GnoMenu: Alternative to default Ubuntu mainmenu

This post is for those who came to Ubuntu from Windows environment. An ex windows user firstly search for a menubar at bottom left corner. They can not find andy 'Start' like button their in Ubuntu. If a new Ubuntu user failed to get 'Start' button, s/he caught by frustration and start to tell that 'ubuntu is hard to understand', 'it is not better' etc. Here is a solution for that kind of computer user.

GnoMenu: alternative mainmenu on Ubuntu

If a new linux user start with Linux mint of Peppermint or Puppy linux, s/he may not fall in this kind of problem. If s/he come to Ubuntu first then this kind of problem rise. Here is a bottom-left button like menu for ubuntu linux. Setting up/ installation of this 'Gno-menu' is very easy. Lets try..... and explore...

First of all, download a GnoMenu tarball file from this link. or add ppa link (ppa:gnomenu-team/ppa ) in your system. We will install it in our system now.

10 ppa links for Ubuntu Linux

You may know about PPA. PPA or Personal Package Archive is such kind of archive for ubuntu which is actually some updated 3rd party application hosted by developer. If you add this 3rd party repository ppa then you will always get latest and updated version. If you add this ppa in systems repository list then upgrading to newer version will be very easy. You can install those special application from here which might not supported by Ubuntu itself. You may know that Ubuntu do not release update (Newer version update) for any software accept security. But we have to use new version for some special feature. Newer version fix bugs, add new feature, improve performance or can be change on verious section. So, why don't we upgrade? But you can not do it via Ubuntu software center. You must have to add ppa. This is the necessity of ppa.
Today I am sharing some essential ppa list with you all. You can add or upgrade your preferred packages with these links.

1. Linux Freedom Lucid PPA:
It is a fantastic ppa. Main speciality of this ppa is it deliver some popular and famous packages like: VLC, Gimp, JDownloader, Pidgin, Nautilaus, Cafaine, File zilla etc. And they keep only stable version in their pipeline. Here you will get upto 100 packages. To add this ppa write the command below in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ferramroberto/linuxfreedomlucid
sudo apt-get update

2. Video Driver PPA
You will get latest stable version video driver for your computer systems video card. You will get updated version of Nvidia restricted driver. To add this ppa write the command below in terminal:

antiX OS configuration and using

After using antiX os for several days I am focusing on some problems which need a little attention of developers. I think if they add or fix this things on next version told here, these customising will increase antiX operating systems user number more.

I have tried to do some customisation. but failed. I am not a software hungry techie geek. I just need to do some essential job. I am telling them one by one.

• 1. Connecting internet: I am a user of GPRS. I use it with Nokia e51 mobile phone. This gadget works fine as a broadband mobile device on Ubuntu, Peppermint os and Puppy linux. I have not click much to connecting internet. I don't going to tell about other os, I want to know solutions which occurs on 'antiX-M8.5'
• a) Thank developers for both 'usb-modeswitch' and 'wvdial' installed. I edit wvdial.conf with leafpad. But 'gppp' have cannot connect. I wrote 'wvdial' on regular terminal but it said that ….. (Stay with me, I will tell it details on next post). I have to run 'wvdial' on 'root terminal' to connect every time I tried to connect. Is it normal to run 'root terminal' every time when I wish to connect internet?
• b) After connecting internet I found that there is no any monitoring tool or application. So I think developers should add a 'network traffic monitoring tool' and or a 'network status monitor'. Puppy linux has this kind of applet on right bottom panel named 'blinky'.
• 2. Foreign Language: I wrote my own language using either SCIM or ibus input method system. None of them are installed on antix-m8.5. This is not fair. Developers should add SCIM or ibus on next versions. I see 'ibus' installed on 'synaptic package manager'. But don't work on any text editor. I did not found 'ibus' on 'Input Methods' on any text editor. I tried to start ibus or SCIM right clicking on text editors body.

antiX linux operating system snapshot gallery

I download antiX m8.5 and testing. 'antiX OS' Installed Succesfully on my machine. After using it for some days, I think, now I can publish a post titled antiX Linux review from my view. Here I am publishing menu entries on antiX operating system. I think this "antiX snapshot gallery" will help new linux user to explore a different one.

antiX os boot menu

antiX Boot Menu. Themed Personality Marek Edelman. Select options for load live or extra functions. This is accessories menu.  A lot of essential applications added in this list.

antiX Linux review from my view

antiX linux operating system default desktop wallpaper

Recently, I have download another light-weight Debian based Linux antiX. I install it on a separate harddisk. It installed successfully and have not delete other operating systems on grub menu. I use it for several hours. First of all I like the philosophy of naming itself. AntiX developed by 'anticatpitalist'. Great combination. I have not found any kind of history related to antiX operating system. I thought developer might be a diehard leftist. He is a protester of allkind of capitalism. I support you from the philosophical view.

I am trying antiX-M8.5-486 version. Code name is: Marek Edelman. I am not sure whether it is a codename or not. I saw this revolutionist on boot screen. I searched Google and found huge information about 'Marek Edelman'. Naming Linux using leftist name is a really unique idea. I also thought that Linux should be a power of poor people. 'Linux' itself and 'open source' are a revolution against all kind of capitalism act of software giants. Linux will always fight against all kind of fundamentalism, capitalism and terrorism. I think s/he tries to focus on this. I welcome you and I like and support this idea. I wish to see famous revolutionist face on next versions.

What I got?
1. Antix-m8.5 use icewm for doing activity with window related activities. It don't have any desktop icon but we can use 'Rox' window manager with desktop icon. I don't like to see many icons on desktop. I like iconless desktop on 'icewm'.

2. Antix-m8.5 use 'pcmanfm' as file manager. This works fine with me. I am satisfied to this tiny file manager. I use it on LXDE, I am joyful to know that pcmanfm also works on 'icewm'.

3. In Office menu antix-m8.5 include 'Calculator', 'AbiWord', 'ePDFviewer', 'Gnumeric', 'iceape Address Book', 'Osmo', 'Phonebook'. All are light-weight and full functional faster application. I think a general user does not need more in a office suit.

4. You would get many kind of essential application on Network menu. AntiX Default browser is 'Iceape' . It is a mozila related work and fork of Seaminkey. This full-featured web-browser worked fine for me. But I like to use Firefox and Google chrome (ium). You can chat, compose or check mail, browse through FTP etc. job with antix-m8.5.

5. There are many items on Multimedia section. You can play audio, video, can rip any audio CD or burn CD or DVD. You can record sound with external microphone and edit. You can use webcam using 'Cheese', Gxine also included for better video viewing experience. Antix also added famous 'Goggles Music Manager' (I wrote a post on it, named: …...). DVD slideshow making is very easy with 'imagination' a simple and lightweight DVD slideshow maker. It has famous audio player XMMS (x multimedia system). This is a look alike of famous windows based audio player 'WinAmp'. When I was on 'windows', I never ever use another music player instead of winamp. After transforming in linuxuser I found XMMS, but as a Ubuntu user I always missed it (I don't know what's the problem within ubuntu and xmms.). Antix-m8.5 also include 'Mplayer'. It is a famous and powerful video player on Linux.

6. Game: It has only 3 (Three) Games installed. It also has a 'DOSBox Emulator', So you can run DOS games using this. It also have my alltime favourite 'Lbreakout', also has 'sudoku-savant', and 'xmahjongg'.

7. Default background is really great. I like to get some information about this image, but can't. Nothing wrote anywhere.

At last I must say that I like the idea. This is really a very light operating system. Puppy also a light runner, but antiX has pcmanfm for exploring files and folder. Rox is also powerful and better. But it only support only 'one click' option. I am not familiar with it. (I will tell you later, why I like pcmanfm file management)

I think if Mepis or own community keep support to it, antiX will go many miles on future.

Visit antiX Linux operating system website.

I am going to publish a snapshots gallery post on antiX operating system next. Follow next post for some snapshot of antiX linux operating system.

Sorry, Mutter closed unexpectedly on Ubuntu 10.10

I am just exploring and understanding various features on Ubuntu 10.10 netbook. I install it on a usb stick and running from it. I am not sure what cause this problem. But I think after closing a window suddenly a message appear and says

Sorry, Mutter closed unexpectedly

This message box also include a request. It say

If you were not doing anything confidential (entering passwords or other private information, you can help to improve the application by reporting the problem.

Mutter is a window manager for ubuntu netbook edition. I am not sure why it happened. Is it a bug?

Blogger 'Blog posts' gadget is not loading

After publishing last post, when I refresh my blog (opened on another tab), I found that my blog's 'Blog posts' gadget was not load. Look at the image I used here. Everything is fine but 'blogposts' is not showing themself. Right sidebar links work perfectly, but on homepage there is no 'blogposts'. What a peculiar type of peoblem on blogger.com blog??!@!@#!!?

'antiX OS' Installed Succesfully

antiX M8.5 operating system desktop

I download an another flavour of Debian based Linux. It called 'antiX'. It use icewm as a window manager. So, it takes a very small space to install itself. It can be run in any lightweight hardware. (Window Manager 'WM' is not a desktop environment, so has no many feature. But, it also do necessary jobs.)

