Increase the power of Ubuntu!

Hello and welcome to the third tutorial about Ubuntu.  Today we are going to "talk" about additional applications which can improve and make the way of solving problems and needs much easier.








 As we all know no Operating System is perfect "out of the box" ( fresh installation without any additional apps). But today we are going to have a look at most common and necessary applications which will serve you well.

 One of the most common application used by any Linux user (well at least I think so =3 ) is a program called WINE. Wine (Wine is not an emulator) Wine lets you run Windows software on other operating systems. With Wine, you can install and run these applications just like you would in Windows. (source http://www.winehq.org/about/ )
So as it comes from the description you can install nearly any application or game developed for Windows and use it on Linux, BUT be careful not every single application work fine so you could also face some other problems like low "FPS" in games and bad performance in app.

To install wine simply open  "terminal" and type this commands or use "copy" and "paste" method.

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

The installation process just the same as in windows.



Second  application is Adobe Reader. While Ubuntu can read pdf files using it's own reader, for some users Adobe Reader might be easier to use.
I think I don't have to explain the function of this program =) I will just show what you have to do for installation.

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ natty partner"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install acroread

After that you will be able use Adobe Reader.








Third application is SKYPE.  And this where problems are beginning. I have no idea why and when but the latest version of SKYPE for Ubuntu is adopted only for Ubuntu 11.04 version however we can install it anyway. got to the Skype web-site
skype.com and navigate on button "GET SKYPE"

Then you click on the link with name "Linux" and proceed.

The fourth application which might come in handy is Ubuntu Tweak Tool.

Have you ever heard  (if you use windows) of such application as Ccleaner? If yes then it is just the same application for "cleaning up" your system and delete all unnecessary junk in it.

If you never heard about both then I will explain more detailed what it does.
First we have to install this application by running this commands in Terminal
Open the Terminal and type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/next
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak




After installing Ubuntu Tweak Tool you have to start it. Open "Dash" menu and type Ubuntu Tweak and click on the icon of the program. Shortly after that you will see this screen.

Here you will find general information about your system version, bit, name of the account currently logged in the system and etc.
We need function Janitor. To start it simply click on the button Start Janitor and you will see this menu.

You don't have to understand what it does, you only have to know that it will clean your system out of the junk. To start cleaning select all boxes on the left side of the program and then click clean and that's it, your system is like New One.

That's all for today, I hope you like it, subscribe if you want or just stay tuned and look for new updates.

P.S I really sorry about that I haven't posted anything new for such a long period of time, promise to write more about Ubuntu 11.10 as well as new upcoming Ubuntu 12.04 version.

If you have any question regarding topic, you found a mistake or you want to ask me write about something feel free to write me a letter on my e-mail: saproling93@mail.ru

Delay

Hello again, Sorry for the big delay in not posting anything interesting, or not, because it was a New year and all that kind of staff I actually was pretty tired. So don't worry I will post soon new features and tutorials in coming week so stay up-to-date ^_^



If you have any question regarding topic, you found a mistake or you want to ask me write about something feel free to write me a letter on my e-mail: saproling93@mail.ru

What is Next?

 UPDATE: As you may noticed I changed the layout of the blog to fit my screen resolution (which is 1366x768) and also made this to make pictures suitable for the blog so they will be big and nice ^_^. If you have resolution lower then 1366x768 and it is hard to read the text and view pictures my apologizes.

Let's get back to our topic for today's blog. 

In our previous course (Let say it was a course ^_^) we have taken a look at how install Ubuntu on your computer. So probably next question of any person "What is next?"

Let's take a look at our new desktop environment (Which is also called "Unity").

As you may noticed it is very clean and efficient desktop, but what are those buttons and icons mean ?!??! Don't panic I am here to help you =) 

First of all let's talk about left side panel with program icons. 

This side bar called "Unity Launcher". By clicking on icons in it you can start different applications and more then that, you can add new applications in Unity Launcher by using function "Drag and Drop". 

This new feature was designed to make desktop itself clear, so all applications are in one place and your folders and files are on the desktop. If you right click on an icon in Unity Launcher you can either create new window of the program (For example new Internet Window) or you can move program away from the Unity panel. (Notice if you move icon of the app (abbreviation for "application")  away that doesn't mean you delete it, so if you accidentally move it away don't worry.) 

