September 27, 2012

Linux Mint 13 XFCE

Many of us have been looking for options for Linux desktop managers since Ubuntu Unity and Gnome 3.X have made changes. XFCE is one desktop manager that has been gaining in popularity. Previously I enjoyed Xubuntu. But Mint 13 XFCE is a polished linux distro that adds lots of goodies to the standard install DVD, runs fast, looks great, and is a wonderful linux experience. It is based on Ubuntu 12.04.  I like the clean shiny silver Mint-X theme which is much better implemented than in Xubuntu. Firefox has Yahoo as the standard search provider, but you can change this to Google or Bing or others.  Included is Firefox, Gimp, Pidgin, Thunderbird, Xchat, gThumb, LibreOffice suite, Thunar File Manager, wireless drivers, media codecs, flash player, and more.  Below are my screen shots, and a link where you can download it, and a review from Linux Insider. Very nice job from the Mint developers. This is one reason Linux Mint is the most popular Linux Distro today as measured from Distrowatch.com

































You can download it here: http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php


XFCE Makes Mint Even Fresher


XFCE Makes Mint Even Fresher
This latest XFCE Mint 13 distribution is a complete Linux distro unto itself. Even more significant is that the Mint 13 development team ushered in this distribution on the heals of team Ubuntu phasing out its own XFCE Ubuntu distro, which was called "Xubuntu." This latest version is clearly a fast and fun-filled alternative to other desktop options.
The latest incarnation of the XFCE desktop proves once again that when you delve into the wonders of the Linux OS, something old definitely becomes something new again.




XFCE Mint
XFCE Mint
(click image to enlarge)
The Linux Mint 13 team has released a specially flavored distro built around the latest version of the XFCE interface. This is not a bolted-on GUI (graphical user interface) loaded as an option at logon instead of running the Cinnamon or MATE or KDE desktops.
This latest XFCE Mint 13 distribution is a complete Linux distro unto itself. Even more significant is that the Mint 13 development team ushered in this distribution on the heals of team Ubuntu phasing out its own XFCE Ubuntu distro, which was called "Xubuntu."
The Linux Mint XFCE distro is sleek and simple. I love the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop replacement for GNOME 3 and all things Ubuntu Unity. I was a longtime happy user of earlier XFCE versions in other distros. But this latest version is clearly a fast and fun-filled alternative to other desktop options.

X Marks the Spot

It is easy to get lost in the growing alphabet soup of Linux desktops. Depending on how much glitz and glitter versus speed and functionality is preferred, Linux users have lots of desktop choices.
Do not let XFCE's lightweight moniker distort your appreciation for this powerful desktop environment, however. Even with all of the new features Mint developers mixed into the code recipe, XFCE has a pretty face and is a pushover to use.
The Linux Mint 13 XFCE distro is designed for productivity. It loads and executes applications fast without sapping system resources. Even though XFCE is an old desktop scheme, its latest release is far from tired and worn-out.

Hybrid vs. Hacked-On

You can experience this latest XFCE release two ways. Adding the desktop environment from within an existing installation is perhaps the most typical method. For instance, you can add XFCE from the Mint repository and then select it as the desktop to run from the options menu at log on. This approach makes it easy to taste Cinnamon, MATE, KDE and XFCE.
Or you can get it as a complete Linux Mint distribution installed from a Live DVD session. This method lets you savor each available desktop environment and install the distro flavor giving you the best experience. Going this latter route gives you the latest version not available through the bolt-on method.
For example, as I write this review, the Mint repository has an integrated XFCE package for installation into an existing Mint OS. But the repository version is 4.8.0.2, while the XFCE distro ISO you download from the Mint website gives you version 4.10, which is the same version available from XFCE.org.

Batteries Included

Why do you have to add components yourself? This latest XFCE Mint distribution includes more standard applications than the more lightweight XFCE versions provide. So you have a lot fewer trips to the Software Center to add what you want to use.
For example, included in the full distro version is LibreOffice instead of AbiWord. There's also Gnumeric, GIMP, VLC media player, Banshee and MPlayer. You get the Mozilla Firefox Web browser by default. By the way, that now installs with the Yahoo search engine as the preferred search tool. You can easily change what you do not like.
This latest Mint XFCE distro plays considerable catch-up to other distros with its included applications. Compare the included apps in this new Xfce release with those bundled in Linux Mint Debian and Linux Mint Debian MATE/Cinnamon distros.
You will not find many differences. Still, the performance of the lightweight deskstop rocks.

