Pritpaul Bains Edited by Charlene Tessier & Randall Ross

2011 Pritpaul Bains, Charlene Tessier, and Randall Ross, except where noted. Some rights reserved.

Unity Documentation 1.00. Created with OpenOffice.org 3.3.0.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada License.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & DEDICATIONS Special thanks to Jason Smith, Manish Sinha, Rick Spencer, and Jorge Castro for their contributions to this document. This guide is dedicated to Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu visionary and founder of the Ubuntu project. Thank you for making the world a better place.

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Table of Contents

Unity. The Beginning..................................................................4

What's your Story?.........................................................................5 Join your Ubuntu Local Community!..................................................6 Need Help?................................................................................7 You can Participate, too!..............................................................8 What is Unity?................................................................................9 How to Use this Guide...............................................................11 Unity in 15 Minutes.......................................................................12 The Unity Interface...................................................................12 Peering Under the Hood of Unity.....................................................19

Unity. How It All Fits Together...................................................20

So, You're Down with the Basics......................................................21 Personalizing the Launcher.............................................................22 Starting Applications from your Launcher.....................................22 Adding Applications to your Launcher..........................................24 Removing Applications from your Launcher..................................26 Rearranging Applications on your Launcher..................................27 Can I Move my Launcher from the Left Side of the Screen?............27 Using the Dash.............................................................................29 Accessing the Dash...................................................................29 Starting an Application from the Dash.........................................30 Locating Files from the Dash......................................................31 Resizing the Dash.....................................................................32 What is a Lens?........................................................................35 Navigating the Panel......................................................................40

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Controlling Applications from the Panel........................................40 The Status Menu and Indicators..................................................41

Unity. For Your Life..................................................................48

Access The Internet!......................................................................49 Check Your Email!.........................................................................50 Listen To Music!............................................................................52 View Your Photos!.........................................................................53 Edit And Create Like A Pro!.............................................................54 Find Software For Your Every Need!.................................................57 Create Documents, Presentations, and Spreadsheets!........................59 Chat With Your Friends!.................................................................62 Access Your Disk Drives!................................................................65 Find Your Files!.............................................................................66 Keep your System Updated!...........................................................67 Use Your Cloud Storage!................................................................68 Where Next, Columbus?.................................................................69

Appendices.............................................................................70
Appendix A Under the Hood.........................................................71 A-1: GNOME............................................................................71 A-2: Zeitgeist...........................................................................74 A-3: System Requirements........................................................74 Appendix B Customizing Unity......................................................78 B-1: Compiz............................................................................78 B-2: Installing the CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM)............79 B-3: Personalizing the Appearance and Effects of Unity..................80 B-4: Resizing your Launcher......................................................83 B-5: Changing your Desktop Theme and Background....................83 Appendix C The Future of Unity....................................................88 C-1: New and Improved Dash....................................................88

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

C-2: Better Lens Management....................................................88 C-3: Improved Touch Management..............................................89 C-4 : Improved Window Management..........................................89 C-5: Quick Launcher-Based Access to Web Applications.................89 C-6: Improved Overall Performance............................................90 C-7: Continual Integration of Your Input and Involvement..............90 Appendix D Unity Keyboard Shortcuts...........................................92 Index..........................................................................................94

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Unity. The Beginning.

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

What's your Story?

On Commercial Drive, just outside of Little Italy, Stefan is running late on his first day at a new job when he realizes, just as he's about to leave, that he needs to print out directions to his new workplace. Unfortunately, once his computer is shut down, it takes half a lunar cycle to start up again and access the Internet. Over in Kitsilano, just south of English Bay, Alissa stares at her cluttered, drab desktop dispassionately and thinks to herself, Can I make this look like I want it to look? Ubuntu 11.04's Unity interface wants to turn these scenarios into problems of the past. Unity's foremost goal is to get you online in the shortest amount of time possible from the second you turn on your computer. Simplicity. Elegance. Speed. Responsiveness. It's all here. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves...

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Join your Ubuntu Local Community!

Ubuntu is, first and foremost, a community, and not just software. Ubuntu Local Communities (also known as LoCo's) connect you to other Ubuntu users in your area who are willing to share their personal experiences and expertise with the community at large. These LoCo's can be found in cities and towns all over the world. LoCo's help you meet your fellow Ubuntu users and become familiar with Unity together. In Vancouver, you are never alone. Learn more about the Ubuntu Vancouver LoCo (UVLC) here: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Need Help?
In addition to this guide, there is a large global community of Ubuntu users available to help you out. Reach out and get in touch with them! You'll be able to ask questions, get answers, and learn that Ubuntu isn't only about the software. If you are a Vancouver resident, visit: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/

If you do not currently reside in Vancouver... move here! You'll love it. But barring that, you can locate your closest LoCo here: http://loco.ubuntu.com/

To directly contribute modifications and edits to this user guide, or any other guides, please contact Ubuntu Vancouver at the links below: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/messages/boa rds/ https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-vancouver-loco

Want to find out more about Unity? Then read on! For more general information, visit: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Unity

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

You can Participate, too!

Ubuntu changes every day, every hour, and every minute. This guide is, therefore, in constant need of revision. Accordingly, Ubuntu is an Open Participatory Community. What does that mean, you might ask? It means that you can directly impact and change any aspect of Ubuntu. Don't believe me? See for yourself! It also means you can meet people just like you that have already figured things out and are happy to share their knowledge. In this guide, you will meet some of them: Stefan, Alissa, Jono, Renee, Yuta, Leona, Mark, Rajan, Brian, David, Genny, Roscoe, Sandra. These are real people. Ubuntu is not just software. Get in Touch with the Community! If you are a Vancouverite looking to get involved, please join the UVLC. Visit: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/

If you wish to find a way to contribute to Ubuntu more generally (i.e. non-locally), and do not reside near an Ubuntu LoCo, you can still get involved remotely. For general involvement, please visit: http://www.ubuntu.com/community/get-involved

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

What is Unity?
Welcome to Ubuntu 11.04! Upon completing your install (fast, wasn't it?!), you are now staring at your screen (Fig. 1), thinking to yourself, Where do I start? A tiny whisper at your shoulder interrupts your thought. Don't worry! I'm here to help! You turn and find, perched on your shoulder, the Ubuntu Community Angel. She continues.

