Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin final is almost out. The final release it scheduled to be out in the 26th of April 2012. After you actually get done with the installation, there would likely exist a heap of things you still need to take care of. This post will share some interesting insight and ideas about what you can and should do after a successful installation.
If you have already a previous release of Ubuntu installed and you want to upgrade, then follow our step by step guide to upgrade to Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin.
First of things, after any fresh install, and before to start doing anything, check:
a- If sound is working, if not, check our previous post to resolve the issue.
b-If Wifi connexion speed is normal, if it is too slow, check our previous post to resolve the issue.
c- Install Updates: Just because you installed the latest version of the operating system doesn’t mean that you have all the upgrades to the softwares that were bundled. Bring up a terminal and run the following to get that fixed.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
Now lets start.
Must have configuration Tools
1- Ubuntu Tweak
Ubuntu Tweak is a must have application for Ubuntu and LinuxMint, it is an application to config Ubuntu easier for everyone. It provides many useful desktop and system options that the default desktop environment doesn’t provide.
Using Ubuntu Tweak you can install all needed applications with a simple click, you can change the window buttons from Left to right…etc.
Read our Interview with Ding Zhou of Ubuntu Tweak
Install Ubuntu Tweak via PPA:
Open terminal and enter the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
Most of the applications listed in this post, can be installed from Ubuntu Tweak Center with one click.
If you want to learn how to use Ubuntu Tweak read our previous post
2- MyUnity
MyUnity is a must have configuration tool for Unity ( change themes, icons, transparency…). More about what Unity can do, can be found on our previous post.
To install MyUnity on Precise Pangolin click this install link
Must have repositories -Medibuntu
3- Add Medibuntu repositories and activate Canonical partner repositories
Medibuntu is a packaging project dedicated to distributing software that cannot be included in Ubuntu for various reasons, related to geographical variations in legislationMedibuntu regarding intellectual property, security and other issues. by adding Medibuntu repositories you will be able to install many softwares like Google-Earth , opera ,Win32codecs , Msfonts.
Click here and Follow the steps to add Medibuntu repositories to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin
Don`t like Unity? Install Cinnamon, Gnome3 or switch back to classic Gnome
4- Install Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a Gnome 3 fork that allow you to have a panel at the bottom with a classic Menu, this is useful for people that want to use Ubuntu with a classic Bottom Menu.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install cinnamon
5- Back to Gnome classic:
Install the classic GNOME desktop by installing the gnome-panel package
sudo apt-get install gnome-panel
Click to install gnome classic
6- Install Gnome3:
You can install Gnome3 in Ubuntu 12.04 from repository by using this simple command:
sudo apt-get install gnome-shell
7- Move Unity to the bottom
This option is not available yet for Precise Pangolin, i will inform you when the PPA is updated to ubuntu12.04 LTS. For Ubuntu11.10 check our previous post
Sys Monitoring & EyeCandy
8- Install Conky for Precise pangolin
Conky is a free, light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop. There are many nice themes available for conky that can display clock, CPU usage, ram usage, swap, disk, net and more. Check our previous post for installation and configuration of Conky in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise pangolin.
9- Change icons? Try these ones :
Wanna change the default icons to something that match your taste? Check this nice collection of icons for Ubuntu (PPA included)
Multimedia ( Don`t install everything, install just what you need)
10- VLC Media player:
Unless you can use mplayer perfectly yourself, I recommend installing the vlc media player.
VLC is the best media player for Linux it play almost everything , he has many features that you can not find in any other media player , read this post if you want to know what vlc media player can do: 25 things you can do with VLC Media player!
You can install VLC from Ubuntu software center or via terminal by using the following command:
sudo apt-get install vlc
Or click to install vlc
11- Media centers: XMBC
XBMC is an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and entertainment hub for digital media. XBMC is available for Linux, OSX, Windows, and the original Xbox. While XBMC functions very well as a standard media player application for your computer, it has been designed to be the perfect companion for your HTPC. Supporting an almost endless range of remote controls, and combined with its beautiful interface and powerful skinning engine, XBMC feels very natural to use from the couch and is the ideal solution for your home theater.
Open terminal and copy the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install xbmc
12- Install common codecs
Perhaps installing a few common codecs might give you better sensibility of your system.
sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs libxine1-ffmpeg gxine mencoder totem-mozilla icedax tagtool easytag id3tool lame nautilus-script-audio-convert libmad0 mpg321 mpg123libjpeg-progs
13- To play encrypted DVDs, the libdvdcss2
To play encrypted DVDs, the libdvdcss2 package is essential. libdvdcss is a simple library designed for accessing DVDs like a block device without having to bother about the decryption.
