Ubuntu 10.04 will bring panel overhaul, social network menu

“Canonical has lifted the curtains on some ambitious plans to
reinvent the GNOME panel. The changes, which could potentially
debut in the next major version of Ubuntu, will help simplify the
desktop user experience and clean up superfluous panel clutter.
Although the proposed changes look very promising, getting
third-party application developers to integrate with the new panel
functionality could prove challenging.

“Canonical has been working on an incremental panel overhaul
under the umbrella of its Ayatana desktop enhancement initiative.
The company introduced a number of experimental changes to the
GNOME panel in previous versions of Ubuntu. These changes include
the messaging indicator applet and instant messaging status menu.
Ubuntu 10.04, which is scheduled for release in April, will take
this tinkering to the next level with a more holistic overhaul.
Canonical plans to produce a new messaging status interface for the
panel called the Me Menu and also aims to replace the icon
notification area with a more modern streamlined menu system.”

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