Ubuntu linux uses software repositories to provide software packages and security updates to its users. There are a lot of mirrors situated all over the world, to offer better downloading speed for the users. To find the best repository server near you is a simple task, but could make your download speeds much better.

To find the fastest server for your computer you must launch software sources from the system -> administration ->software sources. You will find a window similar to the below one.  Select the “other ” option in the drop-down menu

There appears a button to select the best server, and when clicked it automatically selects the best server by pinging all the available servers.

Note that repository speeds can vary according to traffic and others factors.

iMacros is an extension for web browsers to add the functionality of record and play, to make repetitive browser tasks easier. iMacros is available for major web browsers like internet explorer, google chrome, mozilla firefox etc and  is so powerful that it can deal with bookmarking, sharing, alerts, widgets, page navigation and lot more. iMacros for firefox can be downloaded from here.  iMacro can be easily controlled using javascript which greatly simplifies your life. For example, tasks like logging to a website and reading the articles after a few clicks, can be easily accomplished with iMacros.It can be done, by recording for one time what you did for reading that article and each time you need to read the article, simply run the macro and the job is done.

For more reading, i recommend iMacro How-to articles. Here is a video tutorial on how to use iMacro .

iMacro for firefox

Ubuntu Tweak is a nice graphical front end tool for easy customization of your Ubuntu linux machine. Considering the case of a beginner in Linux world, the most haunting task is that of window customization and now it is made easier with Ubuntu Tweak. Ubuntu Tweak functions like an extended control panel and simply facilitates the matching settings even more advanced users and even provides customization which is not possible by default installation. I personally recommend using this tool. New version of Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.2 is now available for download.

Following are the links to download ubuntu-tweak

- Ubuntu Lucid: ubuntu-tweak_0.5.3-1 ~ lucid1_all.deb
- Ubuntu Karmic: ubuntu-tweak_0.5.3-1 ~ karmic1_all.deb

I know you like to try every new linux distribution, but not interested in burning cds and booting  from it. Ok, here is a solution to your problem, install your linux distro in a flash drive and boot from it without going to the hassels of creating a boot cd. If you like to install your favourite distro on a flashdrive so that you could take it everywhere you go, you are most welcome. Unetbootin is an opensource software available for windows and linux platforms which enables you to install almost all linux distributions in a thumb drive. Grab your copy of Unetbootin here. With unetbootin you can install many linux distros like ubuntu, mandriva, knoppix ,opensuse , fedora and much more.

Video showing how to install linux distros using unetbootin :

To make your karmic koala look like  lucid lynx is easy. Here are the links to debian files you need to download to make it work ,desktop  items and icons . Download the files and double click on it to install it.Then, to select the themes, select System> Preferences> Appearance and in the flap Subject, For Ambiance or Radiance . Choose your theme and have fun. If you need to try something different take a look at how to make your ubuntu linux look like mac os .

Here is a nice opportunity to make your desktop icons more colourful with color icon theme ,Humanity Colors. This is nothing  but a modified version of icon humanity for gnome desktop environment. Download this nice icon theme from GNOME-Look.org. After downloading unpack , the file and the folder on to System => Preferences => Appearance. Hurray you are done. More details can be found at http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Any+Color+You+Like?content=102435 .

Many operations , such as backing up important files or changing the wallpaper are activities that we do periodically, but  we don’t want to do it or have no time for this . Fortunately now you have dothisnow for help. Dothisnow is so advanced that it can change your desktop background, change pidgin status, play music, create screenshots and much more.For each of these steps, we can also define a very precise time of its execution, or cycle, which is to be repeated (eg a screenshot every 10 minutes to the folder reviewglitz) .Changing status of pidgin or playing audio after a fixed time etc can be controlled by Dothisnow.

DotThisNow can be downloaded from hand tools.