AWN in Ubuntu Linux…

What is AWN? Avant-Window-Navigator.
In Windows there is the ObjectDock and the Mac has its own version of this handy and sleek-looking all-purpose Dock.

(Note: be online when following this tutorial)

- Step One
Open the Software Sources preferences: (System>Administration>Software Sources)

Then click on the tab that says: Third-Party Software
Then click the “Add” button

- Step Two
Now in the little window that opens copy/paste this into the blank area:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main

then click the “Add Source” button.

Now do the same thing but copy/paste this into the blank area:

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main

and then click the “Add Source” button.
Now “Close” the Software Sources window to bring you back to the Synaptic Package Manager.

(For Gutsy just replace the “hardy” for “gutsy” in the two lines you pasted above)

- Step Three

Next open the Terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and copy/paste the following lines into is pressing “Enter” after each line:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator-data-trunk avant-window-navigator-trunk awn-manager-trunk awn-extras-applets-trunk

This will complete the installation

You can now start AWN from Applications->Accessories->Avant Window Navigator

Enjoy!

Screenlets in Ubuntu Linux…

Here is how to get those cool-looking Screenlets going on your Ubuntu Linux computer. Screenlets are the equivalent to Widgets and Gadgets on a Microsoft or Mac operating system.

(Note: be online when following this tutorial)

- Step One
Open you Synaptic Package Manager. (System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager)

Then go to: Settings>Repositories
Then click on the tab that says: Third-Party Software
Then click the “Add” button

- Step Two
Now in the little window that open copy/paste this into the blank area:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/gilir/ubuntu gutsy main universe

and then click the “Add Source” button.
Now “Close” the Software Sources window to bring you back to the Synaptic Package Manager.

- Step Three
Once you are back with the Synaptic Package Manager go ahead and click the “Reload” button. This will refresh the changes you made to the Source list.
Once it is completed, click on the “Search” button and search for: screenlets
Two item should appear… screenlets and screenlets-doc.
Click on the little box beside the “screenlets” entry and select “Mark for Installation” and then click the “Apply” button above.
This will begin the download and installation process which should be quick, depending on your internet speed, of course.

And finally, when it has finished you can close Synaptic Package Manager and proceed to open Screenlets in: System>Preferences>Screenlets
Remember to that there are many more screenlets that can be selected and installed.

Enjoy!

Alternative to OpenOffice Writer…

I was looking at a tutorial just the other day and in it was mentioned the AbiWord Word Processor. I thought I would give it a try … and so I installed it on my Ubuntu Gutsy laptop.

The first time I opened it I thought to myself “Boy, this is a zippy program”. It opened in about 1 1/2 seconds and was ready for input from the start. Also, spell check was up and running automatically in the language I needed.

Seems like AbiWord might be something you may like to try out if you find yourself battling with OpenOffice Writer which can be a slight bit cumbersome at times.

AbiWord may not have all the features of Writer, but it can deal with MS Word documents and most likely has about 90% of the features that Writer possesses. So give it a try….

To install it on your Ubuntu Linux computer, just go to your Add and Remove Applications tool and type in “abiword” and install it off the internet. — Have fun —