som er -suksesskriteriene. Jeg mistenker at hvis suksesskriteriet for -SMS-tjenesten hadde vÃ¦rt hvor fornÃ¸yd brukerne av SMS-tjenesten var, -sÃ¥ ville den blitt viderefÃ¸rt. Eller hvis suksesskriteriet var Ã¸kt -bruk av tjenesten. Jeg vet i hvert fall mange som gjerne vil slippe Ã¥ -bÃ¥de daglig besÃ¸ke bilen sin der den er parkert i Oslo, og som gjerne -vil varsles i stedet for Ã¥ oppdage at bilen er tauet bort nÃ¥r de -trenger den. - -Mon tro hvor mange som mÃ¥ bruke en slik tjeneste fÃ¸r andelen -bort-tauinger blir redusert? Jeg mistenker den mÃ¥ vÃ¦re godt over 50% -av alle med bil i Oslo, fÃ¸r det er stÃ¸rre sannsynlighet for at en -ledig men risikofylt parkeringsplass blir stÃ¥ende ledig enn at den blir -tatt umiddelbart. Det er for stort press pÃ¥ parkeringsplasser i Oslo -i dag til Ã¥ tro at en ledig parkeringsplass blir stÃ¥ende ubrukt med -mindre sjÃ¥fÃ¸ren vet at det er risikabelt Ã¥ stÃ¥ der. Hvis reduksjon i -antall bort-tauinger var suksesskriteriet for SMS-tjenesten var en -dermed garantert Ã¥ konkludere med at den feilet, da det er umulig Ã¥ fÃ¥ -sÃ¥ stor bruksprosent i en prÃ¸vedrift. - -Fokus for <a href="http://www.fiksgatami.no/">FiksGataMi</a> er -innbyggeren, og et av suksesskriteriene er at innbyggerne som bruker -tjenesten er fornÃ¸yde med at rapportene blir synliggjort og levert til -relevant offentlig myndighet. Det er naturligvis fint om de som -mottar meldingene ogsÃ¥ har nytte av tjenesten, og at problemene blir -fikset, men det viktigste er innbyggernes opplevelse. Innbyggerne -skal oppleve tjenesten som enkel og effektiv, slik at vi sikrer at -flest mulig klarer Ã¥ bidra til Ã¥ forbedre offentlig infrastruktur. - - - diff --git a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html index e377cab8b8..53a3d5f4db 100644 --- a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html +++ b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html @@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

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@@ -153,13 +153,13 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

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diff --git a/blog/sitemap.xml b/blog/sitemap.xml index 95b7e3f8e3..99425423c7 100644 --- a/blog/sitemap.xml +++ b/blog/sitemap.xml @@ -1100,6 +1100,11 @@ 0.50 weekly + + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_is_missing_in_the_Debian_desktop__or_why_my_parents_use_Kubuntu.html + 0.50 + weekly + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_standards_are_Free_and_Open_as_defined_by_Digistan_.html 0.50 diff --git a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html index e3f987cd0e..8c9e4162c7 100644 --- a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html +++ b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html @@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html index 52a63b3e6e..569cddb402 100644 --- a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html @@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html index aebe7a3e9f..a863a30ae5 100644 --- a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html @@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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diff --git a/blog/tags/aros/index.html b/blog/tags/aros/index.html index 11bd38a86a..2c56b8bd42 100644 --- a/blog/tags/aros/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/aros/index.html @@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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diff --git a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html index a7d9421dd2..65ff182780 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html @@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html index f18aab9ff0..b3ed5b4c93 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ packages.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html index d0dca7b812..8aad83bf58 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html @@ -6130,7 +6130,7 @@ sidelinjen.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/debian/debian.rss b/blog/tags/debian/debian.rss index 391d7416a1..5d22cbc6c5 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian/debian.rss +++ b/blog/tags/debian/debian.rss @@ -3309,5 +3309,76 @@ do not have time for. + + What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_is_missing_in_the_Debian_desktop__or_why_my_parents_use_Kubuntu.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/What_is_missing_in_the_Debian_desktop__or_why_my_parents_use_Kubuntu.html + Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:10:00 +0200 + +While at Debconf11, I have several times during discussions +mentioned the issues I believe should be improved in Debian for its +desktop to be useful for more people. The use case for this is my +parents, which are currently running Kubuntu which solve the +issues. + +I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source. + +<ol> + +<li>Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.</li> + +<li>Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.</li> + +<li>Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.</li> + +<li>Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.</li> + +</ol> + +There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much. + +I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/debian/index.html b/blog/tags/debian/index.html index 2d7e64c5b1..b42feda161 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian/index.html @@ -3972,6 +3972,90 @@ do not have time for.

+ What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu +

+ 2011-07-29 08:10 +

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

+ What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu +

+ 2011-07-29 08:10 +

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

+ What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu +

+ 2011-07-29 08:10 +

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

+ What is missing in the Debian desktop, or why my parents use Kubuntu +

+ 2011-07-29 08:10 +

+ +

I suspect these four missing features are not very hard to +implement. After all, they are present in Ubuntu, so if we wanted to +do this in Debian we would have a source.

+ +

Simple GUI based upgrade of packages. When there +are new packages available for upgrades, a icon in the KDE status bar +indicate this, and clicking on it will activate the simple upgrade +tool to handle it. I have no problem guiding both of my parents +through the process over the phone. If a kernel reboot is required, +this too is indicated by the status bars and the upgrade tool. Last +time I checked, nothing with the same features was working in KDE in +Debian.
Simple handling of missing Firefox browser +plugins. When the browser encounter a MIME type it do not +currently have a handler for, it will ask the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for this MIME type, +and if the user say yes, the APT sources will be searched for packages +advertising the MIME type in their control file (visible in the +Packages file in the APT archive). If one or more packages are found, +it is a simple click of the mouse to add support for the missing mime +type. If the package require the user to accept some non-free +license, this is explained to the user. The entire process make it +more clear to the user why something do not work in the browser, and +make the chances higher for the user to blame the web page authors and +not the browser for any missing features.
Simple handling of missing multimedia codec/format +handlers. When the media players encounter a format or codec +it is not supporting, a dialog pop up asking the user if the system +should search for a package that would add support for it. This +happen with things like MP3, Windows Media or H.264. The selection +and installation procedure is very similar to the Firefox browser +plugin handling. This is as far as I know implemented using a +gstreamer hook. The end result is that the user easily get access to +the codecs that are present from the APT archives available, while +explaining more on why a given format is unsupported by Ubuntu.
Better browser handling of some MIME types. When +displaying a text/plain file in my Debian browser, it will propose to +start emacs to show it. If I remember correctly, when doing the same +in Kunbutu it show the file as a text file in the browser. At least I +know Opera will show text files within the browser. I much prefer the +latter behaviour.

+ +

There are other nice features as well, like the simplified suite +upgrader, but given that I am the one mostly doing the dist-upgrade, +it do not matter much.

+ +

I really hope we could get these features in place for the next +Debian release. It would require the coordinated effort of several +maintainers, but would make the end user experience a lot better.

+ +

+ + + + Tags: debian, english, multimedia, web. + +

+ Petter Reinholdtsen + +

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