Vistar7 is a Windows 7 Transformation Pack for KDE desktops on Linux. This Windows 7 Transformation Pack for KDE has got everything you might need – Windows 7 icons, themes, splash screens, sounds, MS fonts, and more.

You can download the Windows 7 Transformation Pack for KDE from here

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Download Windows 7 Transformation Pack for KDE

The themes are designed by commercial artists – so they look very professional. Every skin suite (Hypertheme) includes a Windows theme, a cute icon set, and an equally pleasing wallpaper. Additional stuff like Windows Media Player themes and a few widgets are also present in some themes.

Here’s why Hyperdesk’s Hypersuites are better than many other themes available for download:

• Very brilliant themes – professionally designed, no niggles, and neat finish
• Hyperdesk uses Microsoft’s own skinning engine – so your system stays stable
• It’s a matter of just click – install – apply. Doesn’t involve any hacks
• One click easy restore – You can easily return back to the default theme at the click of a button – no hassles here as well

You gotta take a look at the site to believe it. Check it out here. If you want some screenshots, here are some:

This is the DarkMatter Subspace theme:

The upcoming Wall-E desktop theme (I have to confess – I love this one):

The Sony Ericsson Onyx Windows Desktop theme:

Giveaway

Jeff of The Skins Factory was kind enough to offer 2 licenses for the DarkMatter Hypertheme for our readers.

DarkMatter contains two distinct hypersuites for Windows, a Windows Media Player and an iTunes widget and a futuristic icon and a wallpaper that’ll blow your mind. As an added bonus, you also get a skin for Windows Media Player.

As you can see from the screenshots above, the Hyperdesk DarkMatter Subspace is indeed a very brilliant theme to use on your desktop and impress your friends!

How to Win?

The theme actually costs $9.95, but you can get two licenses for free – just leave a comment here and let us see your desktops – upload the screenshot your current desktop in an image hosting site like Photobucket or Imageshack and leave the URL here. Also, please leave a working email ID so that I can contact you later regarding the giveaway, if you happen to win.  Make sure you subscribe to the feed for free via an RSS reader or via email so that you can get updates when the winner is announced.

The two most beautiful desktops will be chosen by me, and each commenter will win a license for the DarkMatter Subspace Hypersuites from Hyperdesk. The final decision rests with me.

Update 1: Some of you have been posting Vista Desktop Screenshots, but please note that Hyperdesk is available only for Windows XP at the moment.

Update 2: The contest is over. Winners have been announced.

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Hyperdesk Hypersuites – Quick Review and Giveaway – Win 2 DarkMatter Subspace Theme Licences!

Ubuntu comes with functional and free software for all your needs, but still I’d like to recommend you the following five software that’ll make it even more better:

1. Compiz Advanced Settings Manager

Ubuntu comes with a set of graphic effects that are really a treat to your eyes, but you can just choose between three levels – normal, extra, and no graphics. Ubuntu doesn’t give you options to configure/add additional snazzy graphic effects for window movements.

By installing the Compiz Config Settings Manager, you can control the magical graphic effects by using a GUI. For instance, you can alter the window opacity settings, and add a bunch of rotating cube effects, etc.

Compiz Settings Manager can be installed by typing:
$sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

2. Startup Manager

Ubuntu does come in with a little msconfig-like startup program manager that can be accessed from System > Preferences > Sessions but it doesn’t give you many settings to play with.

You can download and install a program called Startup Manager that can help you modify a few cool settings. Have a look at the screenshot above this paragraph. It’s got the options to alter the GRUB settings, menu timeout, colours, background image, menu resolution, grub password, etc.

Startup Manager can be installed by typing:
$sudo apt-get install startupmanager

3. GParted

Did you know that you never need to defragment your Linux filesystems? So, a defragmenter is unneeded. However, you might want to manage your hard disk partitions if you have cluttered data all around.

GParted does the job for you. It’s an excellent, open source partition manager that can format, resize, delete and perform all sorts of operations on your hard disk partitions. If you keep tweaking your system, this is an essential utility.

GParted can be installed by typing:
$sudo apt-get install gparted

4. NumLockX

I use the number pad on my keyboard most of the time, but the fact is that when I boot into Ubuntu, the NumLock key is not switched on by default.

When I scouted for a way to turn it on, I came across this little package called numlockx that does the job perfectly. At less than 75 KB, this tool does what it says – turns on the NumLock key when the GUI starts.

Numlockx can be installed by typing:
$sudo apt-get install numlockx

5. Adobe AIR

AIR-based apps are getting quite popular by the day, and since I’m an active twitterer, I really need twhirl to access it. Twhirl is Adobe AIR-based, so I had to install the runtime.

