How To Remove Mounted Drives From The Ubuntu Unity Launcher

All the mounted drives (this includes USB drives, NTFS and other partitions that you set to automount, etc. - basically everything that's in /media) show up in the Ubuntu 11.04 Unity launcher by default which is usually ok if you have a big monitor or if you don't have a lot of applications pinned to the Launcher. But if you use a netbook or just want more space on your Unity launcher, here's how to change the launcher behavior so that it doesn't display any mounted drives.


But firstly, here is how to unmount external devices.

How to unmount external devices

How will you unmount / safely remove mounted external media if you do this? You have at least 2 easy options:

A. Open Nautilus, right click on the mounted device and select "Eject" or "Safely remove drive".

B. Using "ejecter", an AppIndicator available in the official Ubuntu 11.04 repositories which you can install by clicking the button below:

If the above button doesn't work for your browser, open a terminal and copy/paste the following command to install Ejecter:

sudo apt-get install ejecter

Once installed, press ALT + F2 and enter "ejecter" to run it. To run it when your computer starts, open "Startup Applications", add a new startup item and add "ejecter" for both the name and command.

There is another appindicator called "indicator-usb" but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work anymore (when running it on my Natty installation, nothing happens).

By the way, for a huge list of AppIndicators, check out this AskUbuntu question.

Now that you know how to unmount external media easily, let's remove the mounted media icons from the Unity launcher.

How to remove mounted drives from the Ubuntu Unity launcher

1. Install dconf-tools by clicking the button below:

Or install it using a terminal:

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

2. Press ALT + F2 and enter: "dconf-editor", then navigate to desktop > unity > devices and change the "devices-option" value from "OnlyMounted" to "Never".

That's all - the mounted usb drives (or any other mounted volumes) should now stop showing up on the Unity launcher.

Extra tip: also remove mounted drives from your desktop

If you decide to keep the default Ubuntu 11.04 Unity launcher behavior and display the mounted media icons on the launcher, there's really no reason to have the mounted volumes show up on the desktop too. Really now, why both on the launcher and desktop?

You probably already know how to do this, since this is an option in Ubuntu Tweak but if you don't want to install Ubuntu Tweak just for this, to remove mounted volumes from your dekstop, press ALT + F2 and enter: "gconf-editor", then navigate to apps > nautilus > desktop and disable (uncheck the box) "volumes_visible".

Cairo Dock 2.3.0 Released With New Applets, Better Compiz And Kwin Integration

Cairo Dock (also known as GLX Dock) is a launcher / task manager like Avant Window Navigator or Docky and its major advantage is the huge list of applets it comes with: menus (MintMenu, Cardapio, etc.), Drop to Share applet, Ubuntu Me Menu and Messaging Menu applets, keyboard indicator, netspeed, network monitor, notification area, power manager, stacks, terminal, weather, weblets, system monitor and many many more. Also, unlike other docks, Cairo Dock also comes with stand-alone applets meaning the applets don't have to be attached to the dock and you can use them like Screenlets / Desklets.

This is Cairo Dock:

(Cairo Dock - Tux_n_Tosh theme and some Cairo Dock applets)

And this too:

(Cairo Dock - Unity-1 theme)

Cairo Dock 2.3.0, released

A new stable Cairo Dock version - 2.3.0 -, has been released today, bringing a lot of new applets, improvements for some already existing applets and better Compiz and Kwin integration.

Note: if you've been using Cairo Dock from the unstable PPA, you already know most of these features (we've actually posted about some of them already).

Here's what's new in Cairo Dock 2.3.0:

• A new "Recent Events" applet lets you easily browse recent files such as documents, audio and video files, websites and so on thanks to Zeitgeist. The new applet also has a search and looks a lot like Sezen. Click for a screenshot.
• New applets: Transmission, Deluge, MintMenu, Translator, Quote of the day, etc. You can install those from the GLX Dock Applets repository - to install an applet, drag and drop the applet link from the browser to Cairo Dock.
• System-Monitor applet can now monitor CPU temperature and fan speed
• The Logout applet now warns you when the computer needs to be restarted.
• The Drop and Share applet now handles UbuntuOne (also works with Dropbox)
• Better integration with Compiz and Kwin.
• The Stack applet now displays the web page's favicon.
• more

For more info see the official announcement @ GLX Dock forums.

Install Cairo Dock stable in Ubuntu

Cairo Dock 2.3.0 stable is already available in the main Cairo Dock PPA. Add the stable PPA and install Cairo Dock in Ubuntu 11.04, 10.10 and 10.04 using the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cairo-dock-team/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock

Using Debian? There's also a Debian Cairo Dock PPA. See the instructions for using it @ Launchpad.