Figure 1: Unity desktop

What you see is called Unity. It's just a different layout from

Unity. Simplify Your Life. what you're used to, that's all! No need to worry. This guide is here to get you oriented! In 15 minutes, you'll be doing all your favourite things in Unity at the snap of your fingers surfing the net, uploading pictures, listening to music, chatting with and emailing your friends, or watching videos. Trippy? Yes. Easy? Also yes. Let's get started! DID YOU KNOW?
Unity first made its debut in 2010 in Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition, but Ubuntu 11.04 marks the first time that the Unity desktop has appeared on netbooks, desktops, and laptops, alike.

10

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

How to Use this Guide

This document is more of an orientation to Unity, rather than a comprehensive, step-by-step procedural manual (although some procedures will certainly be discussed, at times). This guide will introduce you to Unity's layout and functionality, but will do its best not overload you with technical jargon or (too many) how-to's. Are you... I) New to Ubuntu? Start with Unity in 15 Minutes. II) Currently using Ubuntu, but new to Unity? Start with Unity in 15 Minutes to familiarize yourself with terminology, or skip ahead to Unity. For Your Life. III) A power user? Then you may be more interested in the technical information located in the Appendices. But since you're already here, why not begin with Unity in 15 Minutes, just to make sure you've got everything down?

11

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Unity in 15 Minutes
[Unity] is an environment inspired by great design, touch, and a strong and integrated experience. . . Quality meets design meets performance. -Jono Bacon, Ubuntu Community Manager

The Unity Interface

One of the most confusing aspects of technological change is a lack of consistency in terminology, leading to wasted time and effort. Here, we will attempt to establish a common vocabulary for all users, so that everyone can discuss and describe Unity in the same way. Figures 2 5 display the different sections of the Unity interface, for your convenience. The subsequent tables provide 12

Unity. Simplify Your Life. a brief explanation of each labeled interface element of Unity.

Figure 2: Unity desktop components

Table 1 Unity desktop components (Fig. 2) Element Panel Explanation The Panel displays the status menu, which allows you to monitor your system. Application menus also appear on the Panel for applications that are currently running. Learn more about the Panel here.

status menu The status menu contains multiple (contains Indicators) system Indicators, which allow you to monitor and adjust the status of things like internet connectivity, sound controls, and messaging/chat from within Unity. Learn more about the Indicators here. desktop The desktop is your computer's main 13

Unity. Simplify Your Life. working space. You can open and rearrange any number of applications and folders on your desktop. Launcher The Launcher allows you to quickly and easily run and manage your favorite applications, and tells you what is running and what is not. Learn more about the Launcher here. Launcher icons indicate the specific applications that are located on your Launcher. Learn more about Launcher icons here. The Ubuntu button accesses the Dash. Learn more about the Dash here.

Launcher icons

Ubuntu button

Figure 3: Open window components

14

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Table 2 Open window components (Fig. 3) Element window title application menus Explanation The window title displays the name of the currently active application. Application menus for your active application appear on the Panel, and allow you to control most aspects of an application. Application menus are (for most applications) invisible until you drag your mouse cursor over the top-left-hand side of the Panel, beside the window title, at which point they appear. Learn more about application menus here. You can customize the appearance of your window decoration via your System settings, located in the Session Indicator. Learn more about customization here. Window buttons allow you to close, minimize, or maximize your window. This thin orange line is located on the right side of scrollable windows, alerting users that there is more to see. The scroll bar appears only when a scroll indicator is present in a window. The scroll bar remains invisible until you drag your mouse cursor just to the right of the scroll indicator. Using the scroll bar allows you to view all the content located in a window. The status bar provides general information about your system, including how much hard disk space you have remaining and how many files or folders are located in your current window. Lets you navigate the current window. 15

window decoration

window buttons scroll indicator

scroll bar

status bar

toolbar

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 4: Dash components

Table 3 Dash components (Fig. 4) Element Ubuntu button global search bar Explanation The Ubuntu button accesses the Dash. Learn more about the Dash here. The global search bar can be used to search for both applications and files. Learn more about the global search bar here. Enter your search term into the global search bar. Your search term can be either the name of a file or application, or a key word describing the type of file or application (e.g. word processing) that you wish to locate. Learn more about search terms here. Any search results relevant to the search term you enter will appear in this area, below the global search bar in the Dash. Learn more about search results here.

search term

search results

16

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 5: Application indicator arrows on Launcher

Table 4 Application indicator arrows on Launcher (Fig. 5) Element Explanation

loaded applications Upon loading an application from the Launcher, a small arrow appears on the left-hand side of the Launcher icon of the application you just loaded. This indicates that the application is running. Learn more about indicator arrows here. multiple windows of If you open multiple windows of the loaded application same application, an extra arrow for each window appears on the left-hand side of the application's Launcher icon, to a maximum of three. You can, of course, open more than three windows of an application, but the number of arrows shown will not exceed three. 17

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Learn more about indicator arrows here. active application This small arrow on the right-hand side of a Launcher icon indicates that application is the currently active application. Learn more about indicator arrows here.

18

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Peering Under the Hood of Unity

Some of you may be asking yourself by now, All these features and functions of Unity are nice, but what makes it really work? Well, if you're curious about what lies under the hood of Unity, then head on over to Appendix A Under the Hood. There, you'll find answers to questions involving the working parts of Unity, the history of Ubuntu, and system requirements, among many other things. Check it out!

19

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Unity. How It All Fits Together.

20

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

So, You're Down with the Basics...

...now it's time to get a little more up-close-and-personal with some of the main elements of Unity. The interface elements with which you will likely be spending the most time include the Launcher, the Dash, and the Panel, each of which will be examined here in detail. Please note that there are, of course, a number of ways in which the same action can be performed in Unity. However, for the sake of simplicity, this guide will only use the most common method. With that said, feel free to experiment with different approaches to see what works best for you. Read on, Macduff!

21

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Personalizing the Launcher

The Launcher, located on the left-most side of the Unity desktop environment, allows you to quickly and easily: Run and manage your favorite applications; Open folders; Access the Dash.

Starting Applications from your Launcher

Starting up an application from your Launcher is simple. On your Launcher, click the Launcher icon of the application you wish to load. The Launcher icon begins to flash, transitioning between black and its original color (Fig. 6). This indicates that the application is loading.

Figure 6: Loading Launcher icon

22

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Once the application has loaded, the Launcher icon stops flashing, and a small arrow appears on the left-hand side of the Launcher icon of the application you just loaded (Fig. 7). This indicates that the application is running. If you open multiple windows of the same application, an extra arrow for each window appears on the left-hand side of the application's Launcher icon, to a maximum of three (Fig. 7). You can, of course, open more than three windows of an application, but the number of arrows shown will not exceed three. A small arrow on the right-hand side of a Launcher icon indicates that application is the currently active application (Fig. 7).

