Beautify your GNOME desktop

There seems to be couple of ways you can make your gnome desktop look fancy and pleasing to the eyes without actually using compiz effects. I do not personally prefer those desktop effects since they suck in a lot of battery on my laptop. They might be well suited for desktops.

1) Install MAC like window manager.

Installation: sudo apt-get install awn-manager awn-applets-c-core awn-applets-c-extras



You do require to activate composite manager on your desktop for this to work.
Open gconf-editor --> apps --> metacity --> general --> compositing manager (select this option).

2) Another nice addition would be gnome screenlets.

Installation: sudo apt-get install screenlets



The editor is straight forward to use and the screenlets add a nice feel to your desktop

ZIM: Desktop Wiki / Personal Wiki

Zim is a local personal Wiki for your desktop.

I find it very useful to quickly noting down all those tricky/petty details which I keep forgetting, but use often. Every time I forget something trivial...hold on, it is on my wiki!!

Specially program templates. When writing a new code I always know that I had written something similar sometime back, but cannot figure out in which folder I have that old code.
Now-a-days I don't have that problem. Zim comes to my rescue every time!

I would say it is a must try for any computational guy.

SONGBIRD: Audio Manager

I recently tried a fantastic Music player/Manager SONGBIRD from Mozilla. A great free product!

I usually use VLC media player, but if you are looking for more than a music player, a music manager - something to take care of all your local music files, I would surely recommend songbird.