Elementary OS Fixes (shell script)

I'm really enjoying ElementaryOS Luna.  It's lightweight, fast, and easy on the eyes.  In fact, I'm running it on an old notebook right now but the plan is to throw it on an Acer C720 chromebook and run it instead of Chrome OS.  But it's not 100% turnkey (I'd say 90%, which is awesome).  The only thing I really felt had to be changed pronto was the uninstalling of some default software (and the installing of better replacement applications).   For example, the default browser is Midori.  Sure, it's ok.. but I'm entrenched into Google Chrome.  Same thing with Totem, Geary, and Empathy....there are just better applications out there.

So here's a bash script that uninstalls all the junk and replaces it with awesome programs!  You can run it as a script or just run each line.  Note that this is a modification of memoryleakx's original script here.

#Download Elementary OS from here:
#http://sourceforge.net/projects/elementaryos/files/stable/

#First you update your system
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

#Install Google Chrome
wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list'
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable

#####If you prefer Firefox
#Install Firefox
#sudo apt-get install firefox

#Clean-up System (remove unnecessary ElementaryOS software)
sudo apt-get purge midori-granite
sudo apt-get purge noise
sudo apt-get purge software-center
sudo apt-get purge scratch-text-editor
sudo apt-get purge bluez
sudo apt-get purge modemmanager
sudo apt-get purge empathy
sudo apt-get remove --purge indicator-messages
sudo apt-get purge maya-calendar
sudo apt-get purge geary
sudo apt-get purge shotwell
sudo apt-get purge totem

sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

#Install gedit (Text Editor)
sudo apt-get install gedit gedit-plugins

# Install VLC
sudo apt-get install vlc

#Install File Compression Libs
sudo apt-get install unace unrar zip unzip xz-utils p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils rar uudeview mpack arj cabextract file-roller

#Install Ubuntu Restricted Extras
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

# Install Pinta Photo Editor
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pinta-maintainers/pinta-stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pinta

# Install Image Viewer
 sudo apt-get install gpicview

#Install Elementary OS extras
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:versable/elementary-update
sudo apt-get update
 ## Elementary Tweaks (System prefs)
sudo apt-get install elementary-desktop elementary-tweaks
## Elementary Themes
sudo apt-get install elementary-blue-theme elementary-champagne-theme elementary-colors-theme elementary-dark-theme elementary-harvey-theme elementary-lion-theme elementary-milk-theme elementary-plastico-theme elementary-whit-e-theme
## Elementary Icons
sudo apt-get install elementary-elfaenza-icons elementary-emod-icons elementary-enumix-utouch-icons elementary-nitrux-icons elementary-taprevival-icons
## Plank Themes
sudo apt-get install elementary-plank-themes
## Wingpanel Slim && Super Wingpanel
sudo apt-get install wingpanel-slim indicator-synapse
sudo apt-get install super-wingpanel

###################
#if not installed
#Install the Dynamic Kernel Module Support Framework
##### sudo apt-get install dkms
##### mkdir kernel
##### cd kernel
####################

#Install Kernel 3.12.2 on 32 Bit
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.2-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.2-031202-generic_3.12.2-031202.201311291538_i386.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.2-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.2-031202_3.12.2-031202.201311291538_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.2-trusty/linux-image-3.12.2-031202-generic_3.12.2-031202.201311291538_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

cd ..
rm -rf kernel
#Reboot!

# Install Zotero for Linux
wget https://raw.github.com/smathot/zotero_installer/master/zotero_installer.sh \    -O /tmp/zotero_installer.sh
chmod +x /tmp/zotero_installer.sh
sudo /tmp/zotero_installer.sh

#Install Qnotero for Linux (Zotero toolbar companion)
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:smathot/cogscinl
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install qnotero

### Don't forget to install the ZotFile plugin manually from www.zotfile.com

#### Install some Handy Indicator Applets ####
#Install CPU Freq Indicator
sudo apt-get install indicator-cpufreq
### copy icon files to elementary theme pack
sudo cp /usr/share/icons/ubuntu-mono-dark/status/22/indicator-cpufreq* /usr/share/icons/elementary/status/22/
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/elementary
killall super-wingpanel
#Install Multiload Indicator
sudo apt-get install indicator-multiload
#Install Weather Indicator
sudo apt-get install weather-indicator

#Install Skype
sudo apt-add-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner"
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype

