Well, all you guys must be very familiar with the new Unity interface of Ubuntu and some are finding it buggy, unsupportive DE and want to stick to Gnome. Perfect approach ? No, a little wrong coz Unity is now really stable and by the end of April, you will see it as a really good DE to work with. We in this post will cover the basic aspects of Unity and howto get it working on your Ubuntu 11.04 Desktop. Laptops have integrated cards so they might pick it up directly but when it comes to desktops and external Video cards, things get messy. We are going to cover every small bit so that your Ubuntu experience remains better as it was with Gnome 2.32.

Download Ubuntu 11.04 Beta

Installation

There comes the hardest part ! Is it really ? No, Not at all ! People (including most of my friends) believe that installing Linux (Ubuntu) is problematic and hard. We have covered Ubuntu Installation in detail in our previous post. Well, we are doing it again to remind you the actual simplicity and fun involved in the installation. Here it goes -

1. Boot your Ubuntu Live via USB/CD and start the installer. Then choose your preferred language and proceed.
2. Ensure the ’3 requirements’ are satisfied and click forward.
3. At the Installer menu, select ‘something else’ for Manual partitioner setup. (Else you can choose to Erase all your data and install dedicated Ubuntu)
4. Select the rest free space and make a new partition of size 1GB and use it as ‘ext4 journaling filesystem’. Set mount point as ‘/boot’.
5. After that select the next partition and st is as ‘swap area’. It should be double the size of your RAM.
6. The partitioning is done, click forward and installation will start.
7. Now select your TimeZone, Keyboard Layout, Username/Password and then wait for the installation to complete.
8. Reboot your computer and there it is you Ubuntu 11.04.

Update Manager

After rebooting to your dedicated machine, browser to System>Administration>Update Manager, refresh lists and install all the updates listed. The update manager may ask you for an upgrade, run it but make sure you have enough disk space and good connection. After update/ upgrade is over, reboot your system for a better Ubuntu.

Installing Hardware Drivers

Hardware Drivers are very important for Unity as it demands 3D effects to be enabled to run Compiz and give the intended looks. What you need to do is to browse to System>Administration>Additional drivers and install and activate the drivers. After the install is over, reboot the system and Unity will be there to greet you.
If you have Nvidia card and you cannot see any drivers for your card, you can use this PPA to install them right away. (this PPA works on 11.04 also) -

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-current-modaliases nvidia-settings

and restart the system. Everything will be done for sure. We will cover hardware driver installation in detail soon.

Fixing the Bootscreen

Do this if and only if your Ubuntu bootscreen shows up ugly text instead of regular Ubuntu bootscreen. Be careful while doing this :

Method 1 -> Simply install startup manager via terminal ‘sudo apt-get install startupmanager’. Logout and log back in. Now Browse to ‘System>Administration>Startup manager’ and set you preferences. Set color depth at 24 bit and resolution of your choice. Save and reboot. You bootscreen now should be like the one below

Method 2 -> Step 1: Open the terminal and type :

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

- Now, Replace the following line :

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”

with this one:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1024×768-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap”

- Replace the following line :

#GRUB_GFXMODE=640×480

with this one:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024×768

Save the file and close it!
Step 2: Now, type

sudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

When the text window appears, add the following line at the end of the file:

uvesafb mode_option=1280×1024-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

Save the file and close it!

Step 3: Now,

echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

Step 4: Now update grub using this command:

sudo update-grub
sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot your computer. When the system starts, you should see a better looking Ubuntu boot screen.

Note – You can choose resolution sizes according to your computer capability and screen sizes.

Ubuntu Restricted Extras

Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a package that contains all the necessary codecs and plugins like flashplayer, mp3 and other restricted audio/video codecs  all in one package. Install it from Software Center and Ubuntu is ready at its full power at your service.

Ubuntu Tweak

Ubuntu Tweak as we covered earlier is a very nice system tool for Ubuntu desktops and is now available for Natty too. Download Ubuntu Tweak from HERE and install it via Software Center. . The following PPA can also be used to install tweak on Natty.

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

Configuring Ubuntu has never been so easy.

