Google TASKS make it an App. (and Google Chrome Browser too)

I use Google Tasks on my tablet and cell phone but didn't have a quick easy way to check my ToDo's on my Computer without remembering to go to Google's website.  If I could remember to check the site I wouldn't need the lists.  I wanted to embed my Google Tasks list into my Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop but I settled for a compromise instead. I made it into an App and put it on my Unity Launcher. 


To do this you will need to have the Google Chrome Browser installed on your Ubuntu System.  To install Chrome, start a Terminal Window and type the following:



wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add - (HIT ENTER)

sh -c 'echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list' (HIT ENTER all one line)

sudo apt-get update (HIT ENTER)

sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable (HIT ENTER)



Close your Terminal Window because you should now have the Google Chrome Browser installed and working on your system.


Launch Google Chrome Browser and goto http://mail.google.com/tasks/ig (Google Tasks webpage).  Once on that page you should see your list of Tasks (if you don't see your Tasks List you probably don't have a Google Tasks account.  Get one! they are free).  

While on the Google Tasks webpage you have to click on the little Wrench Icon in the upper right side of the Google Chrome Browser.  This give you a drop down menu list.  Navigate to TOOLS-->CREATE APPLICATION SHORTCUT.  Click on it and a pop up window will appear. 

In the pop window Check the APPICATIONS MENU option and click the CREATE button (if you want a Desktop Shortcut then Check the DESKTOP option too).

Your almost done.  Just click on your Unity Dash Home button and type TASK into the Search box.  You should see a green check mark icon labeled TASKS. Just drag it onto your Unity Launcher Bar.  When you click on the TASKS Icon on the Unity Launcher Bar you will get a nice popup window that gives you access to your Google Tasks.   (I guess you could have just drug a shortcut onto your desktop from Firefox but what fun would that have been).

Gimp 2.8 Stable, Released!

Gimp has not had a major update since 2008 but that just changed.  Gimp 2.8 Stable has been released!

In order to get it onto your Ubuntu 12.04 release you have to take a couple of simple steps.  The first step, at least for me, was uninstalling my older Gimp release.

1.  Start Ubuntu Software Center

2.  Click on the INSTALLED tab

3.  Click on the GRAPHICS link on the right side

4.  Located GIMP and click the REMOVE button.

NOTE:  I tried to simple install Gimp 2.8 without removing my older version of Gimp but that caused my software center to crash and gave me errors and not allow me to ADD or REMOVE any software packages.  I had to disable the new Gimp 2.8 Software Sources before I could continue.  Once I disabled the Gimp 2.8 Software Sources, I was able to uninstall my older Gimp Packages.  I then re-enabled the new Gimp 2.8 Software Sources and re-installed Gimp 2.8 and it work just fine.

Once that is done, you can close the Ubuntu Software Center and open a terminal window.  We'll need to add a third party software source and then install the new Gimp 2.8.  In the Terminal Window type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp  (HIT ENTER and wait until done)
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gimp (HIT ENTER and wait until done)

Close the Terminal Window, you are done and are ready to use Gimp 2.8.


One of the new features that I like is the Single Window Mode.  This makes Gimp act like other programs, containing itself to one window instead of the usual 3 or 4.  Here's a screenshot to just show you.

Gimp 2.8 Single-Window Mode

To activate the Single-Window Model simple click on the WINDOWS section on the MENU (see above screenshot) and check the SINGLE-WINDOW MODE at the bottom of the menu (highlighted option in above screenshot in orange).  Once I get a chance to play with it some, I'll post more.