Sunday, April 29, 2012

Ubuntu 12.04. Ubuntu Tweak

There are several tweaks you can make to Ubuntu 12.04 but their settings are scatter throughout various apps and config files in Ubuntu. Let's get them all in one easy to use program.


Ubuntu Tweak is just what we need.  Let's install it.

1.  Open a TERMINAL window

2.  Type the following in the TERMINAL window;

      sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa (Hit Enter)
      sudo apt-get update (Hit Enter)
      sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak (Hit Enter)
      ubuntu-tweak (Hit Enter)

3.  That last one launches Ubuntu Tweak.

4.  Done. (there are too many options to explain them all.  See Screen shots)

TIPS:

You can find the Ubuntu Tweaks program under the SYSTEM filter in the DASH or by doing a search for ubuntu tweak in the DASH SEARCH.


On the TWEAKS tab there is an option for UNITY.  This is where you tweak your UNITY LAUNCHER BAR (left side in screen shots), your DASH and the UNITY TOP PANEL.  I like to set my Unity Launcher Icon Size to 32 so I can see more icons on it and I like my Dash Size set to Netbook which makes it full screen for some reason.



OVERVIEW


TWEAKS


ADMINS


JANITOR




Ubuntu 12.04. Weather on Unity's top panel

Okay, in Unity the widgets are gone and the bottom panel is gone, but I still want Ubuntu Desktop to tell me things.  Simple things like the date, time, sound volume and network connections are all up there on the top panel but there is one I really miss, the WEATHER.  Let's add it.

AppIndicators are applications that come with an indicator displayed on the top Unity panel (near where the TIME is displayed).  We want Weather Indicator.  It's a nice little app that displays the temperature and when clicked on gives more weather related details.

How to install it;

1.  Open a TERMINAL window.

2.  Type the following into the TERMINAL window;
     sudo add-apt-repository ppa:weather-indicator-team/ppa (Hit Enter)
     sudo apt-get update (Hit Enter)
     sudo apt-get install indicator-weather (Hit Enter)
     
3.  Close the TERMINAL window.

4.  Click on the DASH HOME button on the UNITY BAR (upper left corner see screen shot)

5. In the search bar type indicator-weather.

6. Click on the WEATHER INDICATOR app (orange one in screen shot)



7. Go through the setup wizard to select your home city and other settings.

8.  Done.



Notice that it's 62 degrees outside!  
If you click on the temperature you will get other weather related info.



NOTE:  I noticed that you have to manual start WEATHER INDICATOR app if you reset your computer.  I'll have figure out how to run it at start up and post here. 

UPDATE: See comments to read how to get weather indicator to run at startup.  Thanks swhitney for the help.

A BETTER WEATHER - If you want a much nicer weather app check out this one
   

Ubuntu 12.04 Installed

I've upgraded from Ubuntu 11.10 to 12.04.  The only problem I ran into was Skype caused the upgrade to stop and I had to remove it before I continued.  Since Microsoft acquired Skype I guess I won't miss it much.  Everything I've read says that Unity got several improvements.  We'll see.