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Screenlets

Screenlets are mini-applications (widgets) you can use on your desktop to "improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern composited Linux-desktop". The "Screenlets" application is used to run and display these widgets on your desktop. For more info, visit the Screenlets homepage.


Screenlets 0.1.4 was released a couple of days ago, bringing fixes and improvements for Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal (Unity) such as AppIndicator support, fixed flicker and resize grip issues in Natty and more.

Also, Screenlets now has its own PPA (there's also a development PPA here) so it's easy to install the latest version in Ubuntu.


Install Screenlets 0.1.4 in Ubuntu


Screenlets

The Screenlets PPA is available for Ubuntu 11.04, 10.10, 10.04 and even 9.10. Add it and install Screenlets using the commands below:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:screenlets/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install screenlets


The Screenlets PPA comes with a huge list of screenlets such as: Google Calendar screenlet, Gmail screenlet, Folderview screenlet, Ring Sensors, Terminal, Twitter, Notes, the amazing WallpaperClock Screenlet and many others.

There's also a "sidebar-screenlet" to which you can attach other screenlets and you can set it to autohide, keeping you desktop clean and only display it when you need it. This screenlet also allows you to install other screenlets using drag'n'drop.



Screenlets

To install these extra screenlets, once you've added the PPA, open Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic and search for "screenlet" (in USC, make sure you click the "Show technical items" button).

Or you can install all the screenlets in the PPA using the following command (warning: this will install a lot of screenlets!):
sudo apt-get install screenlets-pack-all

[Thanks to Ubuntunews.ru for the news]