Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.10 Detects And Disables Broken Software Sources

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.10 was released today bringing mostly bug-fixes but also 2 new features:

Automatically disable broken software sources

When you start Ubuntu Tweak, it disables broken software sources (PPAs, etc.) and notify the user to make it easy to fix:

The great part about this new feature is that if a bug like the one in "add-apt-repository" occurs (the bug adds a "n" on a line in the .list file), the line causing the error is disabled but the repository is not so everybody using Ubuntu Tweak should be "n" error free from now on.

When Ubuntu Tweak finds a broken source, you can edit it from the Ubuntu Tweak Source Editor tab:

Unity launcher autohide

Another new feature in the latest Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.10 is an option to autohide the Unity launcher (this is only available for Ubuntu 11.04):

Install Ubuntu Tweak

Add the Ubuntu Tweak PPA and install Ubuntu Tweak using the following commands:

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

Alternatively, you can download Ubuntu Tweak .deb from Launchpad.

[via Ubuntu Tweak blog]

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.7 Released With New / Updated PPAs For Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

To celebrate the release of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat today, a new Ubuntu Tweak version is available for download - 0.5.7. This new version comes with some bug fixes and small improvements, but most importantly: it includes new / updated PPAs for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat. A complete list of changes can be found @ Ubuntu Tweak blog.

The new / updated PPAs in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.7 include: Adobe Flash 64bit, Cairo Dock (stable and unstable), DeadBeef, Elegant Gnome, Firefox Daily Builds, Glippy, Gwibber Daily, Hotot daily, Lookit, qBittorrent, Chromium Beta Channel and Dev Channels PPA (along with the existing Daily builds PPA), Wine, Pdfmod and many more.

So if you're looking for a quick way to set up everything on your fresh Ubuntu 10.10 installation, use Ubuntu Tweak.

Download Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.7 (installing the .deb will automatically add the Ubuntu Tweak PPA).

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.6 To Include Desktop Settings Backup Feature

Ubuntu Tweak, an application which allows you to tweak a few "hidden" (available through Gconf) Ubuntu settings as well as add lots of PPA repositories, will add 2 new important features in version 0.5.6:

• reset any setting in Ubuntu Tweak. You'll find a new "reset" button next to each Ubuntu Tweak option (like you can see in the screenshot in the beginning of the post).
• a backup, recover and reset (all) your desktop settings option

The new desktop settings backup option can backup and restore all the Gnome and System settings as well as application specific settings, like you can see in the screenshots below:

This new option will only back-up/restore/reset the Gconf values and not the data in your home folder!

The beta version of ubuntu Tweak 0.5.6 is already available to install, but being a beta remember that you may find bugs! You can install it in Ubuntu (Karmic, Lucid and Maverick) by using the following commands (warning: this will add the Ubuntu Tweak testing PPA!):

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

Dragon Player Default In Kubuntu 10.10 (Not VLC), Firefox Default In UNE 10.10 Instead Of Chromium, Ubuntu Tweak In New Queue

Dragon Player has been made default in Kubuntu 10.10 instead of Kaffeine (I'm not really up to date with what's happening in Kubuntu, but it seems Kaffeine was default in Kubuntu 10.10 until now - at least according to the changelog of the kubuntu-meta package). A while back, the Kubuntu developers said they were considering VLC to be the default media player but unfortunately this didn't work out as expected. I'm not sure what are the reasons for this (since the news came from the kubuntu-meta changelog), but most probably there were some license/legal issues so they had to go with Dragonplayer.

Chromium was made default until UNE 10.10 alpha 3 at which point a decision had to be made rather or not to stick with Chromium or go back to Firefox - since Ubuntu 10.10 alpha 3 is about to be released (in 2 days), the decision came: Firefox will stay as the default browser in Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.10, but Chromium has been moved into the main repository. The reasons include:

* We don't have a plugin installer, ie. if you go to a Flash site it sends you to Adobe's webpage instead of just installing the plugin.
* No langpacks or translations support in lp so we can't translate Chromium, we have to depend on upstream to do it in one huge thing. :(
* Doing all the xulrunner packaging changes in order to get the CD size down AND switching to chromium in one cycle is currently not feasible with the people we currently have.

You can read the whole motivation behind this @ Ubuntu Desktop mailing list.

And finally: An email on the Ubuntu MOTU mailing list points out that Ubuntu Tweak is in the "new queue" for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat which means Ubuntu Tweak might finally be added to the official Ubuntu repositories. Until now, you had to add a PPA or manually download a .deb to be able to install Ubuntu Tweak.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5 Released, Features PPA Purge Integration

A new version of Ubuntu Tweak has been released today: 0.5.5. There's no official announcement yet, but the new version is now available in the Ubuntu Tweak stable PPA.

Looking and the BZR changelog, there's only one new major feature in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5: PPA Purge (which was also available in the WebUpd8 PPA by the way), which you can now use from within Ubuntu Tweak.

PPA Purge can remove a PPA and downgrade all the packages you've installed from that PPA to the official version in the Ubuntu repositories. An example: suppose you add the c-korn/vlc PPA and install VLC 1.1.1 but you want to go back to VLC 1.0.6 which is available in the Ubuntu official repositories. Using PPA Purge, the c-korn/vlc PPA will be removed and VLC 1.1.1 will be downgraded to version 1.0.6 (there's one catch though: make sure you don't have any other PPAs with VLC 1.1.1 or 1.1.0 and so on).

PPA Purge can be found in Ubuntu Tweak under Applications > Package Cleaner.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5 also brings support for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat and also, it can now detect if you're using Ubuntu Netbook Edition or Lubuntu.

Install Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5:

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

Note: The Ubuntu Tweak "About" dialog currently says "0.5.4.1" instead of "0.5.5". That's a display bug, if you have the Ubuntu Tweak PPA added and upgrade, you'll have version 0.5.5.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 Released With Login Screen (GDM) Customizations

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 was released today. It doesn't come with new major features except an option to customize the GDM (login screen), which you can use to change the login screen background, logo, disable the user list, disable the login sound and disable showing the restart buttons:

A new minor but interesting feature is that it can re-enable all the disable repositories from an upgrade from Ubuntu Karmic to Lucid.


And finally, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 now supports Linux Mint 9.

Install Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4

You can either add the Ubuntu Tweak PPA or simply download the .DEB file:

1. Using a PPA:

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

2. Download Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 DEB

UbuntuTweak 0.5.3 Released With Easier Window Titlebar Layout Buttons Arrangement

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.3 was released in an attempt to stay up to date with the 'trend' and make it easier for new Ubuntu users to place the window titlebar buttons on the left / right, enable or disable buttons and change their order.

This feature was already in Ubuntu Tweak since version 0.5.0, but it was improved to allow more customization.


For Ubuntu Tweak installation instructions via a Launchpad PPA, see THIS post.


Alternatively, you can simply download .deb files:

-Ubuntu Lucid: ubuntu-tweak_0.5.3-1~lucid1_all.deb

-Ubuntu Karmic: ubuntu-tweak_0.5.3-1~karmic1_all.deb

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.1 Released!

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.1 was released today, with the major change being the support for Ubuntu Lucid 10.04.

Other changes include:

Dependencies and conflicts of source - meaning that you will be notified if a certain PPA depends on another:

Window Control - you can move around the close, minimize and maximize buttons and also the Titlebar Action added two new options: Maximize Horizontally and Maximize Vertically:

(image via Ubuntu Tweak blog)

One thing we are a bit proud of is the inclusion of WebUpd8 PPA in the latest Ubuntu Tweak:

Detailed changes in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.1:

* Overview changes:
- Online data supports mirror.
- Add dependencies and conflicts check in Source Center.
- Add more options to tweak Metacity
- Add option to arrange the button layout of Metacity
- Add option to disable the synchronous notification (LP: #510504)
- Add support for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid
- Translation updates