If you already added Medibuntu repositories above, you can Install from software center or using the terminal by entering the following command:
sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 && sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/./install-css.sh
14-Enabling Flash support on your browsers:
- For Ubuntu 32 bit & 64 bit : To be able to watch some videos and see flash website in your browser (firefox/ Chrome..), you need to install flash plugin, go to ubuntu software center and search word “flash” and install it.
Video Editors
15- Openshot video editor
My favorite Video editor is Openshot, the best existing actually for Linux. You can install Openshot from Ubuntu software center, but if you want to install the latest release, you can do that by adding the following repositories:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonoomph/openshot-edge sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install openshot openshot-doc
Read also our interview with Jonathan Thomas the main developer of Openshot.
Torrents client
16- 
Deluge- The best torrent client
The Deluge application was designed to be a full-featured BitTorrent client. Deluge uses libtorrent in it’s backend and PyGTK for it’s user interface, and is currently usable on POSIX-compliant operating systems. It is intended to bring a native, full-featured client to GTK desktop environments such as GNOME and Xfce. An official Windows port is also available.
Open terminal and type the follwing commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install deluge
Messenger
17- Pidgin : The best messenger client and 30 plugins, you can enjoy chat with freinds using voice and cam.
18- aMSN is a free windows Live Messenger clone. aMSN attempts to emulate the look and feel of Windows Live Messenger, and supports many of its features.
aMSN has features not present in Windows Live Messenger. Users can set alarms, are able to see others who have removed them from their contact list, and are able to open many profiles at once. It is also very customizable, with extensions and themes available at the main site.
19-Skype:
If you’re want to install Skype, check our previous post: Howto- Install Skype in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin
Gaming & Emulators
20- Gaming made easy with playdeb (PPA)
If you are a fun of gaming so is important to add Playdeb repositories to your Lucid Lynx. Playdeb is a gaming repository for Ubuntu – aimed to provide titles already available on getdeb.net in an easier to install and update format. You can install many games by a simple click.
Click to install PlayDeb repositories
21- Wine
Wine enables Linux, Mac, FreeBSD, and Solaris users to run Windows applications without a copy of Microsoft Windows. Wine is free software under constant development. Other platforms may benefit as well.”
Please follow instructions in our previous post : how to install and configure games on wine
Sharing folders in Precise Pangolin
22- Smba share
In order to share folders in Precise Pangolin with other Linux and windows machines in your network, you will need to install and configure samba share, for instructions how to configure samba in Ubuntu check our previous post : Install and Configure Samba share in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin | Howto
Extra application
23- Installing Archive Management Apps:
If you’re a frequent media downloader from the internet, you know how various forms archives can have. Installing the following will allow you to deal with most of these.
sudo apt-get install unace unrar zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils rar uudeview mpack lha arj cabextract file-roller
24-Y PPA Manager:
Y PPA Manager is a GUI tool to easily add PPAs, search a package in all Launchpad PPAs, remove duplicate PPAs (only works with separate .list files), backup PPAs and other PPA-related tasks. Check out the Launchpad page for a complete features list.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/y-ppa-manager sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install y-ppa-manager
25- Install Java7
First you need to remove openjdk for this run the following command from your terminal
sudo apt-get purge openjdk*
Now you can install Java7 by adding the following repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/java sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer
26- Filezilla the best ftp client for linux
Filezilla is the best ftp client for Linux
Install via command line :
sudo apt-get install filezilla
27- DropBox:
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. This means that any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, phones and even the Dropbox website. Dropbox also makes it super easy to share with others, whether you’re a student or professional, parent or grandparent.
28 – VirtualBox:
If you want to run another OS in a virtual Machine, the best is to install Virtualbox.
For installation, follow the instructions in my previous post.
29- Cheese for your cam?
Cheese uses your webcam to take photos and videos, applies fancy special effects and lets you share the fun with others.
30- Gimp:
Regardless of whether you need to edit images daily on a professional level or just a hobbyist, GIMP is an essential tool for all.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-data gimp-plugin-registry gimp-data-extras
Other useful Internet applications:
- Opera : The fastest browser on Earth is even faster. But that is not all. Use Opera Turbo to double your page-download speed on slow connections.
- Google Chrome- web Browser from Google
- Google Earth- Travel to cities across the globe, dive into the depths of the ocean, explore remote islands, and even fly to faraway galaxies
