Ubuntu 16. 10 has been with us for a couple a times and for those of you still using Ubuntu 16.04, I think that it's time to move on and make an upgrade or clean install on Ubuntu 16.10. Why? Because, you're gonna miss all those cool features that Ubuntu 16.10 brings such as new and improved Ubuntu Software that now runs at higher speed than Ubuntu Software Center ever did, new Linux kernel 4.8, Unity desktop 7.5 and much more. So, weather you have already make an Ubuntu 16.04 upgrade or you plan to do so, please read this article because It may have something useful for you. In this article I bring my top 10 things to do after installing Ubuntu 16.10 that would make your Ubuntu Linux life much easier than ever. Here the list!
For those experienced Ubuntu users, when searching in Ubuntu Dash you get the annoying online search results. Most Ubuntu users including Ubuntu Community thinks that Amazon application presented back with Ubuntu 12.04 is nothing more than spyware. So when you search in dash online results popup which makes most of Ubuntu users sometimes dislike the Ubuntu it's self. But, here's a little Terminal script that will remove Amazon as well as Unity-web-apps out of Ubuntu for god.
Once you update your Ubuntu and log out and then came back again, Amazon app will no longer be available including annoying Dash online search feature.
2. Remove Guest-session from Ubuntu!
I personally dislike Guest account on Ubuntu. There are numerous reason you should disable guest account from your Ubuntu but one that reason is undesired access from other users who can still browse your files on your hard drives and so. But the second reason that Ubuntu Linux looks way better without guest account meaning that Ubuntu is all yours.
Warning: Using the following script can cause your Ubuntu running in low graphic mode! So, if you're not sure what you're doing, please keep you guest-account to prevent your data loss.
Here is the Terminal command in order to disable your guest-account on Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install gksu
sudo apt-get update
So, first thing you need to do is to install gksu command line interface that will provide you access to main Ubuntu system files. Once gksu has been installed than copy the following command into Terminal:
gksu gedit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
Once you execute this command in Terminal, a window will popup and ask your root password. Once you type it, a new window will popup where you have to put the following script:
[SeatDefaults]
greeter-session=unity-greeter
allow-guest=false
The window will look like this:
All what you need to do is to save the
lightdm.conf file and reboot the system and hopefully, your Ubuntu guest account wont be available anymore.
3. Disable error-report on Ubuntu!
While most Ubuntu users disagree disabling error report in Ubuntu, some users dislike annoying crashes and bug report and they remove this feature out of Ubuntu. But, it is highly recommended to keep error report since it allows Ubuntu developers to fix such problem and improve Ubuntu user experience. But just in case you dislike it and want to remove it, here's a nice Terminal command that will do the job:
sudo apt-get purge apport
sudo apt-get update
Once you update your Ubuntu and log out, you wont receive that annoying crash report again or any time sooner unless you don't upgrade or make a clean Ubuntu install.
4. Install BURG boot loader instead of GRUB!
BURG is very powerful boot loader for Linux distributions that allows the users to install nice and stylish boot loader than GRUB. GRUB is powerful as well as fast, but unlike BURG, GRUB brings that old text interface that looks very horrible for some users. So, if you decided to give BURG a try, here's how to install it in Ubuntu via Terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/burg
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install burg burg-themes
Once you update your Ubuntu repositories and install BURG, now you have to install the BURG to correct partition via the following Terminal command:
sudo burg-install "(hd0)"
This command will install BURG on your Ubuntu Linux partition weather you use Ubuntu only or in dual boot. Next thing you have to do is to update the BURG via the following command:
sudo update-burg
Once the BURG has been updated you can chose your desired BURG theme or you can chose it upon boot. Anyway, here's the command to select your BURG theme:
sudo burg-emu
The themes that are available in BURG boot loader are displayed on the following screen shots.
5. Install Unity tweak tool!
Unity tweak tool is an amazing Ubuntu software that allows you to apply your favorite GTK theme or chose your favorite icons, chose the fonts and cursor theme, and other cool features that may come helpful to you. Unity tweak tool can be installed via Ubuntu Software or if you prefer you can install it using the following Terminal command:
sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool
sudo apt-get update
Once installed, Unity tweak tool can be run using the Dash or by typing in terminal
unity-tweak-tool and it will popup.