Here the basic application listed (from the top to the bottom)

-Dash menu

-Home Folder

-Mozila Firefox

-LibreOffice Writer

-LibreOffice Calc

-LibreOffice Impress

-Ubuntu Software Center

-Ubuntu One

-System Settings

-Workspaces

-Trash

These are applications that are added to Unity Panel by default. You can customize it later as you wish.

 

 Now let's take a deep look inside each application and learn the basic things it can do. 

 This is "Dash Menu". Using Dash menu you can either find different applications installed or those which you can install. You can browse application by category in next tab. Tab can be change at the bottom in the center of the Dash Menu. Try it out yourself. ( At least you will do something without my guide ^_^)

 This is an example of the search. I searched for mail and it found me Mozila Thunderbird mail client. You can add it to Unity Launcher as I said by drag and drop function.(Don't worry if you didn't know some applications, I will cover most commonly used in my next blog post, so we will also take deep (as deeply as possible) look inside of this app.

 This is (Not Sparta =)))) ), but "Home Folder". Home Folder is a place where all the files on the computer stored. There are 3 tabs "Devices", "Computer", "Network". In Devices you can view all external (obviously) devices that are connected to the computer such as USB flash drive. "Computer" is a place where all files and folders are saved on your computer. Network is a net folder where all shared files and folders are. In my opinion Home Folder more customizable because it already had created some useful folders for you, such as Music and Video. You can basically not create new one on your desktop, better if you will just divide every material or files into this folders, so you can easily find them.

 LibreOffice Writer is an app created as Free and Open Sourced substitution to the Microsoft Office. It can do everything Microsoft Office can and it free for all. LibreOffice Writer has it's OWN file format save, but it could be saved to be compatible with Microsoft or any other Office app. 

LibreOffice Calc  is an app that is similar to, again ^_^, Microsoft Office Excel. 

Same also here different file format save/ but again you can save it in Microsoft or any other Office format. 

LibreOffice Impres is a program for creating presentation just as Microsoft Power Point do. Now you get it? LibreOffice can do pretty much the same thing, but still there is some difference, and it's for FREE. Now you feel the power of the Open Source community =). But, you may ask a question, HOW THE MAKE MONEY ?!?!?! Answer is simple, thought donation. And I also ask you readers, if you really like an app, not only LibreOffice but any, don't hesitate to donate some money for an Open Source community using app main web-site. 

 Ubuntu Software Center this is a place where you can download mostly all available free and also some non-free but cheap applications.

 Is is very easy to use on the right top corner you will find search place, where you can type a name of application or at least a thing it is doing, and Ubuntu Software Center give you all results.

 Ubuntu One is a cloud application for storing your files and info on the web server. It was created by Ubuntu Development Team and by default for free, if you registered, you will receive 5 GB of free memory in the INTERNET. Cool isn't it ? =).

System Settings as comes from the name, is a place where you can set up and customize your Ubuntu computer. I will make a short description of each tab.

Personal

Appearance - set up a background (wallpaper) of the system and UI (User Interface) theme. 

Keyboard layout - set up additional keyboard layout. By default we have only English keyboard layout. But if you have an extra keyboard layout on your computer, for example Finnish, you can add new one. Also you can change buttons which changing the language of the keyboard type. 

Language support - add new Language to your system by downloading it from Official Ubuntu site. 

Online Accounts - set up you online accounts if you have such. (Later in this blog I will present you some programs that will help you fast get access to your facebook or any other Online account. This application needed for configuring such.)

Screen - responsible for "Turn off after" function which will hibernate your computer after a certain time of no usage, screen lock which will lock your screen obviously and you have to type your password if it happened. 

Hardware

Additional Drivers - Some drivers for a certain hardware aren't installed yet on your computer. This program help you install additional drivers for Ubuntu. Such drivers called Proprietary drivers (Closed Sourced drivers) which is developed by a company for a certain Operating System. What means by Closed Source? It mean that responsibility for fixes and new version of such drivers is fully  on company and Ubuntu can't help you if they are not working properly. 

Bluetooth (optional) - if you have a bluetooth integrated in your computer Ubuntu will automatically  configure it and this section needed for managing devices connected via bluetooth.

Color - tab for managing printing colors if you have working printer connected to Ubuntu machine. 

Displays - configure you screen resolution. 

Keyboard - manage your key press sensibility, also change some "Hot keys" such as Ctrl-alt-delete.

