Hello Linux Geeksters. The Canonical developers are creating new Unity Scopes for Unity 8, being available for both the desktop and the mobile version of the desktop environment.
While the Unity Smart Scopes are already available for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander and Ubuntu 14.04 (both using Unity 7), the new Unity 8 Scopes may be very appreciated by the Ubuntu users and enthusiasts. While Unity 8 is already available on Ubuntu Touch, the new Scopes will be most likely available for the Ubuntu desktop with the release of Ubuntu 14.10, which will be using Unity 8 as default.
Via the new Unity Scopes, the users are able to search for files, applications on over the internet on different popular internet services like Google, Amazon, e-Bay, Wikipedia, Grooveshark, The Weather Chanel. For example, if you are searching for a specific music track via the Unity Scopes, you’ll either get local results, if you have the track on the phone, or you’ll get links for Grooveshark, 8tracks or other music services.
If the default scopes are not enough, the users will be able to easily download and install new ones, from a Scopes Store.
Canonical has also assured the users that the Scopes will run separate processes secured by AppArmor, being enforced at the kernel level, so the Scopes will not be able to do things they are not supposed to.
Despite this, Unity 8 has been recently added to the proposed repositories of Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr, so the Ubuntu users may toy around with the new Unity 8 Scopes soon.