Things to do after Installing Ubuntu 12.04 for perfect desktop

Here is a collection of activities an ubuntu user can follow after ubuntu, installing the most popular linux distro for a perfect desktop of all needs. Normaly there are lot of tools availble in open source domain for different tasks like video editing, audio composing, media center, live streaming, office work etc… The confusion is to choose the best tool that fits for a normal user. Now a days ubuntu is matured for a perfect linux to try.
For a perfect desktop a user need some necessary tools like a chat client to connect to social network, audio client to listen various music streams and index music collection, a video player that plays almost every format in the world, a hazile free image editor and office package, a modern web browser etc…

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Install Ubuntu Restricted Codecs in Ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/next 

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

sudo apt-get install myunity

–Click to install MyUnity

Cinnamon Desktop in Ubuntu 12.04

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-stable  sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install cinnamon

It has a good classic usefull bottom menu and the minimize taskbar.

Gnome Shell in Ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

–Click to install Gnome Shell

sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool

Click to install Gnome Tweak Tool

If you are running an Nvidia proprietary driver, and you are still having issues, here is how you can install the very latest Nvidia drivers.

Open your Terminal – Ctrl+Alt+T, and paste these commands

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates 

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get upgrade 

sudo apt-get install nvidia-current 

sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings 

Install ATI Catalyst Drivers in Ubuntu 12.04

If you have a ATi video card or built in ATi graphics chip you can go for ATi Driver.

sudo apt-get --purge remove fglrx* sudo apt-get install dh-make execstack dh-modaliases dkgcc1 libc6-i386ms lib32

cd ~/Downloads

sudo chmod +x ati-driver-installer-11-10-x86.x86_64.run

sudo sh ati-driver-installer-11-10-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/precise

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Multimedia Applications for Audio Video Playback and Edit in Ubuntu 12.04

Install VLC Media Player in Ubuntu 12.04

VLC is the first class media player used in all linux distros and in other operating systems. It can handle all the video that avilable now a days.It will play most of the media without any other codec requirements.

sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-pulse

–Click Install VLC Media Player

sudo apt-get install libdvdread4 sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

–

Full DVD Playback on Ubuntu 12.04

For fullfledged dvd play back in ubuntu you need a small package called libdvdcss. For that just type or you can search it on the software center of ubuntu.

sudo wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && sudo apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get --quiet update 

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

This will install libdvdcss2 (Content Scramble System) decoder/unscrambler on ubuntu. The free software library libdvdcss2is very popular for reading the encrypted DVDs.

sudo apt-get install mplayer smplayer gnome-mplayer

sudo apt-get install libxine1-ffmpeg gxine mencoder mpeg2dec vorbis-tools id3v2 mpg321 mpg123 libflac++6 ffmpeg totem-mozilla icedax tagtool easytag id3tool lame nautilus-script-audio-convert libmad0 libjpeg-progs flac faac faad sox ffmpeg2theora libmpeg2-4 uudeview flac libmpeg3-1 mpeg3-utils mpegdemux liba52-0.7.4-dev libquicktime2

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 gstreamer0.10-gnonlin gstreamer0.10-sdl gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly totem-plugins-extra gstreamer-dbus-media-service gstreamer-tools

sudo apt-get install clementine

sudo apt-get install audacious

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install xbmc

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonoomph/openshot-edge

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install openshot openshot-doc

sudo apt-get install gtkpod

sudo apt-get install k3b

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:audacity-team/daily sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install audacity lame libmp3lame0

HandBrake

HandBrake is an open-source program designed to convert MPEG video (including DVD-Video) into an MPEG-4 video file in MPEG-4 Part 14 (.mp4) or Matroska (.mkv) containers.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-snapshots sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk handbrake-cli

Graphics Packages for Ubuntu 12.04

There are lot of applications available for image editing, drawing, painting, animation, 3d Modeling in ubuntu. The state of art blender and essential gimp is coming under graphics. Also dia for diagrams drawing and editing etc..

