| Googling up Ubuntu |
Jan. 21, 2009
 DesktopLinux founder Rick Lehrbaum has posted a fun how-to that shows how to lash a Ubuntu Linux desktop right up to Google's cloud. Lehrbaum shares everything needed to make your Mac- and Vista-using friends feel like they're living with last's year's model.
The fun begins with a fresh install of Ubuntu's latest Intrepid Ibex release, optionally atop a VirtualBox virtual machine. Next, Lehrbaum consolidates the top and bottom GNOME panels, freeing up room at the bottom of the desktop.
Next, Lehrbaum explains how to install Google's Mac-like Wbar launching doc, and customize it with Wbarconf, for example adding Google icons sourced from gOS. Wbar is then configured to start automatically, using a supplied script.
Wbar, customized with Google App pixmaps
Next, it's time to make those pretty launcher icons actually do something. Lehrbaum installs Mozilla Prism and three Prism apps, all via Ubuntu's Synaptic package manager. While Lehrbaum opts for google-prism-mail, google-prism-calendar, and google-prism-docs, other prism apps packaged with Ubuntu can be seen here.
  
Lehrbaum's modified Ubuntu setup
(Click any to enlarge)
Lehrbaum reports, "I like how fast the Google Prism apps open up, and how they appear to be resident applications running on your desktop."
Google Gadget configuration and integration
(Click either to enlarge)
As a final step, Lehrbaum points the way to a pain-free deb-based install of Google Gadgets, opening the door to about 300 applets that run on the root desktop. Left as an exercise to the reader are further Googlifications, such as the installation of Picasa, Google Maps, Google Chrome, and Google Gears (the latter aimed at enabling Google Cloud apps to work better in "off-line" mode).
The full how-to dwells on Lehrbaum's DeviceGuru blog, here.
-- Henry Kingman
(all images reproduced with permission)
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