The new Ubuntu 11.10 codenamed Oneiric Ocelot has been released! As you all know Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution since it aims on usability and ease of installation. The Unity has a few changes. First of all LightDM is the new login manager. “Places” are renamed to “Lenses”. This feature now also integrates multiple sources and advanced filtering options like ratings, range, and categories. The new version of Ubuntu comes with a new redesigned Ubuntu Software Center which gives you instant access to thousands of apps. You can see the top-rated apps, compare apps by rating and user reviews, keep track of what you’ve installed, and sync your apps between all your Ubuntu computers. The Alt + Tab switcher has also been redesigned. Enough for now, download Ubuntu 11.10 install it and let's see a few tips, tricks and tweaks!Contents
- Restricted Extras
- Gnome Tweak Tool
- Multimedia
- Java
- Google Earth
- Google Chromium
- Internet
- Torrent clients
- NTFS read/write support
- PlayOnLinux
- Unity shortcuts
- Flash player
- Disable Overlay Scrollbars
- Sushi file previewer
- Disable Global Menu (AppMenu)
- Configure Unity
- Change Login Background
- Install Synaptic
Note: In the rest of this tutorial I will be using the terminal to install some applications. However you can use the Software Center, search for those applications and install them with a single click.
1. Restricted Extras
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Note: Installation only works completely and properly when done from the command-line Terminal. The entire package will not usually install completely from within a Package Manager.
2. Gnome Tweak Tool
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
Once installed, Gnome Tweak Tool should show up as "Advanced Settings" in the menu. Besides changing fonts or themes, Gnome Tweak Tool can also be used to enable/disable Shell extensions, tweak the desktop, various windows behavior or Gnome Shell.
3. Multimedia
Audio and Video Playback
DVD Playback
sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
Next type:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
MPlayer/SMPlayer
sudo apt-get install mplayer smplayer
You will find it under Media Apps > SMPlayer
VLC
Many users prefer the Video Lan Client (VLC) as their multimedia player. VLC supports many formats without need for additional codecs. Simply install it by typing:
sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-pulse
K9copy
sudo apt-get install k9copy
For more information you can read my How to backup your DVDs (in dvd, xvid, mpeg-4, x264 formats) using k9copy guide.
DVD::Rip
DVD::Rip is a DVD backup/copy program, written in GTK-based perl, that uses the transcode video/audio processing and conversion tools. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install dvdrip
For more information you can read my How to rip a DVD to DivX/XviD/H264 using DVD::Rip
2ManDVD
2ManDVD is a GUI utility for creating DVD videos. It is the successor of ManDVD. For more information on how to install it and use it read my How to author a DVD using 2ManDVD in Linux guide.
DeVeDe
DeVeDe is a program to create video DVDs and CDs suitable for home players (i.e. VCD, sVCD or CVD) from any source video file that is supported by MPlayer. For more information on how to install it and use it read my How to create a custom DVD using DeVeDe .
4. Java
Ubuntu 10.04 uses OpenJDK, which mostly derives from Sun's JRE, as its default flavor of JRE. Moreover Icedtea is the default browser plugin to run Java applets. Most users should be fine with those JRE versions. If you don't have them installed simply type:
sudo apt-get install openjdk-6-jre icedtea6-plugin
5. Google Earth
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install googleearth-package
make-googleearth-package --force
sudo dpkg -i googleearth*.deb
6. Google Chromium
Chromium is Google's open source web browser and it's fast! You should give it a try. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser
7. Internet
IRC
XChat is an IRC chat program for both Linux and Windows. It allows you to join multiple IRC channels (chat rooms) at the same time, talk publicly, private one-on-one conversations etc. Even file transfers are possible.
sudo apt-get install xchat
Ubuntu 11.10 uses empathy as its default IM (Instant Messaging) client. A few others IMs are:
Pidgin
Pidgin is an open source IM application. It is the previous default in the Ubuntu (Gnome) desktop.
sudo apt-get install pidgin
aMSN
aMSN is an MSN Messenger utility that functions like the original client. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install amsn
Emesene
Emesene is an MSN messenger client that uses a simplified interface similar to the original client. To install it type
sudo apt-get install emesene
Skype
Skype is a proprietary integrated VOIP and video conferencing program similar to Ekiga. To install skype on Ubuntu 11.10 open Software Center, search for Skype, click on Use This Source and install it.