Mouse and Touchpad - as it comes from the name configure mouse sensibility and speed of moving. And if you have touchpad settings is the same as for mouse. 

Network - configure active network connection either from Wifi or cable. 

Power (Optional) - if you are working on a laptop as me, you will have to configure power functions in different situations for example when it is critically low power suspend computer. 

Printing - add and manage new or connected printers.

Removable Media - if you insert a CD, DVD or USB you can configure using this setting what to do computer if he recognize such device. 

Sound - obviously sound settings.

Wacom Graphics Tablet - if you have a tablet which is connected to the computer you can configure it's settings using this set up function.

System

Backup - Backup your system files and data using Deja Cup program.

Software Sources - add, manage, modify and delete new software packages downloaded via Software Update program (we will talk about this later)

System Info - information about your computer, Operating system, version and etc.

Time and Date - set up time and date displayed in the computer.

Universal Access - if you are a disabled person or you have ear problems you can set up additional programs such as screen reader for blind people.

User Accounts - create, change and delete new users on this computer.

pew, that was a big description, hope I didn't have any mistakes =)))) 

 Workspaces is a different desktop windows so you can open one application in FULL SIZE on one desktop and switch to another FULL SIZED app on another workspace.

 Trash all deleted information and data goes here, just like Windows trash bin.

Now we finished covering basic application in Unity Launcher. Let's take a look now to the "tray icons" on the right top corner of the system. 

 This wheel tray icon is for quick access to settings, displays and also VERY IMPORTANT Software Update. Next time I will cover this needed feature. It also needed to switch off the computer.

 Manage your accounts in this icon. Switch from one user to another without need of powering off the computer.

 Calendar and time displayed more fully if you clicked this tray

Manage sound volume and play or pause music.

 Manage your Wifi or Cable network connections in this tray icon. + setup remote desktop connection.

 Optional Bluetooth settings.  Manage your active bluetooth connections or set up new one. 

 Last one tray is very useful. It gives an instant access to the e-mail, Ubuntu One account or a new broadcast account. (This application, Broadcast account, will help us connect to the web social services like Facebook, but we will do it next time.)

 

 Now you have a general view of basic programs in Ubuntu. Feel free to discover more application by using Dash Menu or try to serf the web using Mozila Firefox. That's all for today's topic. I hope you enjoyed it and of course leave your comments, wishes, additions and thoughts under the blog. 

 Don't forget to tell your friends about this blog so they can join Ubuntu community and be a part of it.

If you have any question regarding topic, you found a mistake or you want to ask me write about something feel free to write me a letter on my e-mail: saproling93@mail.ru

Ubuntu as an operating system

 Hello everybody My name is Nikki and today we are going to have a look at one of the most user-friendly Linux operating system called Ubuntu. I want to warn people who already knows about it that I won't write anything new in this blog because already loads of people uploaded and created different guides and tutorials but here I want to write and make a "meeting" with people who NEVER heard about Ubuntu or might heard but don't know anything about it. In this blog I will describe problems and issues I faced using this Operating System.

Most of the people heard about linux by accident or from someone else, I am not the exception. But as most of the users ( I think ^_^ ) faced with some different problems either during installation or during working with operating system as it completely differ from Windows (I am not speaking about MAC because MAC is also an Unix based operating system) So here, as a good start, I want to share with you my own editing using official web-site ubuntu.com about how to get Ubuntu and also how to properly install it on your system. Let's begin

First of all you have to download an "iso" image file of the operating system. Here is an official web site of the Ubuntu where you can download an operating system. www.ubuntu.com

On the screen shot above you have to click on download button where my mouse currently pointed out. After doing so you will be redirected to this page

You have to choose "Download and install". Section "try it from a CD or USB stick" is not need because we will observe this later in this blog and the section "Run it with Windows" require separate post on this subject. I will observe this later let's just click on Download and Install.

  You will be forward to the download page where you have to choose 32 or 64 bit Operating System. If you don't know which one to download just don't change anything, click on "Start Download" big button which pictured here

After this download start and you have to select where to save "iso" image of the operating system and I hope you know how to save files and remember where you save it ^_^

Let's move on. Ok, now we have an image of the Operating System and you may wonder what I have to do next ?? well hopefully it isn't hard to "burn" CD disk. By the verb "burn" I mean how to write an information on the disk CORRECTLY, so it would be readable by the computer. Let's see how to do this in Windows 7. Now here I will copy the image and instructions from the site ubuntu.com because they describe it very detailed and informative.
TO BURN A CD YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EMPTY CD DISK WHICH CAN BE BOUGHT IN ANY COMPUTER STORE!!!!!!

