GfxbootUpdate
Launchpad Entry: foundations-lucid-gfxboot-update
Created: 13/11/2009
Contributors:
Packages affected: gfxboot-theme-ubuntu
Summary
This spec describes proposed changes and improvements to gfxboot-theme-ubuntu in Ubuntu Lucid.
Release Note
Rationale
Current issues:
- Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop
- Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection
- User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users
- The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing
- Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users.
User stories
Joseph burned the Ubuntu CD and wants to test compatibility with his new laptop which has Windows preinstalled. He chooses "Try Ubuntu without installing" to run the live session.
Federico wants to install Ubuntu on his old family PC, which previously had Windows on it. He chooses Brazilian Portuguese from the language selection screen and "Install Ubuntu" from the main menu.
Mikhail wants to install Ubuntu on his friend's old PC. He chooses to check disks for defects and test memory prior to installation. Then he chooses the "Safe graphics mode" in case there are issues with the graphics hardware.
Assumptions
Design
Proposed changes:
General:
- Update the Ubuntu logo and colors to match the current styling
Initial language selection:
- Remove timeout from the initial language selection screen
- Change the default title of the language selection screen to "Press Enter to use English as your main language". If the user chooses another language, the text should change accordingly.
Mockup of the proposed design:
Main menu:
- Change the wording in the first option to "Try Ubuntu without installing"
- Move "Check disc for defects", "Test memory" and "Boot from first hard disc" into the "F6 Other Options" menu
- Do not display any hints
Mockup of the proposed design:
Implementation
UI Changes
Code Changes
Migration
Test/Demo Plan
Unresolved issues
BoF agenda and discussion
== Wiki notes == Current issues from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lucid/GfxbootUpdate * Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop * Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection * User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users * The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing * Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users. Previous specification: https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/hardy-bootloader-review * constraints * it's hard to change language during a gnome session * reason for the timeout was to let people walk away and boot automatically in english * some usb keyboards are known not to be usable with syslinux, and so we need a timeout to ensure that they can boot * accessibility is covered by giving blind users clear instructions about what keystrokes are required (and beeps) * blind users have to enter the F5 menu anyway to enable the accessibility options at boot, so aren't relying on the timeout at boot time * process of changing things - graphic can be changed - fonts can be replaced but it's much easier if the metrics are identical replace "Safe graphics mode" with bullet-proof X (but automatically fall back to VESA rather than asking) * preferably, move "Try" and "Install" to a greeter-level choice (likely to need help from DX/desktop), and insert a screen before main gfxboot menu with instructions to press any key to get more choices * no translation available yet since no language selected, so instructions need to be pictorial * as a fallback, just change "Try ..." to "Try Ubuntu without installing" (Other potential options on greeter: Troubleshoot (CD defects, badblocks, memtest?)) QA PROCESS * best to use daily builds; milestones are too infrequent for quick iterations kvm -m 512 -cdrom lucid-desktop-i386.iso - take daily from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ == Actions == * new logos based on usplash theme packages in karmic, to sync up with current look-and-feel [platform] * drop "Press F4" [platform] * change to "Try Ubuntu without installing" [platform] * get final copy for "Try ..." message [design] * find out if DX/desktop have capacity for greeter work [platform] * greeter work [DX/desktop] * if that lands, insert "press any key" message before main gfxboot menu (requires pictogram) with a 5-second timeout, and drop 30-second timeout [platform] * make sure bullet-proof X works, and if so drop "Safe graphics mode" [platform] * find out how to test daily builds [design]