Kupfer v204 (QuickLauncher) Released With New Gwibber Plugin, Lots More [PPA]

Kupfer is a quick launcher like Gnome DO or Synapse. Kupfer exists for quite a long time and thanks to this, it comes with a huge list of plugins: you can use it to quickly access any browser's bookmarks, control Empathy or Pidgin, Evolution, Thunderbird, Google Search, Gmail support, image tools, Rhythmbox support, Tracker search and well... basically it has support for half the applications you can think of.

Kupfer v204 was released a couple of days ago and today it was finally uploaded to the Kupfer PPA. The most interesting new feature in this new Kupfer version is a Gwibber plugin which allows you to easily send an update to Twitter, Identi.ca, Facebook and so on (all the services supported by Gwibber). I'll tell you how to use this later on.

Besides the Gwibber integration, Kupfer v204 also comes with a new Empathy plugin, a QRCode plugin, VirtualBox 4 and LibreOffice and more. Here are the rest of insteresting changes in Kupfer 204:

• Periodically save data from plugins so it's not lost if Kupfer can't exit cleanly at logout
• Commands: Add actions Pass to Command, Filter through Command, Send to Command which add a lot of shell script-related power to Kupfer. These actions, and Run (Get Output) as well, use a shell so that you can run shell pipelines.
• Search the Web: Fix bug in OpenSearch parser
• Thunderbird: Fix problems in the mork parser
• Fix "Y2011 bug" where the time parameter overflowed INT32 in keybinder
• Shorten Links: Use only services with stable API, added and removed services.
• Google Search, Google Translate and bit.ly in Shorten Links can use SSL for transport if a third-party plugin is installed.
• Allow plugins to use update notifications

Since the Gwibber plugin is very cool, I'll teach you how to use it:

• If you want to tweet some selected text you'll have to modify a setting in Kupfer: go to the Kupfer preferences, on the "Keyboard" tab and under "Global Keyboard Shortcuts", for "Show with Selection" enter a keyboard shortcut (I've entered CTRL + Shift + SPACE). Then, select some text in the browser (or link or whatever), press CTRL + Shift + SPACE, then TAB and select "Send Message To" and select to send it to Twitter or Facebook or whatever. In the same way you can shorten a selected URL.
• If you want to type some text in Kupfer and send it to Gwibber, you can't just start typing as that's for commands only. But you can easily do it: press "CTRL + ." and then start typing, press TAB when done and select "Send message to...", then press TAB again and send it to Twitter, Facebook, Identi.ca or whatever.

There are A LOT of things you can do with Kupfer, just try it out!

Install Kupfer v204 in Ubuntu

Kupfer v204 is currently only available for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat and 11.04 Natty Narwhal (the Lucid version is still 202). Add the PPA and install Kupfer using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kupfer-team/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install kupfer

Extra tip: want to remove the Kupfer titlebar? Check out the bottom of this post


Don't know how to use Kupfer? Check out its new HELP page and user manual. There's also a page with quick usage tips @ Gnome.org

Synapse Launcher Gets A Do-ish Theme, Drag'n'Drop Support

Synapse, the cool new (well, not that new, it's been out for a few months now) semantic launcher will be getting a new "Do-ish" theme as well as drag and drop support. Further more, you can easily recolor the Do-ish theme by going to the Appearance Preferences, on the "Themes" tab, click "Customize" and then select a different color for "Selected items background" on the "Colors" tab.

Check out this video with the latest Synapse features:

The code has just landed in the Synapse BZR and is not yet available in any PPA but you should probably get an update in the next couple of days if you're using the bleeding edge Synapse PPA.

Synapse (Launcher) 0.2.4 Released With New Plugins

Synapse, the cool new semantic launcher for Linux written in Vala and powered by Zeitgeist reached version 0.2.4 codename "Anandamide". This version brings new plugins: calculator, Launchpad plugin (find bugs and branches on Launchpad), Pastebin, Imgur (upload images) and a selection plugin (allows you to execute actions on currently selected text).

The new version also brings multiple fixes to the Zeitgeist searches, copy to clipboard action, UI fixes and speedups and other bug fixes.

Install Synapse 0.2.4 in Ubuntu

These changes were already available for those of you that use the bleeding edge Synapse PPA, but now they are also available in the stable PPA.