Adobe AIR installation was quite easy, thanks to the installation guide from Sizlopedia. There are many other useful AIR apps available. Don’t forget to check them out.

Besides all the above five, I also installed Avant Window Navigator and Gnome Do (read my Gnome Do review)
Do suggest your favourite software apps for Ubuntu in the comments! I’m all ears.

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Five Softwares to Install in Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron [Recommendation]

In order to turn text smoothing on in Ubuntu, do the following:

• Go to System > Preferences > Appearance
• Go to the Fonts tab
• Under rendering, select Subpixel Smoothing (LCDs)



• Click Close

I’m sure you have noticed the ClearType-like font smoothing on your screen now, haven’t you?

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Turn on ClearType like Smooth Text in Ubuntu Linux

• From the Gnome Menu, select System > Administration > Login Window.
  
• For security reasons, you’ll be asked to type your password.
  
• Once you’ve entered your password, click OK.
• In the dialog window that appears, go to the Security tab.
  
• Check ‘Enable Automatic Login’
• In the box below, select/type in the username
• Click close to save the changes

The next time you start Ubuntu on your computer, the login screen will be bypassed and you’ll be automatically logged into the account you specified.

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

How to Auto Login To Ubuntu?

Did you know that you can instantly open special locations in Nautilus by typing in some special URIs?

For instance, in order to open the Writable CD Folder, type in burn:/// in the location bar. You’ll see the inbuilt CD app opening up, like this:

Similarly, the following special location URIs could come handy to you. Try them, here you go:

computer:///
Shows Computer, lists the disk partitions
network:///
Shows the network locations
fonts:///
Lists the fonts installed on the system
burn:///
Opens the CD Writing Window.
themes:///
Lists the themes available for the Gnome Desktop
system-settings:///
Gives access to system settings.

Do let us know in the comments if you know more such URIs!

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Nautilus Tip: Quickly Open Special Locations

Gnome Do Installation

Like installing many other applications on Ubuntu, installing Gnome Do was also easy. I’ll only talk about installing it on Ubuntu. If you’re on some other Linux Distro, you could try the methods mentioned here.

Ubuntu Users: Go to your terminal and type:
gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Add the line below to the file that opens on gedit:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ubuntu gutsy main

Once that is done, save the file and close gedit. Return back to the terminal. Type in the following to update the repository list:
sudo apt-get update

Then give the following command to install Gnome Do:
sudo apt-get install gnome-do

Using Gnome Do

Now that Gnome Do is installed, you can find an option to launch it in the Applications > Accessories menu.

Gnome Do is not added to the start up programs list. You may want to go to System > Preferences > Sessions and add gnome-do –quiet to make Gnome Do start up automatically when Ubuntu boots up.

By default, the Win Key + Space shortcut is used to bring Gnome Do into focus. Type in something, and Gnome Do will offer possible options. For example, as I type in ’sud’, I get the following suggestions:

Since I want to run the Sudoku game, I press Enter.

If you’re offered multiple options, you can use the arrow keys to cycle through them, one by one.

Gnome Do – Customization and Plugins

You can customize the Gnome Do shortcut (default is Win key + Space). To do that, you’ll have to start the gconf-editor by typing in Configuration Editor on Gnome Do. go to /apps/gnome-do/preferences/ and change the value.

Like many other open source applicatinos, Gnome Do also supports plugins which can be used to add, or enhance built-in functions. A handful of plugins are available currently. Expect more to arrive as Gnome Do develops.

One that I’ve just began to use is the Tweet Plugin that posts status updates to Twitter. Many other plugins can be found in the official wiki

How to install Plugins

To install a plugin, drop the downloaded .dll file in the ~/.local/share/gnome-do/plugins/ where ~ is your home directory path.

If you’ve got any questions, or willing to participate in the project, go to the LaunchPad site.

Have your Say in the comments.

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

Gnome Do Application Launcher

It can be said as a stripped down and polished version of Ubuntu. Stripped down – because it’s using a light window manager, and, polished – because of the good integration with the latest web 2.0 services and a light graphical appeal.

Here I leave you with a few screenshots that may tempt you to grab it and try it:

gOS 2.0 Desktop Screenshot

gOS 2.0 Main Menu Screenshot

gOS 2.0 Settings Window Screenshot

Gmail on gOS 2.0

gOS 2.0 Window Decoration Modules Screenshot

gOS 2.0 Installation Steps

Visit the gOS 2.0 Official Site for more

I’d love to hear Mayank’s and others’ views on this distro. Any takes?

Post from: Killer Tech Tips

gOS 2.0 Screenshots and Review