How to Reactivate ALT + F2 Shortcut in Gnome Shell in Ubuntu Oneiric [Quick Tips]

altf2-mainIf you have used Gnome Shell in Ubuntu Oneiric, one of the things you might realize is that the “Alt + F2″ shortcut keys to open the Run prompt is no longer working. In fact, the “Alt + F2″ shortcut keys was disabled for unknown reason. After the “Can’t disable login sound” issue, this is yet another small issue that causes great irritation to the users.
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How to Optimize KDE Desktop Effects

KDE desktop effectsSince its official inclusion in KDE, the Desktop Effects component of KWin has received mixed reviews. Many of the negative reviews point to performance problems, some of which are the result of the dramatically diverse offering of Linux drivers available for graphics cards.

Not all graphics cards are equal, but one would expect them to perform the same or close to the same on one operating system as they do on another. Unfortunately, the lack of cooperation from some graphics chip manufacturers and the slow development of some open source drivers have created an environment where every user’s experience may be different.
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How to Remove Appmenu (Global Menu) In Ubuntu Oneiric

appmenu-mainThe appmenu (also known as the global menu) in Ubuntu Oneiric can be both a useful and annoying feature. When it is in action, it reduces the screen space required to render the menu bar. If you are using a computer with small screen, this is very useful for you. On the other hand, if you have a large screen, having to move your mouse to the top left corner of the screen every time you want to access the menu can be a troublesome chores.

For those who wish to remove the appmenu, simply remove the appmenu app with the following command:
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A Simple User Guide For Ubuntu Oneiric

oneiric-logoUbuntu Oneiric, while added much improvements to its Unity desktop, also brought lot of changes that make it more confusing and difficult to use. Users who have come from previous version of Ubuntu will find that some of their favourite applications are missing and replaced with another application that is either more resource intensive or more difficult to use. New users will also be confused where they can find all their applications and system settings. In this tutorial, we provide a simple user guide to help you familiarize with Ubuntu Oneiric.
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How to Stream Media to Your Xbox 360 or PS3

PlayStation 3Video game consoles, particularly the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, are increasingly becoming more than just gaming devices. They have become complete entertainment systems. You can now watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and other streaming video content. You can purchase and listen to music, and with the new Xbox 360 dashboard update coming this fall, you can even watch exclusive live content from cable providers.

One media streaming dilemma that still faces some Xbox 360 and PS3 users is the ability to stream content from another device, such as a desktop or laptop computer. If you have home movies, pictures or photos, a collection of MP3s, or other content that you have downloaded to your computer, it is a pain to have to copy that content to your game console. For Windows users, they can connect their Xbox 360 to their Windows computers without much difficulty. For the rest of us, there are third-party tools. One in particular that I have been using lately is PS3 Media Server.
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Linux Running Too Slow? Here’s How to Find the Cause

linuxperformance-smallI think it’s safe to say that most people familiar with both Linux and Windows would tell you that your average Linux install would outperform an equivalent Windows install on the same machine. That may not always be the case, and some people might have contradictory stories to share, but that’s sure been this author’s experience. In fact according to Top500.org, about 90% of the world’s top supercomputers are running Linux. While the kernel and OS may lend themselves well to high-performance computing, there are often hardware and software issues on the desktop which can cause major lag. Today, we’ll cover some diagnostic tips and tools to help you figure out where your problem might be.
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How to Install Custom Gnome Shell Themes

gnome-shell-theme-mainIt used to be very easy to install custom themes in Gnome 2, but if you have upgraded to Gnome Shell, particularly in Ubuntu Oneiric, you will find that there are not much customization options available for you. While Gnome Shell supports theming, there doesn’t seem to be an option for you to switch to the theme you want. For those who are tired of the default look in your Gnome Shell, here is how you can easily install and switch to a custom theme.
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More Useful and Interesting Bash Prompts

morebashprompts-smallA while back, we listed 8 Useful and Interesting Bash Prompts. That turned out to be one of our most popular articles, and still generates user response and feedback. This time we’ve found a few more gems, as well as some handy tips and tricks for having the coolest shell prompt on the proverbial block.
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How to Batch Convert Documents at the Command Line

Convert it!There comes a time when you need to convert one or more files to another format. Say, for example, you have a bunch of .rtf files that you want to turn into OpenDocument files. Chances are you don’t need to do that too often, but when the time comes, opening each file in a word processor and saving it can be a real chore.

If you use OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice, then you can save a lot of time by letting a command line utility called JODConverter do the work for you. Don’t let the fact that it’s a command line tool scare you. JODConverter is easy to use and fast. It’s also very effective.

Let’s take a look at how to use it.
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