The Beginner’s Guide to Start Using Vim
This tutorial gives you the basics to use Vim correctly, and then present a few tips that will allow you to learn on your own.
![How to Make Dropbox Icons Work in Ubuntu Oneiric [Quick Tips]](http://.webp)
How to Make Dropbox Icons Work in Ubuntu Oneiric [Quick Tips]
If you are using Ubuntu Oneiric and Dropbox at the same time, you will find that the Nautilus Dropbox extension does not work as well as intended. While the Dropbox daemon is working fine and it will sync all files you place in the Dropbox folder, the sync icon and the Dropbox contextual menu is […]
Why Linux? 7 Reasons That Make Linux Great
There are several reasons that I love using Linux. Ubuntu to be more specific. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you can get by without the latest and greatest games, it’s generally a great operating system. Sure, there are some annoyances, but name one operating system that doesn’t have any. Want to know some […]
Knowing Your Linux System Via the Command Line
Every Linux user will tell you the same thing: know your computer. Mine always works not because there are no bugs, but because I know enough to identify their sources every time and correct them. And one of the best ways to monitor your system is through the command line. There are some great GUI […]
How to Remove Recent History Lists In Ubuntu 11.10
If you are using Ubuntu 11.04 or newer, you may have noticed that there is no longer an easy way to clear your recently opened items. They could have chosen to do this for different reasons like accessibility or convenience. However, there are some people who simply don’t want their recently opened files to be […]
Move The Navigation Buttons Back To The Left In Nautilus 3+ [Linux]
With the ever-changing world of Linux, you can expect things to be different for no apparent reason. Some changes are good, and some just cause trouble for users. In this case, it can just flat-out be annoying. Most people will instinctively look to the left of the file manager for navigation links, such as back […]
How to Connect Your Galaxy Nexus to Ubuntu And Enable File Transfer
While Android is based on the Linux kernel, that doesn’t mean it plays well with Linux distro. If you are a proud owner of the Galaxy Nexus, you will find that it doesn’t come with a micro SD-card slot where you can transfer files to and when you connect your phone to your Ubuntu, it […]
Be A Gimp Expert With AdaptableGimp
Gimp is one of the most features complete open-source image editor around. It is often touted as the best alternative to Photoshop and is the best choices for people who need comprehensive image editing features and can’t afford Photoshop. As good as it seems, Gimp is not easy to master. All the tools and options […]
How to Check Your Gmail Account with Kmail
Email has changed dramatically over the years. What was once a single program on your computer that occasionally shouted “You’ve got mail” is now on the web, on your smartphone, and probably with you wherever you go. As easy as it is to dismiss the past necessity for having a standalone email client, there are […]
Toggl: A Web Based Time Tracker For Everyone
Being a developer, it is important and necessary for me to track the time spent on a project so I can bill my client accordingly. I have tried several desktop Time Tracker apps and TimeSlotTracker seems to be the best for Linux desktop. The problem is, while it is cross-platform compatible, the data is not […]
How to convert XLS file to CSV in Command Line [Linux]
Converting Microsoft Excel sheet (XLS file) to a Comma Separated file (CSV) is relatively very easy while using an Office product, but it could be a tedious task for programmers to do it in command line. The situation may arrive when you have a XLS file and you need to fill the database from it […]
Using Marlin File Manager As Nautilus Alternative [Linux]
Regardless which OS you are using, the file manager is one of the most important app that you have to use everyday. Without a file manager, you won’t be able to find and open files, or even move them to another location. In Linux, there are plenty of file manager applications that you can use. […]
2012 Linux Computer Buyer’s Guide
With the coming of a new year, it is time to take a look at the Linux computer offerings and see which distributions you can get shipped to your doorstep. I just recently ordered a new desktop from one of these vendors, and I will publish a review as soon as I have thoroughly tested […]
Desura Is A Great Indie Game App Store For WIndows And Linux
If you are a gamer who have a liking for indie games, then Desura is an application you won’t want to miss. Available for Windows and Linux, Desura is a game app store where you can search, buy and install games on your PC. It helps you to manage your game installation, update and mods […]
Super Flexible File Synchronizer Is A Free Backup Tool, With Support For Google Docs [Linux]
Ever since Google opened up its Google Docs to allow uploading files of any type, most people have quickly utilized it as a free online storage/backup services. What is lacking though is a tool to sync your files from your desktop to Google Docs. Super Flexible File Synchronizer is one such app that allows you […]
How to Change Your Terminal Hostname in Ubuntu [Quick Tips]
Usually when you install Ubuntu, it will ask you for your username and assign a hostname to you, such as damien@damien-laptop. This is also what you will see in your terminal. If you don’t like the hostname shown in the terminal, or for some reason that you want to change the hostname, here’re the exact […]
How to Install A Perl Module In Linux Without Root Permission
Installing a Perl module is not a genius’ work, but getting it done without root access can be a challenging task (of course not impossible). You may face this situation when you do not have rights to standard directories where a Perl module is installed. In this tutorial we will see how we can install […]
How to Install a Preview of Ubuntu TV