To add the stable Synapse PPA and install the latest Synapse in Ubuntu, use the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:synapse-core/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install synapse

For the Pastebin plugin, you'll also need to install the following package:

sudo apt-get install pastebinit

Please note that the new upload to Imgur plugin doesn't show up in the plugins list. To use it, switch to the Images tab in Synapse, press the down key and select an image, then press TAB and you should see an option that lets you upload the image to Imgur.

Synapse needs Zeitgeist dataproviders to work properly. See our initial post on Synapse for instructions on installing more Zeitgeist dataproviders.

Like Synapse and want to help? You can write plugin description on the Synapse wiki - click the help button in in Synapse's preferences window (in the plugin tab) and you'll be taken to a wiki page.

[via ~mhr3]

Unity Launcher Will Support Icon Resizing!

Well that was fast! Mark Shuttleworth has just posted a comment on the bug report regarding icon resizing support for the Unity launcher, saying:

Looks great! Thanks Andrea, let's get it into review and landing.

If you don't know what this is about, check out our previous post: Unity Launcher Gets Unofficial Patch To Allow Icon Resizing. But Will It Be Approved?

Unity Launcher Gets Unofficial Patch To Allow Icon Resizing. But Will It Be Approved?

Andrea Azzarone, who's also behind the menu integrated in the window titlebar Unity mockup we've posted last week has created a patch that provides an option to change the Unity launcher ("dock") icon size.

Check out this video featuring his actual code (not a mockup!):

Andrea wants to submit his patch on Launchpad, but unfortunately it looks like there are no plans to make the Unity launcher to be resizable: see this bug report. Further more, Mark Shuttleworth is against it:

Question: "Will the unity Launcher be resizable?" Mark Shuttleworth: No, the size and position of the Unity launcher are fixed. In future, they should respond to information we can discern on your preferred font sizes and screen size/resolution, but that's for a future date.

- from AskUbuntu; answer dating back to December 21st

Unfortunately, this seems to be yet another case in which the users will have to use a PPA to get the customization they want (like it is with customizable NotifyOSD). I'm really hoping a for at least a PPA that will provide this patch once Ubuntu 11.04 is out. But who knows, maybe they will reconsider this?


If you want the Unity launcher to get resizable icons, head over to THIS bug report and at the top you should see something like this: "This bug affects 8 people." Click it and select "Yes, it affects me". Like Jack suggest in a comment below, do not spam the bug report with useless comments, only use the "Yes it affects me" method as described above. This does not guarantee in any way that the Unity launcher will allow icon resizing, but it's worth a shot.

Update: it seems the patch will be accepted. See: Unity Launcher Will Support Icon Resizing!

Note: I couldn't find a link to download the patch for now.

What do you think? Is such a feature a must for the Unity launcher or is Mark Shuttleworth right?

Thanks to Diego Principe for the tip!
via ubuntusecrets.it (in Italian); Ayatana mailing list discussion

Avant Window Navigator Gets Live Window Previews

You could already get live window previews in Avant Window Navigator thanks to DockBarX, bu the latest Avant Window Navigator from the AWN Trunk PPA got window previews for the AWN taskmanager so it's no longer required to install additional packages to get this feature in AWN.

The live window previews feature in Avant Window Navigator doesn't work like in DockBarX: you need to click and hold for the previews to show up. Also, the previews are kind of rough for the moment: there is no option to change their size and the "Launch" button is quite big, but hopefully some customization for the window previews will come soon.

Here is a video recorded by Moonbeam (AWN developer):




To get live window previews in AWN, you need to install the latest AWN from the AWN trunk PPA. See the instructions below for this and enabling window previews!

Install Avant Window Navigator from AWN PPA

1. Firstly, make sure you remove Avant Window Navigator and all its packages if you are using the stable 0.4.0 version and not the 0.4.1 trunk version:

sudo apt-get remove avant-window-navigator avant-window-navigator-data awn-settings awn-applets-c-core libawn1 vala-awn && sudo apt-get autoremove

2. Add the AWN PPA

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:awn-testing/ppa
sudo apt-get update

3. Install AWN-trunk

sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator-trunk avant-window-navigator-data-trunk python-awn-trunk awn-settings-trunk awn-applets-python-core-trunk python-awn-extras-trunk awn-applets-python-extras-trunk awn-applets-c-core-trunk awn-applets-c-extras-trunk

Enable live window previews in Avant Window Navigator

1. To get live window previews, firstly make sure you have CCSM installed:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Then go to System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager and enable the "KDE Compatibility" plugin (yes, even if you don't use KDE).

2. Now we need to enable the window previews in AWN. Open a terminal and copy/paste this:

gconftool-2 --set /apps/awn-applet-taskmanager/dialog_mode --type int 2

If you want to disable the window previews, use "1" instead of "2" in the command above.

