Get Gnome Classic Desktop in Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 14.04. Install GNOME Flashback 3.18.0 on Ubuntu. GNOME Flashback 3.18 gives a classic look to the GNOME 3.18 Desktop Environment
Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 14.04 comes with a new design UI with enhanced performance and appealing looks. But, Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 14.04 lack the regular desktop menu options as seen in Ubuntu 12.04/12.10. The desktop and system menu options in the panel bar were very useful and provided an easy way to access programs without using side-panel or dash in Ubuntu.
GNOME Flashback 3.18.0
GNOME Flashback provides unofficial session and helper application. This session consists of gnome-applets, gnome-flashback, gnome-panel and metacity. And all other modules that are used in official GNOME session. Helper application main job is to provide all features that is need for our session, but has been removed from GNOME and/or moved to mutter or gnome-shell.
Please Note: GNOME Flashback 3.18 session is not supported by GNOME in any way. According to the release note, the GNOME Flashback 3.18.0 comes with various new features:
- Added bluetooth applet.
- Added power applet.
- Added autostart file for nm-applet.
- Added autostart file for gnome-screensaver.
- Added custom menu directories.
- Internationalization fixes.
- Ported away from gnome-common.
- Ported away from intltool, now upstream gettext is used.
- Small fixes to user visible strings.
- Added polkit, based on original PolicyKit-gnome.
- Desktop-background: don’t show in Ctrl-Alt-Tab switcher.
- Sound-applet: allow to set volume more then 100%. (Alberts Muktupāvels)
- Sound-applet: fix voulume changing with mouse wheel. (Alberts Muktupāvels)
- Screenshot: finally screenshot taking is implemented, based on gnome-screensaver. (Alberts Muktupāvels, Balló György)
Install GNOME Flashback Session in Ubuntu
You can install Gnome Flashback Session to get Gnome Classic desktop menu in Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 14.04, in two ways – using Ubuntu Software Center and Terminal. To install Gnome Classic Flashback Session in Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 14.04 type and execute the following command in the Terminal.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gnome-session-flashback
Enter the user password when asked to install the Gnome Session Flashback.
You can also install Gnome Flashback Session using Ubuntu Software Center. To do this, open Ubuntu Software Center and type Gnome Flashback Services. Now you will see Gnome Flashback Service installer package – GNOME Session Manager – GNOME Flashback Session. Click on it and install.
Once installed, save all the programs, documents and log out. When the log in screen appears, click on the Ubuntu icon next to the username and select either GNOME Flashback (Compiz) or GNOME Flashback (Metacity). Select Metacity if you don’t need Compiz and want to use Metacity only.