Basic Applications

GIMP, Multiget, Bleachbit, Chromium & VLC are the top 5 basic applications to have on Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal.

GIMP - Image manipulation program for Linux systems. Simple search it in Software Center or type ‘sudo apt-get install gimp‘ in the terminal.

Multiget - Multiget is a very nice and easy direct downloads manager for Ubuntu. Software Center is there but terminal lovers can use ‘sudo apt-get install multiget‘ to have it installed.

Bleachbit - Bleachbit is a system cleaner, cleans all the useless packages thereby clearing space in root file-system for better performance. Again it can be installed via Software center or simple ‘sudo apt-get install bleachbit‘

Chromium - Chromium is a faster browser and its a must have application. So, use this PPA to get it -

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chromium-daily/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

and done.

VLC - VLC is a much have media player; no questions asked !

Time and Date

Since many of our users might not have completely migrated from Windows they probably be facing some time issues when they login into Ubuntu & then login back into Windows.
Well thats because Ubuntu treats your default time to be UTC (Universal Time Coordinated or GMT).

So to adjust the time such that the time remains same in both the cases do the following:

1) Press Alt+F2 (remember the shortcut)
2) Type (else copy paste)

gksu gedit /etc/default/rcS

3) Enter the password and a gedit (almost same as Notepad for windows) window will pop up.
4) Search for UTC and set UTC=yes or UTC=no (or accordingly how you wish)
5) Reboot and you are done..!!!!

Manage Startup Applications

There is a Startup Application manager to set the applications on boot. Check the ones you need and uncheck the ones you dont need This will help you boot your system faster. You can also add applications at boot time using that app.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts will help you getting things in Ubuntu quicker.

Launcher

• Super – Invoke the Launcher.
• Alt-F1 – Put keyboard focus on the Launcher.
• Super-1 or 2 or 3 and so on until 0 – Open or focus an application.
• Super-T – Open the rubbish bin.
• Ctrl-Alt-T – Launch a terminal window.

Dash

• Super (tap) – A tap opens the Dash
• Super-A – Open Applications place
• Super-F – Open Files & Folders place

Panel

• F10 – Open the first menu on the panel

Window Management

• Super-S – Spread mode, zoom out on all windows in all workspaces.
• Super-W – Spread mode, zoom out on all windows in current workspace.
• Super-D – Minimize all windows; hitting it again restores them.

Window Replacement

• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 7 – Place window in top left corner of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 8 – Place window in top half of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 9 – Place window in top right corner of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 4 – Place window on the left side of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 5 – Center/Maximize the window in the middle of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 6 – Place window on the right side of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 1 – Place window in the bottom left corner of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 2 – Place window in the bottom half of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 3 – Place window in the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 0 – Maximize window.

We are sure you will find them useful.

For any queries regarding Ubuntu you can ask us here or our forums are always open for linux problems

Njoy !

Synapse is a semantic launcher written in Vala that you can use to start applications as well as find and access relevant documents and files by making use of the Zeitgeist engine. Its similar to ‘Gnome-Do’ but its different, looks better and is really fast. We are glad to announce that the latest release of Synapse 0.2.6 is out. This release brings multiple fixes with the Searches, UI problems, Copy to clipboard action and other bugs.

Installation

Synapse is available via PPA making it a matter of few steps getting it to work.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:synapse-core/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install synapse pastebinit

Alright! So now we have Synapse installed. Working on it would be really easy.

Features

1. Applications – for finding apps on your desktop.
2. KDE – Synapse newest version is now stable with KDE.
3. Music – helps you control and organize Rythmbox/Banshee.
4. Commands – works as a secondary terminal.
5. Devhelp – searches documentations using ‘Devhelp’ plugin
6. Directory search – helps you find your important documents
7. Dictionary – what to say !
8. Hybrid search – complete Zeitgeist results by searching for similar files.
9. Zeitgeist – search anything logged by Zeitgeist
10. UPower – suspend & hibernate ubuntu.
11. Gnome session – log out, restart, shutd-down ubuntu.

Thanks to the Zeitgeist integration that makes Synpase integration to every almost app in Ubuntu possible.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zeitgeist/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-fts-extension

Type the above commands one by one and you are good to go.

