Fans of the great looking graphical GRUB boot loader replacement ‘BURG’ will no doubt be pleased to see yet another sterling theme is now available to use, install and gush over at every single boot.I love it when something stunning (and space-themed, I am biased) comes along to drop my jaw.
Say Hola to the following purdy little Plymouth splash screen created by ~internauta2000. It’s an animated, luscious and all-out Ubuntu-ized affair making it a perfect fit for those seeking some branded-bling for their boot-time experience.
Grab the splash @ internauta2000.deviantart.com/Ubuntu-10-10-Plymouth-Splash
Installing and setting new Plymouth boot splashes isn’t recommended for those with a nervous disposition or a sever terminal allergy. If you’re brave enough to continue then you’ll find full instructions inside the .zip file above - in both English and Spanish - ¡MagnÃfico
Too bad many of us won’t get to see it thanks to Ubuntu booting so darn quickly!
For all the 'ITSAMAC!!!OMG!!!1" sentiment flung in the direction of Ubuntu many don't think that it is 'Mac' enough.
We've already covered turning your 'buntu box into a Windows 7 clone but attention turns to Microsoft's Cupertino-based rival and their popular OS X operating system. Here are five ways to make Ubuntu truly looking, behaving and feeling like a Mac.
I’m going to assume that you’ve already found a theme and icon set to your liking. There are literally hundreds out there.
If you're wanting a Mac OS X style desktop you need to have a dock. This is undisputed, holier-than-thou fact-a-rama.
There are many choices around but for something that feels, looks and, most importantly, behaves like OS X's native launcher 'Docky' is the best bet.
It can look like OS X Tiger, it can look like OS X Snow Leopard - it's up to you and with a fantastically implemented 'Stacks' feature on its way there's never been a better time to become a Docky Die-hard!
Now you have your dock you need to get your window minimizing mimicking spot on.
The iconic 'genie effect' OS X uses can be effectively re-created using Compiz, and whilst it does require moving a few settings around our previous guide it all a cinch.
Ubuntu users will find that Ubuntu 10.10 UNE’s new 'Indicator AppMenu' is the perfect foil for your imitation Mac. Better yet - Lucid users are able to install it too!
Stock file manager Nautilus is pretty cluttered. To get a paired down, user-friendly and sumptuous looking file manager you need to install the mighty Nautilus Elementary.
Nautilus-Elementary is often labelled a ‘finder clone’. There is one regard where I can concede they are similar: they are both easy to use.
Installing Nautilus-Elementary is pain-free. Lucid users see this post and Maverick users place your eyeballs here.
Now you’ve got the look you need the goods. Here is an unofficial quick-list of applications from OS X and their almost counterparts on Linux.
Quick Look = GloobusPreview
If you use Nautilus-Elementary than GloobusPreview is ‘baked in’ so to speak, allowing you to preview photos, videos, documents and music all with the hit of a space bar.
Jokosher is a simple, simply laid out audio editor perfect for recording your band or your weekly podcast.
iMovie = OpenShot
OpenShot is, as you’re tired of hearing us say, ‘the iMovie of Linux’. It has the features, the stability, the clean interface and the power. Check it out.
iPhoto = Shotwell
Shotwell makes photo management a breeze and whilst not nearly as gnarly as iPhoto (in many ways thankfully) it is more than capable of managing your digital memories.
Safari = Midori
Why Midori and not Firefox or Chrome? Because you probably use the two latter anyway!
Midori is fast, nimble and comes with many great features such as built-in adblocking and speed-dial.
iTunes = Banshee
“Banshee??!” you hiss in my direction. Yes. Banshee. It now has an MP3 store (using Amazon), can play and manage videos, podcasts and - and - who needs ‘coverflow’ when you can go MeeGo?
Mail = Postler (coming soon)
Ahh, one for the patient now. Postler is the Elementary project’s new mail client and, just like Midori, will be streamlined, efficient and darn usable. 
Dashboard = Screenlets (on a widget layer, no desktop mess kids)
Finally, to round up this, in hindsight extensive post, comes the obligatory ‘widgets’. Screenlets + Compiz allow you to use a ‘Widget layer’ callable via a hot key or hot corner - just like OS X!
Going even further.
You can, of course, go even further. Install Safari or iTunes via Wine (both *almost* work properly), skin Pidgin or Empathy with a slick iChat-esque adium theme, add in OS X system sounds, cursors & wallpaper.
You could even go the whole hog and use Portable Apps for OS X style application management!