At CES, Canonical announced its latest major project that it is calling Ubuntu TV “TV for human beings”. Much of the Ubuntu TV interface will be based on the groundwork that has already been established with the development of Unity, Canonical’s revolutionary, and sometimes polarizing, desktop environment. In keeping with tradition, Ubuntu TV is free […]
How to Solve “The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG” Error in Ubuntu Updates
It’s been a long time since I had connected my Ubuntu notebook to Internet. As a result when I connected it to internet after two weeks of gap, as all of us know that Ubuntu is quite fond of providing updates on a regular basis, I was expecting loads of updates to be provided by […]
How to Install and Configure ownCloud Server
This article was updated in Feb 2016 to reflect the changes in ownCloud installation. It is difficult to read any tech news and not see something about “the cloud”, cloud computing, cloud hosting, or at least something that mentions the word “cloud”. Many businesses have moved their entire software operations into the cloud, and many […]
BrowserLinux: A Linux Distro For The Sole Purpose Of Browsing The Web
Apple has made famous the phrase “There is an app for that“. In the open source Linux world, you can apply the same saying too: “There is an distro for that“. Indeed, for whatever functions you want your OS to perform, there is a distro for that. Need a media center? Mythbuntu. Need a multimedia […]
How to Dual Boot Asus Transformer With Ubuntu
I got myself a Asus Transformer tablet in June 2011 and since then, I have been looking for an easy way to install Ubuntu on it. The form factor, the keyboard dock and the hardware spec of Asus transformer make it just right for a portable computer. However, back then, getting Ubuntu on board the […]
How to Make GTK3 Apps Look Presentable in KDE4
With the release of Gnome 3, many developers of GTK apps have begun to port their programs from GTK2 to GTK3. If you have used Ubuntu 11.04, you will notice that many of the popular GTK2 themes did not yet have GTK3 equivalents, which left the few GTK3 applications looking awful.
Fixing “username is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported” Error In Ubuntu
By default, in Ubuntu, the first user account you created during the installation process is also the administrator of the system. Using this user account, he/she is able to perform administrative tasks with the “sudo” command. If you are not aware, “sudo” refers to Super User Do and all users in this group are geared […]
Razor-qt: A New Lightweight Desktop Manager For Linux
When it comes to desktop manager for Linux, you are sure pampered with choices. Hate the Gnome desktop? You can change it to KDE, XFCE, WindowMaker, Openbox, LXDE or even Enlightenment. And there is a new kid on the block: Razor-qt. Razor-qt is a lightweight and fast desktop manager based on Qt technologies. It strips […]
How to Get a Dock-Like Taskbar in KDE with Icon Tasks
KDE has always given users the ability to add launchers to its panel, and it has always had a very usable task manager. Until recently, however, there has not been a comprehensive and well-designed merging of the two. The Icon Tasks widget has changed all of that. It is a robust plasma widget that includes […]
Listen to Cloud Music With Nuvola Player [Ubuntu]
I seldom review music player app because most of them are the same. Some are lightweight, some are heavy with tons of features, but generally, most of their functionalities are the same. However, when I come across Nuvola Player, a music player that supports Google Music, Groovesharks and several other cloud services, it immediately catches […]
Tweak Your Ubuntu Unity Desktop With MyUnity
One of the reasons that many hated the Unity desktop in Ubuntu is because there is a lack of customization option. People switched from Windows/Mac to Linux is mainly because Linux offers them an environment where they can customize everything to their liking. When Canonical reduced your ability to do what you want with your […]
Nautilus Actions Extra Adds Plenty Of Useful Options to Your Context Menu [Ubuntu Nautilus]
Being the default file manager in Gnome and Ubuntu, Nautilus has done its job well. You can add bookmarks to your frequently used folders, view folders in tabs, connect to a remote server, right-click to extract zipped files, synchronize with Ubuntu One and many other useful stuff. However, sometimes you may find that it is […]
How to Run Startup Scripts in KDM before KDE Starts
KDE has an easy-to-use system for configuring programs or scripts to run at startup. Linux distributions also have methods of starting programs at boot, but there are some unique instances when it would be ideal to start a script at the moment KDM starts, in between the start of X and the start of your […]
How to Manage Your Recent Files (Files Logging) In Ubuntu
The Zeitgeist Engine is a service that logs the users’s activities and events (files opened, websites visites, conversations hold with other people, etc.) and makes relevant information available to other applications. In the recent releases of Ubuntu, the Zeitgeist engine was installed by default, and that is why you are starting to see “Recent Files” […]
How to Make KDE 4 Look Like KDE 3
When KDE 4 was first released, it was met with both hope and dismay, depending on the person you asked. Some loved everything from the new interface to the improved functionality. Others called it a significant step, but one in the wrong direction. Those purists still love KDE 3.5, and many of them continue to […]
How to Easily Encrypt/Decrypt Files In Ubuntu One
Previously, we have shown you how to encrypt your files before upload to the Dropbox server. The method described in that article is using the Encfs method, which requires you to dabble with the command line. While you can use the same method to encrypt/decrypt your Ubuntu One folder, there is a simpler way to […]
Troubleshooting WiFi Issue on iOS Devices