Njoy Synapse !

Shutter is a free & open-source feature-rich screenshot program which has been licensed under GPL v3. It allows user to capture almost everything. It can take a screenshot of a specific area, window, your whole screen, or even of a website – apply different effects to it, draw on it to highlight points, and then upload to an image hosting site, all in one window. Isn’t it awesome ?

Lets take a look at the Features :-

1)Capturing the Desktop :-

1. Capture a Specific Area:  Select any region of the screen and capture only those parts you really need.
2. Capture a Window: Simply use your mouse to select the window you want to capture.
3. Capture the Desktop: It does not only capture all the contents of your desktop, it also supports Multi-monitor settings.
4. Capture a Website: Shutter uses gnome-web-photo to capture a website without opening a browser window.
5. Capture a Menu or Tooltip: Capturing menus or tooltips is very easy with Shutter. You select one of the options and a (user-defined) countdown starts. During this time you can open the desired menu or let a specific tooltip come up. Shutter will recognize and capture it. This one is my favourite

2)Editing the Screenshots :-

1. Add Text, Arrows, Rectangles, Ellipses: The built-in editor allows you to add primitives (e.g. rectangles, lines etc.), arrows or text to your screenshot.
2. Cropping: The built-in editor also includes a tool to crop your screenshot.
3. Auto-Increment Shape:  Shutter offers a specific auto-increment shape that can be added to the screenshot.
4. Censor/Pixelize to Hide Private Data: Shutter gives you simple but effective tools to hide this data like IP or e-Mail addresses.

3)Share your Creativity :-

1. Share it: Shutter has a built-in function to upload your screenshot with nice link-formatting so you can post the generated link directly in the forum, website, wiki etc.
2. The Ubuntu Cloud: The latest version of Shutter supports Ubuntu One as well.

4)Plugins :-

Shutter ships with a great variety of plugins that allow you to add impressive effects to your screenshots. Take a look here.

Download :- Shutter 0.86.4

Installation :-

1. Add a PPA to your system – Open a terminal and type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:shutter/ppa

2. Update the System Package list so that it loads all the packages all over again including the Shutter PPA:

sudo apt-get update

3. Install Shutter now :

sudo apt-get install shutter

It’s done. Access Shutter from Application>Accessories>Shutter.

Now, capturing anything on your computer is just a matter of few clicks. Let your creativity fly!

Shutter at Work :- Take a look at a few screenshots taken using Shutter.

Any queries regarding the post or any other regarding Ubuntu can be asked here.

Njoy !!!

ConkyWizard is a wizard to set up Conky on Ubuntu, without knowledge of its use. Currently the program is customized for Ubuntu Lucid & has been written in C++ using Qt 4.6 libraries. This program really makes it simple for you to edit conky without any actual knowledge of its .conkyrc editing thingy.

Download :- ConkyWizard V1.0 beta1

Install it :-Firstly install conky :

sudo apt-get install conky

See installation details in our previous post.

Now, extract the file by right clicking the downloaded file and “extract here”or type the following :-

tar zxf ConkyWizard_32bits_V1.0_Beta1.tar.gz

Goto the destination folder and double click the ConkyWizard file. The wizard will open, you can copy the same to your desktop for easy access. Make sure you enter the right filename while extracting using gzip.

Using it :- Using Conky wizard is really easy, just a matter of few clicks.

1. At first, the wizard shows welcome screen. Click Next.
2. Now, select location of Conky panel, transparency, fonts & colors & then click next.
3. Select position and size of panel and click next.
4. The next screen will ask you to configure “Widgets” to be displayed on your panel.
5. Last step: Setup your Conky Startup configuration and click finish.

Note :- To get the sensors to work, install lm-sensors :

sudo apt-get install lm-sensors

sudo sensors-detect

sudo service module-init-tools start

You may need to restart your computer to get things to work properly.

Any queries regarding this post or anything else can be asked here.

Njoy !!!