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Before commenting on how pointless/turgid/wtf this guide may be, note that we cover a lot of differing subjects here on OMG! so not every article is going to be hit with 100% of readers.
This guide is for people who wish/want/have an itch to do this so, if you’ve some comments related to the topic of this post that isn’t a diatribe on why OS X sucks then feel free to leave it below.
The Moblin icon set (now MeeGo) boasts a wonderfully clean look that not only looks good but doesn’t blind you with gloss or loud colours either.
If you like the refined look of the Moblin icon set then meet ‘Monoblin’ - a new hybrid icon theme, combining aspects of the Moblin icon set with the default Ubuntu Mono icon theme, merging to create a fantastically useable and consistent interface.
Moblin icons are only used for action, status and toolbar icons. All other icons use their Ubuntu-mono theme counterparts. The result is a symbolic style for action icons, going with Gnome 2.28's more sparing use of colours and icons. 
Also available for use with the set is a tweaked version of the Victory GTK theme in which Dylan as “added back Murrine's simpler default look for expander widgets” and brought “a little closer to stock Ubuntu.”
He goes on to note one particular change: “I changed the menus in a somewhat unusual way, replacing divider lines with whitespace that actually divides things.”
The end result is something very, very mellow and useable and makes for a refreshing change when compared to the ever-more-glossy theme sets emerging.
All of this was whipped together by the very cool Dylan McCall who dropped a link off in the OMG! inbox earlier today - and very grateful we are too! Thanks!
There are plenty of great icon themes available for GNOME users to brighten their desktops up with but how many of those are truly awesome?
Faenza, by ~tiheum - best known for his Equinox themes - has released an initial version of this icon set which, as pictures tell a thousand words, looks incredible: - 
Sadly not every file-type or application is yet covered so don’t consider the set ‘final’ just yet. It does come with a tonne of gorgeous icons and most common applications and mime-types are covered.
Download the current version over @ http://tiheum.deviantart.com/art/Faenza-Icons-173323228
Extract the folder and run the ‘install.sh’ script inside. This will let you choose which menu logo you would like to use (Ubuntu by default) and install the icons in the relevant place for you.
Thanks to Jia
It may be the default theme for stock GNOME but the ‘Clearlooks’ GTK theme no-doubt remains on the fringes of taste for eye candy aficionados. Nevertheless the theme provides a clean and distraction free look for your desktop - but could it better?
Enter ~zentili on Deviant Art who certainly thinks so and has just updated his Clearlooks Revamp theme to version 0.45. More than just a lick of gloss, Zentili affirms that “ [every] aspect of the gui has been considered”.
The theme doesn’t require any extra theme engines to be installed instead relying on the default Murrine and Pixmap/pixbuf engines to have the drawing.
The theme pack contains versions for both standard Nautilus and Nautilus-Elementary as well as a very bland wallpaper.
Download the .zip file from the link below, extract and then install the relevant theme pack in your preferred method (e.g. open appearance properties, go to theme tab, drag and drop)
Tip via RayRaven
Give your desktop a cold, steely makeover with ‘WoW’ gtk theme by ~nale12.
The folder contains: -
Elementary versions for use with Nautilus Elementary: -
Plus: -
The wallpaper used in the above screenshots can be procured here.
![image[3]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEvDGN_ArguugW-zlLPcWm1fGylTwZGy4m_kPcVINiPWVbrJOFDHqRXevN2uyUOmhcbZD_XP0xWNI9CQL6GBBVYefB9VvwYaNeD6121mB02KiJco8P6eA8xBDgn42TZs2vMMpmrGMl1Se/?imgmax=800 "image[3]"){kind=small}
Elementary fans seeking a theme to flawlessly match the rest of their desktop will be pleased to see this theme by ~bigrza. The skin is an elementary-esque version of the 'tooltip' theme CoverGloobus ships with, complete with trademark elementary monochromatic icons and soft gradients. 
We’ve featured the plastic beach set of CG themes before but they’re so awesome they deserve another highlight. With 4 different variations you’re sure to find the one you like. 
Minimal more your bag? Bitmap is just such a theme, able to stay tucked away in a corner and out of your way until you need it.
A notifyOSD-styled theme is far from a non-plus. The theme sports some hidden control icons that only appear on mouse-over and would look the part on any Ubuntu desktop.
Installing extra CoverGloobus themes is a shoe-in; all you need are some fingers, 30 seconds and a theme ready and extracted and just waiting to be installed…
If you’re read this blog for a few months you can’t have missed mention of BURG - the easy way to get a graphical, good-looking bootloader.
The relatively easy process of installing BURG has now been made even easy thanks to Ingalex and his ‘BURG Manager’ application - which lets you to do all of the following from one simple interface: -
Easy one-click install .deb files can be found over on the projects home page @ this link.
Alternatively you can add the official repository for the application, thus ensuring you remain up-to-date with the latest fixes and features. To do this open a terminal and enter the following commands carefully and as root where needed.
Once installed you will find the BURG Manager in the Application > System menu
To finish off here is a pretty swish video of the application in action from the developers themselves: -
If you remember seeing this a day or two back and thinking “Ooooh”…. 
…followed by feeling a bit “Boooo” when looking at your stock Ambiance theme, then perk up - I need your ears, eyes and attention! The identify of the mystery theme has been deduced!
It’s called ‘Dichotomy’ and was proposed for inclusion in the Community artwork package during the Lucid cycle. We even featured it here on OMG! back in March this year.
Thanks, once again, to cmyrland
To counterbalance the increasing amount of bright and shiny-buttoned Metacity's of late I present you with some sober minimal Metacity themes to install and enjoy.
White, bright & fast Case is a very minimal Metacity that doesn’t aim to impress with hover-over effects or glow-y buttons just keep out of your way.
Download @ http://amg.deviantart.com/art/Case-for-GNOME-56250638
If light n’ white is not your bag then this dark Metacity should please.
Download @ http://nikkee.deviantart.com/art/nSimpleDark-88603444
W.I.N.G is a port of the popular Emerald theme of the same name. As with Case above it’s both light, airy and with some unique window control icons adds a bit of identity whilst remaining modally minutest.
Download @ http://evilsidebg.deviantart.com/art/W-I-N-G-Metacity-123864085
We featured some old-skool OS theme in a previous daily 5 and this Metacity takes more than a leaf from their book with it’s classic-OS inspired Metacity controls.
Download @ http://xinh.deviantart.com/art/Zyonin-Dark-Metacity-157108654
Okay… so this one isn’t technically a real Metacity given it’s a mock-up but I had to include it. It’s a great example of how a non-showy minimal Metacity should be and deserve to be made reality.
Mock-Up by 0rax0 @ http://0rax0.deviantart.com/art/Natural-metacity-Mockup-154211165
As the 10.10 development cycle rolls along various user-created themes are submitted for potential inclusion in the ‘Community Themes’ package.
The popular Impression themes have been available for a few cycles now but, for Maverick, have now garnered themselves a striking visual overhaul. Whilst the images you’ll see below aren’t final per se they certainly show that impression is, indeed, heading in an impressive direction. Be sure to check out the wiki page for more developmental reasoning on the changes.
The first thing you’re going to notice is the inclusion of a consistent colour palette based on that of the ‘new’ Ubuntu branding.
“Impression embraces vibrant warm orange…
…and Night Impression a cooler aubergine.”
Yep - you can install these already! To err on the side of caution note that these aren’t by any means final versions but progress snapshots.
Packages
Installation
You will need to install the latest Murrine GTK engine from PPA (inless you’re already using Maverick)
Click the Install button.
Screenlet clock fans seeking an Android clock theme need look no further.
Regular readers may well know that I had made an Android clock skin myself but since it has disappeared from both my Drop Box and my hard-drive we can all thanks Slater91 for coming to rescue and creating a new one for people to download and use.
Grab the .zip archive from Slater91’s deviantart page @ slater91.deviantart.com/art/Android-Clock-screenlet
Extract the .zip, open up the screenlet control panel then click on the Clock screenlet, select "Install new theme" and proceed to choose the extracted file.
![124144-1[3]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSx-6CjCVZ7wb4G7VkQVf0aEloy0LiqM0wUKW8V9BUSW9VuSHMZiA7nxdJXN_tiwUqdrF48nn3aAhp8yhFXntSxRoZcrVzJKxlnOvZMNlJM0lr-1jXw3-TqeteV3Nd5X0-I7jw65HcF2x/s1600-h/124144-1%5B3%5D%5B6%5D.jpg "124144-1[3]")
Many of you loved the look of the look of the bar but found the hacking needed to get it to fit your screensize a bit off-putting. Thankfully the developer, Veoduendes, has addressed that issue with the launch of a new configuration wizard which makes using the bar a total breeze. 
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