23

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 7: Loaded applications and active applications

Adding Applications to your Launcher

You can add as many applications to your Launcher as you like. To add an application to your Launcher: 1. 2. Click the Ubuntu button. Your Dash appears. From your Dash, locate the icon of the application you

wish to add to your Launcher by typing a key word or the application's name into the global search bar (Fig. 8). To learn more about the Dash, visit Using the Dash.

24

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 8: Application icon in Dash

3.

Click and drag the application icon to the left of your

screen, onto your Launcher. A space appears between the Launcher icons on the Launcher, into which the Launcher icon for your selected application will be placed (Fig. 9).

Figure 9: Adding application to Launcher

4.

Release the mouse button. You have added the application

to your Launcher.

25

Unity. Simplify Your Life. NOTE

You can learn how to download free applications to suit your computing needs via the Ubuntu Software Centre by reading Find Software for your Every Need!

Removing Applications from your Launcher

We all make mistakes. Sometimes, they're the speeding tickets we get, rushing to work on a rainy day. Sometimes, they're the insults we involuntarily hurl across the table at in-laws during family dinners. And sometimes, we place the wrong application on our Launchers. Fortunately, one of these is easily remedied. To remove an application from the Launcher: Right-click the Launcher icon of the application that you wish to remove from the Launcher, and de-select the option: Keep in Launcher (Fig. 10).

Figure 10: Removing application from Launcher

26

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Rearranging Applications on your Launcher

If you wish to change the order in which applications appear on your Launcher: Click and drag the Launcher icon that you wish to move to its new location (Fig. 11). Then, release the mouse button. Your Launcher icon now appears in its new location.

Figure 11: Rearranging Launcher icons

Can I Move my Launcher from the Left Side of the Screen?

Short answer: no. Long answer: the decision to keep the Launcher in a fixed position on the left side of the screen is a conscious design choice, made in order to keep the Launcher in close proximity to 27

Unity. Simplify Your Life. the Ubuntu button, as well as to account for the fact that most monitors today are widescreen. This means that there is plenty of screen real estate available horizontally across the monitor, but vertical screen space is at a premium. Thus, the decision to affix the Launcher on the left means more vertical screen space for your applications, and less scrolling for your mouse wheel. NOTE
Unity is customizable. You can learn more about resizing the Launcher and customizing other aspects of Unity by visiting Appendix B Customizing Unity.

28

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Using the Dash

The Dash provides you with fast, easy access to your files and installed applications either via searching or browsing. You can find and open your applications and files using application/file names or key words,and filter your application/file searches based on certain categories, or by what you have used or accessed most recently or most often.

Accessing the Dash

To access the Dash: Click the Ubuntu button, located in the top-left corner of your screen (Fig. 12).

Figure 12: Ubuntu button

The Dash appears (Fig. 13).The global search bar can be used to search for both applications and files.

29

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 13: Dash

Starting an Application from the Dash

To start up an application from the Dash: 1. 2. Click the Ubuntu button. The Dash appears. Type the first few letters of the name of the application, or

a key word describing the type of application (e.g. word processing), that you wish to run into the global search bar (Fig. 14).

30

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 14: Application search from Dash

Any relevant applications will appear below the global search bar in a row in the Dash (Fig. 14). 3. load. Click the application you wish to run. The application will

Locating Files from the Dash

To locate files from the Dash: 1. 2. Click the Ubuntu button. The Dash appears. Type the first few letters of the name or type of file you

wish to find into the global search bar (Fig. 15).

31

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 15: File search from Dash

Any files that begin with the letters you enter, or are of the file type specified, will appear below the global search bar in a row in the Dash (Fig. 15). 3. Click the file you wish to access. The file opens.

Resizing the Dash

Depending on your preference, the Dash can either be collapsed or maximized. Collapsing the Dash: To collapse the Dash: Click the Shortcuts link located directly below the global search bar (Fig. 16).

32

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 16: Shortcuts tab in Dash

The Dash shortcuts collapse, leaving only the command bar (Fig. 17).

Figure 17: Collapsed Dash

Maximizing the Dash: To maximize the Dash: Click the Maximize button, located in the bottom-right corner of the Dash (Fig. 18).

33

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 18: Maximize Dash button

The Dash maximizes, filling your screen (Fig. 19).

Figure 19: Maximized Dash

34

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

What is a Lens?
A lens is an element of the Dash that provides a customized user interface with which you can search for specific files, applications, or web data, depending on which lens you use. Lenses work in the same fashion as the main Dash, except that they are specialized for a specific job. There are three pre-installed lenses in Unity. The Global Search Lens The Global Search lens is the lens that the Dash uses by default. You access this lens when you access the Dash normally, by clicking the Ubuntu button (Fig. 20).

Figure 20: Ubuntu button

The Global Search lens (Fig. 21) searches both files and applications available on your computer.

35

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 21: Global Search lens, a.k.a. Dash

The Applications Lens the Applications lens can be accessed from the Launcher (Fig. 22).

Figure 22: Applications lens icon

The Applications lens provides easy access to your applications. The Applications lens displays applications in three categories: Most Frequently Used, Installed, and Apps Available for Download (Fig. 23). Any of these categories can 36

Unity. Simplify Your Life. be expanded by clicking the See more results link, located to the right of the category title (Fig. 23).

Figure 23: Applications lens

If you are unsure of exactly which application you wish to access, the Applications lens can filter applications by category. Simply click the drop-down list located on the right end of the Applications search bar (Fig. 23) and select the type of application you wish to browse. NOTE
Accessing the Applications lens quicklist by right-clicking the Application lens icon in the Launcher is a fast way to select the category of applications you wish to browse.

The Files & Folders Lens The Files & Folders lens can be accessed from your Launcher

37

Unity. Simplify Your Life. (Fig. 24).

Figure 24: Files & Folders lens icon

The Files & Folders lens (Fig. 25) allows you to search specifically for files and folders located on your computer. This lens displays two categories: Recent (for recently-used files) and Favourite Folders (for commonly-used folders). Either of these categories can be expanded by clicking the See more results link, located to the right of the category title (Fig. 25).

Figure 25: Files & Folders lens

38

Unity. Simplify Your Life. If you are unsure of exactly which file you wish to access, the Files & Folders lens can filter them by type. Simply click the drop-down list located on the right side of the Files & Folders search bar (Fig. 25) and select the type of file you wish to browse. NOTE
Accessing the Files & Folders lens quicklist by right-clicking the Files & Folders lens icon in the Launcher is a fast way to select the type of files you wish to browse.

