Specifically, the latest prerelease version of " now integrates results into searches conducted through the Unity desktop Dash. So, when the user searches in the for "BBQ," for instance, results will include not just local results but also related products for sale on Amazon, as shown in .

Any purchases made through the Unity Dash, meanwhile, will earn Ubuntu a small percentage in affiliate revenue.

"For each product sold (not searched) from Amazon or the Ubuntu One Music Store, Canonical takes a small cut," explained Jono Bacon, Ubuntu community manager, in a on Sunday. "This affiliate revenue is a useful way in which we can generate revenue that we can continue to invest into the Ubuntu project to build new features, maintain our infrastructure, and improve Ubuntu."

In fact, Bacon's explanation came largely in response to considerable controversy and user outcry over the new feature.