In this version, you can delete those PPA packages that might make your system unstable or that you simply don’t like by only a few clicks! Those barriers or worries that keep you from tasting the latest, coolest applications on PPA has been broken into pieces or dissolved!

Before introduce the Purge PPA, let’s see the overview of changes:

• Add support for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick
• File Type Manager supports edit multi-types in once, Thanks muzuiget!
• Add support for determining Lubuntu, Netbook Edition
• Add SVG support in GNOME Panel icon (LP: #593513)
• Add SVG support in Login Windows Logo settings
• Add Compress PDF script
• Add PPA Purge support in Cleaner

Bugs fixed:

• LP: #573441 change screen logo on login settings in 10.04
• LP: #583213 LCD brightness slider is working contrariwise
• LP: #587815 Stop enabling the Ubuntu Tweak PPA
• LP: #590013 Update manager in ubuntu tweak fail in Maverick Meerkat
• LP: #576625 Ubuntu Tweak, Desktop-settings error
• LP: #597498 sudo ubuntu-tweak-daemon: os.mkdir error
• LP: #596970 Ubuntu Tweak user files should be in $XDG_DATA_HOME instead
• of ~/.ubuntu-tweak
• LP: #581880 in lubuntu , ubuntu lts lxde dont work many functions
• LP: #585728 compiz module crash in ubuntu netbook edition
• LP: #585268 Changing .recently-used.xbel into a folder breaks VMware Player 3.1.0

Now let me introduce the Purge PPA feature.

Back to the July 2008, two years ago, it was the first time that Ubuntu Tweak  introduced the “Third-Party Sources”(Now renamed to Source Center). Do you know how does it look like? OK, here’s the screenshot:

As you see, it was too simple, only included few PPA to use. But after about-two-years improvement, the Source Center is becoming more and more powerful, It supports syncing sources with network, supports multi-distributions. Of course, it included a lot of useful and latest PPAs.

It was still no good enough.

There’s a defect in Source Center, users might find it hard to revert to the previous version of package if they don’t like the one they’ve just installed from the PPA. Though apt-get is a powerful package management system, it does have problems in coping with package downgrading.

Well, no more complaining! Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5 fills up that deficiency and save your life!

The “Purge PPAs” is integrated into the “Package Cleaner”, but it is used for cleaning PPAs instead of packages.

First, It will list all the PPAs you’ve enabled, and you can purge it by just select and press “Cleanup”.

You should know that it supports selecting multi-PPAs and clearing them at a time!

For example, I need to purge “Elementary Desktop PPA”, firstly I should select it and press “Cleanup”, a dialog will pop up and indicate how many packages will be downgraded and the exact version of these packages.

You may ask if other two or more PPA provide the same package in different versions, how will Ubuntu Tweak handle that in such a case?

Ubuntu Tweak is smart enough to handle this. For instance, P1 and P2 are two PPA sources, they provides the same packages in different versions(P1 is newer than P2 which is newer that the original package in the Ubuntu Official Repository. P1>P2>Repo). P1 might be the daily build channel, P2 could be the latest stable and, you know, Repo possibly provides ancient packages sometimes. Assuming that you’ve tried out the daily build package(P1) and its instability has been driving you crazy. You just can’t wait to revert back to your preference, P2, the latest stable package. Ubuntu Tweak just knows you better than you could ever imagine! It detects all different versions of the same package and roll down to the less latest package. So, in this case, it just won’t ridiculously remove this package at all or downgrade to the ancient package in the Repo. Happy! In case you wonder, what if there’re P3, P4 and P5? (P1>P2>P3>P4>P5>Repo) Don’t panic, neither does Ubuntu Tweak. It will do just fine.

Click “Yes”, the purge and downgrade work will start immediately. You can see the progress in the “Details”.

After a successful package downgrade, PPA will be disabled at the end of the process. That’s it.

It’s EASY, isn’t it?

I hope you like it!

And in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5, there’s another feature that has been improved. The feature is contributed by muzuiget.

File Type Manager was first introduced in Dec, 2008 with Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.4, have you ever played with it?

Now it finally supports multi-types edit, you can edit multiple file types at a time.

Image that you’ve installed a new audio player and love it, you want it to be the default application for all your media files. OK, it’s easy to do.

In File Type Manager, select the File Type you want to change (holding Shift to select multiple objects).

Then press “Edit”, in the opening dialog, choose the audio player you want. After that, all the types of media files will be opened by the application you set earlier.

That’s the two major improvements for Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5.

There are some other minor improvements, such as the GNOME Icon settings supports SVG files, new script called “Compress PDF” has been added. Of course, lots of bugs has been fixed.

Another thing need to be informed is that Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.5 supports Ubuntu 10.10 now.