* Bugs fixed:
- LP: #505544 Ubuntu Tweak crash on start with KeyError
- LP: #505605 [0.5.0] “Manage Templates” produces error message
- LP: #508811 Duplicated item with Unicode option in GNOME settings
- LP: #509961 script-worker not installed with package. Scripts don’t work
- LP: #513310 app center category mistake?
- LP: #509009 Ubuntu Tweak crashes when update because of non-apt-cache

For a complete list of changes and additional info, see the Ubuntu Tweak blog.


To install Ubuntu Tweak, firstly make sure you have the Ubuntu Tweak PPA added to your software sources. If not, add it (remember, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5+ will only work on Ubuntu Karmic or later):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

Then install it:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

or just upgrade if you have it already installed:

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

Alternatively, download Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.1 .deb from HERE.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 Finally Released

With a bit of a delay, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 has been finally released. We already posted a quick what's new guide (initially, 0.5 was supposed to be released on 1th of January, so read about most of the new features there), but let's have an even quicker look at what's new:

• A new interface with native icons
• Application Center: improve from Add/Remove, supports online data sync
  
• Source Center: improve from Third-Party Source, supports online data sync
• Update Manager: a simple but more human-readable update manager
• Improve the computer page, add “Change Hostname” feature
• Add indicator-session dialog control
• Add the menu and button icon options to gnomesettings
• Add the show desktop icon again
• Add the option to disable user list in gdm

Like we already told you, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 only supports Ubuntu Karmic.


Here is also a video with Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 latest features:

Install Ubuntu Tweak 0.5

Add the Ubuntu Tweak PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

And install it:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

or to upgrade to version 0.5:

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

Or you can just download Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 .deb

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5: An Early Look

A post on the Ubuntu Tweak blog points out that the new 0.5 version release should come today [it seems Ubuntu Tweak will not be out today - see the update at the end of the post] (as well as the new website):

I plan to make it online at the the last day of 2009: I don’t want to take this task to the new year, because I’ve been developed for them over half year!

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 will come with a redesigned UI (but version 0.6 will suffer major UI changes), XFCE specific features and most importantly: the ability to fetch online database to keep the ppplication information up-to-date. That means that you will be able to keep your applications and sources up-to-date without updating Ubuntu Tweak.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 will be fully compatible with all Ubuntu 9.10 or 9.10 based Linux distributions. Some of the tweaks will not work with older Ubuntu versions.

A look at the most additions in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5

Under Startup > Session Control, you can now specify the default file manager or window manager (Compiz, etc), as well as 2 new tweaks we've previously posted about: suppress the dialog to confirm logout, restart and shutdown and also the option to disable the user list in GDM.

New gconf tweaks have been added to the "Gnome settings" menu too, such as enabling the icons in menus and buttons (which have been disabled by default in Gnome 2.28+), as well as changing the menu logo.


The "Advanced Power Manangement Settings" tab has gained a new option which allows you to set the LCD brightness when on AC power and when on battery.

But probably the most interesting new feature is "Task install" which you can use to set up a full-function environment with just one click. Task install includes: Ubuntu server, Cloud Computing Cluster, DNS server, Edubuntu server, LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) server, mail server, OpenSSH server, Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (instance), audio creation and editing suite, video editing and creation suite, 2D/3D creation and editing suite, a large selection of fonts, Edubuntu desktop, Xubuntu desktop, Kubuntu desktop, Kubuntu netbook, Ubuntu Netbook Remix, and many others.


My review does not include:

• Application Center which is supposed to be a "simple but more efficient method for finding and installing new packages
• Source Center - 3rd party repositories included in Ubuntu Tweak

The reason for not including these is because these 2 sections are empty in the Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 git I've tested. The new Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 will not be released with these 2 sections empty, of course.

Also, I've tested a GIT version so, although highly unlikely, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 may include more new features.

