With just one day to go for the release of the new edition of Ubuntu Linux (Hardy Heron 8.04), ShipIt is now accepting requests for shipping free CD’s of Ubuntu Hardy Heron.

One notable change is that, now you can order only a single CD of either the Desktop edition or Server edition. If you want more than that you will have to place a special order which may be approved or rejected. Its good to see the Ubuntu team cut down on sending unnecessary CD’s.

Pre-order you free Ubuntu Hardy Heron CD now

By default, Ubuntu does not show Computer and Trash icon on the desktop in Ubuntu. Instead Ubuntu shows the Trash icon on the extreme right of the bottom panel.

This is a little inconvenient for me as I delete the bottom panel and hence like to have the Trash icon on the desktop. Also having the Trash icon on the desktop in Ubuntu is a good option, because it becomes easier to drag - drop files onto the Trash icon.

A Computer icon on your desktop gives you easy access to all mounted drives and your home folder at one place just like Windows does. Here is how you can show the Computer and Trash icon on your Ubuntu Desktop.

1. Hit Alt + F2 and type gconf-editor in the dialog that comes up. Click Run to start the GNOME Configuration Editor.
2. Go to the key apps/nautilus/desktop
3. On the right hand side, there is an entry called trash_icon_visible. Check the box.
4. Also check the entry called computer_icon_visible.
5. You can do two more things from that place too, change the trash_icon_name and computer_icon_name.

Now see your desktop. You should see two new icons there.

Just noticed this. The latest Firefox 3 Beta ( at present Beta 3 RC ) is now available in the Ubuntu Gutsy Repositories. The Ubuntu guys had not updated the Firefox 3 Alpha in the repositories for a long time, but now it is done.

To install the latest Firefox 3 Beta in Ubuntu Gutsy

1. Go to System —> Administration —> Software Sources
2. Then go to Updates tab, and tick “Unsupported Updates” checkbox.
3. Click Close. Ubuntu will ask you to reload the software list. Click Reload.
4. Then open a Terminal window and type apt-get install firefox-3.0

After installing, goto Applications —> Internet —> Firefox 3 Web Browser.

The Firefox 3 Beta will not replace your existing stable install of Firefox 2. So don’t worry. All your Firefox 2 settings and add-ons will remain intact.

Envied by your friends who use QuickSilver on OS X and Launchy on Windows. Key stroke program launchers can be a real time saver once you get the hang of it.

GNOME Do is a GNOME utility for fast launching of applications and files. It can easily be said to be the Linux equivalent of QuickSilver for Mac and Launchy for Windows. Using GNOME Do, you can easily launch your programs, files, Firefox bookmarks all from the comfort of your keyboard.

Installing GNOME Do on Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10

You can install GNOME Do on your Ubuntu system just like any other application. All you need to add is the GNOME Do repository.

1. Fire up Terminal.
2. Type sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
3. Add the following two lines at the end of the file :

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/rharding/ubuntu gutsy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/rharding/ubuntu gutsy main

4. Save the file, close it. Then in Terminal type sudo apt-get update
5. Finally install GNOME Do by typing sudo apt-get install gnome-do

Delicious Plugins

The plain install of GNOME Do gives you the ability to launch the applications that are installed on your system. But if that’s not enough for you, GNOME Do has plugin support too. Two of my favorite plugins are the Pidgin plugin and the Rhythmbox plugin.

Delicious Plugins !!!

For example you can install the Pidgin plugin, then launch Gnome Do, type the first few letters of the name of the contact and hit Enter. Voila, a Pidgin chat window will open to chat with that person. Same with Rhythmbox you can easily play specific albums or artists using the Rhythmbox plugin. All you need is to type few letters of the artist or album.

Thats not all. You can find the complete plugin list here.

So I downloaded and install KDE 4.0 stable on my Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon install. Everything feels to be pretty new in the KDE desktop thanks to the spanking new Oxygen artwork. Plasma, the new desktop shell gives the desktop a clean look. All the KDE applications have gone in for a facelift.

Here are some screenshots of the new KDE release.

1. The start-up screen

The start-up screen of KDE 4.

2. The clean blue desktop - Plasma

The wallpaper is pretty but the KDE desktop could do with an option to reduce the size of the bottom panel. For me its a bit too large in height.

 3. The File Manager - Dolphin

Dolphin is the window manager included in KDE 4. Its pretty responsive and has all the functionality you will need.

4. Widgets in KDE 4

KDE 4 has widget support by default. Just click on the sign on the right hand of your desktop and it will give you an option to add widgets. Some widgets like Analog Clock, Digital Clock and Battery Monitor are available by default.

5. A tabbed Start Menu

Not sure how many will prefer a tabbed start menu but KDE 4 has it. Click on the different tabs like Computer, Applications and you have different menus displayed. The start menu also includes a search box like Vista which allows to type a few characers of the application you want to launch.

6. The Shutdown Screen

Finally the shutdown screen. The puzzling thing is even if I click Log Out in the Start menu, it will still aks what I want to do Shutdown, Restart or Log Out.

P.S. - I found KDE 4 to be a bit buggy on Ubuntu. But nevertheless its ready to try.

So did you try KDE 4 ?