During the development of Ubuntu Tweak, I was wondered that I received a lot of bug reports from the Ubuntu 10.10 users. It’s amazing that a lot of people have started testing Ubuntu Tweak on Ubuntu 10.10, I highly expect that, on Oct 10, 2010, there will be a perfect Ubuntu 10.10! Also, I will continue to contribute more features for Ubuntu Tweak and bring surprises for you.

Download

The package in the Ubuntu Tweak source is now ready, and you can also download the package by using the link below:

http://launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/0.5.x/0.5.5/+download/ubuntu-tweak_0.5.5-1~lucid1_all.deb

Enjoy!

Overview changes:

Bugs Fixed:

Here’s the screenshot of Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4.1 that runs under Xubuntu. Now you can tweak the Login Screen(GDM) under the Xfce Desktop Environment.

Remove the Select Button in Update Manager, now the interface is simpler.

Download

The source isn’t ready yet. In case you can’t wait to upgrade it,  you can get the package here.

http://launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/0.5.x/0.5.4.1/+download/ubuntu-tweak_0.5.4.1-1_all.deb

Enjoy!

Although the planned Ubuntu Tweak 0.6 is impossible to be released with Ubuntu 10.04 on the same day, Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 still provides you some exciting updates and let you enjoy your unforgettable journey of experiencing  the brand new awesome Ubuntu 10.04.

Here it comes.

I think most of you have upgraded to Ubuntu 10.04 already, haven’t you?

For me, I’ve already upgrade to Ubuntu 10.04 since last week by using the official Update Manager. Everything was OK. But something is annoying: Update Manager disabled all the third-party sources. I have to enable them one by one.

Ubuntu Tweak has an easy-to-use Source Center for you to play with Third-party Sources. Why not integrate a smart  feature into Ubuntu Tweak to let people re-enable the lucid-workable third-party sources?

So that’s what Ubuntu Tweak  brings you.

Overview Changes

Let’s see the overview changes:

• Add support for Linux Mint 9: Linux Mint is Ubuntu based, Ubuntu Tweak should support it.
• Singleton support for Ubuntu Tweak, you will never launch two Ubuntu Tweak instances.
• The Ubuntu Tweak Stable source will be enabled by default, so that you won’t miss the major release version.
• New Login Settings to let you control the appearance and behavior of your login screen
• New feature to upgrade the usable sources.

And some bugs fixes:

• LP: #546331 Empty places in the list while deleting sources file
• LP: #540215 Link failed with Permission denied
• LP: #568454 The feature on “change the main menu icon” does not work in mylucid
• LP: #564942 Default Folder Locations does not expose input method

Now start with some screenshots

Third-party Sources Upgrade

After a successful distribution upgrade, all third-party sources will be disabled by default. If you want to use them, you have  to enable them again one by one, it will take you a lot of time.

Here’s what the disabled sources look like:

OK, from now on, with Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4, it will be very simple to do the Source Upgrade task.

When you enter the “Source Center”, you will be notified like this:

Just press “Yes”, all the sources which marked as “disabled on upgrade to lucid” will be enabled again(only  if the source supports Lucid).

After upgrade, it will look like this.

It’s so simple, right?

Login Settings

The Login Settings is a new feature of Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4. Here you can control the appearance and behavior of the Login Screen(GDM).

I will show you how to use Login Settings to custom your login screen.

Before customization, the logo and background will look like this:

Now I’m changing the login screen logo to “Ubuntu Tweak”, and replacing the original background with a blue-green-black one.

After the customization, logout and check out your new login screen, it’s been changed and just suits your taste.

From now on, you  can customize you own logo to login screen easily with Ubuntu Tweak. Of course, it is easy to “Revert” too.

Other small improvements

You know the PPA sources are slow in some countries. In some cases,  you may want to upgrade your system with PPA sources temporarily disabled. So in the Ubuntu Tweak’s Update Manager, PPA sources  can be disabled  temporarily  by simply  checking the new option.

Some users reported the Default Folder Locations is inconvenient to use. Because some operation had to be done through the context menu.

I re-designed it and add buttons for it.

Just “Change” and “Restore”, no more “Refresh” now.

Downloads

Due to the problem of Launchpad, the PPA source for Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.4 is not yet available.

If you can’t wait to try it out, just download the package below and install it. Here’s the link(It works both on Ubuntu 9.10 and Ubuntu 10.04):

http://launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/0.5.x/0.5.4/+download/ubuntu-tweak_0.5.4-1_all.deb

Enjoy your incredible Ubuntu Lucid journey!

Some people like buttons on the left, and some like the right side.

I think  the important thing is: how user can change it.

So that’s what Ubuntu Tweak does.

It was 0.5.1 when Ubuntu Tweak supports arrange the window titlebar layout.

In order to make it much more easier to let user switch the place, I improved this feature in Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.3. Here’s what it looks like.

First, you can easily switch from right to left by just one click, it will take effect immediately.

The switch from left to right is the same.

When you need more customization, click the “Custom”, then you can arrange them freely.

