Ubuntu Tweak 0.8 released with new Apps category

Change the GTK+ theme, select a different font, disable the shortcut hint overlay, enhance Unity launcher quicklist, etc, are actions grouped inside Ubuntu Tweak, a "global" utility that incorporates a massive amount of configuration options, options helped by a handy Overview (displying the computer's hardware and software details) and a useful Janitor (from where the user can easily clear the system's cache).

Ubuntu Tweak 0.8 has been released, introducing a new category, Apps, taking the handy utility a step further towards online-based capabilities.

Apps contains numerous applications, in the sense of allowing the user to hassle-free install applications (essentially from third-party PPAs), apps ranging from defaults (such as Thunderbird, Transmission, etc) to non-default apps (such as Weather Indicator, FileZilla, etc).

Ubuntu Software Center provides thousands and thousands of packages, exposed as stable versions, yet, due to various apps' rapid release cycle, users install the latest apps versions from PPAs; the Apps category pushes into Ubuntu Tweak widely known and used apps (installable from PPAs, usually from official PPAs, official in the sense of being provided and maintained by the exposed app's developers), apps that are 1-click away available.

In order to install an application, click on its icon, action that opens it in a dedicated install view, checking a PPA, automatically adds the checked PPA to one's system (functionality notified via the desktop notification), clicking Install, installs the application.

The above mentioned install process can be applied for updating software, too, meaning, if the user has previously installed Deluge, clicking on its Apps' icon, opens Deluge in its install view, checking the Deluge Team PPA, adds the PPA to the system, clicking Update, updates Deluge to the latest version (latest, according to its official PPA).



Removing a previously-added PPA from the software sources is to be easily achieved by unchecking the PPA (from its install view), furthermore, clicking Uninstall, uninstalls the application.

A definitely interesting aspect of Ubuntu Tweak 0.8 is its manner of exposing applications, meaning, Apps categorizes applications in Featured (Indicator Remindor, Terminator, Geany, etc), New Apps (Geary, Sublime Text, GIMP, Shutter, etc) and All Apps, consequently, along with the installation process, Apps familiarizes the user with "what is new" and featured apps, allowing newcomers to enlarge their perspective on what-apps-shoud-I-use approaches.

The mentioned features, "backed" by various fixes, are part of the first 0.8.x Ubuntu Tweak series.

How do we install Ubuntu Tweak 0.8?
Add the following official PPA (Oneiric, Precise)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Bugs can be reported on https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak