Ubuntu 12.04LTS Tips and Tricks

Ubuntu 12.04LTS Tips and Tricks

1. Change the Software Center Server Location

If you installed with a customized location, then the download source address will be set to your local or nearer server. To avoid “404″ Errors, open The Software Center, go to Edit and then Software Sources. Then change the server to Main server.

2. Manage Unity (Ug… Unity!)

Most of you know that I am not a Unity Fan…it’s a Step backwards, but if you want to live with it… Here are some tips….

Ubuntu 12.04 has no panel or menu or applet.

To control unity bar, icon size, opacity etc., download any of these three.

Ubuntu Tweak has so many tweaking points including for Unity.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak 

Compiz is a very good desktop management software.

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Unsettings is easy user friendly.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:diesch/testing
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unsettings

To add weather indicator icon…

sudo apt-get install indicator-weather

System monitor on tray…

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-multiload/stable-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install indicator-multiload

Customized calendar indicator…

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install calendar-indicator

3. Power Management

Custom power profiles are missing.

Get Jupiter to manage video device, resolution and power profiles.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/jupiter
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install jupiter

4. Get Back All Startup Items

System specific startup items are hidden by difault. Just hit this into the terminal, and all are back!

sudo sed -i ‘s/NoDisplay=true/NoDisplay=false/g’ /etc/xdg/autostart/*.desktop

5. Synaptic!

Yast for openSUSE, Synaptic for Ubuntu? Whatever, Synaptic can be installed by this:

sudo apt-get install synaptic

6. Forget Software Center, Get Gdebi

Gdebi is a very handy standalone *.deb installer. Get it…

sudo apt-get install gdebi

Gnome Classic – mandatory IMHO!
Missing the old gnome interface? Forget Unity 2D, switch to gnome fallback.

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

After installing logout and choose gnome-classic in “session” on the login box.

Gnome shell can also be installed to give you the real taste of Gnome3, Get it …

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

For better gnome shell theme installer, get this…

sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool

No Audio/Video? Get Codecs!
Ubuntu doesn’t ship codecs. Get gstreamer to play video and audio files with ease.

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ffmpeg

Firefox might need flash player.

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer

- OR -

Get VLC, Java, Flash and all you need with a single command…

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

7. Other Desktop Environments

KDE

sudo apt-get install kde-plasma-desktop

XFCE (Minimal Gnome)

sudo apt-get install xfce4

LXDE (Powersaving)

sudo apt-get install lxde

Openbox (Very light and my personal favorite!)

sudo apt-get install openbox

8. Tweak Nautilus

Get back terminal in the context menu…

sudo apt-get install nautilus-open-terminal

Nautilus image converter, helpful when you don’t want to open GIMP.

sudo apt-get install nautilus-image-converter

9. Icons! (I’m not a fan of the stock set, here are some alternatives)

Faenza Icon Theme:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tiheum/equinox
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install faenza-icon-theme

AwOken:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alecive/antigone
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install awoken-icon-theme awoken-icon-theme-customization

original link to : http://www.techhui.com/profiles/blogs/ubuntu-12-04lts-tips-and-tricks