39

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Navigating the Panel

The Panel, as noted in Unity in 15 Minutes, displays window titles and application menus for active applications, and also allows you to monitor the status of your computer via the status menu, which contains the Indicators.

Controlling Applications from the Panel

When you open an application in Unity, you can control the active application's functionality and adjust settings via the application menus, which appear on the top-left-hand side of the Panel (Fig. 26), beside the window title, which displays the name of the active application. NOTE
Application menus are (for most applications) invisible until you drag your mouse cursor over the top-left-hand side of the Panel, beside the window title, at which point they appear.

Figure 26: Window title and application menus

40

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

The Status Menu and Indicators

The status menu, which contains several system Indicators (Fig. 27), is located on the right-hand side of the Panel. This section will provide a brief overview of the the functions and options accessible from each Indicator.

Figure 27: Status menu, containing Indicators

The Network Indicator The Network Indicator is the leftmost Indicator (Fig. 28).

Figure 28: Network Indicator

From the Network Indicator, you can: Get online by connecting to a wireless network. Manage any other relevant network settings.

41

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 29: Accessing the Network Indicator

The Sound Indicator The Sound Indicator is located directly to the right of the Network Indicator (Fig. 30).

Figure 30: Sound Indicator

From the Sound Indicator, you can: Adjust your system volume.

42

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Adjust your sound preferences. Control any active audio files or playlists playing in the Banshee Media Player.

Figure 31: Accessing the Sound Indicator

The Messaging Indicator The Messaging Indicator is located directly to the right of the Sound Indicator (Fig. 32).

Figure 32: Messaging Indicator

From the Messaging Indicator, you can: Access the Empathy chat application to manage your chat programs. Access the Evolution application to manage your email 43

Unity. Simplify Your Life. accounts. Access the Gwibber Social Client application to manage your social networking accounts. Access cloud storage via Ubuntu One. NOTE
You can learn more about these applications by reading Unity. For Your Life.

Figure 33: Accessing the Messaging Indicator

The Clock The Clock is located directly to the right of the Messaging Indicator (Fig. 34).

Figure 34: Clock

From the Clock, you can:

44

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Change your system time and date settings. Add events to your calendar via the Evolution application.

Figure 35: Accessing the Clock

The Me Menu The Me Menu is located directly to the right of the Clock (Fig. 36).

Figure 36: Me Menu

From the Me Menu, you can:

45

Unity. Simplify Your Life. Change your online status for your chat programs and social networks. Manage your chat programs via the Empathy chat application. Manage your social networking accounts via the Gwibber application.

Figure 37: Accessing the Me Menu

The Session Indicator The Session Indicator is the rightmost Indicator, located directly beside the Me Menu (Fig. 38).

Figure 38: Session Indicator

46

Unity. Simplify Your Life. From the Session Indicator, you can: Adjust your system settings (Appearance, Fonts, Hardware, etc.). Set the state of your computer (lock, suspend, hibernate, etc.). Log out and switch users. Shut down or reboot your computer.

Figure 39: Accessing the Session Indicator

47

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Unity. For Your Life.

48

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Access The Internet!

Renee has just installed Ubuntu 11.04, and is using Unity for the first time. She wants to get online to do some shopping and check her local weather. How can she access the internet?

Solution
Ubuntu includes the world's favourite web browser. To get online, Renee can select a network from the Network Indicator located on the Panel, then open the Mozilla Firefox web browser from her Launcher (Fig. 40). From her Firefox browser, she can access any websites she wishes to visit.

Figure 40: Firefox web browser

49

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Check Your Email!

Yuta has been using Unity for a little while, and wants to know how to consolidate all his email accounts into one application that is accessible from Unity, rather than having to check each account separately in his browser. How can Yuta manage his emails?

Solution
If he's in a hurry, Yuta can use the Evolution application, accessible directly from the Messaging Indicator (located on the Panel), to manage his email (Fig. 41). Evolution is preinstalled, and will allow him to consolidate all the email accounts that he checks regularly into one location that he can monitor from the Unity desktop interface.

Figure 41: Evolution

50

Unity. Simplify Your Life. However, with a little extra effort (but not much!), Yuta can download Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail software, using the Ubuntu Software Centre (Fig. 42), to perform similar email functions. This is our recommendation. NOTE
You can learn more about the Ubuntu Software Centre by visiting Find Software For Your Every Need!

Why Thunderbird? Thunderbird is more functional, has a more active development team, and is extremely customizable. At the time of this guide's release, Thunderbird is poised to become Ubuntu's default email software, so it's a great time to dive in! Finally, and best of all, UVLC has documented Thunderbird in a series of Thunderbird guides, which can be accessed here: http://ubuntuone.com/p/oWc/ http://ubuntuone.com/p/oWf/

Figure 42: Thunderbird in the Ubuntu Software Centre

51

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Listen To Music!
Leona is a music enthusiast who wants to know how she can create playlists and play back her rather extensive music collection from Unity. What can she use?

Solution
Leona can create playlists, listen to her music, and organize her audio using the Banshee Media Player, which is accessible from the Sound Indicator, located on the Panel (Fig. 43). Banshee will allow her to create playlists and libraries, access online musical media, and manage any other audio files, including radio stations and podcasts.

Figure 43: Banshee Media Player

52

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

View Your Photos!

Mark is an amateur photographer, and takes a lot of photos with his cell phone and digital camera. He wants to know how he can import his photos, organize them, and view them on his computer. How can Mark manage his photos?

Solution
Mark can use the pre-installed Shotwell Photo Manager, which he can access from the Dash (Fig. 44). Within the Shotwell application, he can manage his photos however he likes.

Figure 44: Accessing Shotwell Photo Manager from the Dash

53

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Edit And Create Like A Pro!

Rajan works in media editing and is also currently finishing a diploma in film editing. Much of his work (and schoolwork) revolves around editing and creating photos, video files, and sound files. How can he perform these tasks with Ubuntu?

Solution
Rajan can acquire the software he needs to do his work using the Ubuntu Software Centre. NOTE
You can learn more about the Ubuntu Software Centre by visiting Find Software For Your Every Need!

To Edit Images: To edit or touch-up photos and images, Rajan can use the GIMP* Image Editor, which can be downloaded for free from the Ubuntu Software Centre (Fig. 45).

* GIMP replaces another certain proprietary image editing application you may have heard of, released by a certain flashy company in San Jose, California.