6. Install Cairo-Dock!
Cairo-Dock is very cool application dock and launcher that has dozens of cool features such as themes, application indicator and bunch of others cool things to play with. It makes your Ubuntu Desktop looks smooth and nicer. Also every new app that was installed in Ubuntu will be show in Cairo-Dock. Also to note that Cairo-Dock is available in the most of Linux distributions and you can install it on Ubuntu 16.04 via the Ubuntu Software by typing Cairo-Dock.
Once you install Cairo-Dock, you must set it as start up application of Ubuntu. This will make Cairo-Dock to start with your Ubuntu. The following image will help you to set Cairo-Dock as start up application.
If you're not sure how to do it, you can find video tutorial reference on the end of this article.
7. Install Arc GTK theme!
Image: Arc theme screenshots © Noobslab.com
Arc theme is new GTK theme available in Ubuntu Linux 16.04 that gives your Ubuntu Desktop a completely new look. With proper icon theme, your desktop will be awesome. Simply to say, once you upgrade to any Ubuntu distributions you get those old Radiance or Ambiance icons as well as the GTK themes that aren't that cool. So, to make your Ubuntu stylish, here's how to install the Arc theme via the Terminal command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/themes
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install arc-flatabulous-theme
In order to apply this newly installed theme, you can use Unity-tweak-tool and apply it and your GTK will look the same as in the picture above. Also you can install the Arc icon pack featured in the above image in order to make your theme complete. Here's the command you need to enter in Terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/icons
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install arc-icons
You can apply the icons using the Unity-tweak-tool and than your Desktop will look the same as in screenshot above with your favorite wallpaper. It's up to you.
8. Install Papirus icons suite!
Image: Papirus icons screenshots © Noobslab.com
Officially designed for KDE desktop environment, but now available for Unity, Mate, Cinnamon, Gnome and others. Papirus is very cool icon suite that will improve the look of your Ubuntu desktop and make you proud. Icons are quite big and colorful. They came in two variants, the light and dark icon suite. Mostly available for Ubuntu 14.04, 15.04, 15.10 as well as 16.04, Mint and other Ubuntu derivatives. You can install it via Terminal using the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:varlesh-l/papirus-pack
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install papirus-gtk-icon-theme
As for the Arc theme you can apply the Papirus icon suite using unity-tweak-tool. Hope you like the icon suite and that it will suite you.
9. Install GIMP image editor!
GIMP or Gnu Image Manipulator is on of the most popular image editing application available in Linux world. I'ts free and open source but also on of the best alternative to popular Adobe Photoshop. Ubuntu users now that they can't install Adobe Photoshop, but you can still make some cool and awesome images by using GIMP. Also, there is very popular GIMP magazine and bunch of YouTube tutorials that can help you to become a GIMP professional image maker. GIMP is very cool and powerful image editor equipped with various features such as blend tool, scale image tool, layer cutter, layer selector and much more. If you think that GIMP is not cool image editor, than think again. Once you master it, you will be able to make something like this.
Image: AmarTufoInteractive banner © 2016 Amar Tufo
This is the banner of my official web page made in GIMP. I use rounded text layer and blend tool to make it like this. You can do to, or even better. You can install GIMP via Terminal using the following command:
sudo apt-get install gimp
10. Install Java Runtime!
Like they say, more than 3 billion devices running Java, from computers, smartphones, tablets, cars, even your own fridge and washing machine is running Java without you even now. So why not install it on your Ubuntu machine. Anyway, you can't watch those cool movies on popular streaming websites because you need to have Java Runtime. Here's how to install Java in Ubuntu via Terminal:
sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer
Once you install the Java using the above command, it's highly recommended that you update your Ubuntu repositories and restart your machine so that Java can take effect. Once it done, you can find Java Panel in Dash.
If Java popup that mean that you have install your Java successfully on Ubuntu and you're god to go.
Conclusion:
What to say at the end? Well, there is always so much thing to say, but hey, keep using Ubuntu because it's awesome, cool, free, stable and open source. Remember to wear an Ubuntu t-shirt, buy a cool Ubuntu sticker for your laptop or PC, picture you're self with Ubuntu t-shirt on your Instagram, write the articles about it, and spread the words. Uh, almost forgot, please make an upgrade from Ubuntu 16.04 to Ubuntu 16.10, you're gonna love it! Remember: "It's Ubuntu Linux - Linux for human beings".
Useful links:
1) 16 Things to do after installing Ubuntu 16. 10
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/10/things-to-do-after-installing-ubuntu-16-10
3) GIMP Magazine
http://gimpmagazine.org/
