Indispensable Apps

Every time I install a new OS, I find myself reinstalling those indispensable applications that transform my computer from a dumb box into a powerful tool. Upgrading to 14.04 LTS this week has been no different and, for what it's worth, here are the apps that got loaded first:

• Chromium Web browser - I just prefer this browser to Firefox. You'll need to install Flash Player to get the best out of this app, but that's pretty easy to achieve.
• Bluefish text editor - I've written a couple of websites and drafted pretty much every blog post on Karmic Odyssey using this editor.
• Shutter - the best screenshot tool available.
• KeepassX (Password Manager) - this really is indispensable, all of my passwords are random and I've no hope of remembering them! I also use KeePass Droid on my phone.
• Stellarium - this is a great application for identifying all of those stars and planets.
• Tellico (Collection Manager) - satisfies my need for control over my library!
• VLC Media Player - I'm sure that I don't need to justify this!
• Ubuntu Tweak (GUI Configuration Tool) - handy tool for personalising your OS
• Wine (Windows Emulator) - I need this to run Memory Map. It's pretty eccentric but it just about does the job (although I return to Vista if I need to print maps)

Of course, I'm still configuring my (beautiful) new OS. Here's a couple more applications on the install short list:

• OpenOffice - this will wait until this year's tax return is finished but it will certainly replace the bundled LibreOffice.
• GParted (Partition Manager) - just damn useful.

I'm sure that there are more that I've missed - perhaps I'll update this post from time-to-time.

Sources & Resources:

• Ubuntu Apps Directory - Home Page

Sounds Great

Joey Sneddon (over at OMG! Ubuntu!) has found a gem in the making: the Ubuntu Sound Gallery alpha.

The idea is to make sound profiles easy to preview and provide instructions on how to install the themes. I've played around with the two additional themes on the site (there's actually three on the alpha website, but the I already have the Ubuntu theme!) and it's easy to preview and download the themes.

Let's hope this great idea grows.

Sources & Preferences:

• OMG! Ubuntu!: Ubuntu Sound Gallery could make finding and installing sound themes easy
• Dylan McCall: Ubuntu Sound Gallery (alpha)

Using Screenlets

One slight niggle that I have with Avant Window Manager (AWN) on my Karmic machine is the absence of a decent WiFi status indicator. The Notification Area applet looks pretty dreary frankly and, despite searching, I haven't found an AWN applet suitable as a substitute.

A workaround is to abandon the idea of an applet all together and go for a screenlet.

"Screenlets are small owner-drawn applications (written in Python) that can be described as "the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk". Sticknotes, clocks, rulers, ... the possibilities are endless.

The goal of the Screenlets base-classes is to simplify the creation of fully themeable mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern composited Linux-desktop. Source

You can install Screenlets from the Ubuntu Software Centre: simply type Screenlets in the search box.

Highlight the Screenlets application; click the arrow on the right-hand-side and then click Install. That's simple enough! Once installed, you can launch the Screenlets Manager from the Applications > Accessories menu. However, in the standard package, you won't find the wireless app that you want; for that you'll need to download an additional application from the User Screenlets section of the Screenlets website.

1. Find the Screenlet that you want from the list on the User Screenlets web page.
2. Follow the instructions from the link and save the .tar file to your Downloads folder (or anywhere of your choice.)
3. Open the Screenlets Manager (Applications > Accessories)
4. Click on Install and select Install Screenlet from the drop-down dialog.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Navigate to your download and click Open.

Now you should find the Screenlet in the Screenlet Manager's application window: select it and click the Launch/Add button to start your new app.

I'm using the WirelessScreenlet2 application for my WiFi needs.

Right-click the Screenlet to set your preferences including the theme and behaviour as well as the network and card.

Sources & References
Screenlets Org Home Page
User Screenlets Home Page

The British Obsession

Being British, I'm obsessed by the weather!

Forecastfox Weather is a great add-on for Firefox.

"Get international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com and display them in any toolbar or statusbar with this highly customizable and unobtrusive extension."

Using your cursor to hover over the various icons in Firefox's status bar, activates information pop-ups.

You can set your location, dictate the number of forecast days, and configure the add-on to display information in the units of your choice. Excellent!

Firefox Add-ons

One of my favourite Firefox Add-ons is Toolbar Buttons.

Michael Buckley (Codefisher.org) has just released Toolbar Buttons 1.0 with a few changes and some new icons. This is always one of the first things that I install (along with All-in-One Sidebar) - if you haven't anything more pressing, give it a go.

Fixing Firefox (Again)

OK, this isn't really a fix, more of a tweak!

My recent struggle to find and install an English UK dictionary/thesaurus in Open Office prompted me to pay more attention to the spell checker in Firefox. I have noticed when completing dialog (yes, I know that the English spell dialog as "dialogue" but this relates to computer dialogs!) boxes (or drafting blog posts) that Firefox checks my spelling for me: unfortunately, it checks my spelling in American English and not British English. Not to worry though, it's easy to fix this:

• Nip off to the Firefox Dictionaries and Language Packs Add-Ons page and navigate to the English (British) Dictionary file link
• Click Install Dictionary
• Restart Firefox when prompted
• In any dialog box, right-click and select Languages and check the English/United Kingdom option

You can also do this from a dialog box! Right-click anywhere in the dialog box and select Languages and then Add Dictionaries.... Then follow the above instructions to install and load your default language.