Archives For November 30, 1999

Unsettings

Unsettings is another graphical configuration tool for the default Unity Desktop. It can be used as a complement to System Settings and Unity Tweak Tool.

Unsettings 0.11 was released recently with Ubuntu 15.10 support and new settings:

  • New keyboard settings: “Shift key behaviour”, “Caps Lock key behaviour”, “Alt/Win key behaviour”, “Numpad delete key behaviour”
  • New Fonts setting: “Scale factor”
  • Added “User folders” tab
  • Fixed bug with Unity version detection
  • Added Czech, English (United Kingdom) translations

Install Unsettings in Ubuntu:

Download the installer “unsettings_x.xx_all.deb” at the bottom of its official web page:

Unsettings Home Page

Then click install it via Ubuntu Software Center, Gdebi, or dpkg command.

Once installed, launch it from Unity Dash or from-in System Settings at next login.

Unsettings, the graphical configuration tool for Unity desktop, is “back” by releasing the 0.09 release with Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 14.10 support.

It has been 2 years since the last 0.08 was released in 2012 with support up to Ubuntu 12.10.

Unsettings is developed by Florian Diesch, the man behind Classic Menu Indicator. It allows you to change setting for the Dash, Launcher, Panel, Indicator, Privacy, Fonts, Themes, and more. There are also some options that Unity Tweak Tool and Ubuntu Tweak don’t have, such as Web Apps, Menus/Buttons have icons, Keyboard settings, etc.

Install Unsettings 0.09 in Ubuntu 14.04/Ubuntu 14.10/Ubuntu 12.04:

Download the binary package (.deb) from the link below, then double-click to open it with Ubuntu Software Center and finally click install Unsettings.

The developer has also made the binary into his PPA repository, available for Ubuntu 12.04/14.04/14.10 and even the next Ubuntu 15.04. Run commands below one by one in terminal to add the PPA and install Unsettings:

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:diesch/testing

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install unsettings

Once installed, start the configuration tool from the Unity Dash and enjoy!

When the beginners want to customize their Ubuntu Desktops, System Settings may be the thing that first come to mind.

System Settings is available in Unity (left) Launcher out-of-the-box, it provides a group of utilities to configure your Ubuntu desktop settings, such as backups, keyboard and mouse properties, displays, network and security settings, and more.

However, there are a few basic desktop settings that are not covered by System Settings, such as GTK / icon / cursor themes, fonts, desktop icons, system cleaning and so forth.

Below I’ll show you three simple tools that may help you customize your Ubuntu Desktop:

1. Unity Tweak Tool

Unity Tweak Tool was started since Ubuntu 13.04. It provides a clean and easy-to-use user interface to configure the default Unity desktop settings.

The open-source tool provides detailed configurations for Unity Launcher (left sidebar), dash (the search box), top panel, web apps, window effects, themes, fonts, and more.

One of the most notable features of Unity Tweak Tool is that each configuration tab contains a “Restore defaults” button allows to revert original settings.

To install Unity Tweak Tool, click the below button to bring up Ubuntu Software Center and click install:

2. Ubuntu Tweak

Ubuntu Tweak was started 6 years ago since Ubuntu 8.04. It’s one of the most popular Ubuntu configuration tools. Unfortunately, it is not made into Ubuntu universe repositories so far.

Ubuntu Tweak features:

  • a quick overview of your system information
  • quick install featured applications.
  • configure themes, fonts, login settings, quicklists (Launcher icons’ context menu), and more
  • clean browser cache, system cache, and old kernels.
  • provide online wallpaper HD.

Ubuntu Tweak .deb installer is available for download at the link below:

Ubuntu Tweak Download Page

3. Gnome Tweak Tool

Gnome Tweak Tool is a basic configuration tool specially designed for Gnome Desktop Environment. It’s a good choice if you’re using Gnome Shell session in Ubuntu. But it looks broken in the default Unity DE due to the new client-side decorations.

Gnome Tweak Tool is available in Ubuntu universe repositories, just search for and install it in Ubuntu Software Center.