Ten tricks makes Ubuntu 16.04 more handy.

Ubuntu 16.04 is a long-term support version (LTS) and is an updated version of the canonical commitment to release five. That is to say, you can make this version run on your computer for five years! This makes it especially important to set it up at the outset. You should make sure that your software is up-to-date, that you have installed your favorite apps and are handy to use.

It's not hard to do that. You just have to do it in the right direction, and this article will provide the direction.

1. Download the update

You have installed Ubuntu, the first thing to do is to download the latest updates.

Start the Ubuntu software in the docking bar. The Update tab displays any available updates.

Or you can search for software Updater (software updater) from Dash. The app examines the Ubuntu software Library to look for changed content. Click the Install Now button to install each update.

Click Details of updates to see the updates you want to download. You can uncheck any apps you want to skip.

You may need to reboot so that some changes will take effect.

2. Install the driver

Next, make sure everything is running in a methodical way. Some vendors provide proprietary drivers to ensure that the hardware is functioning properly. Without a driver, your wireless or video card may not run directly (for example, in the case of a wireless driver, you need an Ethernet cable at the same time to surf the internet).

Canonical provides the advantages of easy access to these drivers. You can find these drivers just by launching "Software & Updates" (software and update). You can select the additional Drivers (additional drivers) tab here. Additional proprietary drivers will appear here.

Okay, you're done. This task is easier in Ubuntu than in some other Linux distributions.

3. Install the application

16.04 marks the Ubuntu Software Center no longer exists. Now you can install apps from Ubuntu Software (renamed Gnome Software). In addition to the update, you can also install the application here.

Ubuntu software groups apps by category, so it's easy to find the apps you need. If you already know what application to look for, simply enter the name of the application in the search bar.

Ubuntu software appears at the bottom of the docking bar. Click on it to get the necessary applications that are not preinstalled.

4. Add PPA

Some apps don't appear in Ubuntu software. The application may not meet canonical guidelines, or it may not exist when Ubuntu 16.04 is released.

In any case, developers can use the Personal package archive (PPA) to provide an Ubuntu version of the app.

You can add these applications simply by opening software and updates and entering the "other software" tab.

Here, click "Add". At this point, you can enter the address into the PPA you want to add.

Need further help? These applications are usually accompanied by their own installation instructions. You can often paste a copy of the code into the terminal. Just make sure that you trust the source and understand what you're copying. If the command is not run properly, it will cause damage to the computer.

5. Installing the codec

Many of your audio and video files cannot be run directly. This is more a matter of law than a technical one. Canonical does not have permission to distribute the codec that is used to play most restricted formats as part of Ubuntu.

On the other hand, canonical can be redistributed after the codec is installed.

This becomes quite complicated. We may need to write the whole article to discuss the problem.

The main points are as follows. In the United States, to use a proprietary codec, a clear legal way is to buy a codec pack. You can also download Ubuntu Restricted Extras to get all the excellent codecs that are not officially approved in the United States, but you are unlikely to be in trouble. As for other countries, the law is different, which depends on which country you live in.

6. Change Theme and wallpaper

I don't think the black panel is particularly ugly. However, the default appearance of Ubuntu does not appeal to the eye.

You can change the theme without installing any extra stuff. Go to System settings > appearance. Here, you can change the default "ambiance" theme to a more vibrant theme.

You can also change the desktop background here. More than 10 options are supplied with Ubuntu. You just have to click the + button to add more options.

7. Adjusting the starter

Want the launcher button to be larger? Think that sidebar is taking up too much space? Anyway, go back to System settings > appearance to make changes. x 48 pixels is the default value, but the Move slider can be adjusted to a larger or smaller number.

Starting with 16.04, you can move the launcher to the bottom of the screen. This step takes a little more effort. Do not want to install any additional software to achieve this step, requires the support of the terminal.

Here, enter this command:

Gsettings?set?com.canonical.unity.launcher?launcher-position? Bottom

To move the launcher back to the side of the screen, just make this tiny change:

Gsettings?set?com.canonical.unity.launcher?launcher-position? Left

8. Adjust the Application menu

The Ubuntu App menu is usually invisible. To make them appear, you can move the mouse pointer over the panel. It's easy, as long as you know where to look.

However, this requires additional mouse movement. You just have to adjust the mouse pointer to see what options are available.

Users who are familiar with keyboard shortcuts can set menus that are always visible to circumvent this problem. This option appears under System Settings > appearance. This time, you have to select the Behaviors tab.

You have several options. In addition to having the menu always appear, you can change its position. Switching them to a window bar instead of a panel is a good way to preserve old-fashioned functionality while having a different look and feel.

9. Configure Dash

Dash is the centralized center of Ubuntu Unity. The top icon inside the launcher opens the app, accesses the file, and loads the online search results. Is this good, or is it overqualified?

You can disable areas that you don't like. System setup > Setup with privacy > files and apps allows you to control whether Ubuntu records your file usage and is accessed through dash and other places.

Perhaps you want more results to appear in the dash. Try to get rid of Amazon search results. This used to be the default behavior. Now you have to enable this feature in System setup > Setup and privacy > search.

10. Download the Unity Tuning Tool

Want to adjust other aspects? The Unity Tuning tool (Unity Tweak tools) is your one-stop tool and can even customize the tiniest aspects of the Ubuntu desktop. Replace the icon. Specifies the trigger angle of the display or hide window. If you have anything else to worry about unity, you can fine-tune it here.

For example, System setup > appearance provides an option to automatically hide the launcher. The Unity Adjustment tool allows you to change animations during animations.

Clicking the icon in the launcher opens the application. Click Do not do anything again. What else can it do? If you are using this distribution from another operating system, you can expect to minimize the application by clicking Second. You can enable this behavior in Ubuntu by clicking Unity Adjustment Tool > Unity > Launcher > Minimize.

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Ten tricks makes Ubuntu 16.04 more handy.