I really don't like Gnome Shell. I just want to keep the current interface of Gnome 2. Does anyone know if it'll be possible to keep the panels of Gnome 2 in Gnome 3?
Vadi
· 3 months ago
Interesting... but I'm still not catching on. So I see the recent documents and apps more, and there is a windows switching ala scale in compiz.
Maybe when it'll work on my comp I'll give it a go live :)
dmkasten
· 3 months ago
I agree. Can we please stop imitating crap Microsoft products please and get our own desktop.
Vector
· 3 months ago
You're both idiots. EVERYTHING that windows does, it gets from Linux, and other open source projects, which is why it is ALWAYS 1 to 3 generations BEHIND. Ideas like yours is why people like me write viruses and hacks against people like you.
steveneddy
· 2 months ago
Ah, well said. Hear, hear! Buncha squids.
Tucker Monticelli
· 1 month ago
Um... I'm wondering if I should just flag you or.... I mean COME ON! The point of Linux/Ubuntu is to share and have HUMANITY towards others, hints the name ubuntu, you sir, are part of the problem when it comes to computing :(
How about instead of writing malicious code and or viruses, how about you help to fix some of the obvious problems in Ubuntu. Windows, Ubuntu and Leopard all have there ups and downs. So stop saying windows got everything from Linux, It was Windows that started desktop revolution in the first place. (even though im not a fan of windows)
InF3XioN
· 5 days ago
What exactly so you mean by "desktop revolution"? If you mean the GUI environment, it was firstly introduced by Apple. In my view, the real desktop revolution was the introduction of Free and Open Source Software. There is nothing to be compared a commercial program (or an Operating System) that belongs to a company and it's code is only known to this company's Engineers, with an OS that belongs to the public, and everyone can help it's development. Also, Microsoft was the one that copied to Windows whatever "revolutionary" feature was introduced by Linux or MacOS in the first place.
Eric
· 3 months ago
its posts like this that keep me excited for Ubuntu and linux in general! keep up the great work!
apielishoes
· 3 months ago
Also, Windows will never have such a good desktop !
anonymous
· 3 months ago
Check out the new Cairo shellstyle coming out for Windows. http://cairoshell.com/ Gnome just got ripped a new one
Ben
· 3 months ago
It should be noted that that's not Windows. It's made for Windows.
Do you think we could talk the devs into porting it to Linux?
Kevin
· 3 months ago
I think you mean that it's not Microsoft. And yes, a Linux port could be made in the future but I wouldn't suspect it coming anytime soon. The devs want to perfect it for Vista and 7 before they even start porting XP. Nevertheless, Gnome 3 and Cairo are both very exciting
Ben
· 3 months ago
No, I mean it's not Windows, meaning it's made FOR Windows. It's not how the OS will look by default, unless Microsoft has drastically changed their website layouit.
InF3XioN
· 5 days ago
It's just a shell that can be installed by the user. It's not the default desktop manager that comes with Windows. It's not a Microsoft's standard feature.
Me
· 3 months ago
Gnome may have tried to rip it, but failed. cairoshell looks more like gnome2 for the most part. Gnome HAS a good thing and is moving away from it. Sigh... Linux fail... again... getting tired of it. Why are all OS's moving AWAY form usability? With the exception of Gnome2 (i know I sound like a fanboy) there isn't a good program launching system for any OS anymore. All the new "start" menu concepts, Vista/Win7, Lancelot (kde), etc are all usability nightmares... what the hell??
Name
· 3 months ago
This has nothing to do with the OS, but the desktop manager itself.
rgzdev
· 1 month ago
We still have XFCE
aiten
· 3 months ago
Yes but that's a shell for /windows/ - just because you gold plate a turd doesn't make it not a turd.
Name
· 2 months ago
Gold plated turds!
AmbyR00
· 3 months ago
Oh well, that didn't look like much we haven't already seen. Try harder.
kandrex
· 3 months ago
Hi, Would you please tell me the name of your wallpaper, icons, metacitys - gtks, and where can i find them..
robenroute
· 3 months ago
Theme is called Showtime (by François Vogelweith). To lazy to paste a link... Googie is your best friend ;-)
robenroute
· 3 months ago
Tooooo early to write proper English...
martini1179
· 3 months ago
Very intriguing. And just today I read an article about how GNOME 3 will not be a radical departure. Then again that article was from July of 2008.
So are these just mockups provided by the community or a serious push by GNOME towards innovation?
Ben
· 3 months ago
Those would be actual screenshots. I haven't tried the shell in a while, but that's about where it's at.
martini1179
· 3 months ago
Also, is there any way that you can provide bigger pictures (like the last one?) I'd like to be able to better see these changes.
Anon
· 3 months ago
Man, I love your posts, but your screenshots are always so tiny.
Is it possible to make them bigger in the future?
Name
· 3 months ago
Yes. Make them bigger by clicking them...
Ellipsis
· 3 months ago
Apparently 10.04 won't include Gnome 3 by default and will stick to the 2.0 series. Which I guess is smart considering it is a LTS. 10.10 will be sweet though.
dude! cool gnome shell. how will compiz integrate into this? looks shiny and squeaky clean. and will you be able to theme it?
sashin
· 3 months ago
This is cool and all, but is it true that you can't use compiz and gnome3 simultaneously, 'cuase I would really like to use them both.
pt
· 3 months ago
Lets not forget Gnome 3 kills of Compiz by not allowing it to function. Thereby preventing the user from taking advantage of the powerful window management features.
Gnome as usual will provide very limited configuration options and restrict the freedom of the user.
David Norris
· 3 months ago
How would this be restricting the freedom of the user? Don't use it if you don't like it. Or, you've got the source code, so change it if you don't like it. That's nearly the pinnacle of freedom. I think you mean it causes some inconvenience for advanced users.
GNOME 2 doesn't include or "work with" Compiz, either. It includes Metacity. How do you then use Compiz? You replace Metacity with Compiz. That breaks a few things but there are alternatives to those as well.
Ben
· 3 months ago
The Shell cannot work with Compiz as it is. I don't know if that's going to change in the future or not, but the Shell is an integral part of the new Gnome desktop. Without it, I'm pretty sure you won't even have panels, so it is restricting the user.
As for source code, that's such a lame excuse. I'm all for open source. I think it's great, but people use it as a catch-all excuse for doing a poor job. Don't like the way this program works? Patch it! Most Linux users these days are not developers. They don't have the ability to tweak the source code. They depend on upstream, and all they can really do is raise a little hell when things go wrong.
Mel
· 3 months ago
Love this site! I love to know how Linux's future looks like.
Hey can somebody help me? I downloaded "gnome-shell" in Karmic but I can't use it. I tried using the "sessions" tab in the GDM but it doesn't give me the option. I also tried the "new session" button on the Fast User Switch Applet but it logs out and logs in again without going to the GDM.
It might be an Alpha Bug thingie but any help would be great.
Thank's!!!
sparky11
· 3 months ago
Right now, you run it by logging in normally, and then opening a terminal and typing: gnome-shell --replace
Leave the terminal open while trying it out. Once you are done trying it out, return to the terminal window, and hit Ctrl+C to kill the process. That will start metacity again. You can then press Alt+F2 and run compiz --replace if you were using compiz.
Hope that helps
Ben
· 3 months ago
I'm kind of wary of Gnome Shell. It seems cool and all, but a lot of it seems to be change-for-the-sake-of-change.
Gnome 3 would be the perfect time to include Gnome Do, Global Menu, Gloobus (get some devs over there, quick!) and Screenlets, but as far as I know, none of these are showing up. AFAIK, Gnome devs are pretty adamant about not including a dock.
I'm predicting I'll either love Gnome 3 or switch to KDE full time. 4.4 looks like a promising release (but what release in the 4.x series hasn't?)
Jonathan Blackhall
· 3 months ago
I believe Screenlets is essentially dead in and of itself (last I'd heard it hadn't been updated in quite some time). There was some trouble between the main dev and someone else, who was trying to expand it into more of a platform called Universal Applets. I'm not sure how frequently updated UA is, since that dev is also working on Gnome Zeitgeist.
Ben
· 3 months ago
True, but something like Screenlets is getting to be an expectation of the desktop. Whatever you want to call them, they should be included with Gnome.
Could it really be that much more effort than the shell?
David
· 3 months ago
Gnome Shell seams neat, I want to try it out. I would like to know how does it compare to gnome 2.2x with Gnome-Do...is it more efficient? I love Do and although Shell has keyboard shortcuts it doesn't offer a functionality as robust as Do's. Do you think there is a chance for Do to integrate itself in Shell's search?
Name
· 2 months ago
Finally someone is brave enough to change the way we interface with a PC in a drastic way. In a way that isn't too far off the end of the bridge but just far enough that it excites one to want to explore more!
Microsoft will copy it soon, just wait and see. Ballmer hasn't had an original thought in his entire life.
Heavy development in Gnome-shell and vast user adoption will make this truly a dominating OS, hopefully, maybe, ya think?
raptor
· 3 months ago
I miss a mini-tutorial of how to install gnome 3 and a video of gnome-shell.
pt
· 3 months ago
why not provide the ability for different wallpapers for the the different workspaces it would make navigation and use so much easier. gnome is narrow minded as usual.
dayo
· 3 months ago
How do you switch workspaces?
Ben
· 3 months ago
You can do it in overlay mode or using the Ctrl +Alt + Left/Right combinations.
dayo
· 3 months ago
Hmm. No option to have a the workspaces lined up in the bar, anymore? What's overly mode, btw?
Ben
· 3 months ago
Sorry. Overlay mode is what you get when you mouse over the Activities label. I'm not sure how they show up in applets. In Gnome Do's Docky, you only get one desktop shown. I always use shortcuts to switch, so I haven't really given it much thought.
redapple
· 3 months ago
its too different than current one and causes some problems for not so experienced users i think. would be better i think if they would stay at gnome 2 adding only Do as app switcher.
NetMann
· 3 months ago
pffff.... linux puajjjjjj
GW
· 3 months ago
So if I want to browse a menu to open an application it will take two clicks. I see this as a big negative since I've been using a single click for the last 20 years. I hope they offer the menu applet as an option.
gantenbein
· 3 months ago
No, you don't have to click 'activities'. Just throw your mouse pointer into the corner.
Barstow
· 3 months ago
I'm sorry to say, but you do know that virtual desktops have existed for longer than you've probably used Linux? Who the fuck cares about how one can manage what one has on 1 screen, when one can virtually create multiple screens.
A futile effort indeed. Even Apple added "spaces" to OSX. After messing with this "new" desktop metaphor for ages. (Just in case you're to retarded to get it, they're moving in the opposite direction)
You can actually have 1 application per desktop. Why the fuck would one want to mess with 8 applications on one screen, when the push of a button, has the other application readily available.
By all means, create something cool and useful. Just because you haven't had it before though, doesn't make it neither. Start spending your efforts elsewhere, ASAP.
@Mel - To activate the source compiled version, follow the instructions.
To activate the one from repos "gnome-shell --replace"
James
· 3 months ago
It's hard to imagine a worse theme with which to demonstrate visual changes.
Foo Bar
· 3 months ago
Congratulations, GNOME! You've claimed Windows sucks for 12 years now, and for all 12 years, you've provided version after version of a desktop that tries to imitate it as closely as possible. Both functionally and visually.
Now its Windows 7. Good job.
BTW, 1998 called.. They want to know what the Linux desktop market share is.
Luke
· 3 months ago
Youz trollin', bro.
Windows end-user usability isn't what sucks about Windows. Windows 7 is pretty damned impressive when it comes to UI design. I think a re-work of Gnome 2 would suffice. Pretty much, emulate Windows 7 shell design, then improve on that.
Linux Mint + Windows 7 taskbar + Compiz not sucking ass with videos, games and tooltips = Linux Desktop
Brad
· 3 months ago
What a waste of time spent.. It's like reinventing what is already out there, but in a less-useful way. They should have just updated their basic apps, like Nautilus layout and functionality.
Here are two simple ideas that would have been more welcome and helpful to users:
This is not about Gnome 3 nor Ubuntu 10.04. This is all about Gnome shell in it's actual state, nothing more.
Name
· 3 months ago
this is slower than using gnome-do. i dont really like this interface.
Anarch157a
· 3 months ago
and as usual... gnome looks visually poluted, awkward to use and wastes good ideas by implementing them only halfway.
lets start bashing, shal we ?
the "activities" menu. pretty much just vistas start menu in a drop-down fashion, like the apple menu on OS X, just a lot more visualy poluted, and if i know gnome developers, it'll have very few options for customization, if any.
the bar at the top is another thing. first, it steals screen real estate. not a big deal when you have a large display that can exibit 1024 lines, but it's a serious problem on netbooks with their tiny screens. and yes, netbooks is _exactly_ where linux has it's biggest chance to shine. other desktops have wide taskbars at the botton, but they usualy gives the option to hide or cover it. second, if that bar will stay there all the time, stealing space, just make it the menu bar for every GTK application, like mac os has been doing since day one. having the bar there, then another menu bar on each app windows is a waste os space. serious drawback on small screens.
and last but not least, reviewers and gnome team hardly ever release screenshots showing the file picker and/or print dialog before the release. what was atrocious on gnome 1.4x became awfull on 2.x series. i'm seriously losing hope that they'll ever get that part of the desktop correctly.
finally, most of their problems comes from not wanting to be an exact windows clone, or OS X clone or anything, so they end up mixing and matching things from several sources, but usually just half-way. sorry guys, but I'll stick to KDE apps and windowmaker desktop for the foreseable future.
chrischinchilla
· 3 months ago
Looking good, I anticipate with eagerness...
Zac
· 3 months ago
Looking good.
I don't care for the dark theme as well, but there will be options available.
I also find it inefficient to have words in the panel, for eg I have replaced Application/Places/System with just the Ubuntu icon for a drop down menu. And in these examples I would replace the Activities word with a Ubuntu icon.
Anyway progress is happening. Nice work.
rmatey
· 3 months ago
You realize that you're gonna give the Redmond programmers ulcers.
Maxx
· 3 months ago
Where can we get the wallpaper used in the screenshots?
Name
· 3 months ago
The only thing I hope is it's doesn't required a powerful machine to run the GnomeShell composite manager. I have mad experience with Metacity composite manager and Compiz.
lol. This is a usability fail. Its really sad. Linux will have no business class/professional desktop after this change. At least Windows you can put into a professional interface mode instead of having it look like a toy. KDE4, while great for the home user, is all toy all the time, and sucks for a business desktop. Gnome is the standard for professional looking right now (yes, it needs to be themed...) but... damn... this is a bad idea. lol.
Name
· 3 months ago
operating systems, Windows, Mac, and Linux.... how many are out there?
d0od
· 3 months ago
You missed Solaris, BeOS, BSD, Unix, Amiga....
mike a.
· 3 months ago
i wish i was smart enough to use linux...
CelticBhoy
· 3 months ago
This seems like a far better alternative to UNR for a small screen
Carlos
· 3 months ago
I think that overview screen is OK, if there's an option to do all those actions separately too. For example, it maybe irritating to show all of that when the only thing I want is just a small box for me to type the application I want to launch. And also, it would be great if the application launcher would be as good as gnome-do, integrating with other apps.
xmadenyux
· 3 months ago
OMG! It looks really niiiice! It's a big-big-awsome-superduper step talking about interface, desktop and usability! Maybe, i dont like so much some graphics on it, but i dont think that will be a problem. Just a detail. :)
Peter Jones
· 3 months ago
Excellent well written and presented,Keep up the good work
urizev
· 3 months ago
Today, Gnome 2.28 is out. Maybe, the previous one to Gnome 3.0. Here are the details of the new release:
Well, I'm not really big on the latest, fancy, Compiz style effects, I just like having the powerful flexibility that Linux gives me. I am really impressed by the information and pictures, video contained in this article. Thanks
Edd Turtle
· 3 months ago
I love it! It's what gnome needs, it's been based on the same bland design for ages now this is a new way of thinking outside the box :) keep it up
Name
· 2 months ago
Agreed. Think OUTSIDE of the box.
omid8bimo
· 2 months ago
can't wait to try it out!
Name
· 2 months ago
I saw a Gnome 3.0 demonstration at Ohio Linux Fest. Looks and operates very smoothly. Compiz may be obsoleted by the functionalities of the Gnome shell.
Ben
· 2 months ago
Gnome may also be obsoleted by the functionalities of KDE, if Gnome continues to block the use of Compiz.
I doubt Mutter will be able to truly compete. One of the things people love about Compiz is the range of options. You may want a cube, or a wall. You may want windows that pop up, beam up, swing into view, are magicked into existence, and disappear in much the same or a completely different manner. You may want to blur all but the current window, or apply ever increasing transparency as windows are denied focus. You may want to switch windows with cover flow, a shift switcher, a ring switcher, or a good ol' fashioned switched with live thumbnails. Compiz made the desktop cool, and uniquely yours.
Now, consider the configurability of most Gnome apps. Do you really think they're going to allow you the same level of freedom that Compiz does? I think we'll be lucky to get wobbly windows.
LINUXMANIAC
· 2 months ago
It seems that gnome 3.0 revolutionizes the above far left and the below far right of the environment! Hence, it radically changes the way we use the applications (the above far left) and the way we use the different panels (the below far right). Not a bad thing after all and if we combine this with a much better and quicker search function then we have something indeed to anticipate!
