This post lists a number of applications that I’m running on my Ubuntu laptop. I will add/remove applications over time, so this post is likely to be updated. I hope you find it useful.
Essentials
1. Install the Latest Updates
As with most modern operating systems, applying the latest updates should be top of the agenda list after installing Ubuntu. This can be achieved in two ways, either click on System > Administration > Update Manager. Alternatively, launch a Terminal window and the choose Applications > Accessories > Terminal.
Next enter in the following command:
sudo apt-get update
Enter your password if prompted. After the $ prompt, enter the following:
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Enter Y if prompted to proceed.
2. Install Restricted Extras
Restricted updates contain a number of key enhancement to the system that Ubuntu are unable to ship as part of the distribution. However, there are key bits of software here including Adobe Flash Player, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (sun-java-jre) with Firefox plug-ins (icedtea), a set of Microsoft Fonts (msttcorefonts), multimedia codecs (w32codecs or w64codecs), MP3-compatible encoding (lame), FFMpeg, extra Gstreamer codecs, the package for DVD decoding.
Enter the following Terminal command to install these extras:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Again, enter your system password if prompted. You may need to do this going forward after running each sudo command!
3. Elementary Nautilus
Elementary-Nautilus is a cleaner and better looking version of nautilus. It also has a few extra features like embedded terminal, cover flow etc.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:am-monkeyd/nautilus-elementary-ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
4. GIMP
GIMP it a great app if you want to touch up some photos, edit some images etc.
Install it with:
sudo apt-get install gimp
5. Ubuntu Tweak
Ubuntu Tweak is a must have application for Ubuntu, it provides many useful desktop and system options that the default desktop environment doesn’t provide.
Using Ubuntu Tweak you can install all needed applications with a simple click, you can change the window buttons from Left to right…etc.
Open terminal and enter the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
Bonus! Also try Ailurus:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ailurus/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ailurus
Security
6. Install a Firewall
Ubuntu isn’t prone to attacks as some other operating systems. However, I think it is worth installing nevertheless.
Enter the following Terminal command to install the firewall.
sudo apt-get install gufw
The firewall can be configured by navigating to System > Administration > Firewall Configuration
7. Antivirus
Generally speaking, Ubuntu users do not need install antivirus software. However, you can install the ClamTK Virus Scanner.
Enter the following Terminal command to install the client:
sudo apt-get install clamtk
8. Install Backup Software
Use the following Terminal command to install backup software
sudo apt-get install backintime-gnome
Media Players and Codecs
9. Media Player – VLC
Simply the best open source media player there is. It will play virtually any kind of media you can throw at it.
Enter the following Terminal command to install VLC
sudo apt-get install vlc
10. Arista Transcoder
Arista Transcoder makes it easy to convert your media files for use on all your devices. You just choose the device you have first and the file type.
sudo apt-get install arista
11. MPlayer
Another great media player worth installing is MPlayer
sudo apt-get install mplayer smplayer
12. AmaroK
AmaroK integrates with Wikipedia, lyrics and album cover look-ups! It should also sync with your iPod too
sudo apt-get install amarok
13. DVD Playback
Most commercial DVDs are encrypted with Content Scrambling System (CSS), which attempts to restrict the software that can play a DVD. You’ll need to install libdvdcss if you want to play them. Type the following Terminal command:
sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
Then enter:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
14. K9copy
K9copy is a free open source DVD backup, copying, compression, and authoring utility that requires libdvdcss. You can easily create MPEG-2. MPEG-4, or DVD videos with this utility. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install k9copy
15. DVD::RIP
DVD::Rip is a DVD backup/copy program, written in GTK-based perl, that uses the transcode video/audio processing and conversion tools. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install dvdrip rar
MSN Messenger Client
16. Emesene
Emesene is an MSN messenger client that uses a simplified interface similar to the original messenger client. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install emesene
FTP Clients
17. Filezilla
Filezilla is the ubiquitous free open-source FTP client and server for all platforms.
sudo apt-get install filezilla
Utilities
18. Webcam
Cheese is an Apple Photobooth inspired application for taking pictures and videos from a webcam.
sudo apt-get install cheese
19. Compiz Fusion
Compiz Fusion allows you to use interesting desktop effects such as a rotating cube desktop.
Run Applications > System Tools > Compiz Fusion Icon. A blue icon will appear in the tray. From here you can configure Compiz-Fusion.
20. Conky
Conky is a light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop.
sudo apt-get install conky
21. Screenlets
Screenlets are small applications that are laying on your desktop. Eye c
sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main\
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common fusion-icon
andy stuff and useful in many ways. Just type:
sudo apt-get install screenlets
Go to Applications > Accessories > Screenlets and choose the screenlet that you want click launch/add.
Additional screenlets can be downloaded from www.gnome-look.org or fromhttp://screenlets.org/index.php/Category:UserScreenlets
Web Browsers
22. Chromium
To add the repository, open the source list :
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Add these 2 lines at the end of the sources.list
For Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat :
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu maverick main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu maverick main
Open the terminal and add the GPG key
sudo sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 0xfbef0d696de1c72ba5a835fe5a9bf3bb4e5e17b5
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser
Utilities
23. ntfs-3g
ntfs-3g allows you to read and write data to NTFS formatted drives and can be installing with the following command:
sudo apt-get install ntfs-config
Then type the following command:
gksu ntfs-config
24. Mount Windows Hard Drives on Startup
Mount your Windows HDD ‘s on Ubuntu startup with PySdm. You can install Pysdm with Ubuntu Software Center or with your terminal:
sudo apt-get install pysdm
Next run the app with
sudo pysdm
On the partition list you can found all of your hard drives. Click on the drive you want to mount, then on general preferences tab click Mount and apply. If the disks are not mounted on startup, start your Pysdm again and select Mount on startup options then apply. Be careful, don’t play with the rest options if you are not experienced user because you can damage yourUbuntu system.
25. Unrar
sudo apt-get -y install unrar
26. Beagle
Similar to Google Desktop Search and Mac OS Spotlight, Beagle offers a great desktop search tool for Ubuntu, and can be installed with the following command:
sudo apt-get install -y beagle
27. Gnome Deskbar Applet
The Gnome Deskbar Applet is a cross between Spotlight and Quicksilver. Basically it’s a great app launcher and then some, with plugins designed to integrate more search options than you can shake a stick at, from live Google searches to integration with Beagle.
To use the Deskbar Applet, right-click the top panel and select Add to Panel… and find Deskbar Applet (incidentally, there are a lot of other great tools in the Add to Panel… dialog worth checking out). It’s no Quicksilver, but it’s better than any app launcher/search tool available on Windows.
apt-get install deskbar-applet
28. UNetbootin
Unetbootin allows you to install Ubuntu from a USB Drive. Install the app with the following command:
sudo apt-get install unetbootin
29. Search App Explanation
apt-cache search xxxxx
(Where xxxxx is the name of app that you wish to learn more about).
30. Skype
sudo apt-get install skype
31. Clipboard
sudo apt-get install parcellite
32. Add/Remove App
The Add/Remove app is a great app for installing and removing applications. It can be easily installed, by following the instructions below:
Applications > Ubuntu Software Center then search for “Add/Remove”without quotes. Double click on Add/Remove Applications and hit install
33. Wine (Windows Compatibility Layer)
sudo apt-get install wine1.2
Blogging Clients
34. Lekhonee – A WordPress Client
sudo apt-get install lekhonee-gnome
ScreenSavers
35. Cool ScreenSavers
sudo apt-get install stellarium
Bittorrent
36. Bitorrent Client
sudo apt-get install deluge
Sun Java
37. Java Client
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin
Email Readers
38. Thunderbird
Thunderbird from Mozilla is one of the best email client applications available, it can be installed with the following command:
sudo apt-get install thunderbird
Tagged as: Tips, Ubuntu
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