Section: How To

Discover a mix of tutorials on everything from how to install the latest versions of apps or enable new features, to workarounds for known issues – alongside general ‘configuring Ubuntu’ advice.

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[How to] Help Spread ‘Download for Ubuntu’ App Buttons

So many great applications are available in the Ubuntu Software Center - but many developers don't advertise this fact on their websites. To remedy this Ubuntu's Jono Bacon is encouraging users to get involved in a new ‘Download for Ubuntu’ Button Campaign. The premise is simple: the websites of apps that are available to install through the Ubuntu Software Center should display a uniform 'Download for Ubuntu' button so that visitors can clearly see they support Ubuntu.

8 June 2012
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[How To] Use Unity Quicklists in Gnome-Shell

Not too long ago I stumbled upon a very nifty Extension that brings Unity's quicklist functionality to Gnome-Shell's Activity Bar and Dash. And with more and more developers adding quicklist support to their applications this extension ensures that GNOME users don't miss out.

29 May 2012
chameleonic ambiance script in action

‘Chameleonic Ambiance’ Script Matches GTK Theme to Your Wallpaper

Unity's 'chameleonic' colour matching feature is great at giving the Ubuntu desktop to give your desktop a subtle but consistent feel. It takes the 'average' colour of your desktop wallpaper and uses this to 'tint' the Unity dash, launcher and notification bubbles. But what if it went a bit further and used this colour in the default GTK theme? That 'What if' has now been answered by developer David Callé.

24 May 2012
Skype Wrapper 0.6 Adds New Quicklist Options

Skype-Wrapper Adds Call Actions, Notification Fixes, Ubuntu 12.04 Support

A new stable release of Skype-Wrapper is available for download. Skype-Wrapper is a small third-party 'plugin' that integrates many of Skype's features directly into the Ubuntu desktop. This includes support for Ubuntu's Messaging Menu, notification system and Unity launcher.

16 May 2012

Solve Six Common Gripes With Ubuntu 12.04

Ubuntu 12.04 offers a pretty fantastic experience right out of the box but that doesn't mean it will be 100% perfect for everyone. In fact there are a few things about it that bug people. Below we've listed solutions to six common questions we've seen routinely asked in the comment section here on OMG!

11 May 2012

[How To] Make The Unity Dash Border Thinner

Want to rid the Unity Dash of its thick grey border? Well you can - and here's how.

30 April 2012

[How To] Revert to Dark Menus for Ambiance Theme in Ubuntu 12.04

Have you noticed that Ubuntu's default Ambiance theme displays the majority of its menus in a 'light' colour, despite the rest of theme being 'dark'?

29 April 2012

[How To] Access Google Drive Via Nautilus in Ubuntu

Google’s newly-launched ‘Drive’ feature may have failed to give Linux users a client from the get go – but that doesn’t mean we need to go without entirely. A temporary solution is available for those […]

25 April 2012

[How To] Minimize/Maximize Apps to Unity Launcher

"I want to minimise apps to the Unity launcher by clicking on them." Well the patched version of Unity that lets you do just that is now available to install in Ubuntu 11.10.

10 April 2012

[How To] Make Unity 2D Launcher Icons Smaller/Bigger

So you want to change the size of the icons on the Unity-2D launcher? We've previously looked at a way of achieving this, but this involved the manual editing of system files - something that scared a lot of people away from finally having a solution to oversized launcher icons. Well, at least until now.

8 April 2012
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[How To] Record And Share Terminal Screencasts Quickly

Recording and sharing your terminal activity with other people is now as easy as running a command. And it's all thanks to Shelr - a small command line tool that is able to record and replay terminal activity and also publish it to the shelr.tv website for others to see.

7 April 2012

Smarten Up Your Desktop With This Conky & Wallpaper Combo

The look of people's desktops are a lot like sandwiches. Some are plain and simple, others decorated with all manner of awesome-sauce. But both types can get stale if left alone for too long. If you feel that your own desktop could do with freshening up then the following Conky and wallpaper pairing might just prove to be a good starting point

3 April 2012
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[How To] Easily Skin Ubuntu’s Unity Desktop

The Unity Launcher and Panel can't be themed directly - not without recreating and then replacing each of the tiny .png files it uses - but the illusion of a themed top-panel and Unity launcher can be created quickly and easily by way of special custom wallpapers. Click on in to learn more.

28 March 2012
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[How To] Minimize Apps to the Unity Launcher in Ubuntu 12.04

Many first time users of Ubuntu’s Unity interface become slightly confusing by one aspect of the Launcher’s behaviour: minimising app windows. Coming from Windows, KDE, or other similar desktop environment, the first expectation of the […]

22 March 2012
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[How To] Adjust Size of Unity 2D Launcher and Icons

Unity 2D has never been quite as customisable as its older, resoruce-hungry relative. And although this ‘gulf’ will be reduced slightly in the forthcoming release of Ubuntu 12.04, there still won’t be options for the […]

21 March 2012
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3 Themes for Linux Dock ‘Plank’

It may be yet to see a stable release but that hasn’t stopped many folks from (get ready for pirate punnery) from ‘walking the plank‘ of instability by using it. What am I jabbering about? […]

19 March 2012
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[How to] Never Miss an Ubuntu Notification

Have you ever missed a notification pop-up in Ubuntu? That's where this 'Recent Notifications' applet comes into play. The service it provides is simple enough: it logs all notifications that show up on your screen - whether you act on them or not.

18 March 2012
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Spare 10 Minutes? Help Translate & Test Wallpaper App ‘Wallch’

A new version of wallpaper changing application Wallch is due for release at the weekend - but the developers need your help in advance. With new features set to debut, the Wallch team need some eager Ubuntu 12.04 users to take the app for a spin, and report any bugs they find.

14 March 2012