one more try.. what about connecting the dash-search to the gnome online accounts in future? could be interesting

In Unity, and in practically every other variant of desktop linux, this feature has never matured to a state where it could be considered useful on a daily basis, be it due to the flaws of the indexing subsystems and the associated drain on resources (viz. early attempts, like Beagle), the flaws in the UI design, the lack of proper integration with the file management tools etc. I always found ‘lenses’ are a poor conceptual choice as they introduce an additional user action, making search less direct and intuitive. Microsoft made the same mistake in Windows 8.

Obviously there is an extensibility aspect to lenses and I’m sure they (could) play a useful role as an indexing/backend API, allowing developers to write ‘reader plugins’ for the framework, but exposing them as first-level user-interface elements seems contrary to the simplicity and elegance that Unity claims to represent.

I don’t think having the *choice* of Amazon results is bad per se, but it does demonstrate how Canonical is still not focusing on creating a useful, fast and innovative desktop platform, but maintaining balances between hype, profitability and the open-source paradigm. And while the success of the product and company are admirable, I wish you could focus more on creating an advanced, open ecosystem with extremely solid open-source foundations that’s truly world-leading, instead of marginally useful stints like Amazon results in Unity.

Having a ‘smart’ universal Spotlight-like search instead of dozens of ‘lens’ buttons should be a top level priority. Providing the option for users to choose what the Home lens searches or making sure that internet/network searches are secure are not ‘user wishes’ occupying in a long and dusty wishlist, they are fundamental parts of the search function that should be included in the first release.

I don’t like complaining about something without having offered an alternative.

Might I put forward the following to you.

We already have Ubuntu One through which I am now buying my music; I use it because it is part of the spirit of Ubuntu and I hope that my purchases there go a little way towards supporting Canonical.

Why not make an “Ubuntu Shop,” which effectively does the same thing as you wanted to add in to the lens.

By having something like this, which I know would support Ubuntu, I’d be more inclined to use it as a first stop for my on-line shopping; and given what I know about my own behaviour I would only be likely to shop outside this if I found the prices to be unreasonable.

As it is then in Canonicals control, other merchants can join the store, just like other merchants operate through Amazon now.

I think that initially, suppliers like clothing stores that offer Ubuntu branded goods, people who sell computer hardware, etc. might be attracted by the Ubuntu user base as potential customers, especially if locality can be utilised; eg. merchants only appear who are willing to deliver to various countries, because there is nothing more annoying than trying to order something from Amazon.com to be told that they don’t ship to the UK, while others do.

I feel that there is potential here for an actual improvement on on-line shopping, and done through Ubuntu.

There is an “opt-out”.