The following article will list some of the most important panel applets, also called indicators, for Ubuntu 11.04's Unity interface.

The Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) operating system introduced a different user interface, designed by Canonical, called Unity. The default indicators are nice, but many people complained that they miss their usual applets on the panel.

CPU monitors, system load indicators, bandwidth statistics, weather indicators, RSS news feeds, DropBox handlers, and many more other applets can be quite easily installed on Ubuntu 11.04.

This article will show a list of ten most used Unity indicators (panel applets), with installation instructions and screenshots. At the end of the article we will also list other indicators, less important, and where to find them.

1. Weather Indicator

This is the most easy to install indicator, as it is provided in the default Ubuntu repositories. Just open Synaptic or Ubuntu Software Center, search for weather-indicator and install it. Log out of your current sesssion, log back in and you'll find it on the panel. Set it up and it will work like a charm!


2. CPUFreq

Very good for netbook users, this indicator will help you change your computer's CPU, to cool it down and save battery power. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install indicator-cpufreq with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:artfwo/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-cpufreq


3. System Load Indicator

This applet will show what your CPU, memory, network and disk drives are doing. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install indicator-multiload with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-multiload/stable-daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-multiload


4. StackApplet Indicator

This applet monitors your activity on any StackExchange site. To install it just open Ubuntu Software Center, search for stackapplet and install it.


5. Virtualbox Indicator

This applet will let you easily launch your VirtualBox's virtual machines, right from the notification area. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install indicator-virtualbox with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:michael-astrapi/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-virtualbox


6. Touchpad Indicator

Another applet useful for netbook users, the Touchpad Indicator will let you enable or disable your laptop's touchpad. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install touchpad-indicator with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install touchpad-indicator


7. ClassicMenu Indicator

This applet provides you the classic GNOME-style applications menu. Just download the deb file from here and install it with a double click.


8. Google Reader Indicator

This applet will display all your feeds, from your Google Reader account. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install google-reader-indicator with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install google-reader-indicator


9. Keylock Indicator

This applet will let you easily turn on or off Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock straight from the notification area. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install indicator-keylock with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tsbarnes/indicator-keylock

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-keylock


10. Radio Tray Indicator

This applet is a minimalistic radio player, which runs in your notification area. Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination and install radiotray with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install radiotray


Among other indicators for Unity, we can mention:

· CryptFolder Indicator (ppa:atareao/atareao)
· Sysmonitor Indicator (ppa:alexeftimie/ppa)
· MyWeather Indicator (ppa:atareao/atareao)
· Ubuntu One Indicator (ppa:rye/ubuntuone-extras)
· Hardware Sensors Indicator (ppa:alexmurray/indicator-sensors)
· Battery Status (ppa:iaz/battery-status)
· Workspaces Indicator (ppa:geod/ppa-geod)
· DesktopNova Indicator (ppa:michael-astrapi/ppa)
· Disper Indicator (ppa:nmellegard/disper-indicator-ppa)
· Feed Indicator

If you have knowledge about other interesting indicators for Unity, or you encounter problems with the installation of the above applets, do not hesitate to comment below.

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READER COMMENTS:

Comment #1 by: Klemen on 25 Jun 2011, 18:10 UTC reply to this comment No number of applets can fix the screwup that Unity is. And don't you think you could also write more about some other distributions and software here, They are as good and increasingly becoming even better than Ubuntu and it is only fair to give them a chance to be presented to readers here. So that more people know about more options. Comment #2 by: Jonquil on 25 Jun 2011, 21:27 UTC reply to this comment It's called "indicator-weather" and you have to click advanced down at the bottom of Software Center when you search for it, otherwise it won't show up. Otherwise this is a great list of indicators that can be used in Unity. :) Comment #3 by: hi on 26 Jun 2011, 06:25 UTC reply to this comment thanks...... Comment #4 by: Alexander on 26 Jun 2011, 08:17 UTC reply to this comment Audio recorder indicator is also nice. Please see: https://launchpad.net/audio-recorder Comment #5 by: Hans on 26 Jun 2011, 12:52 UTC reply to this comment The article I would currently need is something like "How to migrate from Unity to KDE" or "Which KDE distribution is the best" Comment #6 by: 89118 on 02 Jul 2011, 19:59 UTC reply to this comment Dear Unity guy, You know that unilateral decision you made to make Unity the default desktop? Well, you failed. Just like that intern over at Firefox that needed to pad his resume so they quickened their release pace. Unity is uniquely f#@ked though. It doesn't run on VMware or Oracle VM VirtualBox at all. It's Gnome or f#@k off. Nor does it run on my $1,200, six month old Win 7 box. So WTF? I get the arrogance! I understand how highly you think of yourselves and your minds. I believe you when you act so superior. I want what you want! But there is nothing there behind the curtain is there? No new interface for the 21st century, no WebGL. The sh!t doesn't work, we just like to daydream. I say we hunt these 2 down for some tar and feathering! Comment #6.1 by: Common Sense on 21 Feb 2012, 16:53 GMT @89118 The arrogance you would like to attribute to the writer of this article and the makers of Unity sits on you much more fittingly. No wonder people dislike Linux and the stigma it surrounds. Elitists and opinionated fools like yourself will always be present in every working environment, I understand that. It just seems we have a higher proportion of them in the Linux environment. I don't particular like Unity myself, but I didn't pay for it. In fact, I spend no time developing or contributing to it either. All that is asked of me is to learn how it works, or else, go with a different distribution/desktop environment. That's it! Crazy, eh? And yet, I don't feel the urge to vent my frustration in a childish and selfdebasing way. So if you would like to spew your profanity at every single post about Unity on the internet, be my guest. I would, though, recommend you use your time in more constructive endeavor, such as creating your own WM or better yet, just install KDE or Gnome on your little Linux box. Done! Finished! No need to wine or cry.