Play music while installing

[Björn Lindqvist]

Binary package hint: debian-installer

When you install Windows XP, it plays some soft music during the install. That is the coolest feature ever and I really wish Ubuntu had it too.

[Cody A.W. Somerville (cody-somerville)]

I too found it enjoyable.

Installing an operating system when you're not very tech savvy can be stressful. If we added some sort of background music that was upbeat yet not so "noisy" that some would consider it stressful, then we could considerably improve the "install experience". If people don't enjoy the music, we can always provide an option to disable it (I believe Windows' installer has this option).

From a technical stand-point, I wouldn't think this would be too hard to implement since you're already at the desktop. However, would people put a stink up about bloat or impact on performance?

This is obviously of low-priority but it is something that would add noticeable polish to the install process.

On a side note, I might have a piece of music that would be good for this. If there is any more interest in this item then I'd be happy to propose it (I already have the Author's permission to use it if we wanted to).

Anyhow, this is my first contribution to launchpad *grins* - I hope I didn't do anything out of bounds.

- Cody

[Warbo (warbo)]

Debian-installer is the console one am I right (that the alternate CD uses)? If so then I think it should be kept to necessary features required for installation, since it is used by many as a fallback so we don't want unneeded bugs popping up, and those that use it for its power/light weight would probably not want music playing.

If, however, this is for the desktop CD installer (Ubiquity isn't it?) then I think this would be a bad idea too, when the user can simply open up Totem, Rhythmbox, etc. (apps and codecs can still be installed even when in live mode) Interface-wise Ubiquity (when it is installing) is just a progress bar on the desktop, like a download manager, and adding music playing too it would be ridiculous. Those that don't want music would get annoyed, those that do would already have found something in Applications>Sound & Video.

I know there is a spec for adding a slideshow type thing to Ubiquity here https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/ubiquity-slideshow which could be accompanied by a little light background music, but that is because Ubiquity will be the focus of attention, rather than how it is now with a progress bar filling up whilst the user gets on with more important stuff than watching paint dry.

[dotcoma (max73max)]

do they play music also whileyou downgrade from Vista to XP ?
what do they play? there goes your money down the drain ? : )

[James (purpleidea)]

IMHO i hope this is all an early/late april fool's joke and i agree with warbo.

[Björn Lindqvist (bjourne)]

Please don't add useless comments to the bug tracker. For the console-installer, the music can be played in the background using mpg123. Disabling the music is very simple, you power off your loudspeakers. For the desktop installer, the problem is that there is no music shipped on the Live CD so you can't play music. New Ubuntu users are very unlikely to be able to 1) locate and start Rhythmbox 2) Install codecs 3) Find and download music to play.

[Jonathan Carter (jonathan)]

If this would ever be implemented, wouldn't it be better to target it for Ubiquity instead?