Install Screenlets for Linux Mint 12 - Desktop Widgets
Understanding and Installing Screenlets on Linux Mint
Screenlets are miniature applications designed for Linux Mint, functioning similarly to Gadgets found in Windows 7. They enable users to incorporate elements like sticky notes, clocks, and calendars directly onto their desktop environment. Essentially, Screenlets replicate items commonly found on a physical workspace, and extend beyond those possibilities.
This guide details the process of installing the Screenlets program, adding and removing screenlets from your desktop, and integrating screenlets downloaded from the internet.
Installing the Screenlets Program
To begin, navigate to the Applications menu and select “Other” then “Software Manager”.
Within the Software Manager window, type “screenlet” into the search box located in the upper right corner. The search results will appear dynamically as you type, eliminating the need to press Enter. Click on “screenlets” from the displayed list.
Proceed by clicking the “Install” button on the subsequent screen.
System authentication is required for software installation. Input your password into the “Password” field and click “Authenticate”.
The installation progress will be shown at the bottom of the Software Manager dialog.
Occasionally, the Software Manager may incorrectly indicate that the application remains uninstalled even after completion. To resolve this, click “Search results” at the top of the dialog, then select “screenlets” again from the search results.
The dialog box should now accurately reflect the installed status and display a “Remove” button.
To exit the Software Manager, select “Close” from the “File” menu.
Launching and Managing Screenlets
To launch the Screenlets application, select “Accessories” then “Screenlets” from the Applications menu.
As an example, we will add the “ClearWeather” screenlet to the desktop. Select “ClearWeather” in the pane on the right side of the Screenlets Manager dialog, then click “Launch/Add”.
The screenlet will appear on your desktop. You can reposition it by clicking and holding the mouse button while dragging it.
Right-clicking on a screenlet opens a menu for configuration, adding instances, or removal. To modify the zip code for the ClearWeather screenlet, right-click and select “Zip Code” from the menu.
Enter the desired zip code in the dialog box and click “OK”.
The ClearWeather screenlet will now display weather information for your specified location. By default, temperatures are shown in Celsius. To switch to Fahrenheit, right-click the screenlet and select “Properties”.
In the “ClearWeatherScreenlet” dialog, navigate to the “Options” tab and then the “Weather” sub-tab. Deselect the “Use celsius temperature” check box. Click “Close” to save your changes.
Note that the “Screenlet” sub-tab provides settings common to all screenlets and may be the only available tab if a specific screenlet lacks unique settings.
Adding Screenlets from the Internet
You can expand your collection of screenlets by downloading them from online sources. Here are two popular websites:
- http://screenlets.org/index.php/Home
- http://gnome-look.org/?xcontentmode=6700
After downloading screenlets to a folder on your system, open the Screenlets Manager and click “Install”.
Ensure “Install Screenlet” is selected in the “Install” dialog box (it is the default) and click “OK”.
In the “Install a Screenlet or SuperKaramba theme” dialog, navigate to the folder containing the downloaded screenlets and select the desired screenlet (typically a .tar.gz file). Click “Open”.
A confirmation dialog will appear after the screenlet is added to the Screenlets Manager. Click “OK” to close it and return to the manager.
Select the newly installed screenlet in the right pane and click “Launch/Add” on the left.
The screenlet will be added to your desktop, and its properties can be adjusted as described previously.
An icon for the Screenlets Manager appears on the panel when the application is running. Right-clicking this icon provides quick access to options such as opening the manager, installing screenlets, accessing more screenlets, launching installed screenlets, restarting all screenlets, or quitting the program.
To close a specific screenlet, right-click it on the desktop and select “Quit this <name of screenlet>”. To close all instances of a particular screenlet, right-click any instance and select “Quit all <name of screenlet>s”.
A wide variety of screenlets are available, including those for monitoring wireless connections, network activity, and CPU usage. You can also find screenlets for displaying Twitter feeds and Google Calendar events directly on your desktop.