Essential apps for ubuntu lucid lynx

This is my list of 15 most useful apps for the ubuntu lucid lynx and ubuntu in general.

1. Google Chrome : Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer and easier.
   
   
   I feel that chrome is a wee bit faster than firefox especially the start time.
2. Google Earth : Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain,3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others.
   
   
3. GIMP : GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It has many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc. GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted. GIMP is written and developed under X11 on UNIX platforms. But basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.
   
   
   
   
   
   It is disappointing that GIMP is not a part of ubuntu lucid lynx. But is very essential especially for photography enthusiasts, because F-Spot photo manager has got only very basic editing skills.
4. Calibre : Calibre is meant to be a complete e-library. It includes e-book viewer, library management, format conversion, news feeds to ebook conversion and also ebook reader sync features. Supported formats are mobi, lit,prc,epub,odt,html,cbr,cbz,rtf,txt,pdf and lrs.
   
   
5. Cheese Webcam Booth : Cheese uses your webcam to take photos and videos, applies fancy special effects and lets you share the fun with others.
   
   
   This was essential as camorama does not work with my Vaio CS.
6. ChmSee : ChmSee is a compiled HTML file viewer written in GTK+. It uses gecko rendering engine, supports bookmarks and can open multiple files at once.
   
   
7. Conky : Conky is a free, light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop. Conky is licensed under the GPL and runs on Linux and BSD.
   
   
8. VLC media player : VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player and multimedia framework capable of reading most audio and video formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, DivX, MPEG-1, mp3, ogg, aac ...) as well as DVDs, Audio CDs VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a media converter or a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on networks.
   
   
9. Audacity : Audacity is a multi-track audio editor for linux/Unix, Mac OS and Windows. It is designed for easy recording, playing and editing of digital audio. It features digital effects and spectrum analysis tools. Editing is very fast and provides unlimited undo/redo.
   
   
10. Blueman Bluetooth Manager : Blueman is a GTK+ Bluetooth Manager. Blueman is designed to be simple and intuitive for everyday bluetooth tasks such as:

• Connecting to 3G/EDGE/GPRS via DUN profile.
• Connecting to/Creating bluetooth networks
• Connecting to input devices
• Connecting to audio devices
• Sending/Receiving/Browsing files via OBEX
• Pairing
  

11. Compiz config settings manager : CCSM, short for CompizConfig Settings Manager, is a configuration tool for Compiz Fusion. It is used to configure the many plugins included in Compiz and Compiz Fusion, as well as the use of various profiles and intergrating better with existing desktop settings. CCSM uses the CompizConfig compiz configuration system.
    
    
12. NTFS configuration tool : The aim of the ntfs-config project is to make life of people easier, by providing an easy way to enable/disable write capability for all their NTFS device, internal or external.
    
    
13. NVIDIA X server settings : Tool for configuring nvidia linux graphic driver.
    
    
14. Compiz Fusion Icon : A tray icon that allows you to easily enable,disable and restart compiz, and change the currently used windows manager and/or windows decorator.
    
    
15. Skype : Skype is to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. People also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles.
    
    
    Most of these apps are in the repository, so that you can just install them by 'apt-get'. Easier option is to open ubuntu software center and search for the app you want to install. If you want more information on the apps, follow the links provided above.