Not like others, antiX include various file manager by default. You can use 'Rox' (Used in Puppylinux) or 'pcmanfm' (Used in LXDE) both in this nice distro. So, it will run on older computer. Recommended RAM is 128MB but you can use 64MB to install it. It can operate older PII 266 systems. It takes 1.2GB hard disk space.

There are plenty of applications I found on Main Menu. I don't want to discuss them here. I will publish another posts on 'antiX screen-shot' .

antiX Main Menu

Thank you 'antiX' for not deleting my systems 'grub' options. Other installations are showing on grub menu.

In this moment I am using antiX to publish this post and browsing internet. That means, I have successfully configured antiX to connecting internet via my Nokia E51 mobile phone. Have a simple problem. 'wvdial' command require root terminal to connect. General user terminal start dial, found misc signal ok but at last it failed to connect. It said:

Could not modify /etc/ppp/chap-secrets: Permission denied

I will post details later. Without this problem I feel happy with 'antiX' linux.

PCLinuxOS failed to connect GPRS Edge internet via mobile phone

You may know that I use Nokia E 51 mobile phone to connect internet. At my last post (PCLinuxOS LXDE Review and Screenshots) I said that I will publish a post about why I don't recommend you PCLinux OS to use as first Operating system. Here, I am publishing my explanation.

I tried to connect my mobile phone as a 'Mobile Broadband Device'. But failed. PClinux OS have not give me any chance to use my mobile set. It detect my phone but did not show it on file manager or network manager. Look at the images I use in this post.

PCLinuxOS network internet connection wizard

I started from 'PCLinuxOS control Center'. At 'Network and Internet' section I clicked on 'Set up a new network interface (LAN, ISDN, ADSL,...)'. Then a newer window come and ask me to submit some information.

PCLinuxOS LXDE Review and Screenshots

Some days ago PC Linux OS has destroyed my everything, when I install it on a hard disk. None of any Linux distribution behave bad like this way with me before. Though, I wanted to test the flavour of this so called famous Linux distribution. I download several variant like

• pclinuxos-lxde-2010.iso
• pclinuxos-lxde-mini-2010.iso
• pclinuxos-openbox-2010-07.iso and
• pclinuxos-ZEN-mini-2010.iso

I run them on 'Oracle VM Virtual Box'. I am really impressed to viewing the nice colour combination of this operating system. I agree that developers has a colourful mind. But, what happened next, I will tell you later. Here, I am sharing some screenshot of 'PCLinuxOS LXDE 2010'.

PCLinux OS LXDE Desktop

Google Doodle for Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson birthday Google Doodle

Today Google is celebrating Robert Louis Stevenson's birthday. As like other reader, I his famous book "Treasure Island". I also read his another famous book 'Kidnapped'. Today after viewing this doodle, I search him on internet and got plenty of information. Now I know that actually I read a very little of him. Next days I will try to find more literature by Stevenson. Thank you google for inform me about one of my favourite writer.

Google Doodle for X-ray discovery day

Google celebrating 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-ray. So, they changed their logo style on homepage and search result. This is a X-ray report of 'Google' trade mark. But, I am quite confusion on a thing that, are there a royal key and a pet duckling. Am I viewing right? Why they are added here, I like to know the answer.

Subscribe Net Gator Blog Via Feed Burner

I have just configured my feed at Feed burner. Now you can able to subscribe my post with feedburner. I added more links on my sidebar. I add a 'Follow me on twitter' and a 'Foolow me with friend connect'/ 'Follow my blog' button on right sidebar. You may do associated jobs with any of the buttons. I am giving you those fascility in this post. You can subscribe for email newslater, or be my friend on google or twitter directly from here.

_________________

Enter your email address to subscribe:

Thanks for staying with me.

Create search box on Blogger.com blog

Today we will create a search box for our blogger.com hosted blog. This search box can able to search your blog context. Add this search box in a HTML/ Javascript gadget box.

First code:

<form id="searchThis" action="/search" style="display:inline;" method="get"><input id="searchBox" name="q" type="text"/> <input id="searchButton" value="Go" type="submit"/></form>

This search box will look like this:

Here is an another code for a search box.

<p align="center"><form id="searchthis" action="/search" style="display:inline;" method="get"><input id="search-box" name="q" size="25" type="text"/><input id="search-btn" value="Search" type="submit"/></form></p>

It will look like this one:

I wish these search box will serve as your wish.

Add link on Pagelist menu

My personal link (Ubuntu Tips) on blogger.com blog pagelist menu

You may know that there is no any way to add any customise link on Blogger.com blog's pagelist menu. Only page links are show on this menu. But if we so much curious to add a link here then try a little as described below.