We’ve all been there. While returning the email sent by your boss or looking up the directions to an important meeting that you’re already five minutes late to, the app you’re using tells you that you have no Internet connection. You dart your eyes to the upper left corner of your device and notice the […]
How to Use Custom Tray Icons in KDE
KDE icons are generally very easy to customize, and there is a complete graphical interface in System Settings for choosing an icon theme or installing a new one. One thing you might notice, however, is that the standard KDE tray icons are all monochrome. When you start using non-KDE apps or lesser-known KDE apps that […]
How to Create Custom Wallpaper Slideshow in Ubuntu
If you are using the Gnome desktop and have played with the wallpaper (Appearance) settings, you will discover that there is an inbuilt slideshow feature that you can use to change the wallpaper at regular interval. While this is a useful feature, it is rather limited since it can only rotate among the default wallpapers […]
How to Setup A Ubuntu Web Server On A Remote Host
Setting up your own web server can be a fun thing, simply because you can customize the things you want and optimize it to perform at the highest level. Previously, we have shown you how to install a LAMP server in your Ubuntu machine, but that is using a GUI and it won’t work if […]
How to Simulate Left Mouse Click With Keyboard Shortcut in Ubuntu [Quick Tip]
The Problem: I am a keyboard person. I love to use the keyboard to navigate through webpage and scroll up/down the content. It becomes a hassle when I have to shift my hand to the mouse every time I want to click a link or select an item. The Solution: Need to bind a keyboard […]
How to Give Any KDE Desktop An Ubuntu Makeover
Although some might consider it blasphemous, the default KDE desktop is not a style everyone automatically likes. If it were, KDE-Look.org would not be filled with desktop themes, window manager themes, and more. KDE is all about customization, and the ability to make it look however you want is part of that. I have spoken […]
How to Use Linux Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE) In Ubuntu
In our review of Linux Mint 12, we were impressed with the implementation of the Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE) and how it make the user-interface easy to use again. Now, if you are using Ubuntu and you don’t want to go through the hassle of installing Linux Mint from scratch, here’s how you can […]
Linux Mint 12 “Lisa” Review
Linux Mint has always been known as the great alternative to Ubuntu. In fact, after Ubuntu implemented the Unity desktop, many people switched ship and flocked to Linux Mint as their next “easy-to-use and user-friendly” distro. According to DistroWatch, Linux Mint has even overtaken Ubuntu as the most popular distro. Well, that was Linux Mint […]
Gnome Pie Is A Slick Application Launcher For Gnome [Linux]
There are thousand and one ways to launch application in Linux. You can use the Application menu, via the dock, use a app launcher like Synapse or Gnome Do or simply press “Alt + F2” and type the name of the application. Gnome Pie is yet another application launcher that allows you to quickly launch […]
An Easier Way to Generate A Public/Private SSH Key Via a GUI [Linux]
Previously, I showed you the way to generate a public/private SSH key so you can connect to your remote host securely. The method that we used is via the terminal, which can be rather unfriendly (and scary) to the Linux newbies. Here is an easier method of setting up your public/private SSH key, with a […]
A Guide to the KDE Notification System
KDE offers one of the most comprehensive and flexible notification systems (KNotify). In addition to system notifications, nearly every program has notification settings that are integrated into the larger desktop environment. Moreover, KDE’s notification system is configurable for just about any type of user, including those who need specific accessibility features.
How to Generate A Public/Private SSH Key [Linux]
If you are using SSH frequently to connect to a remote host, one of the way to secure the connection is to use a public/private SSH key so no password is transmitted over the network and it can prevent against brute force attack.
More Gnome Shell Tips And Tricks
We have covered plenty of Gnome Shell tips here in Make Tech Easier, but we also know that those are not enough to satisfy all of you. So here you are, more Gnome shell tips and tricks for you. Install Gnome Tweak Tool Before we begin, it is best that you have Gnome Tweak Tool […]
5 Alternatives to Unity in Ubuntu Oneiric
With the past few releases, Ubuntu has been focusing more and more on their homegrown desktop Unity. Some people love it, but a lot of us don’t. Fortunately, as with all things Linux, there are many alternative options. For those of us who just can’t find a way to unite with Unity, here are 5 […]
How to Get Great Looking Fonts in KDE
Text appearance is probably one of the most underrated features of any computing experience. It is easy to overlook fonts because words are all around us, and we expect them to be pleasing to the eyes and easy to read, but probably only notice when they are not. In reality, a font can make or […]
How to Auto-login to Gnome Shell In Ubuntu Oneiric [Quick Tips]
In Ubuntu Oneiric, the default desktop session is the Unity Desktop (or Unity 2D depend on your hardware capabilities). If you have set the computer to auto-login to your desktop whenever you boot up, it will always login to the Unity desktop, even though you have installed Gnome-shell or classic Gnome. It doesn’t matter which […]
Useful Ubuntu Unity Lenses For Ubuntu Oneiric
One of the best feature of the Unity desktop in Ubuntu is the lens. Lens are the search feature in the Dash. Different lenses allow you to perform search functions, for example, the Music Lens allows you to search for music that you have recently listened to while the Applications Lens searches for all your […]