GIMP – The Advanced Image Editing programme in Ubuntu 12.04

A great Photo Editing and retouching software that can do gif animations . Will replace your Photoshop. A lot of plugins, brushes, gradients are avilable for gimp. A newer version gimp 2.8 is available on ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-get install gimp

Click Install Gimp

For some extra set of brushes, gradients and plugins etc execute :

sudo apt-get install gimp-data-extras sudo apt-get install gimp-plugin-registry

Inkscape – Vector image editing and drawing application in Ubuntu 12.04

A great Vector drawing and logo creating software which will replace Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. It can also buid various patterns and svg files. A great tool for every ubuntu artist.

sudo apt-get install inkscape

Click Install Inkscape

Pinta Image Editor

It is a very nice image manipulation program  with some basic features. it’s very easy to handle and it is  most suitable for absolute beginners. it looks very similar to MS paint program.

To install pinta execute the command –

sudo apt-get install pinta

Picasa – Photo and Album collection Manager from google

A Good Photo Manager from Google. This Package will be downloaded from Google Picasa Website.

http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/pool/non-free/p/picasa/picasa_3.0-current_i386.deb

All downloads are approximately 30 MB: Picasa software (13 MB), Wine (11 MB) and Gecko engine (6 MB).

To install the Google Picasa repository:

sudo sh -c "echo 'deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ testing non-free' >> /etc/apt/sources.list"; wget --quiet http://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub -O - | sudo apt-key add - sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install picasa

Blender

Blender is the award winning 3D modeling and Non Linear Editing Programme in Linux. Blender supports from character drawing to timeline editing . The Latest version 2.62 is the most powerfull solution for all designing and 3D needs. There is a non linear editing tool set is also coming with blender.

sudo apt-get blender

Internet Utilities for Ubuntu 12.04

Firefox 7 is included in ubuntu 12.04 by default. But you can try other browsers like google chrome, opera.

Chromium Browser

Chromium is the opensource project sponsored by google. Chromium comes without google specific customizations.Chromium supports all the extensions/themes that you use on Chrome. it’s one of the most popular software in Ubuntu Software Center. To install it type:

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

You should install some codecs like FFmpeg for playing multimedia contents on web.

sudo apt-get install chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra

Google Chrome

Google Chrome will be downloaded from Google Website. The flash support for linux is through google chrome browser only. Adobe stopped supporting other flash players in linux. So if you want to get the latest flash player install google chrome

wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add - sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list' sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable

Opera

Opera is a good alternative browser for good internet experience. You can Download Opera From Opera Website.

Opera is offered free of charge for personal computers and mobile phones.

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list' sudo sh -c 'wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | apt-key add -' sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install opera

Also You can try other web browsers like Midori, Aurora, Rekonq, Eppiphany etc…

Email Clients for Ubuntu 12.04

Thunderbird is the default email client for Ubuntu 12.04. This is created by the mozilla team, people behind firefox.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/thunderbird-stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install thunderbird xul-ext-calendar-timezones xul-ext-lightning

To import Outlook PST files in Thunderbird:

sudo apt-get install readpst readpst -r nameofyourPSTfilehere

Chat Clients for Ubuntu 12.04

Empathy is the default IM Client for Ubuntu 10.10. Other IM Clients are pidgin,skype,amsn etc..

Pidgin

Pidgin is an open source IM application. It can handle various accounts . It is based on libpurple library.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pidgin-developers/ppa && sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pidgin

Skype

Skype is a proprietary integrated VOIP and video conferencing program similar to Ekiga. It is a complete audio video client for ubuntu. To install Skype, first activate Canonical Partner Repository, then install Skype via the Software-Center or via the Terminal.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype

Or you can Download skype from official website.

AMSN

aMSN is an MSN Messenger utility that functions like the original client. To install it type:

sudo apt-get install amsn

Social Networking Clients for Ubuntu 12.04

Gwibber

gwibber is the default social networking client for ubuntu. You can manage your facebook and twitter accounts from gwibber.

sudo apt-get install gwibber

Hotot Twitter Client for ubuntu

Hotot is slick twitter client for ubuntu. It is in its early stages but it is worth take a look. Will be your favourite one soon.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hotot-team

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install hotot

Bit torrent Clients for Ubuntu 12.04

Transmission

It is the bittorrent client for ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-get install transmission

Vuze

Vuze is the next version of Azureus. It can handle torrents more effectively. Uses Java to run, very complete but a bit heavy. And has a wide variety of add-ons to choose from too. Search and download torrent files. Play, convert and transcode videos and music for playing on many devices such as PSP, TiVo, XBox, PS3, iTunes. To install it type:

sudo apt-get install vuze

Deluge

The Deluge was designed to be a full-featured BitTorrent client. Deluge uses libtorrent in it’s backend and PyGTK for it’s user interface, and is currently usable on Ubuntu.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install deluge

Installing the latest Java run time JRE

JRE stands for ‘Java Runtime Environment’. It’s an essential application that many applications ‘depend on’. It provides the libraries, the Java Virtual Machine, and other components to run applets and applications written in the Java programming language.

 sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre icedtea-7-plugin

Test your browser to make sure your Java is installed and working properly here:

http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp

If you want to install Sun Java JDK insted of Open JDK you can install that also

sudo apt-get purge openjdk-7-jre icedtea-7-plugin 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java 

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get install oracle-jdk7-installer

Flash Player for web browsers in ubuntu 12.04

For Ubuntu 32 bit & 64 bit : To be able to watch videos and see flash website in your browser (firefox/ Chrome..), you need to install flash plugin, go to ubuntu software center and search word “flash” and install it.

FTP Clients for Ubuntu 12.04

filezilla and gftp are the popular ftp clients in ubuntu 12.04. Nautilus is also support ftp,sftp connections.

Filezilla

Filezilla is the best ftp client for Linux. It can handle all the FTP needs. Nautilus is also capable of connecting ftp.

sudo apt-get install filezilla

DropBox

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. This means that any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, phones and even the Dropbox website. Dropbox also makes it super easy to share with others, whether you’re a student or professional, parent or grandparent.

Download the Dropbox package:

Ubuntu (x86_64 .deb)

Ubuntu (x86 .deb)

Office Packages for Ubuntu 12.04

Libreoffice is installed by default. It includes Writer – A good Document Editor, Calc – A Spreadsheet Editor, Impress – A Presentation Creator and Manager and Draw – A Drawing creator. You can also try Abiword and Gnumeric.

To install LibreOffice PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install libreoffice libreoffice-java-common libreoffice-math libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-java-common

To enable PDF import capability:

sudo apt-get install libreoffice-pdfimport

To enable Mozilla Office plugin:

sudo apt-get install mozilla-libreoffice

Adobe Acrobat Reader

This will help to read pdf documents more effectively. The default Document Viewer will handle pdf files. But you get more features with this programme

sudo apt-get install acroread

Scribus

Scribus is a good DTP application to prepare industry standard books for publishing and more …

sudo apt-get install scribus

Dia

Dia is a good diagram editor. Will help you to create a variety of diagrams like Flow chart, Database, Circuit, Logic, UML etc ..

sudo apt-get install dia

Miscellaneous Applications for Enhance your Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop

Some applicaitons like cheese,xsane,stellarium,unrar,p7zip are nice applications for enhance your desktop.