• Log in blogger.com account with google id and password.
• Go directly to Design> Edit HTML
• Tick on 'Expand Widget Templates'
• Now search for 'PageList1' widget.
  
• On the 14th line of this widget you will get </b:loop>
• Add your preferred link just after this code.
• Creat a link like this
• <li><a href='http://netgator.blogspot.com/search/label/Ubuntu'>Ubuntu Tips</a></li>
• Preview it and SAVE TEMPLATE
  

Changed Twitter Account Name

I have just changed my Twitter amount name. So, earlier url will change as below. From now link of my twitter account is:

http://twitter.com/netgator

When I create account on twitter first, I did not get this name available. So, I need to take an another one. I add an extra 'r' after 'netgator', that means 'netgatorr'. I did not like it anymore. I always think to change it.

Today, I tried to change this name again at twitter settings. And good luck, I found it available. So I changed my account name quickly and came here to let you know.

Thanks for following me on Twitter.

http://twitter.com/netgator

Docky: Alternative Panel for Ubuntu Linux

Docky on action preview

We have discussed about an alternative of the default Gnome. We introduce with ADesk Bar: Alternative Panel for Ubuntu . This will work on any Gnome or LXDE desktop environment like Ubuntu older to 10.10, Linux Mint, Lubuntu or Peppermint os etc. Today we are going to know about an another attractive alternate of default bottom panel. It's name is "Docky". It is a full fledged dock application that makes opening common applications and managing windows easier and quicker. Docky is fully integrated into the GNOME Desktop and features a no non-sense approach to configuration and usage. It just works.

This is docky screenshot on Ubuntu software center

Docky provides an application launcher, running application management, and various "docklets" including a CPU monitor, weather report and clock. It is similar to other docks such as AWN and cairo-dock.

My docky preview

Applications can integrate with Docky to add extra items to their context menus or modify their icons to display more information. This package includes integration helpers for a number of applications, including Banshee, Rhythmbox, Deluge, Tomboy and Zeitgeist.

Docky is derived from the GNOME Do "docky" interface.

** Text of this post taken from 'Ubuntu Software Center'

## Please help me to improve my English. Please Email Me or comment below. Thanks...##

Why schools should use free software

I have just reading an article on open source software. Famous open source activist Richard Stallman wrote on "Why we need to use it, why we should support it etc." I like to share this article with you all.

He said only about schools and necessity of open source software. He said:
The purpose of this article is to state additional reasons that apply specifically to education.

First, free software can save schools money. Free software gives schools, like other users, the freedom to copy and redistribute the software, so the school system can make copies for all the computers they have. In poor countries, this can help close the digital divide.

Yes that is the real fact. I support open source software. I also on the side of using open software on schools and office and our daily life. Please read the article at the link below.

Why Schools Should Exclusively Use Free Software written by great Richard Stallman.

Easiest MenuBar on Blogger blog

Many of us like to use a menu-bar on their blogger blog. You may know that you can not add any customised link on default blogger's page-list menu. So we may want to create a customised menu for our blog. There are many way to make a menu-bar for top-place of blogger.com blog. Today I am giving the codes of a simplest, easiest but very effective, speedy customisable menubar.

• Login to blogge.com blog with your google id and password.
• Go directly to Design> Page Elements
• Create a HTML/ Javascript gadget clicking on "Add a gadget"
• Now paste the code below on this html gadget.

• <div style="background-color:#DBF2FB; float:left;">
  <a href="URL 1">Link 1</a> |
  <a href="URL 2">Link 2</a> |
  <a href="URL 3">Link 3</a> |
  <a href="URL 4">Link 3</a> |
  <a href="URL 5">Link 3</a> |
  <a href="URL 6">Link 3</a> |
  <a href="URL 7">Link 3</a> |
  </div>

• Change background color as per your wish.
• Change URL 1, 2, 3, 4 as your need. Change Link 1,2,3, 4 and add prefered words.
• Save the changes, You have done.

Creat dropdown label gadget blogger blog

Today we will create a dropdown label gadget on our blogger.com blog. Look at the images below. First picture is a normal state of a label gadget. We will change it as the second image.

Normal label gadget look like this

Customised dropdown/ popup label gadget.

Why we do this? Why do we changed that label gadget? Only for one reason. Because the new dropdown or popup like label menu will save space on sidebar of a blog. If you use many many tag, label or category for your blogposts, then I must suggest you to do it. This is not much hard as you think. Just change a line of code in blogger blog's template (Html Page).

How do we change our normal label gadget to a dropdown menu.