Getting There

The XFCE 4.10 desktop is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit options. You will need a DVD rather than a CD to burn the Live media for testing and installation. The distribution ISO image is nearly 800 MB.
The installation process took about a quarter of an hour. That is a lot quicker than other full distro installs and rolling upgrades I have done. But once the initial reboot completed, the XFCE desktop was up and running with almost no personalizing or configuring needed.
I was very pleased with the near-instantaneous wireless acquisition on a legacy Acer laptop. For example, the wireless connection popped up even before the live session finished booting.
Even during the installation to hard drive from the Live session, no specific setup was needed. This was one of the easiest wireless connections I have experienced in setting up any Linux configuration.

Familiar Face

The XFCE desktop appeared as an old friend. It is nearly identical to earlier versions that I have running on Linux Mint 12 and Mint 13 as well as Ubuntu.
The standard system icons lined up as expected along the left vertical edge of the screen. It is like having a favorites bar from GNOME without the ugliness and the hassle of that environment.
The Linux Mint XFCE desktop looks more similar to Linux Mint MATE desktop. For instance, it now supports the MATE applets. Also the XFCE file manager program, Thunar, has the look and feel of the MATE file manager. Other familiar Mint OS features such as The MintMenu system and the Settings Manager are more smoothly integrated into the XFCE interface.

Menu Mania

The XFCE 4.10 menu remains simple with its one-column listing with cascading view of program choices from each category. The menu as designed lacks an open search window to find an application.
Instead, you click on the Run program icon at the top of the menu to open the Application Finder window. A really handy feature in XFCE is the right-click menu access on the desktop.
This eliminates the need to point at the menu icon in the lower left edge of the panel. This menu function is similar to that technique in Puppy Linux and other X-style desktops and is very convenient.

Iconic View

The XFCE desktop gives you system icons to access your home directory folder and the Linux file system. But it also gives you icons to access other partitions installed on the hard drive.
I normally create desktop shortcuts or file manager bookmarks in other desktops so I can access files I keep on the Microsoft Windows partition. So having XFCE do this for me is an added pleasure.
Hey, I write about both OSes and deal with software that is not always cross-platform. Using XFCE is a big step closer to the look and feel of Windows (more XP than 7). The Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop is much less accommodating in this regard.

Bottom Line

The big draw to using the XFCE desktop is its low resource usage. This latest version is a bit more beefy than previous versions.
But you still must accept fewer bells and whistles in using XFCE than you get in Cinnamon or KDE. The choice is much like driving a car that looks only a little sporty but is a heck of a lot easier to handle and still performs well.

Jack M. Germain has been writing about computer technology since the early days of the Apple II and the PC. He still has his original IBM PC-Jr and a few other legacy DOS and Windows boxes. He left shareware programs behind for the open source world of the Linux desktop. He runs several versions of Windows and Linux OSes and often cannot decide whether to grab his tablet, netbook or Android smartphone instead of using his desktop or laptop gear.
Source: http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/75842.html

September 25, 2012

Install Marlin File Manager in Ubuntu 12.10


Install Marlin File Browser in Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal/Ubuntu 12.04 Precise/Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric/Linux Mint 13/12

Marlin is a lightweight file browser built from the ground-up to be responsive, simply designed and easy to use. It will be the default file browser in the next release of the elementary project’s OS.
Marlin is based on gtk3 and uses Gnome 3 technologies extensively and is built in C and uses vala for interface. Some key features of XFCE file-browser Thunar too are included to give it a certain slickness despite it being a File browser.



marlin

marlin

Marlin Features:
  • Tabbed browsing
  • Multiple-views
  • Single-click to open (default)
  • Configurable toolbars and interface
  • Plugin framework
  • networking support (SSH, FTP, Windows share, HTTP and HTTPS)
  • single click/double click to open file
  • And Many More

To install Marlin File Browser in Ubuntu/Linux Mint open Terminal (Press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy the following commands in the terminal:
  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:marlin-devs/marlin-daily
  • sudo apt-get update
  • sudo apt-get install marlin
Also Install UbuntuOne and DropBox Extensions for Marlin:
  • sudo apt-get install marlin-plugin-*
That's it, Enjoy

Source: http://www.noobslab.com/2012/09/install-marlin-file-browser-in-ubuntu.html

September 17, 2012

10 Free Mac OS X-like Docks for Linux

[UPDATE 22-Sept: If you're looking for something similar for Windows, check out my new story on these six Mac OS X-style dock options.]
Mac OS X has made the idea of the application starter or “dock” popular and it’s a great idea that could help to make computing just a little easy for those who aren’t familiar with Start buttons and orbs and the like.

(Just an aside, it’s easy for geeks to live in a bubble and forget the rest of the world doesn’t share our interest in things technology so ideas like Docks that can help make computers easier to use should be applauded.)

However, you don’t have to buy a Mac computer to enjoy the Dock feature in Mac OS X. There are many free and/or open-source docks now available for both Windows and Linux. This isn’t a full list or a list in any particular order but feel free to try them out with your OS and see which ones you prefer.