54

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 45: GIMP in the Ubuntu Software Centre

To Create Graphics: To create graphics, Rajan can use the Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor. Inkscape can be downloaded for free from the Ubuntu Software Centre (Fig. 46).

Figure 46: Inkscape in the Ubuntu Software Centre

To Edit Video Files: To edit video files, Rajan can use the Pitivi Video Editor, which is pre-installed with Ubuntu. He can access Pitivi through his Dash (Fig. 47).

55

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 47: Accessing the Pitivi Video Editor from the Dash

To Record And Edit Audio Files: To record, edit, and manipulate audio files, Rajan can use Audacity. Audacity can be downloaded for free from the Ubuntu Software Centre (Fig. 48).

Figure 48: Audacity in the Ubuntu Software Centre

56

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Find Software For Your Every Need!

Hayley, Kaylee, and Bailey are sisters who share a computer. They each use their computer for very different things. Hayley is busy doing her taxes, and requires personal accounting software. Kaylee is taking online courses for her degree, and needs an application that reads PDF files. Bailey, the youngest of the three, enjoys perusing YouTube in her spare time, and requires a Flash player in order to do so. How can each sister get what she wants?

Solution
Each sister can find the software they desire by using the Ubuntu Software Centre, which can be accessed from your Launcher (Fig. 49). The Ubuntu Software Centre provides fast, easy access to thousands of free applications you can install onto your computer. You can find the application you want by browsing the Ubuntu Software Centre's Departments (categories), or by searching the Ubuntu Software Centre by key words (e.g. 'accounting' or 'word processing') or by specific application name. 57

Unity. Simplify Your Life. An intuitive ratings/review system helps you decide which application will best suit your needs. Is it possible to download Ubuntu applications directly from the internet, rather than going through the Software Centre? Certainly. However, the process is a bit more convoluted and confusing. The Ubuntu Software Centre streamlines the process by which you install, remove, and update software into one obvious, simple mechanism. To learn more, please keep your eyes peeled to Ubuntu Vancouver Loco's Meetup site, which will soon be host to a complete guide to the Software Centre: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/files/

Figure 49: Ubuntu Software Centre

58

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Create Documents, Presentations, and Spreadsheets!

Brian is an Ubuntu user and home business owner who needs to be able to create documents, slide presentations, and spreadsheets with an office suite that helps him manage his business affairs. He also requires an office suite that is easily compatible with mainstream* office programs. What can he use?

Solution
Brian can use the LibreOffice suite to create documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, based on the task-at-hand. The LibreOffice Writer** application is accessible from the Launcher (Fig. 50), and creates and opens documents.

* Word , Excel , and PowerPoint are examples of proprietary office productivity software. ** LibreOffice Writer is compatible with Word .

59

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 50: LibreOffice Writer

The LibreOffice Calc* application is accessible from the Launcher (Fig. 51), and creates and opens spreadsheets.

Figure 51: LibreOffice Calc

The LibreOffice Impress** application is accessible from the Launcher (Fig. 52), and creates and opens slides and presentations.

* LibreOffice Calc is compatible with Excel . ** LibreOffice Impress is compatible with PowerPoint .

60

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 52: LibreOffice Impress

All LibreOffice suite applications are compatible with other mainstream office programs, so there is no need to worry about receiving or having to work with incompatible files. For complete documentation (general help and how-to's) of the LibreOffice suite, please visit: http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/documentation

61

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Chat With Your Friends!

David is a university student and Ubuntu user who wants to stay in touch with, and chat with, his friends, classmates, and family. He has a number of chat program accounts, including Google Talk , AIM , and Windows Live Messenger , as well as a number of social networking accounts, including Facebook , Twitter , Digg , and Flickr . How can he use and manage his chat programs and social networking accounts?

Solution
To Chat With Friends: David can use the Empathy chat application to use and manage all his chat program accounts, including Google Talk , AIM , and Windows Live Messenger , from one location. Empathy is accessible via the Messaging Indicator, located on the Panel (Fig. 53).

62

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 53: Empathy

To Keep Up With Social Networking: David can use the Gwibber application to use and manage all his social networking accounts, including Facebook , Twitter , Digg , and Flickr , from one location. Gwibber is accessible via the Messaging indicator, located on the Panel (Fig. 54).

Figure 54: Gwibber

63

Unity. Simplify Your Life. UVLC members can learn more about Gwibber here: http://files.meetup.com/1411954/master_gwibber.pdf

Everyone else can learn more about Gwibber here: http://gwibber.com/

64

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Access Your Disk Drives!

Genny is a graphic artist who often brings home her work on flash drives and external hard drives. She wants to know where she can access her disk drives from, once they are plugged in, and how she can view all disk drives on her computer at once. How can she access her disk drives?

Solution
Once plugged in, Genny's disk drives will appear on both her desktop and her Launcher. She can access her external disk drives by clicking the icon of the disk drive she wants to peruse. Genny can view both her internal and external disk drives by accessing her Home Folder from the Launcher, then clicking the Computer icon (Fig. 55), located directly to the left of the View Size section on the folder toolbar. This displays all disk drives currently connected to her computer.

Figure 55: Viewing disk drives

65

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Find Your Files!

Sandra is a somewhat disorganized but loving computer user who deals with a large amount of files for her small business, but often places them haphazardly on her system and forgets the location of important files. How can she find her files?

Solution
To find a specific file on her computer, Sandra should click the Ubuntu button to access the Dash, then type in the first few letters of either the file name or file type she wishes to find. Any files of the specified type, or that begin with the letters she types, will appear in the Dash, below the global search bar (Fig. 56).

Figure 56: Searching from the Dash

66

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Keep your System Updated!

Jennifer is a computer user who likes to ensure that her system and software are running smoothly and safely at all times. How can she make sure that her computer is running optimally?

Solution
To ensure her computer is performing to its maximum potential, Jennifer should update Ubuntu on a regular basis. If Ubuntu's update options are left unaltered after installation, Ubuntu will update itself on a regularly scheduled basis. However, if Jennifer wishes to update Ubuntu manually, she can do so by accessing and running the Update Manager from the Dash in order to check for and install new updates (Fig. 57). This will help keep her computer optimized and bug-free.

Figure 57: Accessing the Update Manager from the Dash

67

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Use Your Cloud Storage!

Roscoe telecommutes from New Westminster for half his work week, and spends the other half in his office. As such, he frequently needs to update and access files from both his home and his workplace, and is annoyed with swapping files back and forth from USB flash drives every day. He wants to be able to upload his files to a location online that is accessible to him from anywhere he goes. How can Roscoe use cloud storage to ease his file transfer?

