Command Center

7. Eye Candy

Compiz Fusion
Compiz Fusion allows you to use advanced desktop effects such as the rotating cube desktop.

sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main \
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common fusion-icon

Run Applications -> System Tools -> Compiz Fusion Icon. A blue icon will appear to the tray. From here you can configure Compiz-Fusion.
Conky
Conky is a light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop.

sudo apt-get install conky

Screenlets
Screenlets are small applications that are laying on your desktop. Eye candy stuff and useful in many ways. Just type:

sudo apt-get install screenlets

Go to Applications -> Accessories –> Screenlets choose the screenlet you want click launch/add (you can choose Auto start on login)

You can download additional screenlets from www.gnome-look.org or screenlets.org from http://screenlets.org/index.php/Category:UserScreenlets
Cairo Dock
Cairo Dock is a light eye-candy fully themable animated dock for any Linux desktop. It has a family-likeness with OSX dock, but with more options.

sudo apt-get install cairo-dock cairo-dock-plug-ins

You will find it under Applications > Accessories > Cairo Dock
Gnome Do
GNOME Do (Do) is an intelligent launcher tool that makes performing common tasks on your computer simple and efficient. Do not only allows you to search for items in your desktop environment (e.g. applications, contacts, bookmarks, files, music), it also allows you to specify actions to perform on search results (e.g. run, open, email, chat, play).

sudo apt-get install gnome-do

You will find it under Applications > Accessories > Cairo Dock
Windows Buttons Order
A lot of users complain that the new place for the minize - maximize - close window buttons isn't good. Mwbuttons is a script that allows you to easily change the place the buttons place from left to right. To install and run it type:

wget http://launchpad.net/mwbuttons/trunk/v0.2/+download/mwbuttons
chmod +x mwbuttons
./mwbuttons

Now just select Settings > Karmic style and the buttons will go to the right.

Alternatively you can use Ubuntu Tweak mentioned above.


REFERENCES
http://www.my-guides.net/en/guides/linux/199-ubuntu-maverick-meerkat-1010-post-installation-guide#cairo-dock
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/10/customizing-ubuntu-10-10-with-a-dock-new-icon-theme-effects-global-menu-and-more/