#Install Libre Office (most recent)
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libreoffice
#Install LibreOffice themes
sudo apt-get install libreoffice-style-human libreoffice-style-oxygen libreoffice-style-crystal libreoffice-style-sifr libreoffice-style-tango libreoffice-style-galaxy
#Install PDF editing
sudo apt-get install libreoffice-pdfimport
##Install Support for US English
sudo apt-get install hyphen-en-us mythes-en-us libreoffice-help-en-us

##Install Support for UK English
sudo apt-get install libreoffice-help-en-gb libreoffice-l10n-en-gb myspell-en-gb hunspell-dictionary-en-gb myspell-dictionary-en-gb hyphen-en-gb libreoffice-grammarcheck-en-gb mythes-en-gb

#Remove extra LibreOffice icons from Slingshot Start Menu (leaves only main 'LibreOffice')
cd /usr/share/applications
sudo rm libreoffice-base.desktop libreoffice-draw.desktop libreoffice-impress.desktop libreoffice-writer.desktop libreoffice-calc.desktop libreoffice-math.desktop

#Install the Clementine Music Player
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:me-davidsansome/clementine
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install clementine

#Install the latest git Version
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install git

# Change start menu to open with ONLY the Super key, instead of Super + Space
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings panel-main-menu "['Super_L','F2']"
### to change back
# gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings panel-main-menu "['space', 'F2']"

#Make sure everything is up to date all over again
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

Let me know if you think I missed some anything awesome that should be added to eOS. Happy customising!

How to Fix Netflix (Google) DNS on Roku Update

This post will show you how to fix the Netflix's hardcoded Google DNS on the Roku.

Roku rolled out an update sometime in the last week in which the Netflix application switched from using global DNS settings to hardcoded 8.8.8.8 Google DNS settings.  I have nothing against Google DNS, but I need to use custom settings because I use Unblock-Us to trick Netflix into giving me USA content....and I'm in Canada.   My Roku is currently on version 5.4 build 3340.

Now, Roku is the only network device in my home that does not allow custom DNS settings.... but that's a different complaint for a different post.  Suffice to say that to trick any application on the Roku, custom DNS must be configured at the router level.

I'm going to outline 2 different router-level methods for fixing the Netflix hardcoded DNS: (1) Rerouting 8.8.8.8 to your gateway, and (2) outright blocking any communication with 8.8.8.8

Method 1 - Rerouting to your Gateway

The first step is to log in to your router.  If you don't know how to do that, stop reading and call your go-to tech support family member.  If you're feeling adventurous, see How to Find Your Router's IP Address.  Save the router's address for the configuration we're doing below.

In this example I'm using an old TRENDNET TEW-432BRP with local ip 192.168.10.1

Find your Routing Table settings.  In mine, it's under Routing > Static.  We're going to create a new static route so that every time the Roku (or any network device) looks for 8.8.8.8, it will be automatically directed to the 192.168.10.1 router ip.  As long as the 192.168.10.1 router is configured for custom DNS, it's bye-bye 8.8.8.8.  Enter the following settings:

Network Address: 8.8.8.8
Network Mask: 255.255.255.255
Gateway Address: 192.168.10.1 (router IP)
Interface: LAN
Metric: 2

Make sure you add & enable the route and that's it.

Method 2 - Blocking Google DNS

Get to your router's configuration page as per Method 1, and find your IP Filter configuration settings. On my TRENDNET, it's under Access > Filter > IP Filter.  Now, simply add the range 8.8.8.8 to 8.8.8.8 (the lone IP address) and enable the filter.  Now, all traffic trying to reach 8.8.8.8 will be blocked and timeout.  In the case of Roku's Netflix, it will timeout and default to the global DNS settings.

How to find Your Router's IP Address in Windows

This post explains how to find the IP address of your wireless or wired router.  In my case, this takes place on Windows 7, but it will also for for Windows XP, Windows Vista, etc.

Step 1 - Command Prompt

From the start menu, run the application Command Prompt or just search for "cmd"

Step 2 - Ipconfig

Type the following code and press enter.

ipconfig

Write down the default gateway IP address.  In my case below, I am connecting over WLAN (wireless) and my router default gateway address is 192.168.10.1

Step 3 - Browser

Launch your favourite browser and type the router (gateway) IP in the address bar and hit Enter.

192.168.10.1

You are now at your router's landing page and ready to configure.  Your router might need a password (usually "admin" / "admin")

How to Rename Android Device on Network

Android devices don't have nice default names on a local network.  This can be confusing, especially if you have to type "android-cfd55432173d6d3e" often.  But, if your android device is routed, it's just one line in a terminal (as superuser) to change this:

setprop net.hostname THE_NEW_HOSTNAME

Here's a screenshot: