14 DAY TRIAL // Unity Dark, a distribution based on Zorin Linux (which in turn is based on Ubuntu 12.04), featuring various Compiz effects and the Cinnamon desktop environment, is now at version 12.04.1.
Unity Dark or Unity Dark Re-Spin, as the developer Jesse calls it, has a less-than-orthodox approach. Other distributions based on Ubuntu usually try to get rid of Unity and replace it with something else, but very few people actually go through the trouble of trying to improve it.
According to the developer, this new version of Unity Dark is fully compatible with Compiz and even features some rather interesting Compiz effects.
Besides the obvious different look, Unity Dark 12.04.1 also features a lot of applications, many of them at newer versions than on the Ubuntu counterpart.
For example, the distribution comes with Skype 4.0, GIMP 2.8.2, Firefox 15.0, the latest stable Chrome, Opera, and Thunderbird.
Unity Dark 12.04.1 also features some other packages that are not usually installed on default Zorin or Ubuntu desktops, but which are available in the repositories. Such applications include Ubuntu Tweak, Gnome Tweak Tool (Advanced settings), and My Unity.
The developers also included its own wallpaper changing app, called Wallch. Other software included in the distro are: qBitorrrent, a bitttorent client, Shutter, a screen capture tool, Super Boot, Grub Customise, the LibreOffice Suite, Clip Grab, Unetbootin, Wine, VLC media player, Gparted, and many others.
Unlike Ubuntu distributions that only pack a few simple themes, Unity Dark 12.04.1 comes loaded with lots of Themes and Icons.
Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) is a Long Term Support (LTS) distribution, supported with maintenance updates and security fixes until 2017.
The next maintenance version for the Precise Pangolin operating system is Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS and it will be released on January 31st, 2013. Download Unity Dark 12.04.1 right now from Softpedia.