If you don’t need some control buttons, such as “menu”, you can uncheck it.

How do you think of this improvement?

Now you can download Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.3 from here: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/0.5.x/0.5.3, or update through the source.

Enjoy!

First congrats to Ubuntu, the Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 4 was just released.

I think you’ve been waiting for a while, now Ubuntu Tweak is supporting Karmic!

Please help to test!

This morning (Chinese Time zone), I uploaded the package for Ubuntu 9.10 karmic only to the Ubuntu Tweak Testing PPA.

Now it is ready for testing.

If you are using Ubuntu 9.10, Please visit https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-tweak-testing/+archive/ppa

Add the following two lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list, then you can try the version for karmic.

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak-testing/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak-testing/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

Please report any problem you meet, and remeber, if your desktop isn’t GNOME, DON”T report bug except the modules under “Applications”.

Thank you!

From now onwards Ubuntu Tweak will be updated more frequently. Here comes the new version: Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.2!

By the version number, you must have come to know it is only a fix release. Yup, it’s true.

But it also has a lot of improvements. Here are the major changes:

• Fully support Linux Mint 7
• New option to fix root theme
• Ability to update PPA sources from old style to new style
• Some new PPA sources: Pidgin, Moovida
• Loads of bugs fixed

Here’s the screenshots:

Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.2 supports Linux Mint 7, which is based on Ubuntu 9.04.

All features can be used under Linux Mint 7, including Add/Remove and Third-Party Sources.

New option to fix the root theme appearance, if you use a customed theme,you will need this option to make root applications look normal.

Before applying the fix

After applying the fix

If your sources.list is broken, you won’t be allowed to perform any action until you fix the problem.

Since 0.4.7.1, the launchpad.net has updated the PPA sources’ url.

For example, http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ubuntu will be http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ppa/ubuntu

Now Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.2 will check the PPA sources, then let user to update PPA Sources.

Added new PPA sources, Pidgin and Moovida. Moovida is a great player, you will like it!

If everything goes well, it will be the last 0.4.x series.

I am looking forward to Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.0!

Source Code

ubuntu-tweak-0.4.7.2.tar.gz

Deb Package

ubuntu-tweak_0.4.7.2-1~jaunty1_all.deb

That’s Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.1, it is a stable version with some major bugs fixed and normal update.

As it is a stable version, so no new feature introduced in the version. But it is highly recommend that you should update.

First let me tell you what changed in this version:

• The Shortcuts can be used in Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty now.
• Three famous applications’ sources have been enabled for Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty: Dropbox, Wine and VirtualBox.
• Add Gnote, ubundsl to the Add/Remove and Third-Party Sources.
• Add a hard-shadow script and improve the open-with-XXX scripts.
• Fixed bug: #363208, #346212 and #362378.

Nautilus DropBox can be used under Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

Shortcuts works under Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.1 is ready in the sources and Download, Just update and enjoy with it!

Recently I was busy with daily work and other various things, I’m sorry for some long-standing bugs, now I have time to fix it and release a stable version.

After the Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty’s release, I saw Ubuntu Tweak has been downloaded for many times, and the Lifehacker written an article about top-10 downloads of Ubuntu, Ubuntu Tweak is also in the list. It’s really a good news.

These days I also received several donations, I’m so happy for that, thank you very much. I plan to sort out a donation list while I have enough time.

And thanks all the people who report bugs, give suggestions, without your help, I can’t fix bug or make other improvements.

OK, about the upcoming stable version, it will be Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.7.1.

The two major bugs have been fixed: Short for Ubuntu 9.04 and Compiz check.

The testing package has been uploaded to the Ubuntu Tweak Testing Team’s PPA, Please help to test the 0.4.7.1 and tell me if the Shortcuts works.

Thank you!

Softpedia.com seems the world’s largest  free software information site. It has a Linux special column and I often go to see the latest news and reviews in the Linux world.

The editor of Softpedia.com had an in-depth review of the latest Ubuntu Tweak 0.4.6. It talks every feature about Ubuntu Tweak. So if you want to take an overview  of Ubuntu Tweak, just see the review:

http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/Ubuntu-Tweak-Review-108577.shtml

The review is also listed in the frontpage of Linux Softpedia.

Well, it’s time to release the next version of Ubuntu Tweak. It will be more compatible with the upcoming Ubuntu 9.04.

Yes, the daily-build is finally started!

If you want to test the latest version of Ubuntu Tweak, please join the Ubuntu Tweak Testing Team.

Currently I will upload the latest package to the PPA if the sources code changed. So daily-build doesn’t mean real daily untill I finish the daily-build bot(Now I use the semi-automatic scripts).

I want to tell you, a lot of third-party sources have been added to Ubuntu Tweak, and the Cleaner is more powerful now, it can clean up the old kernel and modules!

I want you to test the new version and tell me your thought and feelings! Thank you!

Enjoy!

Enjoy!