Cheese – Take Photos and Record Videos Using Webcam

Cheese is a must install especially if you are a laptop user, since most laptops/netbooks have a webcam these days. Cheese is a simple application that lets you take photos and record videos using your webcam.

sudo apt-get cheese

Xsane – A Scanner application for Ubuntu

Xsane is a great tool for your scanner control. This tool will help to scan documents and pictures effectively. You can control resolution, brightness, contrast etc …

sudo apt-get install xsane

Stellarium

Stellarium is a real-time 3D photo-realistic nightsky renderer. It can generate images of the sky as seen through the Earth’s atmosphere with more than one hundred thousand stars from the Hipparcos Catalogue, constellations, planets, major satellites and nebulas. Near 40 MB.

sudo apt-get install stellarium

Rar, Zip applicaitons for ubuntu 12.04

If you are downloading from the internet, you know how various forms archives can have. Installing the following will allow you to deal with most of these.

sudo apt-get install unace unrar zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils rar uudeview mpack lha arj cabextract file-roller

Y PPA Manager

Y PPA Manager is a GUI tool to easily add PPAs, search a package in all Launchpad PPAs, remove duplicate PPAs (only works with separate .list files), backup PPAs and other PPA-related tasks. Check out the Launchpad page for a complete features list.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/y-ppa-manager

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install y-ppa-manager

Samba Server

Samba is the windows share folder manager. You can add windows shares using samba server

sudo apt-get install samba smbfs 

Wine The windows Environment –  install windows programmes into Ubuntu 12.04

If you want to install and run windows programmes under ubuntu 12.04 you need a windows environment emulator programme called wine.

• Support for multiple icon sizes in wine menu builder.
• Improvements to the help browser.
• Initial stab at DOSBox integration.
• Various MSI fixes.
• Some fixes to the Wine debugger.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install wine1.3

RAM / CPU usage Indicator for Unity

Unity top panel doesn’t support any kind of applets, just AppIndicators. Luckily, there’s an AppIndicator that displays the RAM and CPU usage. Install it using the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexeftimie/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-sysmonitor

Ubuntu One appindicator

If you using ubuntu one cloud service then here is a nice app indicator to help you .

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rye/ubuntuone-extras

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ubuntuone-indicator

Sysmonitor App Indicator

App Indicators are an excellent way to extend the functionality of Unity top panel in Ubuntu 12.04. And Sysmonitor application indicator will display the system status.

To install Sysmonitor Indicator in Ubuntu 12.04 just copy and pate the commands in the terminal [Ctrl+Alt+T].

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexeftimie/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install indicator-sysmonitor

Resize Images by right click them in Ubuntu 12.04

This is a quick tweak and it is greatly usefull. If you have some large images and reduce its size to 50% or resize an image quickly. Then there is a nautilus script by using this one just right click on the image and resize for your desired sizes. Nice quick tool.

sudo apt-get install imagemagick

sudo apt-get install nautilus-image-converter

Eye Candy for Ubuntu 12.04

Incredible Themes for Ubuntu 12.04

A best theme combination is Equinox Evolution themes + Faenza icon theme combination. As an added advantage, both are available from the same PPA as well. Latest Equinox Evolution themes update brings with 3 new themes taking the total count to 5. To install Equinox GTK theme collection and Faenza icon theme in Ubuntu 12.04 type in terminal.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tiheum/equinox

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-equinox equinox-theme faenza-icon-theme

There are other great themes from Gnome bisigi project. You have 12 great incredible themes for ubuntu.

Conky

Conky is a lightweight system monitor application for Linux. It can be customizable in lot ways to look your desktop stunning. Type following in terminal to install conky

sudo apt-get install conky

Screenlets for Ubuntu 12.04

Screenlets are small owner-drawn applications that can be described as “the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk”. Sticknotes, clocks, rulers, the possibilities are endless.Screenlets can be installed from Ubuntu software center,

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:screenlets/ppa 

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get install screenlets

This is a comprehensive to do list after install ubuntu 12.04. Try to cover all majour utilities for a common user. To install all these packages a good internet connection is a must. There are lot of applications for every purpose like scientific computing, Integrated Development Environment etc… You can try all these softwares from ubuntu software centre.  Just search for the application and click install.

Top things to do after installing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin

10 Things To Do after installing Ubuntu 12.04

Very Long list –

To Do List After installing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS aka Precise Pangolin

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• Final Unity Update Lands in Ubuntu 12.04 (ubuntuvibes.com)