Install Ubuntu Tweak 0.5

Like I said, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 should be released sometime today (hopefully). I posted this earlier because there is a party waiting for me =).

When Ubuntu 0.5 will be released, you can install it by adding it's Launchpad PPA:

-Ubuntu Karmic:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

-Older Ubuntu versions:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 0624A220

Replacing "jaunty" in the first command above with "intrepid" or "hardy", depending on what you use.

Then, for any Ubuntu version, to install it:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

or to upgrade to version 0.5:

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

Ubuntu .deb files should also be available soon, HERE.

Update 1: http://ubuntu-tweak.com/ is now live but it seems Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 will not be out today after all, contrary to what the blog post was saying.

Update 2: If you want to try out the latest version, I built a .deb from GIT, but please note that the third-party software (now named Application Center) is not ready yet - so use it for test purposes only (or for the tweaking part only)! DOWNLOAD

Do not install version 0.5 from the old Ubuntu Tweak PPA, as that's more than 2 months old.

Since this is probably our last post in 2009, I wish you all a happy new year!

Update 3: Ubuntu Tweak 0.5 has finally been released!

UbuntuTweak 0.4.9.2 Released

To celebrate the release of Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, UbuntuTweak 0.4.9.2 was released, bringing:

-New PPA's:

• Gartoon Redux icon theme
• GMPC
• Mingming’s PPA
• Rico Tzschichholz’s PPA

Updated third-party sources:

• osd-lyrics
• Dropbox
• Amark
• Blueman
• Christine
• Smplayer
• PlayOnLinux
• XMBC
• Vlc
• Clutter
• Gloobus
• Bisigi

Removed third-party sources:

• Ubuntu-CN
• Transmission daily

Also, you can now install even more themes, through the new Themes submenu:

To add ther UbuntuTweak PPA repository in Ubuntu Karmic, simply run the following command in a terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

Then, install UbuntuTweak using the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

If you have previously installed UbuntuTweak, use the following command instead:

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

You don't use Ubuntu Karmic Koala yet? See instructions for adding the UbuntuTweak PPA in Ubuntu Jaunty.

Alternatively, you can go ahead and just download the .deb files.

[via OMG Ubuntu & UbuntuTweak blog]

Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.9 Brings Lots Of Improvements And Karmic Support

Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.9 has been released, a great application for tweaking settings in Ubuntu (Hardy, Intrepid, Jaunty or the latest development Karmic). From this version, Ubuntu Tweak has different package for i386 and amd64 and works for Karmic too.

Among the improvements and new features:

-Separated Source List: you will have a more manageable way with Third Party Sources. By default, Ubuntu Tweak will save the third party sources into its own file under /etc/apt/sources.list.d/

When you open the Source Editor, Ubuntu Tweak will show you the main sources.list in the window.

And you can select the drop down menu to view or edit the other list files. They are stored in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/.

-Lots of PPA's added: aMule, Google Testing Repository, GmChess (Chinese Chess), Smplayer Testing, GIMP Testing, Back In Time (Backup tool), Geany, SpiceBird, Moblin Testing, PlayOnLinux, RedNotebook, Breathe Icon Theme, Qt, Mono, Exaile, Clutter, Ubuntu X Unstable, Gloobus, etc.

After you click the “refresh” to update and the operation finish, a convenient dialog will display.

With this dialog, you will know what new applications can be installed and what updates can be applied.

-Add/Remove can install Themes
-Improved PolicyKit mechanism

How to install / upgrade Ubuntu Tweak

1. Using it's Launchpad PPA:

Open a terminal and paste the following commands:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'

(Replace jaunty with your Ubuntu version, if different)

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 0624A220

And then install Ubuntu Tweak:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Or if you are upgrading from an older version:

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

2. Downloading Ubuntu Tweak .deb Files

You can simply download the .DEB file for your Ubuntu version from HERE if you don't wish to add the Ubuntu Tweak PPA repository.