• Log in blogger.com with google id and password.
• At first create a 'Label gadget' on 'Page Elements' tab.
  
• Now directly go to " Design> Edit Html"
• Remember that : Don't tick on "Expand Widget Templates"
• Now find the code below:
  

• <b:widget id='Label1' locked='false' title='Labels' type='Label'>

• Delete this line. Paste the codes below in this empty place. That means paste the codes below instead of the line above.

• <b:widget id='Label1' locked='false' title='Labels' type='Label'>
  <b:includable id='main'>
  <b:if cond='data:title'>
  <h2><data:title/></h2>
  </b:if>
  <div class='widget-content'>
  <br/>
  <select onchange='location=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;' style='width:200px'>
  <option>Label Gadget Name</option>
  <b:loop values='data:labels' var='label'>
  <option expr:value='data:label.url'><data:label.name/>
  </option>
  </b:loop>
  </select>
  <b:include name='quickedit'/>
  </div>
  </b:includable>
  </b:widget>

• Preview your blog. If everything is normal then you will view a preview of newly customised dropdown or popup label gadget menu.
• If you satisfied, then 'SAVE TEMPLATE'.
  
• 
  
• Customisation:
• Change 'width:200px' to any number as per your blogs sidebar width.
• Change Label Gadget Name as your choice.
• Don't write any name on gadget's title area. Look at the second image I uploaded in this post. The name "Labels" still remain. We normally don't except it here.
• Thanks. I wish you can make it with no hassle.
  

PC Linux OS destroyed my works

I have an extra harddisk. I install newer operating system on it. I installed Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Peppermint one, Peppermint Ice, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, Open Suse, Fedora and Dream Linux on it. Today at afternoon I have install PCLOS Gnome on this harddisk. But alas. When I restart my machine, I astonised to see that all OS has gone from grub menu.

What a bad luck. I know PC Linux OS won't take any liability for it. But, I am sure that it is done by pclinuxos. No other operating system have not done this kind of odd job before. I don't know why pclinux os delete others from grub list.

Download a 'conkyrc' file

I have told you about conky before. My last post about conky is: Sexy Conky on your Ubuntu or Mint Machine. Today I am sharing a 'conkyrc' file. Look at the image above. Click on it to get larger image. If you wish to get a conky as like the picture, then download that 'conkyrc' file from the link below and put this '.conkyrc' file on your home folder, conky will look like it.

List of the information I regularly collect from my machine, with the help of "conky" with the use of this rc file.

• System Name
• Uses of: CPU1, CPU2, Physical Memory, Disk, Swap
• Hard disk temperature.
  
• Processes:
• Highest uses, CPU or RAM
• Disks info about Root and Home folder
• Uptime: How long this machine is running
• Network Status
• Upspeed, Downspeed, Uploaded, Downloaded
• Local IP and Public IP
• Time and date
• Hard disk drives info

I wish you will be happy as like me with this lovely informative conky. Download the conkyrc file. (File size: 2 KB). Extract the zip folder. Put the .conkyrc file on your home folder and type 'conky' at terminal. Conky will run now.

Download the conkyrc file. File size: 2 KB.

To know how to setup a informative conky for your Ubuntu machine, please visit this webpage link.

Install LXDE into Ubuntu

I have install LXDE on Ubuntu 10.10. LXDE stands for 'Lightweight X Desktop Environment. This desktop environment is faster then Gnome and KDE desktop. It can run on older machines or on low end/ older hardware based computer. It has many difference then other desktop. Very speedy. Although development is on going process, many operating system publish their releases using LXDE. I use Lubuntu and Peppermint os many times and fall in love. Day by day this little desktop environment grub attention of many distro.

If you tended to test LXDE then know some little information first.

• At least 47 new packages need to download.
• It will take only 14.7 MB to download.
• When you install, it will take 43.7 MB of extra space.

LXDE Desktop.

If you really like to try LXDE. Then use Synaptic Package Manager or Ubuntu Software Center. Run any of them and search with keyword "LXDE". Select all dependencies to download. Your new lightweight desktop environment depends on these dependencies to work properly.

lxde available on ubuntu synaptic package manager. You can install it from here.

You can install Lxde using ubuntu software center. I use synaptic to install. After completing install, I feel some curious to check ubuntu software center. I discovered that I did not install 'Task Manager'. So I install this application from USC.

I install LXDE task manager later from ubuntu. This is very easy now.
After completing download and install logout your computer and sellect LXDE session from the popup menu on bottom bar.

When I get a first jump on LXDE, I really surprise to see a huge number of software installed. Then I realise that Gnome desktop applications are available on this session too.

For full information visit Lxde website for updates.