The Hardy Theme Paparazzi Rumor Mill

[xl_cheese]

I joined the "art team" a few months ago because I really wanted to get involved in the theme of Ubuntu.

So far all that has been posted to the internet regarding the Hardy theme are just ideas and brainstorming sessions.

Nobody knows what it will look like yet. Not even the "Art Team"...

I would submit that noone get their hopes up for anything exciting. Basically the only thing that has come from the higher ups is that the gloss look is out.

[SunnyRabbiera]

so does that mean that the next theme is going to be flat and boring?

[smartboyathome]

Maybe. Some of the higher-ups are pushing for matte, but if it was me I would just go to *box for matte themes.

[SunnyRabbiera]

ehh... I am really not liking the design ideas for hardy

[CCBalla10]

ehh... I am really not liking the design ideas for hardy

that makes 2 of us

[Ralphie]

i sorta feel like gloss is getting played out, not only in themes but EVERYWHERE.

i think a matte look could work well... it would have to be done right, and dont ask me, how to do it, i wouldnt know how :)

maybe also a nice wooden theme, that seems to be the latest web trend at the moment. that would be a hard one to pull off too, though

[Zero Prime]

I hate to say it, but I think that the default theme is one thing that may end up knocking Ubuntu down. People like attractive things. We are in a modern world. We have curves. Many people don't want flat. When I show a live CD to people the first comment I hear is that it looks like an ugly version of Windows 95, and you know, they are right. I try to tell them that you can make it look better. But first impressions mean a lot.

Of course when I show the same people an Ultimate Edition live CD they don't believe it is based on Ubuntu at all.

Just remember, looks may not mean everything, but it is the first thing you notice.

[smartboyathome]

I hate to say it, but I think that the default theme is one thing that may end up knocking Ubuntu down. People like attractive things. We are in a modern world. We have curves. Many people don't want flat. When I show a live CD to people the first comment I hear is that it looks like an ugly version of Windows 95, and you know, they are right. I try to tell them that you can make it look better. But first impressions mean a lot.

Of course when I show the same people an Ultimate Edition live CD they don't believe it is based on Ubuntu at all.

Just remember, looks may not mean everything, but it is the first thing you notice.

To me, the Ultimate Edition CD looks almost just like Vista. I know that Vista looks nice, but I don't want Ubuntu to look like a ripoff of it.

[Zero Prime]

To me, the Ultimate Edition CD looks almost just like Vista. I know that Vista looks nice, but I don't want Ubuntu to look like a ripoff of it.

UE uses flat panels with a rounded menu area. It's metacity theme looks nothing like Vista. I the long run you can go flat like OSX or rounded like Vista. Since people like to compare OSs these are the big 2 for right now and nearly all theme will be compared to them. I like how the UE theme is a nice mix between the 2. The 1.6 Gamers edition is a different story though. I made the majority of that theme and it has all rounded panels and menus. It may look more like Vista than the others but I can take part of the blame for that. But of course, I like the rounded look.

[smartboyathome]

By the way, I made the judgement off the screencast, but still the themes are OSX and Vista? If I were new, I might think it was trying to be a ripoff of both.

[Kimmik]

I followed the mailing lists archives (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-art/) the past weeks, and I don't like the ideas presented there too.
Not because of the look, I don't like the mock-ups because they are not realistic.
Rounded menu's are not possible, and they would have to use the pixmap engine to create the themes.
Or they write a new engine (which I don't think is going to happen).
Too high ambitions.

[Zero Prime]

Why are rounded menus not possible? Mine are rounded.

[Kimmik]

Why are rounded menus not possible? Mine are rounded.

I'm talking about menu's with round corners.
Like in this mockup (http://www.portefolje.net/div/mockup.jpg).

[Zero Prime]

How do you did that?
Check the above attachment. It didn't load for me the first time.

[Kimmik]

Check the above attachment. It didn't load for me the first time.

Ok, check my edit.

[Zero Prime]

OK, that's just ugly.

[smartboyathome]

I followed the mailing lists archives (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-art/) the past weeks, and I don't like the ideas presented there too.
Not because of the look, I don't like the mock-ups because they are not realistic.
Rounded menu's are not possible, and they would have to use the pixmap engine to create the themes.
Or they write a new engine (which I don't think is going to happen).
Too high ambitions.

You don't have to write a new engine, just improve on an existing one (the svg engine). SVGs open up a whole world of possibilities (just look at png icons versus svg icons).