8. Torrent clients
Transmission is the default BitTorrent client in Ubuntu 9.10. Here are some additional clients if you want to try them.
Deluge
Deluge is a lightweight, Free Software, cross-platform BitTorrent client.
sudo apt-get install deluge
Vuze
Vuze is the next version of Azureus. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install vuze
9. NTFS read/write support
Ubuntu has a graphical configuration tool for enabling read/write on NTFS partitions, either from a Windows/Linux dual boot system or from external hard disks. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install ntfs-config
NTFS-Config will auto detect your NTFS partitions and afterwards you can enable write support for them. The will be mounted under /media.
10. PlayOnLinux
PlayOnLinux is a piece of sofware which allows you to easily install and use numerous games and softwares designed to run with Microsoft®'s Windows®. Call Of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Need For Speed, Starcraft, Steam, Age Of Empires, Warcraft and AutoCad are only some of those. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install playonlinux
11. Unity keyboard shortcuts and mouse tricks
Here is a previous article I've written with many Keyboard shortcuts and mouse tricks for Unity
12. Flash player
To install the latest Flash player open a terminal and type
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer
This will install flash player no matter whether you have a 32bit or 64bit installation. Now restart Chromium or Firefox and go to YouTube to test if everything is ok!
13. Disable Overlay Scrollbars
sudo apt-get remove overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar3-0.2-0 liboverlay-scrollbar-0.2-0
Log out and log back in. If you want to revert that change simple install them again.
sudo apt-get install overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar3-0.2-0 liboverlay-scrollbar-0.2-0
14. Sushi file previewer
A missing feature from Nautilus for both Gnome Shell and Unity is the Sush file previer. It is capable of previewing documents, PDFs, video and audio files. To activate the preview left click on a file and hit space. To close it hit space again or escape. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install gnome-sushi
15. Disable Global Menu (AppMenu)
If you don't like the Global Menu (File Edit etc. appearing on the top bar instead of the application bar) you can uninstall it like this:
sudo apt-get remove appmenu-gtk3 appmenu-gtk appmenu-qt
Log out and log back in. If you want to revert that change simple install them again.
sudo apt-get install appmenu-gtk3 appmenu-gtk appmenu-qt
16. Configure Unity
The default installation of Ubuntu Oneiric doesn’t come with any option to configure the Unity desktop. You can, however, install CompizConfig Settings Manager to access the configuration menu. Once installed, run the app and scroll down the list till you see the Ubuntu Unity Plugin. Click on it. From here, you can configure the behaviour of the launcher, the shortcut key, the switcher and some experimental features.
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
If you are using an old computer that doesn’t support Compiz, most probably you are running Unity 2D instead of the usual Unity desktop. To configure Unity 2D, you have to install dconf-tools, run dxonf-editor and navigate to Desktop > Unity
sudo apt-get install dconf-tools dconf-editor
You can also install MyUnity which allows you to customize Unity Launcher, Dash, Panel, Desk and Font, through a Graphical User Interface.
17. Change Login Background
Although I find the background of the new LightDM pretty nice you may want to change it. To do so open a terminal and type:
sudo nano /etc/lightdm/unity-greeter.conf
At the field starting with “background=…“, change the background path to your favourite wallpaper.
18. Install Synaptic
If you don't like the new Software Center you can use the old, good Synaptic Package Manager.
sudo apt-get install synaptic
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user@user-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install synaptic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package synaptic is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
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How to install Gnome Shell on Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot
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