I use my desktop a lot for storing files I quickly download, extracting wordpress plugins, image captures for my blog, and a host of other things. In about 3 days, my desktop gets cluttered up with things I don’t need, so I just delete everything. Every once and a while though, I delete something I do need and spend hours in the trash searching for it. If this has happened to you, here’s a method which makes your trash can a much more friendly place.

Basically, when I have a load of files to delete off my desktop I don’t highlight them all and drag them to the trash. Instead I create a folder, name it: “Deleted from Desktop on july 26″, I move all my files in there, and delete the folder. This means that I can delete everything and then when I remember I need something, just go back to the relevant folder and resotre it.

You can also use this method to group deleted files by other criteria, lile client the file was for, or the job you  used the file for. Since I develop loads of Wordpress themes and all have index.php files, style.css files and so on, I can just drag all the files for a theme I don’t need anymore into a folder with the name of the theme, and drop that into the trash instead of all the separate files.

I’ve always said that an uncluttered desktop is best because it gives you a sense of accomplishment, a free mind and a sense of beauty too. Icons and your wallpaper is an integral part of this, and today I found a great icon set list, with a beautful Japanese themed set named Yoritsuki icons.

Very detailed and masterfully crafted icons, although if you’re looking for meaning this is not for you. Only two “regular” icons can be found for folders, the others are of Japanese traditional items, associated with hot spring inns. I have no problem with this, and I am using these as icons for my current projects folders.

I couldn’t really find a good background image for them though, I tried them on a Bamboo wallpaper, but somehow they lost their charm, so I decide to make my own. It’s very simple, the idea was to let the icons be in the foreground, not the wallpaper image. It features a very simple bamboo like texture with one kanji on the top left. The kanji (Japanese symbol) represents destiny, in Japanese it’s unmei. Download the image using the following links, if you’d like a different resolution let me know and I’ll make one just for you! By the way, if you don’t find one for your resolution, you are inside about 4% of my viewers with different resolutions, congrats!

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Ubuntu 7.10 comes with the awesome Compiz meaning desktop on a cube, window animations and so on, but you may be at a loss since it doesn’t work. I actually managed to get it to work quite simply, despite the fact that many forums propose long terminal sessions and so on.

From a fresh Ubuntu install it is very important to update. Simply going to the update manager in system - administration will not work, you will still see that your system is up to date since you need to expand the library of where the manager looks. Go System - Administration - Software sources. Once there on Ubuntu software mark all checkboxes, except source code. Switch to the third party software tab and mark both checkboxes, then switch to the updates tab and mark the first three checkboxes. If you go to update manager now you will see a lot of updates and install them.

The restricted driver for my video card was immediately usable. When I wanted to enable desktop effects I got the message “The Composite extension is not available”. This is apparently due to the fact that xgl is not installed. Head on over to the Synaptic Package Manager and search for xgl. You should see a small list and mark xserver-xgl for installation.

Once installed, you should be able to change your settings in System - Preferences - Appearance under the visual effects tab to Extra. To change the settings using a user friendly GUI, you will need to get the settings manager. The name of the application is “compizconfig-settings-manager”, just download it with the package manager.

When done, you should be able to access the settings via System - Advanced desktop effects. By the way, my keyboard layout reverted to default English after I installed xgl for some reason, so it might well do the same for you, just go to System - Preferences - Keyboard to fix the problem.

I am in my most productive mindset when things around me are just so. Nice music, clean room, etc, and especially, the state of my desktop. If I have icons cluttering everything, bad wallpaper I can not work at my best.

I was going to write a post about desktop wallpaper originally, but I found an awesome post by lifehacker, rounding up their top ten places for wallpaper, icons and such. I recommend number 2 on their list, Interfacelift, which has been a favorite of mine for years, catering for my wide screen needs.

Top 10 Free Wallpaper, Fonts and Icon Sources by Lifehacker