3. And finally, in the AWN Preferences, go to the Task Manager tab and check the "Show dialog after long press" option.

Now whenever you click and hold ("long press") an icon in the Avant Window Navigator taskmanager, you should see live window previews.


For an alternative AWN taskmanager which also comes with live window previews but which can be customized, see DockBarX.

[news via moon-shiny]

Synapse 0.2.2 Gets Relevancy Service, Three Plugins And More

Synapse, the new awesome looking quick-launcher for Linux reached version 0.2.2 today, getting some of the features many of you have requested:

• Most importantly, Synapse got a relevancy service - the applications you use the most will be on top of the search results (Zeitgeist is used for this).
• Support for basic transliteration when searching for applications - therefore you shouldn't need to type accents (if your language has them)
• 3 new plugins: Open Search (search the web - it currently supports Google search and Google Maps), Locate (find files on your filesystem) and Gnome Screensaver (this was already available in the version in the PPA for some time).

(Synapse 0.2.2 - Google Search plugin)

Other minor changes include: Shift+Enter executes the action without closing Synapse, custom gtkrc file (so now Synapse can be themed) and a notification area icon / appindicator which can be disabled (this was also already available in the PPA for some time).

(New plugins in Synapse 0.2.2)

Install Synapse 0.2.2 in Ubuntu

Add the Synapse PPA and install Synapse in Ubuntu using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:synapse-core/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install synapse

If you've previously installed Synapse and you're only upgrading to the latest 0.2.2, restart Synapse to be able to use the new features.


Please note that the Maverick version says "0.2.1", that's an error in the version number, it's actually 0.2.2.

Remember, Synapse depends on the Zeitgeist dataproviders you use to display the results, so see our initial post for info on installing more Zeitgeist dataproviders and as well as THIS post for a Chrome plugin.

(Dark Synapse theme using a light GTK theme)

If you're using a light theme and want to try Synapse using dark colors, download THIS file and copy it to your ~/.config/synapse folder, then restart Synapse.

For other Linux distributions downloads, bugs, suggestions and so on, visit Synapse @ Launchpad.

Info via mhr3

Synapse Is Here: A New Semantic Launcher That Makes Use Of The Zeitgeist Engine

Synapse?

Michal Hruby, one of the main AWN developers has just announced the release of a new application called Synapse (codename "Acetylcholine"). Synapse is a semantic launcher written in Vala that you can use to start applications as well as find and access relevant documents and files by making use of the Zeitgeist engine:

Currently the development was focused primarily around using Zeitgeist for the searches, and there are even plugins that process the output from the Zeitgeist plugin and either try to improve the results, or find similar files on the filesystem (for example the Hybrid search plugin). Still, all of the functionality is based on plugins, so further development can lead anywhere.

- Michal Hruby, the main Synapse developer

You'll probably think "Gnome Do" when you first see the screenshots but it actually doesn't have anything to do with Gnome Do except the purpose (obviously) and the fact that it looks amazing!

For such a great application, a video is a must so here's one I've just recorded (just a quick overview):

Plugins

Synapse already features quite a few plugins which allow you to control Rhythmbox or Banshee, execute commands, look up dictionary words, open commonly used directories, suspend and hibernate your computer and a very interesting "hybrid search" plugin which tries to improve results returned by the Zeitgeist plugin by looking for similar files on the filesystem.

Themes

Besides the default theme, Synapse comes with 3 other themes: Mini, Virgilio and Dual:

(Synapse - Mini theme)

(Synapse - Virgilio theme)

(Synapse - Dual theme)

I personally love all these themes. But let's hear it from you: which one do you like the most?

Install Synapse in Ubuntu

Synapse comes with an Ubuntu Lucid and Maverick PPA so to install Synapse in Ubuntu, use the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:synapse-core/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade #required for Lucid only
sudo apt-get install synapse

If you're not using Ubuntu, get the source code @ Launchpad.

Then run Synapse via Applications > Accessories. Once the application is running, summon it using the CTRL + SPACE keys (this can be changed in the Synapse settings).

Since Synapse uses Zeitgeist dataproviders it means the more Zeitgeist dataproviders you have, the more info Synapse will return. In Maverick, you can add the Zeitgeist PPA (it's not a must, but it's a plus) and install some more data providers:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zeitgeist/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-datasource-bzr zeitgeist-datasource-emacs zeitgeist-datasource-eog zeitgeist-datasource-geany zeitgeist-datasource-gedit zeitgeist-datasource-rhythmbox zeitgeist-datasource-totem zeitgeist-datasource-vim

You can exclude some dataproviders in the last command above if you don't use those applications.