James
· 2 months ago
What are you running this on? is this karmic? Can I get that pretty music widget if i simply install gnome shell on karmic? if so, how do widgets work. And i'm assuming these are your screenshots, hence other articles with user joey.
d0od
· 2 months ago
The screenshots were taken using Gnome-Shell on Karmic Alpha 5.
The music widget doesn't (sadly) come with gnome-shell or Karmic but it's very easy to install. It's called CoverGloobus and i've written about it before @ http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2009/09/7-nowplaying...
James
· 2 months ago
oh cool so it is covergloobus. it looked like it... i've been following that guy's proj. for a while now.
Samuel
· 2 months ago
idk, it seems bit overkill to me, so of the features just don't seem that attractive or useful. I saw another demo online of something claiming to be gnome 3, but that one didn't seem to have a stationary menu, but rather a gesture launch one anywhere on the desktop, that seemed kind of handy, but this just seems a little overkill. A big plus sign in the bottom corner of the screen allows you to add more workspaces, and a big minus dign allows you to get rid of workspaces... Right now I'm using one workspace for web browsing, occasionally I start a project and I may use up to four workspaces, therefore I set compiz to 4 desktops, all of the other desktops aren't visible until I drag a window into one of the or press a switch key, I don't need to "Add More" or "Reduce" or have extremely large icons which allow me to do so. The thing that really interests me is the new method of file management, now that seems really original and not so windowsy, but still I like organizing my stuff into folders, which seems more user specific. This just seems like auto-organization gone wild.
Eduardo
· 2 days ago
Gnome 2 is incredible easy to use and Gnome 3 will have better visual, but KDE 4.4 will be the most beautiful and incredible desktop to use on Linux.
All Comments
Maybe when it'll work on my comp I'll give it a go live :)
How about instead of writing malicious code and or viruses, how about you help to fix some of the obvious problems in Ubuntu. Windows, Ubuntu and Leopard all have there ups and downs. So stop saying windows got everything from Linux, It was Windows that started desktop revolution in the first place. (even though im not a fan of windows)
In my view, the real desktop revolution was the introduction of Free and Open Source Software. There is nothing to be compared a commercial program (or an Operating System) that belongs to a company and it's code is only known to this company's Engineers, with an OS that belongs to the public, and everyone can help it's development.
Also, Microsoft was the one that copied to Windows whatever "revolutionary" feature was introduced by Linux or MacOS in the first place.
http://cairoshell.com/
Gnome just got ripped a new one
Do you think we could talk the devs into porting it to Linux?
So are these just mockups provided by the community or a serious push by GNOME towards innovation?
Is it possible to make them bigger in the future?
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l02bhwofEqw @ 5:15
how will compiz integrate into this?
looks shiny and squeaky clean.
and will you be able to theme it?
Gnome as usual will provide very limited configuration options and restrict the freedom of the user.
GNOME 2 doesn't include or "work with" Compiz, either. It includes Metacity. How do you then use Compiz? You replace Metacity with Compiz. That breaks a few things but there are alternatives to those as well.
As for source code, that's such a lame excuse. I'm all for open source. I think it's great, but people use it as a catch-all excuse for doing a poor job. Don't like the way this program works? Patch it! Most Linux users these days are not developers. They don't have the ability to tweak the source code. They depend on upstream, and all they can really do is raise a little hell when things go wrong.
Hey can somebody help me? I downloaded "gnome-shell" in Karmic but I can't use it. I tried using the "sessions" tab in the GDM but it doesn't give me the option. I also tried the "new session" button on the Fast User Switch Applet but it logs out and logs in again without going to the GDM.
It might be an Alpha Bug thingie but any help would be great.
Thank's!!!
Leave the terminal open while trying it out. Once you are done trying it out, return to the terminal window, and hit Ctrl+C to kill the process. That will start metacity again. You can then press Alt+F2 and run compiz --replace if you were using compiz.
Hope that helps
Gnome 3 would be the perfect time to include Gnome Do, Global Menu, Gloobus (get some devs over there, quick!) and Screenlets, but as far as I know, none of these are showing up. AFAIK, Gnome devs are pretty adamant about not including a dock.
I'm predicting I'll either love Gnome 3 or switch to KDE full time. 4.4 looks like a promising release (but what release in the 4.x series hasn't?)
Could it really be that much more effort than the shell?
Microsoft will copy it soon, just wait and see. Ballmer hasn't had an original thought in his entire life.
Heavy development in Gnome-shell and vast user adoption will make this truly a dominating OS, hopefully, maybe, ya think?
gnome is narrow minded as usual.
A futile effort indeed. Even Apple added "spaces" to OSX. After messing with this "new" desktop metaphor for ages. (Just in case you're to retarded to get it, they're moving in the opposite direction)
You can actually have 1 application per desktop. Why the fuck would one want to mess with 8 applications on one screen, when the push of a button, has the other application readily available.
By all means, create something cool and useful. Just because you haven't had it before though, doesn't make it neither. Start spending your efforts elsewhere, ASAP.
http://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell/CheatSheet
Gnome-Shell is a composition manager on its own with its own effects. Wo wonder they Compiz and Gnome-Shell don't play together.
RT
www.real-privacy.net.tc
there's a ppa.
You can also compile from source (which has been more reliable for me) from here..
http://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell
@Mel - To activate the source compiled version, follow the instructions.
To activate the one from repos "gnome-shell --replace"
Now its Windows 7. Good job.
BTW, 1998 called.. They want to know what the Linux desktop market share is.
Windows end-user usability isn't what sucks about Windows. Windows 7 is pretty damned impressive when it comes to UI design. I think a re-work of Gnome 2 would suffice. Pretty much, emulate Windows 7 shell design, then improve on that.
Linux Mint + Windows 7 taskbar + Compiz not sucking ass with videos, games and tooltips = Linux Desktop
Here are two simple ideas that would have been more welcome and helpful to users:
http://bradwjensen.deviantart.com/art/Nautilus-...
http://bradwjensen.deviantart.com/art/Ubuntu-Pa...
lets start bashing, shal we ?
the "activities" menu. pretty much just vistas start menu in a drop-down fashion, like the apple menu on OS X, just a lot more visualy poluted, and if i know gnome developers, it'll have very few options for customization, if any.
the bar at the top is another thing. first, it steals screen real estate. not a big deal when you have a large display that can exibit 1024 lines, but it's a serious problem on netbooks with their tiny screens. and yes, netbooks is _exactly_ where linux has it's biggest chance to shine. other desktops have wide taskbars at the botton, but they usualy gives the option to hide or cover it. second, if that bar will stay there all the time, stealing space, just make it the menu bar for every GTK application, like mac os has been doing since day one. having the bar there, then another menu bar on each app windows is a waste os space. serious drawback on small screens.
and last but not least, reviewers and gnome team hardly ever release screenshots showing the file picker and/or print dialog before the release. what was atrocious on gnome 1.4x became awfull on 2.x series. i'm seriously losing hope that they'll ever get that part of the desktop correctly.
finally, most of their problems comes from not wanting to be an exact windows clone, or OS X clone or anything, so they end up mixing and matching things from several sources, but usually just half-way. sorry guys, but I'll stick to KDE apps and windowmaker desktop for the foreseable future.
I don't care for the dark theme as well, but there will be options available.
I also find it inefficient to have words in the panel, for eg I have replaced Application/Places/System with just the Ubuntu icon for a drop down menu. And in these examples I would replace the Activities word with a Ubuntu icon.
Anyway progress is happening. Nice work.
And also, it would be great if the application launcher would be as good as gnome-do, integrating with other apps.
Maybe, i dont like so much some graphics on it, but i dont think that will be a problem. Just a detail. :)
http://www.todosmenostu.es/2009/09/23/hoy-sale-...
I doubt Mutter will be able to truly compete. One of the things people love about Compiz is the range of options. You may want a cube, or a wall. You may want windows that pop up, beam up, swing into view, are magicked into existence, and disappear in much the same or a completely different manner. You may want to blur all but the current window, or apply ever increasing transparency as windows are denied focus. You may want to switch windows with cover flow, a shift switcher, a ring switcher, or a good ol' fashioned switched with live thumbnails. Compiz made the desktop cool, and uniquely yours.
Now, consider the configurability of most Gnome apps. Do you really think they're going to allow you the same level of freedom that Compiz does? I think we'll be lucky to get wobbly windows.
Hence, it radically changes the way we use the applications (the above far left) and the way we use the different panels (the below far right).
Not a bad thing after all and if we combine this with a much better and quicker search function then we have something indeed to anticipate!
The music widget doesn't (sadly) come with gnome-shell or Karmic but it's very easy to install. It's called CoverGloobus and i've written about it before @ http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2009/09/7-nowplaying...