Histwi

Okay I agree the name does seem odd. But the application isnt.

Histwi is a twitter management application allowing you to:

• Download and save all your Tweets to Database.
• View and export all saved tweets to html or txt file.
• Compare your Following to Followers.
• Follow/Unfollow any your friends.
• Tracking new followers and unfollowers.
• Advanced Twitter Search.
• Managing multiple Twitter account

How to install:

Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic) and later:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nikolay-blohin/histwi

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install histwi

For older version Ubuntu your can make it manually by copying the lines below and adding them to your system's software sources:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nikolay-blohin/histwi/ubuntu karmic main

Thats it!

Source: http://originalcoding.com/histwi/ (Launchpad Link: https://launchpad.net/histwi/)

Extra Suggestions for 10.04

Here are some extra suggestions for 10.04.

1. Adobe AIR - Yes, its closed-source, but frankly if you leave aside Gwibber (which never worked for me), Ubuntu has no other way of integrating facebook and twitter into a single app. Tweetdeck is your only option.

For that you will have to install Adobe AIR (detailed instructions have been given here: http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2009/12/adobe-air-64-bit-installation-guide.html), next go to the Tweetdeck site and download the .air file and simply double click and install.

You might also want to try Seesmic desktop, another useful Adobe AIR app.

Links: Tweetdeck (http://www.tweetdeck.com), Seesmic (http://seesmic.com)

2. Compiz Plugins - Remember the much loved Burn effect of Compiz? Well it seems like in this edition Compiz will need a little more work to run properly, so type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

This will install the Burn effect (Compiz fusion extra plugins). All you now need to do is go the Compiz Config Manager and enable Animation add ons andthen select your preferred animation from the Animations tab.

3. Remove Adobe AIR apps - Removing Adobe AIR apps is quite easy. You dont need to have the .air file with you anymore you can remove the app from the Ubuntu Software Center just as you would with any Ubuntu app.

4. Chromium - Chromium is the open source twist to Google Chrome. The default version of Chromium in 10.04 was something I didnt really like. So I installed the repository of Chromium. How do you do that? Simple. Go to System > Administration > Software Sources. Now go to the Other Software tab and simply Add the following line:

ppa:chromium-daily/ppa

Thats it. You will get the latest version of Chromium delivered right to your desktop.

So much for now, stay tuned for more tips and tricks.

Ubuntu 10.04 - Post installation tips

Okay so you have installed 10.04 and you are ready to set it up and run your favourite softwares. But wait! Have you installed all the necessary plugins and extra stuff that you might need for a 'hassle-free' experience? After all who wants to see a "Plugins missing" message now and then?

So, here are a few post installation tips an suggestions.

1. Install Restricted Extras

Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a package which is the sort of one in all media solution for Ubuntu. You will be able to use media files of all types of formats (other than open source formats).

How do you install it? Well its simple. Type the following in the Terminal (it dwonloaded more than a 130 MB of data, so stick to that cup of coffee):

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

I would also recommend installing VLC Media Player as its frankly, the most 'comprehensive' media players I've come across.

2. Install Medibuntu repositories:

Sometimes there are formats or processes which require additional libraries. For these you need to install Medibuntu repository. Its as easy as copying and pasting a single line. Type (copy/paste) the following in the Terminal:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/`lsb_release -cs`.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list && sudo apt-get -q update && sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get -q update

3. GIMP

Remember in 10.04, GIMP's gone from the default installation, so make sure you install GIMP from the Ubuntu Software Center. Simply search for it in the Software Center and install. As simple as that.

4. Twitter Client

Gwibber has been chosen as the default Twitter client in 10.04. Somehow I never got it to work, hence my personal favourite and recommendation would be Pino. Its a sleek, super light-weight and most importantly a functional twitter client. Here's how you install it. Type the following in the Terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vala-team/ppa

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:troorl/pino

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pino

Well other than that everything else's pretty much fine. More as I discover. Stay tuned.

Ubuntu alternatives to Windows Softwares

Lucid Lynx 10.04 has attracted a lot of attention. And frankly, a large number of new users are now part of the Ubuntu fraternity. A hearty welcome to all of the new converts.

This particular post is especially for the new users who might struggle to find the Ubuntu counterparts of Windows softwares. The list is only indicative and not in any way all inclusive, since in the open source field, its virtually impossible to keep a tab on development of every single project out of the billions being currently worked on.

1. Media Player - Totem (installed by default) is pretty awesome and plays nearly all formats especially once the Ubuntu Restricted Extras package has been installed (do go through this post: www.explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2009/11/install-restricted-extras-for-ubuntu.html to find out more about how to install this essential package). Of course, if you need to play around a bit more, VLC Media Player, available in the Ubuntu Software Center is a safe bet.

2. Music Application - A dedicated music application is always better than an all inclusive media player. Rhythmbox (installed by default) is definitely my favourite. However if you're on the adventurous side, you might want to try out Amarok, Banshee and Kaffeine.

3. Burning Software - Although Brasero installed by default does a pretty good job and is very easy to use, its a fact that it lacks a lot of features (verification of discs being one of them). My personal recommendation would be K3b (available in the Ubuntu Software Center) which works like magic. It might not be that user-friendly but once you get the hang of it, you will find it very difficult to switch to another burning tool. Another application which is quite good is GNOME-Baker (available in the Ubuntu Software Center).

4. Video Converter - For this there are many options, I prefer to use DeVeDe (available in the Ubuntu Software Center). Other options include Avidemux, Handbrake, WinFF (all available in the Ubuntu Software Center). However when it comes to video conversion I would recommend a trial and error approach.

Do give these softwares a try and let me know what you like best.