Discover GNOME's Default Apps

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Gnome Files (Nautilus)
3. Gnome Photos
4. No Music
5. Gnome Terminal
6. Gnome Contacts
7. Gnome Software
8. Maps
9. Gnome Web (Epiphany)
10. Gnome Calendar
11. Other Gnome Applications
12. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

Hey guys, it's Nick here and welcome to my Linux experiment. In this video, I'll be taking a closer look at Gnome, a popular desktop environment for Linux. Today, I want to focus on Gnome's default applications, exploring their features, strengths, and weaknesses. So let's dive in and see what Gnome has to offer.

Gnome Files (Nautilus)

Gnome Files, also known as Nautilus, is the default file manager in Gnome. It has a simple and straightforward interface with bookmarks and places on the sidebar. The header bar provides options for changing the view mode, searching for files or folders, and sorting options. You can easily show or hide hidden files or folders. While Gnome Files is a basic file browser, it lacks some features like a custom path input and a column view.

Gnome Photos

Gnome Photos is Gnome's default photo viewer. It sports a dark theme to make your pictures stand out. You can organize your photos into albums, favorite them, and export or share them through email or other sharing services. However, Gnome Photos is quite basic and lacks advanced photo editing features. It also doesn't handle picture orientation well when viewed in fullscreen.

No Music

No Music is Gnome's music player. It has a clean interface, separated into albums, artists, songs, and playlists. The controls are sleek and easy to use, but the app seems a bit unstable and crashed during my testing. While No Music is serviceable for basic music playback, users who rely on streaming services may find it lacking.

Gnome Terminal

Gnome Terminal is the default terminal emulator for Gnome. It stands out with its menu bar, unlike other Gnome apps that use a header bar. It offers all the expected features of a terminal emulator, including profiles, character encoding support, and tabs. Gnome Terminal also provides a surprising number of configuration options, allowing users to customize the size, cursor shape, color scheme, and keyboard shortcuts.

Gnome Contacts

Gnome Contacts is the default contact manager for Gnome. It has a sidebar and panel that display your contacts' information. You can quickly add new details to each contact and sync all contacts through online accounts. However, Gnome Contacts can be a bit unstable and lacks support for contact groups. Despite its simplicity, it gets the job done.

Gnome Software

Gnome Software serves as the App Store for Gnome. It allows users to search, install, and remove applications with ease. The interface is divided into three tabs: all applications, installed applications, and system updates. App pages provide detailed information, screenshots, reviews, and download size. Gnome Software also indicates if a program is free, verified, or available from different sources. However, it does not show system libraries or non-graphical packages.

Maps

Maps is a simple program that uses OpenStreetMap to provide road and satellite views. You can search for places, get directions, and even print them. While Maps might not be a must-have due to the prevalence of other mapping applications, it's still a nice addition to the Gnome software ecosystem.

Gnome Web (Epiphany)

Gnome Web, previously known as Epiphany, is the default web browser for Gnome. It has a clean interface with support for tabs, ad and pop-up blocking, and Firefox accounts integration. You can also add websites as web apps for quicker access. However, Gnome Web lacks support for extensions and may have slightly worse performance compared to Firefox or Chrome in some use cases.

Gnome Calendar

Gnome Calendar is a basic app that allows users to manage their events and schedules. It supports online accounts, weather info, and provides various views like week, month, or year. Events can be set to repeat and include reminders with sound or location details. While Gnome Calendar offers a clean and simple interface, it lacks any configuration options.

Other Gnome Applications

Apart from the mentioned applications, Gnome offers a variety of other useful tools. Gnome Boxes is a virtual machine application, Gnome Games handles installed and emulated games, and Gnome Builder is an actively developed IDE for Gnome development. These applications cover a wide range of needs, but it's worth noting that some of them may still be in their infancy compared to similar offerings on other Linux distributions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gnome provides a decent collection of default applications that cater to most user needs. However, during my exploration, I found that some of these applications lacked advanced features, customization options, and stability. While Gnome follows a simplicity-first approach, it may fall short compared to alternatives like elementary OS or KDE. Nonetheless, Gnome is continuously evolving, and it will be interesting to see how its applications progress in the future.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Simple and straightforward interface
• Integration with online accounts
• Basic functionality for everyday use

Cons:

• Lack of advanced features
• Limited customization options
• Some applications prone to stability issues

Highlights

• Gnome Files (Nautilus) offers a basic but sufficient file browsing experience.
• Gnome Photos provides a dark theme and basic photo organization features.
• No Music serves as a simple music player, but it may be unstable.
• Gnome Terminal stands out with a menu bar and extensive customization options.
• Gnome Contacts is a straightforward contact manager, but it lacks some functionalities.
• Gnome Software is a complete App Store for Gnome with a pleasing interface.
• Maps offers basic mapping functionalities using OpenStreetMap data.
• Gnome Web (Epiphany) is a lightweight browser alternative with integrated ad-blocking.
• Gnome Calendar is a basic yet functional app for managing events and schedules.
• Other Gnome applications cover various needs but may lack advanced features or stability.

FAQ

Q: Can I customize the appearance of Gnome applications? A: While Gnome prioritizes simplicity, some applications like Gnome Terminal offer extensive customization options for size, colors, and keyboard shortcuts. However, customization options might be limited in other Gnome applications.

Q: Are Gnome applications stable and reliable? A: While Gnome aims to provide a stable environment, some applications, such as No Music and Gnome Contacts, may experience occasional stability issues.

Q: Can I sync my contacts using Gnome Contacts? A: Yes, Gnome Contacts supports online accounts, allowing you to sync your contacts across different devices.

Q: Does Gnome Calendar support recurring events? A: Yes, Gnome Calendar allows you to set events to repeat at specified intervals.

Q: Are Gnome applications suitable for advanced users? A: Advanced users may find some Gnome applications lacking in advanced features and customization options compared to alternatives available on other Linux distributions.