While I’ve talked about Ubuntu/Xubuntu here, these docks will work on most Linux distros provided you have the basic window management engine required eg. KDE, GNOME etc.

1. Avant Window Navigator
Some people are wrongly attributing this excellent docker to Google, which was actually just hosting the site. The project has now moved to LaunchPad.net. This is an excellent dock that’s highly customisable and easily installed in Ubuntu/Xubuntu.
2. Gnome Global Menu
If you’re using Ubuntu, this one looks similar to AWN however it’s a bit of a mess, starting out as MacMenuBar and then drifting onto the Ubuntu Wiki where it’s never really recovered. If you can get it going (there’s plenty of work to do) it looks good, but AWN is far easier to install.
3. Engage
This is the dock developed for the Enlightenment 17 Desktop Environment for Linux however, it can be installed on Xubuntu/Xubuntu using the apt-get installer, provided you download all of the Enlightenment dependencies. The link is for installing on Dapper Drake.
4. Gnome Dock
Gnome dock is actually built on the original Cairo dock however it needs to be compiled so while it looks good and works similarly to the Mac OS X dock, it’s going to be hard for the average user to install. The original Cairo Dock has its own doc page in Ubuntu Community Docs and is easy to install compared to Gnome Dock, requiring
5. KXDocker
This was original developed using KDE however the dependency on KDE saw its development halted by the author in favour of a new project called XQDE, which now has versions available in binary format for both 32- bit and 64-bit Intel CPUs.
6. KSmoothDock
KSmoothDock is an alternative to KDE’s Kicker and provides two modes of icon operation – normal or the more Mac OS X-like parabolic motion. Again, you need to compile it however the compile process is relatively easy, compared with some other docks.
7. Kiba Dock
Kiba Dock works on both KDE and GNOME desktops however it’s a little more difficult to install because it also relies on the Akamaru physics engine for its parabolic icon movement. So while it looks good, it’s going to be harder to get going. There’s a HowTo on Ubuntu forums about getting this installed on Hardy/Gutsy/Feisty versions of Ubuntu but be warned – it’s not a quick process.
8. SimDock
SimDock is a more basic docker in that it doesn’t require Compiz Fusion or 3D graphics acceleration. According to its website, it’s written in C++ and wxWidgets. There have been no further releases since version 1.2 in July 2007 but it’s available .deb and .rpm packages for install onto Ubuntu and Red Hat respectively.
9. TuxBar from SuperKaramba
TuxBar is a Mac OS like dock built out of SuperKaramba, which is a KDE graphics tool. It’s actually a theme that runs on top of SuperKaramba but also has the smooth movement of the Mac OS dock. Some people prefer other docks to this that have more customisation. It certainly looks good though.
10. Kooldock
Kooldock is another dock for KDE. This one has been around since 2004 however development has mostly stopped now. You’ll need to compile this one so again, it won’t be as simple to install as say AWN or some of the others I’ve looked at here.
Tell us which is your favourite dock…

If you liked this story, please share it on Digg or StumbleUpon. Thanks.

My personal favorite is Docky. It is available in the Ubuntu Software Library or Synaptic.






Source: http://darrenyates.com.au/2008/09/10-free-mac-os-x-like-docks-for-linux/149

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September 11, 2012

September Desktop

I have upgraded one of my machines to the Ubuntu Gnome Shell Remix 12.04 64-bit and noticing some little quirks with Gnome 3.2. I am using the Adwaita Cupertino L theme, and Faenza icons. Firefox 15 is very fast and now my default browser across all operating systems.









































You can get the Ubuntu green wallpaper here: http://downloadwallpaper.info/green/page/4/

September 3, 2012

GNObuntu coming 10-18-12 and preview available now for DL

GNOBuntu looks like the Gnome Shell Remix v12.10 with linux kernal 3.5-14 and Gnome 3.5.9, with the Ephiphany web browser standard. See my screen shots below.

It seems that the growing "ecosystem" of official Ubuntu projects is about to expand by another member. Initially named "GNOMEbuntu", the new Ubuntu flavour will come with a vanilla GNOME 3 desktop and GNOME Shell, rather than Unity. OMG! Ubuntu!'s Joey Sneddon writes in "GNOME-flavoured Ubuntu Spin Coming October 18th": "'GNOMEbuntu', to be based on Ubuntu 12.10, will be released on October 18th - the same day that Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu all release their latest versions. GNOMEbuntu aims to provide as much of a 'vanilla' GNOME experience as possible whilst also keeping various elements from Ubuntu. After all it is an Ubuntu-based spin. GNOME Shell is provided as the default desktop, and GDM -- which sports new fancy pants animations in 3.6 -- is to be used for the lock and login screens. File-manager wise the spin will use the same version of Nautilus as Ubuntu. Other changes currently suggested/mooted include: Epiphany will be the default web-browser; AbiWord will be included in place of LibreOffice; no Ubuntu One by default; GNOME Classic session included (complete with Ubuntu's indicators); Rhythmbox (and its various music store plugins) will remain." An initial developer-only release called "Ubuntu GNOME Remix" is now available for download.



















Source: http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20120903#news

September 1, 2012

GNObuntu coming soon to Ubuntu fans

The New 'Pure GNOME' Ubuntu Linux Is Coming This Fall


Earlier this month fans of the good old GNOME 2 desktop environment got some exciting news when it became clear that a version of Ubuntu Linux featuring the classic desktop was in the works.

ubuntuNow, plans for that new Ubuntu flavor are beginning to take form, and it looks like we can expect its arrival in October.

There's now what looks like an official Web page for this new GNOME Ubuntu--called GNOMEbuntu in its URL--and a Muktware report on Thursday uncovered numerous details about the forthcoming release. Here's a quick rundown of some of the highlights.

1. The Name
While initially it sounded like GNOMEbuntu would be the name of this new Linux flavor, developer Jeremy Bicha has apparently said that the GNOME Foundation Board won't permit it, according to Muktware.
In a recent Quantal Quetzal-focused thread on the Ubuntu forums, both GNObuntu and Gnubuntu were being discussed. No final word yet, as far as I can tell.

2. The Apps
Along with Compiz, the new GNOME Ubuntu will reportedly use the Rhythmbox music player as well as the Epiphany browser, Evolution for e-mail and workgroup functions, the Abiword word processor, and the Gnumeric spreadsheet package. Neither Firefox nor LibreOffice will be preinstalled, according to the report.

3. The GNOME Goodness
As part of its goal of offering a “pure GNOME” experience, this new Ubuntu flavor will of course not include the mobile-inspired and controversial Unity desktop interface. According to the Muktware report, it also won't include cloud service Ubuntu One.
Perhaps even more intriguing, it sounds like there will be customized Ubuntu settings that let users make their GNOME experience in the operating system even more pure.

4. Still Up in the Air
Besides the name of this new Ubuntu flavor, a number of other features are reportedly still under discussion as well, including both the file manager and the display manager that will be used.
After all the controversy that has been generated by both Unity and GNOME 3, I'm so excited to see this classically flavored Ubuntu becoming a reality. The emergence of like-minded efforts such as MATE and SolusOS shows there's a real need.
An alpha version of the new GNOME Ubuntu will reportedly arrive soon. I'm betting there will be quite a crowd waiting to check it out.

Coming soon: GNObuntu, a 'pure GNOME' Ubuntu Linux


With 'GNObuntu,' serious GNOME fans can now look forward to an Ubuntu flavor of their very own
By Katherine Noyes
PC World - Linux fans in general and Ubuntu users in particular are already well acquainted with the many desktop environments that are available for distributions of the free and open-source operating system.
While Ubuntu Linux has embraced the Unity desktop in recent iterations, there have long been derivatives based on KDE, Xfce, and LXDE, for example.
Now, it looks like fans of GNOME may soon get a community flavor of their very own.
"At the Ubuntu Developer Summit in May, several of us that work with GNOME in Ubuntu discussed the need for a Ubuntu community derivative similar to Kubuntu, Xubuntu and others but which will try to ship a relatively pure GNOME experience," explained Ubuntu developer Jeremy Bicha in a recent post on the GNOME mailing list.

"We'd Like to Use GNObuntu'

The naming of this new Ubuntu flavor is what's been drawing discussion over the past few days.
"The traditional Ubuntu naming convention for these alternate flavors is 'Gubuntu,' but it seems that could cause confusion with the pronunciation of Google's internal distribution Goobuntu," Bicha said.
"We'd like to instead use GNObuntu," he added.
Other naming possibilities proposed since Bicha's Aug. 13 post include Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu GSR (for "GNOME Shell Remix"), GNUntu, UbuGNOME and uGuntu.

Coming in Ubuntu 12.10?

Though GNOME 2 is the longstanding favorite of many Linux fans, the GNOME 3 desktop series -- like Unity -- has been highly controversial.
The GNOME Project, meanwhile, recently revealed plans to create a GNOME OS.
When will we see the arrival of this GNOME-based Ubuntu? Bicha's message doesn't specify, but a Muktware report suggests it will be part of the forthcoming Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal," which is due in October.
In related news, support for Unity 2D is reportedly being dropped from that upcoming release as well. I'll post an update as soon as I learn more.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230631/Coming_soon_GNObuntu_a_pure_GNOME_Ubuntu_Linux?source=rss_operatingsystems&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+computerworld%2Fs%2Ffeed%2Ftopic%2F122+%28Computerworld+Linux+and+Unix+News%29