For the "full experience", you'll also want the FTS Zeitgeist extension (it has a different name so I'll post separate instructions for Lucid and Maverick):

- Maverick

sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-fts-extension

- Lucid (you need to add the Zeitgeist PPA first - see above):

sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-extension-fts

Want an application to provide results for Synapse?

The easiest way to do that would be to push data to Zeitgeist (or at least to recently-used) and you've got Synapse integration for free. If you need something more complex, we'll welcome your plugin.

Found a bug? Report it @ Launchpad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/synapse-project/+filebug

Note: for the Rhythmbox recent tracks to work, you need the Rhythmbox Zeitgeist plugin available in the latest Rhythmbox 0.13.2 in the Rhythmbox WebUpd8 PPA (Maverick only).

[via ~mhr3]

Video: How To Customize Avant Window Navigator - Lucido Style

Because we get a lot of comments asking what's the dock / launcher in some of the screenshots on WebUpd8 and just pointing to Avant Window Navigator is not enough, I though I'd create a video on how to customize the Avant Window Navigator Lucido style:

(Watch it in HD)

In the above video I just mess around with the settings so you can see how to customize the AWN Lucido style. As you can see, creating your own theme is very easy. If you want to use a pattern as a background, create your own or simply search Google for "patterns".

And here is what you'll need to get Avant Window Navigator to look like in the video:

• Avant Window Navigator 0.4.1 trunk (the version in the Ubuntu repositories doesn't have the Lucido style!): installation instructions
• And maybe you also want to use DockBarX with Avant Window Navigator as the taskbar (my taskbar icons look like Faenza but they aren't, it's the DockBarX theme I'm using that looks like that): install DockBarX for Avant Window Navigator

Thanks to Hadret for the suggestion!

Avant Window Navigator (AWN) 0.4 Available - See What's New [Linux]

After a few months of development, AWN (Avant Window Navigator) 0.4 is available for beta testing.

In case you don't know, Avant Window Navigator (Awn) is a dock-like bar which sits at the bottom of the screen (or at least it used to, read on!). It has support for launchers, task lists, and third party applets.

The new AWN 0.4 comes with lots of new features, such as:

1. Finally you can position the dock to the left, top or right side of the screen. You can also adjust the distance from the corner. This also works great with multi-screen.

2. New styles:

-Curved:

-Floaty:

-Corner (edgy):

(the element on the left can be any applet you want)

- Extended mode (AWN can be extended to the whole width of the screen). This basically means you can use AWN as a whole gnome panel for instance. Take a look at the following screencast:

3. Auto-hide has been completely revised. It now includes three modes, including the transparent mode which you can use to set the opacity to partially show/hide AWN and intellihide: automatically determines if the dock should be hidden or not.

4. Launchers only mode: allows you to have a dock with shortcuts to launch applications without a list of open windows.

5. Grouping windows: When multiple windows of one application are present, they are automatically grouped under a single icon. There is always the possibility to interact with all the windows.

6. Enhanced icons: the icons have been beautified (or de-uglified, as you wish :) ) and also you are able to move the icons using drag-and-drop.

7. When an applet is being loaded, there is now a little animation in a circle to show that the applet is being run.

8. The applets now have the opportunity to take the whole bar to display information. Inspired also a feature of Gnome-Do:

9. A new settings manager called Awn-settings (Awn-manager no longer exists).

Installing Avant Window Navigator 0.4 Beta (0.3.9.1) In Ubuntu Linux

Then, open a terminal and paste the following to add AWN testing PPA repository:

-For Ubuntu Intrepid and Jaunty:

sudo bash -c "echo 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ppa/ubuntu ubuntu_version main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list"
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys BF810CD5

Replace ubuntu_version with jaunty or intrepid.


-For Ubuntu Karmic and Lucid:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:awn-testing

Then, to install it (for any Ubuntu version):

-If you are upgrading from an older version, do (note: the older version must also be -trunk):

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

-If you are installing AWN for the first time:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator-trunk

To also install some additional applets:

sudo apt-get install python-awn-trunk python-awn-extras-trunk awn-applets-python-extras-trunk awn-applets-c-extras-trunk

Update: Avant Window Navigator 0.4 final has been released. To install it in Ubuntu Lucid, simply paste this in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator

For something similar to AWN, see also Cairo Dock v2.1 and Gnome DO / Docky.

Release notes and image credits: Informatique de Julien

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