Nautilus Functionality Gone?

The type-ahead functionality has not been designed out of the system -- it still works on my computer. There is still a chance that I do not understand what you mean by badly broken functionality.

Set up a small test directory with some subdirectories. Try doing the type-ahead. Describe, using this simplified context, what you mean.

OK, I am just using my home directory, which offers a great example. I launch Nautilus in my home directory. I want to see my Rock music, so I start typing "music". I press "m" and the folder is selected, and the "m" appears down at the bottom-right of the window (as before). When I press the "u", the typing goes away from the bottom-right, but the folder is still selected. I press Enter to go into the folder. What happens next depends. Sometimes, I can press the next letter, and it will find the right folder. Sometimes, pressing one of the starting letters for a folder will do nothing at all. Let's assume it's working this time. I press "A" and it selects one of the folders (I have one called Ambient). I change my mind, because I wanted the "Rock" folder, so I press backspace, but it doesn't undo the A. Rather, it takes me back up to the previous folder level. It didn't used to do this. I could just keep typing, and the little window in the lower-right would keep working. So I'm wondering what changed?

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need me to clarify anything else.

Also, no mouse-over on music files anymore? And no way to change the background?

Could report a regression

It's an official regression bug. It was reported as ticket 875646.

OK. Just switched to Dolphin. That's my workaround. Hope it gets fixed soon. Thanks!