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Banshee with ClutterFlow plug-in ( CoverFlow clone )

January 28, 2010

How to install ClutterFlow 0.3.0 plug-in in Banshee 1.5.2 ( 1.6 Beta )
ClutterFlow is a CoverFlow clone for the Banshee media player. ClutterFlow uses the Clutter toolkit to harness the OpenGL powers.
Last weekend I tried to install this awesome banshee extension on my Karmic Koala.
And because I wanted to try the new OpenShot video editor, I made this short demo video:
This CoverFlow style plug-in is still in development, Banshee might crash at certain point while using this plug-in. Here's the installation steps:

Install Banshee
Banshee 1.5.2:
  • Add ppa & install Banshee by running these command in Terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:banshee-team/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install banshee

Dependencies
This plug-in require these dependencies :

Mono, Monodevelop, Clutter toolkit ; Clutter, Clutter-gtk & Clutter-sharp
  • Install using this command in Terminal:
sudo apt-get install monodevelop mono-gmcs mono-utils mono-xsp monodoc-http libclutter-gtk-0.10-0 libclutter-gtk-0.10-dev gtk-doc-tools git-core
For Clutter & Clutter-sharp you need to download compile manually. Run these command in Terminal.
  • Clutter:
git clone git://git.clutter-project.org/clutter
cd clutter
./autogen.sh
make
sudo make install
  • Clutter-sharp:
git clone git://git.clutter-project.org/bindings/clutter-sharp
cd clutter-sharp
./autogen.sh
make
sudo make install
If all compiling process goes well then proceed to this steps:

  • Download ClutterFlow 0.3.0 from SourceForge.net .
  • Right click downloaded the tar.gz & select extract here
  • Open Banshee extension folder using Nautilus by Alt+F2 and type
gksu nautilus /usr/lib/banshee-1/Extensions
  • Move the extracted Banshee.ClutterFlow-0.3.0-binaries folder into /usr/lib/banshee-1/Extensions folder that opened by command above.

Done. Start Banshee. The plug-in is enable by default. The video above explains how to use it.
[ source : http://sourceforge.net/apps/wordpress/clutterflow/ | http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/01/coverflow-banshee-linux-ubuntu.html ]
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Batch Watermark script Ubuntu : Zenity + ImageMagick

January 20, 2010

Watermark entire image files in a folder with one batch process. As my weekend project, I wrote another simple bin bash script that apply Zenity as graphical user interface & ImageMagick composite command to overlay a selected watermark image on all image files inside a targeted folder.
This script might be useful for those who want to protect their digital photos or images using visible watermarking technique.
ImageMagick should be able to handle over 100 of image format but I've only tested this script with .svg, .png, .bmp, & .jpg files in my Ubuntu system.



Installation & use shown in this video:


Install script:
Make sure Zenity & ImageMagick installed on your system.
  • You can install both apps by typing this command in Terminal:
sudo apt-get install zenity imagemagick 
  • Download Batch Watermark script from here. [Download]
  • Extract Batch Watermark.zip anywhere.
  • Open Batch Watermark folder.
  • Simply double click & run Install.sh file
or install manually by:
  • Copy paste Batch Watermark file to ~/.Gnome2/nautilus-scripts
  • Make sure permission to execute as program is given to script files. 
  • Right click on script files > Permissions tab and check the “Allow executing file as program” checkbox.
 

How to use:
  • Browse to directory or folder containing image files that you wish to watermark.
  • Run Batch Watermark script. Right click > Scripts > Batch Watermark

  • Browse & select an image file that going to be used as watermark.
  • Select size of watermark image

  • Select opacity of the image.

  • Finally select position of watermark image.

When process is done, new set of all watermarked images with *_wm.* name prefix will be placed inside Watermarked folder.

Known problem:
Script fail to execute if directory of watermark source image have space in their name. Please let me know if anyone can fix this.
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Auto Shutdown Timer GUI Script : Zenity

January 12, 2010

Auto Shutdown Timer ( Sleep ) script for Gnome Ubuntu

Switch it off. Save energy & money by shutting down your computer automatically.
This is simple script that tell your Linux machine when to shutdown.
Since leaving my computer on for 24 hour, 7 day a week becoming a habit, I made 2 simple and easy to use scripts to shutdown my Ubuntu system automatically. Now I can fall asleep while listening to my favorite music without having to worry about shutting down my computer.
These scripts use Zenity interface & simple bin bash command.
There are 2 mode of shutdown timer in this script:
  1. Schedule shutdown timer - shutdown at any given time ( in 24 hour format hh:mm )
  2. Countdown shutdown timer - shutdown after given ( mm ) minute.

Screenshot


Select shutdown timer mode

schedule mode - enter time hh:mm in 24 hour format
 
countdown mode - enter countdown shutdown time [minute]

 Abort shutdown

Download
  • Download Auto-shutdown.zip file here.
  • If you don't have Zenity pre installed in your system, install using Terminal:
sudo apt-get install zenity
There are 2 bin bash script files inside the folder - Auto-shutdown & Cancel-shutdown

Install & Use
  • Extract Auto-shutdown.zip to any folder.
  • Right click, select extract here [image below]

  • Cut & paste Auto-shutdown folder to ~/.Gnome2/nautilus-scripts [ example image below]


  • Auto-shutdown script should be available on right click > Scripts menu [image below]
  • You can run shutdown timer script by clicking on Auto-Shutdown or abort shutdown timer using Cancle-Shutdown option.

  • Make sure permission to execute as program is given to both script files. 
  • Right click on script files > Permissions tab and check the “Allow executing file as program” checkbox.
 


Note: This script is tested on Ubuntu Karmic Koala system. It might work on other Linux distros. I'm not a programmer & this is my first time writing scripts with Zenity interface. Any feedback, feel free to leave comments on comment section below.

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Find & Set Fastest DNS Server for Internet Connection - Namebench

January 07, 2010


Determine best DNS for your computer connection using Open-source DNS Benchmark Utility - Namebench
It hunts down the fastest DNS servers available for your computer to use. namebench runs a fair and thorough benchmark using your web browser history, tcpdump output, or standardized datasets in order to provide an individualized recommendation.

How to use Namebench to determine fastest DNS server for your Internet connection in Ubuntu?
  • Download namebench-1.1.tgz
  • Extract to any folder (eg. /home or ~/Desktop folder)
  • Open Terminal 
  • Browse using Terminal or cd to extracted folder. Example code:
cd ~/Desktop/namebench-1.1
  • Run this command:
./namebench.py
  • Wait till the end of test process [ image: test done : Terminal]

  • As stated at the end of the test, Namebench generates .cvs & .html files in your /tmp folder. Here is the example of generated .html Nameserver test result looks:  

  • Use this command if you decide to install permanently
sudo python setup.py install
In my case, Namebench claims Google Public DNS-2 is 118% faster than Open DNS -2. So it's time for me to switch.

How to change / set DNS server IP in Ubuntu
  • Go to System>Preference>Network Connections 
  • Select your active connection
  • Click Edit button
  • Select IPv4 Settings
  • Select Automatic (DHCP) adresses only in Method drop button
  • Enter IP address inside DNS Servers box with recommended DNS [ use comma "," for multiple value ].

Namebench also runs on Mac OS X & Windows, and is available with a graphical user interface as well as a command-line interface.
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Mac OS X for Gnome Ubuntu : How To

January 03, 2010

Mac OS X for Gnome Ubuntu : How To
This article show you some detail steps on how to convert your Gnome Linux - Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala desktop to looks like Mac OS X using some alternative & equivalent software [ see list ] available for Linux.

Install Applications
  • Open Terminal & use these commands to:
Add Gloobus Preview & Gnome Global Menu by adding PPA [ Karmic Koala ]:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gloobus-dev/gloobus-preview
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:abhidg/ppa
If this fail. Add PPA manually [ Click URL if not sure how to add ]:
Gnome Globalmenu:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/globalmenu-team/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/globalmenu-team/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
Gloobus-Preview:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/gloobus-dev/gloobus-preview/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/gloobus-dev/gloobus-preview/ubuntu karmic main

Then install both using this command in Terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gloobus-preview gnome-globalmenu

Install other apps & applet:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager deskbar-applet gnome-do screenlets
Install dock ( install best dock applications that suite your system ) :
  • Cairo-dock :
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock
  • Avant Window Navigator [AWN]
sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator



Customise Panel
  • Delete desktop bottom panel ( right click panel > Delete this panel )
  • Add gnome main menu, deskbar-applet & gnome global-menu applet by right click >Add to panel & select [image:below]
  • Delete any applet or launcher on Top Panel so it look like this [image:above] ( Remove from panel )
  • We use this settings for gnome global-menu


Install Theme
We use the same old Mac4Lin script which provide pidgin, desktop, awn icons & themes download here.
  • Extract the downloaded .zip.
  • Open the folder, right click on Mac4Lin_Install_v1.0.sh Properties>Permission>Allow executing file as program

  • Open & run the script in Terminal.
  • 2 Wallpaper included in this package, located @ ~/Mac4Lin_v1.0/Wallpapers ( set wallpaper manually if the script fail to change it ).
Install Cairo-Dock Theme, Dashboard Script & Icons
We've made a micro script containing dashboard script, cairo-dock & apple icons folder that will be used in this customising process.
Download Mac4Koala.zip from here [ mirror1 ] [ mirror2 ]
This script will
  • Copy Mac4Koala cairo-dock theme to ~/.config/cairo-dock/theme
  • Place Desklet.sh script for dashboad launcher at ~/Mac4Lin_KK/script
  • Copy some apple icons to ~/Mac4Lin_KK/Icons 
Use the same method as Mac4Lin.zip to run the script.

Dock

Cairo-dock
  • Run Cairo-dock
  • Right click on dock area & select Cairo-dock>Manage themes
  • Select Mac4Koala theme ( installed earlier using Mac4Koala script ) 
  • Tick for both option  & click Apply.
Avant Window Navigator
If you using AWN theme is given in Mac4Lin script.
  • Run AWN, click on AWN manager 
  • Add & select Mac OS X theme from ~/Mac4Lin_v1.0/AWN folder [image]
  • Refresh & Close to see changes


Setting up Dashboard Launcher
Compiz Config Setting Manager
  • Open CCSM [ System>Preference>Compiz Config Setting Manager ]
  • Find & enable Widget Layer

Screenlets
  • Run Screenlets [ Main Menu>Accessories>Screenlets ] 
  • Go to option and tick on Widget option [image]

  • Choose any widget you want ( tick start/stop & auto start on login )
  • Press F9 to see the widget 
Cairo dock 
If you notice, there is Dashboard launcher included in Mac4Koala theme that we made. the launcher already linked to ~/Mac4Lin_KK/script/desklet.sh script . This script has same function as compiz widget layer F9 key that we already set earlier.
To make sure the script running properly;
  • Go to /home/user/mac4lin_kk/script
  • Right click the desklet.sh script and give the file permission to execute as program [ Properties>Permission>Allow executing file as program. ]
AWN
You need to prepare the launcher manually
  • Right click on desktop
  • Create New Launcher 
  • Name the launcher Dashboard
  • in Command box, click browse & select desklet.sh file located at /home/user/Mac4Lin_KK/Script folder
  • Change the icon, dashboard icon located at ~/Mac4Lin_KK/Icons folder
  • Drag drop the launcher to your AWN dock.


Expose - Compiz Scale
  • Open CCSM [ System>Preference>Compiz Config Setting Manager ]
  • Find & enable Scale, assign key/button as desired.
Apple Menu Panel

to change Gnome Main Menu Icon;
  • Alt-F2 & run Config editor by typing gconf-editor
  • Go to apps/panel/objects/object_0
  • tick on use_custom_icon key
  • Enter custom_icon key with folder link location ( in this case Apple icon located at ~/Mac4Lin_KK/Icons/apple_logo_128.png  ) [image]
custom_icon /home/user/Mac4Lin_KK/Icons/apple_logo_128.png
  • the user is your Ubuntu account user name. 

    Fonts
    Go to System>Preference>Appearance>Fonts
    Manually change the desktop fonts following this setting
    Terminal 
    Change Terminal colour profile [see image]
    Run Terminal
    Go to Edit>Profile Preferences
    Go to Colors tab.
    Extra Compiz effect
    If you like to add some window effect settings are available in CompizConfig Setting Manager by enabling Animation Add-on & Animations [image]. Detail options of every window actions are inside Animations menu.

    Firefox 
    For final touch you might want to use Mac OS X theme for your Firefox theme. Download here



    Done!
    Uninstall
    You can uninstall the theme by running the uninstall script located at Mac4Lin installation folder [ Mac4Lin_Uninstall_v1.0.sh ].

    After all these steps, you should get the same desktop appearance & functionality as shown on our video
    Feel free to suggest any other stuff that we missed.
    Good artist create, Greate artist steal.
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    Gnome Ubuntu Linux looks like Mac OS X Desktop

    January 01, 2010

    Happy new year, welcome 2010!

    This is our new year project! Tweak Gnome Ubuntu Karmic Koala desktop to look like Mac OS X Leopard [almost].
    Lots of people love the look and practicality of Mac OS X desktop GUI. So, we've tried to find equivalent or alternative applications, theme & applet to imitate Mac OS X desktop.
    Here is the screen cast of the desktop :
    These are equivalent apps, theme & scripts used for Ubuntu desktop in the video:

    With some bash scripts, applications themes & configs, this is the best imitation Mac OS X Leopard on Gnome Ubuntu we able to imagine so far. We also improvise existing Mac OS X cairo-dock theme with Dashboard launcher. Continue on how to do this.
    Read More...