How to create thumbnails of dds files in Ubuntu or Mint.

Thumbnailing for the DirectDraw Surface file format is not supported in Linux with the Caja file manager, but this is easy to fix. The /usr/share/thumbnailers/ directory contains all of the thumbnailer files that automatically create thumbnails in the file manager for Caja. Just create a file named dds.thumbnailer and put this in it. 2 3 … Read more

How to set various options in the MATE Cinnamon and Gnome desktops with the terminal.

The old Gconf framework allowed a user to set various options for the Gnome 2 desktop with a command-line utility or the GUI. But nowadays, we have another one. The gsettings framework for modern desktops allows a user to set various options with the terminal. This is a nice way of setting various options all … Read more

Ubuntu 17.10 alpha with Gnome desktop released.

The new Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark) distribution has been released. This comes with a Gnome desktop instead of the Unity environment. The desktop environment in this looks just like Unity though. Where is the benefit of using a Gnome desktop if it looks exactly like Unity anyway? This is how I set up Ubuntu 17.10 … Read more

Latest Linux Mint Mate themes for your Linux desktop.

Very nice Linux Mint MATE themes. There are some nice MATE themes in this archive for Ubuntu, that will work with any Linux distribution using the MATE desktop. https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-mate-artwork_16.04.7.tar.xz. This is a very nice theme for your desktop indeed. Just extract the themes in the archive to your ~/.themes directory. Macbuntu theme for Linux Mint … Read more

How to make the title bars in Gnome Shell much thinner than the default.

The title bars in the Gnome Shell desktop environment by default are much too thick. This simple code sample will make them thinner. Just create this file. ~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css Then put this code into it. Updated for Gnome Shell on Ubuntu 18.04. # Gnome 3 – based on https://blog.samalik.com/make-your-gnome-title-bars-smaller/ .header-bar.default-decoration { padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; font-size: … Read more

Install the arc Gnome shell GTK3 theme on Fedora 25.

The arc Gnome Shell theme is a very nice theme for the Gnome Shell desktop. This is how to install this theme on Fedora 25. Firstly, download the theme this way. [jason@darkstar Desktop]$ git clone https://github.com/horst3180/arc-theme.git Cloning into ‘arc-theme’… remote: Counting objects: 10466, done. remote: Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done. remote: Total 10466 (delta 1), … Read more

A look at the evolution of the Linux desktop through the ages. Specifically Red Hat Linux.

The Linux desktop has undergone a significant change in layout since the earliest days of the Gnome desktop that we saw on Red Hat Linux back in the day. Those were the days of dial up Internet and 14″ monitors that were far smaller than the massive computer screens that we have now. And the … Read more

Evolution of operating system menus from early Gnome to Gnome Shell.

The early Gnome desktop is quite interesting, it had a Windows styled menu with a easy to use taskbar. https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~bobk/gnome/1.2/gnome-1.2-menu02.png. Source: https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~bobk/gnome/. This is the old Gnome 1.0 configuration application. Very dated indeed, this is when they had Enlightenment as the Window Manager of Gnome. Although you could use Sawfish as well. http://www.linuxjournal.com/files/linuxjournal.com/linuxjournal/articles/031/3139/3139f1.jpg. The Gnome … Read more

Some modern themes for your Linux desktop.

Themes This blog post: http://jfnlinuxproject.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/windows-10-theme.html has a list of links and screenshots that show a themed desktop that looks roughly like Windows 10. This does need more work. But I am sure that you could make a Linux desktop resemble Windows 10 if you so wished. In time, there will be an actual Windows 10 … Read more

New GTK themes for 2015. Make Linux look awesome.

More awesome GTK themes and wallpapers for 2015. Gnome themes. Ceti-2: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Ceti-2+-+Theme?content=167528. Plane GTK 3.6: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Plane-Gtk3.6?content=156309. Ultra-Flat: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Ultra-Flat?content=167473. Malys-Unisex: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/malys+-+uniSEX+?content=149602. Cinnamon themes. Zukitwo: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Zukitwo-Cinnamon?content=161734. New Minty: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/New-Minty?content=161698. Icon themes. Evolvere icon theme: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Evolvere+Icon+theme?content=164338. Wallpapers. Dead space wallpaper, creepy monster: http://4walled.cc/show-1364323. Giant world engine eating a planet: http://4walled.cc/show-1348020. Very cold looking planet with a misty atmosphere: … Read more

Linux desktop has not changed much in ten years.

Gnome Flashback Linux desktop.

The Linux desktop has really not changed much in ten years of development. There are the new Gnome Shell and Unity desktops, but simpler alternatives like Gnome flashback are available that emulate the look of the classic two toolbar Gnome desktop environment. This desktop pictured above is the Fedora Core Linux distribution. This is the … Read more

How to open an RDP connection to Windows from Linux using the remote desktop utility for Gnome.

Opening a Remote Desktop connection from Linux to Windows is very easy when you are using the Remote Desktop utility for the Gnome 3 desktop. This is a very easy RDP application for Linux. Below I am entering the details for a new connection. Just go to Applications->Internet-Remote Desktop Viewer to open this useful utility. … Read more

Linux Mint 16 distribution will further cement Linux as the desktop operating system of choice.

The Linux Mint 16 distribution is one that will take over from Windows 8.1. The Windows operating system has good gaming performance, but Linux does as well. I have played Corebreach on Fedora Core 19 and it ran very well indeed. There are a few good Linux games that are available for PC. There are … Read more

How to setup Ubuntu 13.10 with a better desktop environment. Better than Unity.

How to setup Ubuntu 13.10 with a proper desktop environment. I just installed Ubuntu 13.10 and I had to update the package repositories. This is essential to install software. homer@deusvult:~/Documents$ sudo apt-get updatehomer@deusvult:~/Documents$ sudo apt-get update After this I could install the initial set of packages to setup my system. homer@deusvult:~/Documents$ sudo apt-get install me-tv … Read more

Some very good Gnome Shell themes for Ubuntu and Linux Mint 15.

http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/GNOME+Shell%3A+Nord?content=142971. Nord Gnome Shell theme, now compatible with Gnome 3.6. http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/LittleBigMod_2nd?content=152088. LittleBigMod Gnome Shell 3.6 theme. A very good and sleek theme. http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/London+Smoke+-+Gnome-Shell?content=142426. London Smoke theme for Gnome Shell 3.4. http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/malys+-++GS?content=142262. Malys theme for Gnome Shell 3.4.1. Another quality theme for your Linux desktop. http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Darkair+%28+3.4%2B3.6%2B3.8%2B3.9.2%29?content=156215. Darkair Gnome Shell theme. A theme with a lovely orange … Read more

The Fedora Project has officially announced the release of Fedora 19 ‘Schrödinger’s Cat’ today.

The latest Fedora release; Fedora 19 ‘Schrödinger’s Cat’. This brings many improvements to the venerable Linux distribution. The main updates include OpenShift Origin, which allows easy building of Platform-as-a-Service infrastructure; node.js; Ruby 2.0.0; MariaDB; Checkpoint & Restore, which allows users to checkpoint and restore processes; and OpenLMI, which makes remote management of machines simpler. The distribution also packs GNOME 3.8, KDE Plasma Workspace 4.10 and MATE Desktop 1.6.

Get the downloads here: http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora-options.