The folks behind the Jolicloud operating system have been working to blur the lines between web apps and desktop apps for a while. But the operating system has always felt a little disjointed — because when you go to install web apps, you have a sexy app store-like interface that lets you click on icons for Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and other web-based apps to add them to your desktop. And your desktop… well, it looks almost exactly like Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

But Jolicloud is getting ready to roll out a new program launcher written in HTML5. The new UI looks slick and helps provide a more uniform experience throughout the operating system.

Users will be able to drag and drop program shortcuts, and install web apps from the app installer with a single click. Jolicloud also supports desktop apps designed to work with Ubuntu Linux. The login screen will also be linked to your Facebook account, so you can login to Jolicloud with your Facebook credentials. If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can still use Jolicloud, though.

Beta testers should have access to the new UI within the next few weeks, although it’s not clear when it will be available to end users. In the meantime, you can check out a 2 minute demo video after the break.

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