In Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, you can explore new upcoming apps or undiscovered cool apps – easily using Ubuntu Software Center. Now, some proprietary cool games are also available, besides the huge collection of free softwares. Here are some cool – collection of some most useful apps – that you must try in Ubuntu 12.04 or equivalent distributions such as kubuntu, Linux Mint etc.

Top 10 Apps for Ubuntu 12.04 users!

#1. Nitro

Nitro is a cool app for managing your tasks, your todo list – in an easy way.

Installing Nitro-tasks in Ubuntu/Linux Mint (Using PPA)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cooperjona/nitrotasks sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install nitrotasks

#2. Synapse

Synapse is a graphical launcher (more accurately – a semantic file launcher), also very useful in searching stuffs. If you’re looking for an equivalent of Unity HUD (e.g while using Cinnamon or XFCE on Ubuntu) then you must try it.

Installing Synapse File launcher in Ubuntu / Linux Mint

sudo apt-get install synapse

#3. Miro

Miro is a music player – that can play videos from the web, you can also download it if you want. Enjoy watching videos from the popular sites like YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Mp3 store as well as the podcasts and video feeds. Additionally, it can also do some video format conversion works for you.

Installing Miro Video aggregator in Ubuntu /Linux Mint

sudo apt-get install miro

#4. Shutter

Shutter is a full featured screenshot application. You can easily capture screenshot of a window or a specified rectangular area – with or without a delay. You can also edit your screenshot using the embedded drawing tool, apply cool effects, and upload/export images automatically to the configured ftp host or Ubuntu One.

Installing Shutter in Ubuntu [12.04] /Linux Mint (13)

sudo apt-get install shutter

#5. Eidete

Eidite is a Screencasting application, it’s designed for simplicity and it works! You must checkout if you’re not happy with the other screen recording application such as recordMyDesktop or Kazam.

Installing Eidete in Ubuntu / Linux Mint

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:shnatsel/eidete-daily sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install eidete

#6. Steadyflow

Steadyflow is a simple download manager, with an easy to use GUI and great features.

Installing Steadyflow download manager in Ubuntu / Linux Mint

sudo apt-get install steadyflow

#7. Zim

Zim is a wiki application. It has some nice features (sync, links, formatting, images etc) with a nice UI. it’s really good for wiki style notes. The sync features keeps your notes updated (if you use it on multiple computer, using Ubuntu One or Dropbox) and safe.

Installing Zim Desktop Wiki in Ubuntu / Linux Mint

sudo apt-get install zim

#8. Catlooking

Catlooking is a distraction free writing app for those who love writing and looking for a text editor with minimal features.

Download Catlooking and install it using a gdebi package installer (in Linux Mint) or Ubuntu Software Center (in Ubuntu).

#9. Handbrake

Handbrake is a video transcoder application, available for all platforms. It has lot of cool features and it supports variety of formats, so it can convert your video files for any devices you want.

Installing Handbrake Converter in Ubuntu 12.04

open a terminal and type the commands –

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install handbrake

#10. OpenShot

OpenShot is a simple and easy to use video editor, like a good substitute for the windows movie maker. it has nice features and it’s really good for beginners.

Installing OpenShot Video editor in Ubuntu [12.04] / Linux Mint (13 – Maya)

If it’s not already there in your system package, install it using the PPA (otherwise skip the first two commands)

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install openshot

Update 1 : Added the ppa for nitro tasks. (Thanks to reddit users)