This has been a major problem for me in 13.10. I managed to solve it by turning off the record search activity option under provacy settings. It seems that the circling icon next to the magnifying glass is the process recording, or calling, previous searches.
If i turn if off (dash --> Security and privacy --> Files and applications --- Turn off: 'Record file and application usage'), my applications come up really quickly in the dash. j -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of DX Packages, which is subscribed to unity in Ubuntu. Matching subscriptions: dx-packages https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1061852 Title: Unity Application Lens slow to load Status in Unity: Confirmed Status in “unity” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: WHAT HAPPENS ---------------------- Log into the system Launch the dash with the 'window' key Start typing 'chr'... I see my files appearing in the search results The application lens results appear ~10 - 15 seconds later WHAT IS DESIRABLE --------------------------- The application lens results appear immediately Most users would login into the system and launch a web browser Optimal unity experience demands that their browser or mail client shows up in the dash instantaneously Also this behaviour has worsened recently (after upgrade to 12.04) ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04 Package: unity 5.16.0-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-31.50-generic-pae 3.2.28 Uname: Linux 3.2.0-31-generic-pae i686 ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu13 Architecture: i386 CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,decor,resize,commands,place,regex,move,grid,session,snap,vpswitch,imgpng,gnomecompat,mousepoll,put,animation,compiztoolbox,expo,wall,ezoom,workarounds,unitymtgrabhandles,fade,scale,unityshell] Date: Fri Oct 5 01:13:34 2012 EcryptfsInUse: Yes InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta i386 (20120328) SourcePackage: unity UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/unity/+bug/1061852/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages Post to : dx-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp