Fix Your Desktop

The Tombuntu blog details how to install and get more from the recently-released Google Gadgets for Linux in Ubuntu or other Debian-based Linux distributions. The non-compilation instructions alone are worth a read, but the post points out a pretty nifty Compiz tweak that adds puts Gadgets on an OS X-like switchable screen. Make sure you've got the compizconfig-settings-manager package installed in Ubuntu, and then:

Launch System->Preferences->Advanced Desktop Effects Settings. Enable the Widget Layer plug-in, and enter its preferences screen. Select the Behavior tab, and type the following into the Widget Windows text box: class=Ggl-gtk

You've now got gadgets hidden away until you press F9 (or another key you assign) to activate them.

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