ubuntu 12.04 features list

Head Up Display (or HUD)

HUD integrates application menus into the desktop UI. With an application open, hit the Alt key to bring up the HUD. When the HUD is open, you can easily search your application menus based on keywords. This means you will not have to poke through application menus.

New privacy tool

With this tool you can figure out what exactly Unity records and what it doesn’t. You can turn recording off to completely disable the feature or you can specify what files and applications it can record.

Launchbar

It can now be set to auto-hide. Icons can be resized now. It is no longer set with the dodge window behavior. This caused a lot of issues when interacting with certain applications. The default behavior now is always on top.

Change to Unity Dash

Now, the Dash shows Recent Apps first, Recent Files next, and finally, Recent Downloads.

Video Lens

Unity Lenses allow you to easily organize items in the Unity Dash. If you open the Video Lens, you can select and play videos from a variety of sources, such as those from your local collection, YouTube movies, BBC iPlayer, and TED Talks. Open the Lens, do a search, and click on the video you want to view.

Rhythmbox default

Ubuntu is returning to Rhythmbox as the default music player. 

MyUnity

Ubuntu Unity will finally include a configuration tool for the desktop. This application was developed to provide full customization of Unity features, including the Unity Launcher, Dash, Panel, Desk, and Font. This tool was available for 11.04 and 11.10, but had to be installed from the Software Center. Now, MyUnity will be installed and ready for configuration by default.

Trackpad support

Owners of trackpads whose clickable button is built into the surface can now enjoy support for their device. Most new Synaptics trackpads are supported, as are Apple Macbook trackpads. Ubuntu 12.10 should also include support for Apple’s Magic Trackpads.