Solution
Roscoe can sign up for a free cloud storage account with the Ubuntu One application, which provides him with 5 gigabytes of free cloud storage, allowing him to access his files from any location with an internet connection. Roscoe can access Ubuntu One from the Launcher (Fig. 58).

Figure 58: Ubuntu One

68

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Where Next, Columbus?

Unity is out, and it's new, fast, and exciting, but the improvements don't stop here. A number of additional features are coming in future releases, including improvements to the Dash and lenses, touch and window management, and overall speed and performance. To learn more about these planned future upgrades, and to help the Ubuntu project decide what improvements should be made (remember, Ubuntu is collaborative), please see Appendix C.

69

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Appendices.

70

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Appendix A Under the Hood

Here, you can learn a little more about the working parts of Unity, the history of Ubuntu, and Ubuntu system requirements. Please note that we're not trying to document everything technical here we simply wish to give you an appreciation of what's involved, and to give you an opportunity to see how all the various pieces of Unity fit together.

A-1: GNOME
Unity is a shell for GNOME, even if it isn't GNOME Shell. We're committed to the principles and values of GNOME. -Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu Founder

A bit of history: in the beginning, there was GNOME (as all you Ubuntu veterans know). The GNOME project began in 1997, with the intention to create a free (both in terms of monetary value and in terms of freedom to develop, expand, and share) desktop environment. Like Ubuntu, GNOME evolved into a worldwide community. In fact, until recently, Ubuntu used the 71

Unity. Simplify Your Life. GNOME desktop environment as its native desktop environment, until the creation of Unity. The GNOME components are still here and present in Ubuntu. However, they have been simplified and topped with sprinkles and cherries. You can continue using Unity with the confidence that a complete history lesson isn't really needed. We seldom get to where we need to go by staring in the rear-view mirror.* We're all in this together. A-1.1: Changing Unity Back to the GNOME Classic Desktop If you find yourself longing for the classic Ubuntu desktop environment because you don't feel comfortable within Unity, it's easy to switch back to the GNOME Classic desktop. 1. Access the Ubuntu Login screen, also known as the

GNOME Display Manager, or GDM (Fig. 59). The GDM appears when you boot or restart your computer.

Figure 59: GDM

* For too long, a large segment of the free software world (FLOSS world) has been looking back, trying to integrate history lessons. Who is being served by this approach? There are no sides to choose here, no battles to be had. GNOME, Unity, Debian... ultimately, we all have similar goals and philosophies.

72

Unity. Simplify Your Life. 2. 3. Click your user name. A password prompt appears. Click the session drop-down menu that reads Ubuntu at

the bottom-centre of your screen (Fig. 60). Other desktop selection options appear.

Figure 60: Session drop-down menu

4.

Select Ubuntu Classic, then enter your password to log

into Ubuntu. You are now using the Ubuntu Classic (GNOME Classic) desktop (Fig. 61).

73

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 61: Ubuntu Classic desktop

A-2: Zeitgeist
Unity uses the history of your system activity to find the files and applications you have used most recently, or used most often. This history can be used to filter files in other ways, as well, but these are the most common uses. Zeitgeist, an event logger, is the software that facilitates this process. Simply put, Zeitgeist logs the events that happen on your system, such as opening, saving, closing, or receiving a file, receiving a call, opening a tab in Firefox, etc. Users have the ability to filter, to some extent, which events are logged and which events are not. Currently, the most apparent use of Zeitgeist in Unity is found within the Dash, which uses Zeitgeist to both locate recently 74

Unity. Simplify Your Life. accessed files, and to display the most frequently used applications.

A-3: System Requirements

All you really need to experience the best that Unity has to offer is supported hardware, a community that can help you, and a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the interface, itself. Depending on your computer system's hardware, Ubuntu can either run Unity in 2D or 3D. Ubuntu will automatically determine whether Unity 3D can run on your system. If Unity 3D cannot run on your system, Ubuntu will boot into the classic GNOME desktop, familiar to prior Ubuntu users. If you still want Unity, you will then have the option to install Unity 2D from the Ubuntu Software Centre. A-3.1: System Requirements Chances are that if you own a computer or graphics card produced within the last 5 years or so, you will be able to run the Unity desktop environment seamlessly. Most NVIDIA, AMD (formerly ATI), and Intel graphics cards produced in this timeframe will be able to run Unity.

75

Unity. Simplify Your Life. However, we highly recommend that you consult the list of systems that support Ubuntu 11.04 by referring to the certified hardware list, found here: http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/

Ubuntu is unique in that its system requirements are not defined by traditional, generic RAM or CPU specifications. If you own one of the systems noted in the certified hardware list, then you will be able to run Ubuntu. If you can't find your system on the list, no worries! Ubuntu might still run beautifully on your computer. A system check can be performed prior to installation from your Ubuntu 11.04 installation disc, to ensure your system's compatibility. If you are having problems running or installing Ubuntu on an unsupported system (or even a supported system, for that matter), please contact your nearest Ubuntu LoCo, and they will cheerfully help you out. If you reside in Vancouver, contact the Ubuntu Vancouver LoCo and ask for assistance. The Ubuntu Vancouver LoCo can be found online here: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/

If you do not have access to an Ubuntu LoCo, all is not lost. You can find help here: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu

76

Unity. Simplify Your Life. A-3.2: Installing Unity This guide has been designed with the assumption that you already have Ubuntu 11.04 installed and running on your computer, which means you are already using Unity, and have no need to specifically install it. Smile. You're in the clear. If you do not yet have a copy of Ubuntu 11.04 installed, you can download it here: http://www.ubuntu.com/

Better still, you can attend an event hosted by your local community. Most local communities have official Ubuntu disks and are happy to provide them to you. In Vancouver, please visit: http://meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver

A-3.3: Unity 2D versus Unity 3D Worried about what you might be missing if your computer decides that its better off with Unity 2D rather than Unity 3D? While we do, of course, recommend that you have the supported hardware necessary to run Unity in all its 3D glory, fear not, my 2D brethren. The differences between Unity 2D and Unity 3D are almost entirely aesthetic. Unity 2D disables 3D effects, shadows, window-snapping, and some of the animations present in Unity 3D. However, the core functionality and components of the desktop remain the same. 77

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Appendix B Customizing Unity

When it comes right down to it, what good is a sleek, highly functional, and accessible desktop environment if you can't make it your own? Unity gives you the power to customize a number of aspects of your desktop environment.

