How-To Geek
10 Awesome New Ubuntu Apps Developed for the Ubuntu App Showdown

The Ubuntu App Showdown resulted in the development of 133 new applications for Ubuntu. Soon, you’ll be able to install these apps from the Ubuntu Software Center and vote on your favorites – the voting decides which apps win.
These are just some of the interesting applications that are being talked about among Ubuntu users. Feel free to browse the full list yourself; I’m sure there are some hidden gems.
Fogger
Fogger creates separate, sandboxed desktop applications out of web apps.


Each web app runs in its own window, allowing you to easily switch between them and launch them from the dash — just like Ubuntu’s new web app integration feature.


Fogger is already available in the Ubuntu Software Center.
LightRead
LightRead is a slick new RSS feed reader for Ubuntu. It works with Google Reader to synchronize your subscriptions and is integrated with other web services, including Instapaper and Pocket (formerly known as Read It Later). Of course, it has offline-reading support, too. Its interface is similar to the popular Reeder application for Macs.
Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cooperjona/lightread
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install lightread


GWoffice
GWoffice stands for “Google Web Office” — it’s an application for editing your Google Docs outside the browser. It can download your Google Docs files and re-sync them each time you launch it. There’s also support for uploading certain types of files to Google Drive by dragging and dropping them to the GWoffice icon on Unity’s dock.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tombeckmann/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gwoffice
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish waits for events to occur and automatically runs user-definable actions when they do. For example, you can create a rule that automatically launches a specific program when you connect to a specific wireless network. You can have your desktop background change when you unplug your laptop or plug it back in. You can set a specific audio volume level when a specific program launches. The possibilities are near endless, as the available events and actions can be combined in any way you like — you can even have an event trigger multiple actions.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noneed4anick/cuttlefish
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cuttlefish
Download Monitor
Download Monitor is a utility for people with metered Internet connections (upload and download limits). You can view graphs of your bandwidth usage history and set quotas where Bandwidth Monitor will warn you. It’s also integrated with Unity’s quicklist functionality, so you can view statistics from the dash.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:duncanjdavis/download-monitor-submit
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install download-monitor
NitroShare
NitroShare allows you to easily send files between computers on a local network. Every computer with NitroShare installed will automatically detect every other computer with NitroShare installed, assuming they’re on the same local network. NitroShare also runs on Windows, so you can quickly send files between Windows and Linux systems with it.


Use the application indicator menu, select files and right-click them in the Nautilus file manager, or drag and drop files onto the “share boxes” on your desktop to send them between computers.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:george-edison55/nitroshare
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nitroshare
Aplomb
Do you waste too much time online when should be working? Aplomb can help by blocking access to unproductive websites for a period of time. There’s no way to unblock the websites from within Aplomb itself — the inconvenience is designed to keep you accountable.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:snwh/aplomb
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install aplomb
Cuckoo
Cuckoo is a simple alarm application application. It can turn your PC into an alarm clock or just remind you to do something. It has customizable alarm sounds and volume levels, but isn’t cluttered with options you’ll never use.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:john.vrbanac/cuckoo
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cuckoo
TickIt
If you want a simple, old-fashioned desktop application for managing your to-do list, try TickIt. TickIt isn’t integrated with any web service for synchronization, it’s just an application for managing your own task list on your own computer. It’s got filters, deadlines, notes, priorities, and multiple separate workspaces (task lists).


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kazade/tickit
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install tickit
MenuLibre
MenuLibre is a simple menu editor that can create new application shortcuts, as well as edit existing ones. It can also edit the quicklists that appear when you right-click a shortcut on your dock in Unity. In addition to Ubuntu’s default Unity desktop, it also works with Xubuntu’s XFCE desktop and Lubuntu’s LXDE desktop.


Until it’s available in the Ubuntu Software Center, use the following commands to install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:menulibre-dev/devel
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install menulibre
Got Feedback? Join the discussion at discuss.howtogeek.com
Comments (17)
Chris Hoffman is a technology writer and all-around computer geek. He's as at home using the Linux terminal as he is digging into the Windows registry. Connect with him on Google+.
- Published 08/5/12




that NitroShare looks awesome!!!
Some interesting stuff here. Thanks
GWoffice is a Godsend! Thanks for the rundown=)
Why does NitroShare look like one of those ancient-looking wizard UIs from Windows? Because, y’know, were the Windows GUI consistent, everyone made their wizards using standard Aero Wizards.
NitroShare looks to be very useful software for newbies.
Try to install it, but:
E: Couldn’t find package aplomb
Cuttlefish – similar in a way to Android’s Tasker, great app! Glad to see this type of app on Ubuntu. Kudos!
I just installed Tickit on my Linux Mint machine,looks like everything went good. I tried it out and it worked! It will be useful for all my home projects I’ve got lined up that I can’t seem to keep organized.Thanks!
I need to check out Nitroshare. Hope it is fast.
Nitroshare looks very promising. I wonder if they would consider making it work with Google TV
Wow! Thanks for posting this.
I’m a big fan of the Unity Design site.
CuttleFish seems to be impressive. I is useful for me a lot.
@ichido – make sure to run the commands properly in terminal. Make sure to run ALL three commands. You probably forgot sudo apt-get update or to add the ppa. Make sure to run all three of them.
Unfortunately I could not install anything.The response was always”keyserver.ubuntu.com:no route to host.
gpgkeys:HTTP fetch error 7:no route to host.
gpg:no valid OpenPGP data found.
gpg:total no.processed =0
Oh, nitroshare is a useful progam for newbies. Too bad I’m not a newbie. It looks really awesome!
What about Format Junkie? It is awesome!
Good to know thank for the info, but I guess I will wait til they been available on Ubuntu Software Center :)