74 Misbehaving apps

Ubuntu Linux is generally stable but, at times, some applications just refuse to budge. Right-click on your desktop panel and choose Add to Panel.

In the list of applications, select Force Quit to add a button to your panel to shut down misbehaving applications.

75 Log in automatically

By default, Ubuntu Linux requires you to log in using a password. If you are the only user of a PC and wish to avoid the hassle, enable auto-login by going to System>Administration> Login Window.

Then go to the Security tab, check Enable Automatic Login and choose a user name.

76 Remove start-up programs

Ubuntu Linux can take a while to start up. To speed things up, remove start-up programs that are not needed.

Launch Sessions under Preferences. Some candidates for removal include Bluetooth manager and Print Queue Applet.

Others

77 Zune-like Omnia

If you own a Samsung Omnia II and cringe at having to wait ages for the screen to load, whether you are checking on the weather or stock updates, do away with its TouchWiz II interface.

Switch to Microsoft's new Zune-like system instead.

Click on the centre Cube button, then click on the Settings icon. Next, click on the Display and Light settings and Items in Today. Scroll up till you see the Samsung WidgetPlus item.

Uncheck this and check the Windows Default item. Click OK (the button at the top right).

Now, on the Today screen, you will see the new interface.

78 Write in a new Gmail window

In Gmail, you can compose an e-mail message without moving away from the e-mail message you are currently reading.

Clicking Compose means you have to leave the current message you are reading.

So to get another window open to write your e-mail message, hold down Shift C while clicking on Compose.

A new window will open and you can start writing a new e-mail.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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