Right-click on an ISO image and choose 'Open with > Windows Disc Image Burner'.

Select a disk burner (drive) and choose 'Burn'. If you check 'Verify disc after burning', it will confirm that the ISO image has been burned correctly.

 And that's all =) Simple isn't it ? just wait for a while for the information to be burned on CD and it is better if you will wait until process finished and won't work on the computer.

Ok now we have a disk this Ubuntu system and computer to install it let's start the Installation process.
Now here it is REALLY hard to start because all systems are different in CD disk start because we have to start CD disk first to boot not you main operating system. Well to do so there is different way. I will, at least, try as much easier as possible to explain it thought I don't promise it will work 100% cause I have to see what are you doing to see what the problem is, Let's hope nothing will happen. =)

PC requires you to hold down or press a key to boot from CD

YOU HAVE TO REBOOT COMPUTER AND WHEN SYSTEM START START CLICKING MULTIPLE TIMES BUTTON OR BUTTONS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH TO CLICK. try it multiple times you haven't managed to do it write me and e-mail about your computer and what you have been doing. My e-mail written at the bottom of the page.

Some computers require you to hold down or press a key to enable booting from the CD drive, the best place to find this information is in your computers user manual or the manufactures website. Here are some common keys to try if you lack that information. 

Apple Computers and others: Hold down the C key while rebooting. Toshiba, IBM and others: press F12 while booting to get to the boot menu and choose CD-ROM. Asus and others: press TAB key while booting and select CD-ROM from boot menu.
(Source https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromCD )

When you managed to boot from CD you will see this screen

DON'T DO ANYTHING !!!!! just wait and installation will continue in 10 seconds. 
Now in the next pages I will use pictures from official web site again because everything I said in the start is already written I just make it EVEN more easier to understand
After waiting a while  you will be proceed to this page (well you have to spend about 40 minutes for the whole installation)

  Click on "Install Ubuntu" to start the installation procedure. Next what you will see will be this

Now here is the thing if you are using network cable for your Internet then Skip this part(DON'T forget to uncheck the line where I write on the picture)  BUT if you are using Wifi connection you have to make some extra steps in order to download some updates during installation.If you don't have Internet active connection then Ubuntu will proceed with this screen

 

Here you will have to select either "I don't want to connect to a wi-fi network now" or choose an Internet and write down the password. It is better if you have an active connection because it will download updates during installation.

Next step Installation type.

You can choose between 3 options but we only need 2 of them because type "Something else" was created for users with more knowledge so let's do everything as we are basic users =)))
So here is the thing you can either install Ubuntu alongside with your Windows 7 system or any other system or DELETE and entire disk and install only Ubuntu. If you don't want to delete windows you can choose 1 type if you are ready to delete and install only Ubuntu there is no big difference. For now Let's click install alongside with Windows 7.

 

You will get this picture and you have to move the line between Ubuntu and Windows 7 disk to decide how many memory you want to dedicate to Ubuntu and how many stay in Windows 7. Minimum memory for Ubuntu to work stable is 10GB. after you finished partitioning click "Install Now"

When the installation start you will be asked to configure your keyboard layout, time and who you are. Let's take a deep look inside.

Here basic thing System will either automatically define where you are if it connected to the Internet if not just type where you are.

Now here everything is very basic too. Simply choose your keyboard layout and language it should write. You can try keyboard in a small window above the button "Detect Keyboard Layout"

 And Final set up WHO YOU ARE =)

Here write your name, leave computer name untouched, write your favorite
user name and you must also type the password. The more complicated password you will have better for your security. And click Continue.

CONGRATULATIONS 
you have finished installation settings of your Ubuntu Operating System now just wait for installation of the system to finish and watch the slides provided by Ubuntu
^_^

After everything finished you will get this image

Just click RESTART NOW and enjoy your new Operating System.

That's all for today I hope I helped you and I want to hear now your comments and editions about my blog and also if you want me to write something more about or again you have any questions don't hesitate to write me I will answer as soon as I can.


If you have any question regarding topic, you found a mistake or you want to ask me to write about something, feel free to write me a letter on my e-mail: saproling93@mail.ru