INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
While everyone knows that most Linux distributions (distros) are free to download, not everybody is aware that you also have access to
selection of software preinstalled to help you get started, but there are many more apps out in the wild, under continuous development.In
this guide we'll highlight 10 of the best desktop applications for Linux
SynapticWhile some Linux distros like Ubuntu come with their own flashy app stores, none are as quick and easy to use as Synaptic, which
simply serves as a graphical frontend for the 'apt-get' command line utility
You can install it on any Debian-based Linux distro such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint.Browse categories of apps such as 'Games and Amusement'
using the pane on the left-hand side
Click the box next to an app name to mark it for installation (or uninstallation) then click the Apply button at the top to affect your
All the programs covered in this feature can be installed via Synaptic.2
VLC Media PlayerVLC is most commonly known for being a media player, although it does much more
When installed, it downloads codecs for virtually every kind of audio or video file, meaning you're unlikely to ever have playback issues
See our guide on this here
Mozilla FirefoxFirefox is the default web browser for a number of Linux distros such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Firefox will play YouTube videos right off the bat, and can download plugins to play other formats for you
The browser also updates itself from the get-go, meaning you always have the latest version.Firefox supports a number of extensions to
enhance your web experience, and you can customise the browser further via the Mozilla add-ons page, where it is possible to install a
GIMPGIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free image editor
It can be used to edit and retouch images by resizing, adding layers and other special effects
You can access these via the handy toolbox or dropdown menus
See our guide on how to use GIMP here
adjust to GIMP's interface, but it can do almost everything professional image editors are capable of
You can even add certain Photoshop plugins to GIMP.By default the program takes up less than 100MB of space, which is another considerable
benefit, particularly for those short on storage.5
DelugeWhile many Linux distributions already come with a BitTorrent client, Deluge stands out as a lightweight yet fully-featured app for
downloading your files.The interface is extremely easy to master and can be enhanced by a number of excellent community supported plugins
which do things such as shut down your machine when a download completes.You can even set up Deluge so that it can be accessed via a web
interface from other devices, allowing you to download files to your home computer when you're away.6
ThunderbirdThunderbird is a free and powerful email client
The setup wizard guides you gently through the process of either creating a new email address or setting up your existing one
Thunderbird can be enhanced by add-ons, such as themes to make it more colourful, or better ways to sort your Mail folders
The most useful of these is undoubtedly the Lightning extension which adds a fully functioning Calendar to the email client
LibreOfficeLibreOffice is nothing less than a full-blown office suite, on a par with commercial alternatives like Microsoft Office
While the interface may look rather basic, this product has some extremely advanced features.The LibreOffice word processor Writer,
spreadsheet software Calc and presentation app Impress are preinstalled in Ubuntu and most of its derivatives
save Microsoft Office compatible files too
Read our full review of LibreOffice here.8
PidginPidgin is an instant messaging program which allows you to connect to multiple chat networks at once
At the time of writing these include AIM, Bonjour, IRC and Google Talk to name but a few
Sadly Facebook chat is no longer available since the social network dropped support for the open XMPP messaging protocol.Pidgin can be
enhanced by installing third-party plugins
Some of these allow you to connect to other chat networks such as Skype, while others can be used to protect your conversations, for example
the OTR (Off the Record) messaging plugin.9
ClamAV/ClamTkAlthough Linux machines can't be affected by viruses designed to infect Windows, your PC can accidentally forward harmful files
to other computers, for example in an email attachment
And these days, there are even some incidences of malware aimed at Linux systems.The antivirus scanner ClamAV provides some peace of mind,
as it can detect many types of malware
It's often used on mail servers but will run happily on your desktop system if you want to scan files or folders.By default ClamAV can only
be used from the command line, but you can use Synaptic to install 'clamtk' and 'clamtk-nautilus' to allow you to scan your system and
individual files with a few clicks of your mouse.10
AudacityAudacity is an editing program which allows you to record and tinker with audio
Not only can Audacity record audio simultaneously from various inputs (for example, a USB microphone or an electric guitar), it can also
Furthermore, it supports multiple tracks, allowing you, for instance, to record lyrics and backing music separately.The software also
supports a number of audio effects such as noise reduction, as detailed in its extremely comprehensive manual which is both bundled with
Audacity and available online
Audacity also supports VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins
Tracks can be exported in a number of popular sound formats such as WAV, OGG and MP3
If you want to know more about Audacity, then have a read of our full review here.yckTLLhGmCsr3y3n28KUBZ.jpg#