B-1: Compiz
The appearance of Unity is powered by a graphics subsystem known as Compiz. Compiz is, in simple terms, what makes Unity look so gosh-darned pretty. Compiz uses your computer's 3D graphics hardware to create fast and attractive desktop effects within Unity, specifically in regard to window management. As such, you will notice Compiz when you do things like open new windows in Unity, move them around the screen, minimize and maximize them, and switch between applications. Personalizing the appearance of Unity means that you will be configuring aspects of Compiz.

78

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

B-2: Installing the CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM)

In order to change the appearance of Unity, you must download the CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM) application from the Ubuntu Software Centre. This application will allow you to tweak the appearance and effects of the Unity desktop environment. To download and install the CCSM application: 1. Click the Ubuntu Software Centre Launcher icon. The

Ubuntu Software Centre runs. 2. Type CCSM into the Ubuntu Software Centre search

field, located at the top-right of the application window. An application named Advanced Desktop Effects Settings (ccsm) appears in the search results below the search field (Fig. 62).

Figure 62: CCSM in the Ubuntu Software Centre

3.

Click the search result that reads Advanced Desktop

Effects Settings (ccsm) to highlight it. The More Info and Install buttons appear (Fig. 63). 79

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 63: CCSM Install option in Ubuntu Software Manager

4.

Click the Install button, and enter your administrator

password if prompted to do so. The CCSM application installs onto your computer.

B-3: Personalizing the Appearance and Effects of Unity

All modifications to the appearance and effects of the Unity desktop environment are performed via the CCSM application. Within CCSM, you can (among other things) adjust the size of your Launcher, modify your desktop animations, tweak how you view your windows, and adjust the transparency of the Panel. Play around! Find a look and feel to Unity that best complements you as a user. To change some of the basic appearance options and effects of Unity: 1. Open the CCSM application from your Dash. The CCSM

window appears (Fig. 64).

80

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 64: CCSM

2.

In the CCSM window, click the Desktop tab under the

Category field, on the left side of the window. The Desktop configuration options appear to the right of the Category field (Fig. 65). CAUTION!
Do not un-check the box directly to the left of the Ubuntu Unity Plugin button! This will disable the Unity desktop environment on your computer, and your Launcher and panel will disappear entirely, potentially leading to lost work and a restart.

Figure 65: CCSM Desktop tab

3. 66).

From the Desktop configuration options, click the Ubuntu

Unity Plugin button. Unity configuration options appear (Fig.

81

Unity. Simplify Your Life. CAUTION!

Do not un-check the box entitled Enable Ubuntu Unity Plugin, located below the Use This Plugin heading! This will disable the Unity desktop environment on your computer, and your Launcher and panel will disappear entirely, potentially leading to lost work and a restart.

Figure 66: Unity Configuration Options

4.

Click the Experimental tab. Here, you can adjust options

such as backlighting, animations, transparency, and Launcher size (Fig. 67). Adjust the settings you desire to change, then close the CCSM application.

Figure 67: Unity Experimental configuration tab

82

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

B-4: Resizing your Launcher

To resize your Launcher, follow steps 1-4 in Appendix B-3: Personalizing the Appearance and Effects of Unity. Then, adjust the Launcher icon size slider bar to the size you desire, and close the CCSM application.

B-5: Changing your Desktop Theme and Background

To modify the appearance of your windows, desktop background, and system fonts, you must access the Appearance application. To access the Appearance application and change your desktop themes, backgrounds, and fonts: 1. Open the Appearance application from your Dash. The

Appearance Preferences window appears (Fig. 68).

83

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 68: Appearance preferences

2.

Click the tab that corresponds to the aspect of your

desktop appearance you wish to change. To change your windows theme, click the Theme tab (Fig. 69) and select the theme you wish to use, then close the Appearance application.

84

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 69: Theme appearance tab

To change your desktop background, click the Background tab (Fig. 70) and select your new background, then close the Appearance application.

85

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 70: Background appearance tab

To change your fonts, click the Fonts tab (Fig. 71) and select your desired font styles, then close the Appearance application.

86

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Figure 71: Fonts appearance tab

87

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Appendix C The Future of Unity

Unity has hit the ground running, but in truth, the Unity interface is still evolving. The Ubuntu project (which includes you) is constantly looking for new ways with which to provide the best Unity experience possible. Here's a sneak-peek at some features Unity will incorporate in future releases. If you see something you like, send a thank-you note! Or get involved, and be a part of the change.

C-1: New and Improved Dash

The Dash will undergo a significant facelift in future releases, incorporating more view modes, better overall performance, and new animations to further beautify an attractive desktop environment.

C-2: Better Lens Management

The number of lenses available for Unity is set to increase exponentially; development is underway for such projects as a Community lens, a YouTube lens, a Book lens, a Music Store lens, an Amazon lens, and even an Ask Ubuntu lens, 88

Unity. Simplify Your Life. among many others. Unity developers realize that as lenses take off, there will likely not be enough room on the Launcher for all the lenses a user may want to have. As such, effective lens management is a priority for future Unity releases.

C-3: Improved Touch Management

Unity's touch management system will continue to be polished, and will eventually become functional across many more platforms. Additionally, support for more gestures, basic and elegant, will be integrated into future releases.

C-4 : Improved Window Management

Multitasking users frequently use multiple windows and multiple programs in their day-to-day computing. Unity has already introduced window-snapping, making it easy to place two work windows side-by-side onscreen, and workspaces have been a part of Ubuntu since the days of GNOME. Future Unity releases will continue to find new ways to optimize window management for users.

C-5: Quick Launcher-Based Access to Web Applications

Most users visit websites such as Gmail , Hotmail , and Facebook on a daily, if not hourly, basis even more regularly than they use local applications on their computers. Accordingly, why not treat web applications like local 89

Unity. Simplify Your Life. applications and make them just as easy to access? Future versions of Unity will give users the option to treat frequentlyused web applications just like local applications they will be assigned separate Launcher icons, and the Launcher will treat them in the same fashion that it does local applications on your hard drive.

C-6: Improved Overall Performance

Unity prides itself on being one of the fastest desktop experiences available for users who wish to get on the Internet within seconds after turning their computer on. This will only become more of a priority in the future as the Unity team continues to adjust and tweak its performance in the future. You want speed? We'll give you speed, and all the perks of a pretty desktop, besides. These are just a few of the features that will be improved and redesigned in future iterations of Unity. Stay tuned...

C-7: Continual Integration of Your Input and Involvement

One major difference between Ubuntu and other systems is that Ubuntu is collaborative. If you don't like some aspect of the system, you can join the conversation about how to improve it. If you think of a feature that you feel would be valuable, you can propose it. The key thing to remember is that Ubuntu is not something that we receive or buy; it is something that we 90

Unity. Simplify Your Life. create, together, for the good of all. To get involved in Ubuntu, and to make it even better, please contact your Ubuntu local community (LoCo) team, whom you can locate here: http://loco.ubuntu.com

91

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Appendix D Unity Keyboard Shortcuts

KEY(S) RESULT LAUNCHER SHORTCUTS Super* (hold) Super + 1...0 Super + Shift + 1...0 Alt + F1 Invokes the Launcher. Opens the application whose position in the Launcher corresponds to the pressed number. Opens a new instance of the desired application, if said application is already open. Invokes the Launcher, allowing you to use the arrow keys to navigate. Enter launches an application, and the right arrow key displays the quicklist. Launches a Terminal window. Opens the Applications lens. Opens the Files & Folders lens. Opens the trash can. DASH SHORTCUTS Super (tap) Alt + F2 Opens the Dash. Opens the Dash in Run Command mode. PANEL SHORTCUTS F10 Opens the first Indicator on the Panel, allowing you to use the arrow keys to navigate the other Indicators.

Ctrl + Alt + T Super + A Super + F Super + T

* The Super key, also known as the Meta key in some Ubuntu documentation, refers to the Windows key.

92

Unity. Simplify Your Life. ESC Closes the Indicators without selection. WINDOW MANAGEMENT SHORTCUTS Super + W Super + D Invokes spread mode, which zooms out on all windows in all workspaces. Minimizes all windows. Press again to restore all windows. WINDOW PLACEMENT SHORTCUTS Ctrl + Alt + Num 0 Ctrl + Alt + Num 1 Ctrl + Alt + Num 2 Ctrl + Alt + Num 3 Ctrl + Alt + Num 4 Ctrl + Alt + Num 5 Ctrl + Alt + Num 6 Ctrl + Alt + Num 7 Ctrl + Alt + Num 8 Ctrl + Alt + Num 9 Maximizes active window. Places active window in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Places active window in the bottom half of the screen. Places active window in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Places active window on the left side of the screen. Centers and/or maximizes active window in the middle of the screen. Places active window on the right side of the screen. Places active window in the top-left corner of the screen. Places active window in the top half of the screen. Places active window in the top-right corner of the screen.

SCREENSHOT SHORTCUTS Prt Sc Alt + Prt Sc Takes a screenshot of the current workspace. Takes a screenshot of the active window.

93

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Index

1
10.10.................................................10 11.04.............................................9, 75

A
Accessing............................................... Dash..............................................29 AIM...................................................62 Amazon.............................................88 Application............................................. Adding to Launcher..........................24 Controlling......................................40 Indicator arrows..............................17 Menus............................................15 Rearranging on Launcher..................27 Removing from Launcher..................26 Starting....................................22, 30 Application menus...............................15 Audacity.............................................56

Dash..............................................32 Compiz..............................................78 CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM) .....................................................79 Customizing........................................... Launcher........................................83 Unity..............................................80

D
Dash..................................................... Accessing.......................................29 Collapsing.......................................32 Global search bar.............................16 Lens..............................................35 Locating files...................................31 Maximizing.....................................33 Resizing.........................................32 Search results.................................16 Search term....................................16 Starting an application.....................30 Ubuntu button.................................16 Debian...............................................72 Digg..................................................62 Disk drives.........................................65

B
Banshee Media Player..........................52

C
Certified hardware list..........................75 Collapsing..............................................

E
Empathy............................................62 Evolution............................................50 Excel.................................................59

94

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

F
Facebook......................................62, 89 Firefox...............................................49 Flash.................................................57 Flickr.................................................62 FLOSS................................................72

G
GIMP Image Editor..............................54 Gmail.................................................89 GNOME..............................................71 GDM..............................................72 GNOME Display Manager..................72 Ubuntu Classic................................73 Google Talk.........................................62 Gwibber.............................................63

Icon.........................................14, 22 Indicator arrows..............................17 Personalizing...................................22 Rearranging applications...................27 Removing applications......................26 Resizing.........................................83 Starting applications........................22 Lens...................................................... Applications....................................36 Files & Folders.................................37 Global Search..................................35 LibreOffice............................................. Calc...............................................60 Impress.........................................60 Writer............................................59 Locating................................................ Applications....................................30 Files...............................................31

H
Home Folder.......................................65 Hotmail..............................................89

M
Maximizing............................................. Dash..............................................33

I
Indicators.............................................. Clock.............................................44 Me Menu........................................45 Messaging......................................43 Network.........................................41 Session..........................................46 Sound............................................42 Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor............55

P
Panel..................................................... Application menus...........................40 Controlling applications....................40 Indicators.......................................41 Navigating......................................40 Status menu...................................41 PDF...................................................57 Personalizing.......................................... Launcher........................................22 Unity..............................................80 Pitivi Video Editor................................55 Power user.........................................11 PowerPoint.........................................59

L
Launcher............................................... Adding applications..........................24

95

Unity. Simplify Your Life.

Q
Quicklist.......................................37, 39

R
Resizing................................................. Dash..............................................32 Launcher........................................83

S
Shortcuts...........................................92 Shotwell Photo Manager.......................53 Status................................................... Bar................................................15 Menu.............................................13 System requirements.............................. Certified hardware list......................75

Help................................................7 Links...............................................7 LoCo................................................6 Participate........................................8 Unity..................................................... 2D.................................................77 3D.................................................77 Customizing....................................78 Dash..............................................16 Interface........................................12 Launcher...................................14, 17 Panel.............................................13 Personalizing...................................80 System requirements.......................75 Update...........................................67 Update Manager..................................67

W
Window................................................. Appearance....................................83 Buttons..........................................15 Decoration......................................15 Scroll bar........................................15 Scroll indicator................................15 Status bar......................................15 Title...............................................15 Toolbar..........................................15 Windows Live Messenger......................62 Word.................................................59

T
Thunderbird........................................51 Twitter...............................................62

U
Ubuntu.................................................. GNOME..........................................71 History...........................................71 System requirements.......................74 Ubuntu Classic................................73 Update...........................................67 Ubuntu button.....................................14 Ubuntu One........................................68 Ubuntu Software Centre............51, 54, 57 Ubuntu Vancouver...................................

Y
YouTube........................................57, 88

Z
Zeitgeist.............................................74

96