We are all paranoid about our files. Aren’t we? Whether if they contain personal information or classified information, there is a certain degree of concern we have. However with the advent of digital age, it is not that we can simply put them in lockers and guard them. Indeed you can lock your PC and disconnect it from network access, but what’s the point of using a computer to store your documents, use paper then right? Encrytion provides the way by which we can protect our files and folders. It is a method of encoding the files so that they can’t be accessed without being decoded first. For this we need a pass phrase (read: password). Thus the goal to stop the unauthorised individuals from accessing your critical documents is achieved. Ubuntu allows encryption and decryption of files and folders, but Ubuntu (at least the latest versions) have the ability to create an encrypted file store in which files are automatically encrypted and the process is entirely invisible from the user’s perspective.

Create an Encrypted private/ directory

Ubuntu has the ability that allows encryption of files “on the fly”. With this method, only the user who’s home directory the ~/private directory is residing, can access those files. No body else can access those files. That is a certain loophole of users being able to use a Live CD for accessing the files is largely eliminated. Now in order to go further, you need to install the required packages. I would suggest using the terminal since that would be quicker. :p

sudo apt-get install ecryptfs-utils

Now set up the pass phrase such by running this command.

ecrpytfs-setup-private

You would be asked your login password for running this command. Next it will ask you the pass phrase, i.e. the mount pass phrase. Keep in mind that the mount pass phrase is not same as login password and also that you have to remember the passphrase in case you need to unlock the files manually at a future date. Once you have finished running the commands, log out and then log back in again. After logging in, you’ll find on opening the home directory that there’s a new private folder. This private folder will store all the files within itself encrypted and thus the files within it cannot be accessed without authority, i.e. only the original user can access it.

Encrypting individual files and folders

This is typical kind of encryption used for files and folders which you don’t frequently use, but would like to keep away secure from unauthorized access. In this method another copy of the file is made, this copy is encrypted. The user may delete the original unencrypted copy and keep only encrypted copy so as to “protect” the file.

It makes use of public/private key cryptography for the information and is built-in in latest versions of Ubuntu Linux.

Remember for sharing these encrypted files, you also need to share the key in addition of knowing the pass phrase.

First of all, you need to create a key:

1. Go to Applications->Accessories->Password and Encryption Keys
2. Select File->New…
3. Select PGP Key and Click Continue
4. Enter personal details. These are mostly optional and are relevant only if you wish to encrypt E-Mails. However keep note both First and Last name should be entered, um at least two words separated by spaces)
5. When Done Click the Create Button.
6. Wait for some times as it takes few moments to create a key.
7. Voila, see the key.

Encrypting a file

To encrypt a file, or folder simply right click it and select Encrypt from the menu that appears. In the dialog box, select your key, select to sign message as and Click OK. Folders can be encrypted to. Always prefer to create an archive rather than encrypting individual files, since the latter method would be more tedious.

Decrypting a file

Just double click it, enter the pass phrase and it would be decrypted.

Keep note that, in order to share the files, you need to share the key. Use the same Passwords and Encryption Keys software to export the key. In another computer you’ll need to have the software installed plus you will need to import the keys.

Be wary of the fact though anybody with the file and the key can potentially decrypt the file. Note the word potentially.

For those who are facing problems in extract RAR archives, here is a solution

sudo apt-get install unrar

Unfortunately, RAR is a proprietary archive format. There aren’t very good free and native tools to create RAR archives in Ubuntu. You can try WinRar in Wine though. WinRar actually works flawlessly in Wine.

Similarly, for extracting and creating ZIP archives, you have to do:

sudo apt-get install zip unzip

Since many of our users might not have completely migrated from Windows they probably be facing some time issues when they login into Ubuntu & then login back into Windows.
Well thats because Ubuntu treats your default time to be UTC (Universal Time Coordinated or GMT).

So to adjust the time such that the time remains same in both the cases do the following:

1) Press Alt+F2 (remember the shortcut)
2) Type (else copy paste)

gksu gedit /etc/default/rcS

3) Enter the password and a gedit (almost same as Notepad for windows) window will pop up.
4) Search for UTC and set UTC=yes or UTC=no (or accordingly how you wish)
5) Reboot and you are done..!!!!
Happy Synchronization

Note: sudo or gksu both are for running commands as root. gksu is preferred if you want to use GUI.