A Collection Of 20 Top Extensions For Gnome Shell 3.4 - Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

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Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin has recently showed up in its final stable version. This stable release includes by default the Gnome Shell 3.4 desktop environment. You can simply enable the GNOME interface in the login screen:

In this guide, I have collected 20 workable Gnome Shell extensions that you can use in Ubuntu 12.04. There are many other extensions, but they are still not supported by Gnome Shell 3.4. Once installed, you can enable them using Gnome Tweak Tool, you can install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool

Note: After installing any Gnome Shell extension, you need to restart Shell with these keyboard keys:
ALT - F2 - r - Enter

Then the extension will show up in Gnome Tweak Tool (Shell Extensions tab).

To be able to install all these Gnome Shell extensions, you need to add this PPA first:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:upubuntu-com/ext


sudo apt-get update

Then install any extension using the commands given below:

1. Auto Hide Top Panel

This extension will make your top panel hide automatically. To enable/disable the auto-hide mode, you can simply double-click the top panel. To install it under Ubuntu 12.04, run this command after adding the above PPA:

sudo apt-get install autohidetopbar-ext

2. GnomeShell Reflection

This Gnome Shell extension allows you to move the top panel to the bottom of the screen. You can install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install reflection-ext

3. QuickLaunch

This extension allows to create shortcuts for your favorite programs and access them directly from the top panel. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install quicklaunch-ext

4. Brightness Control

This extension helps users adjust monitor brightness from the top bar. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install brightness-control-ext

5. Favorites Menu

This extension adds a favorite menu to the top bar with the possibility to change its position in the panel. To install it under Ubuntu 12.04, issue this command:

sudo apt-get install favorites-ext

6. Touchpad Indicator

This extension allows to easily switch on/off your touchpad or trackpoint from the top panel of Gnome Shell. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install touchpadindicator-ext

7. Shell Restart User Menu Entry

This simple and useful extension allows users to reset Gnome Shell from the user menu. You can simply install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install restartentry-ext

8. Status only icon

This extension will help you remove your username from the top panel so that you get more space for other Gnome Shell extensions. Install with the following command:

sudo apt-get install statusonlyicon-ext

9. Hide Dash

This extension allows to remove the dash, which is useful for users with small screens (notebooks, tablets, etc.). To install the "Hide Dash" extension, issue this command:

sudo apt-get install hidedash-ext

10. Battery remaining time and percentage

This extension displays in the top panel your current battery level and time remaining until you need to do a full charge. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install batteryremainingtime-ext

11. Advanced Volume Mixer

This extension helps users control volume of each running program separately. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install volumemixer-ext

12. system-monitor

Display system device information such as your CPU & memory usage, network usage, battery information, etc. To install it under Ubuntu 12.04, run this command:

sudo apt-get install system-monitor-ext

13. AlternateTab

This extension will display window thumbnails instead of icons when using the ALT-Tab feature to cycle between opened windows. Run this command to install it:

sudo apt-get install alternatetab-ext

14. Trash

This will add a Trash button to your Gnome Shell panel for emptying/opening trash. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install trash-ext

15. Frippery Panel Favorites

Add launchers of your favorite programs to the top panel of Gnome Shell. Install it with this command:

sudo apt-get install panelfavorites-ext

 16. Frippery Bottom Panel

Add a bottom panel/taskbar to Gnome Shell. Here is the command to install it:

sudo apt-get install bottompanel-ext

17. NetSpeed

Display your internet download/upload speed. Here is the command to install it:

sudo apt-get install netspeed-ext

18. Removable Drive Menu

A simple extension for accessing/unmounting removable media devices.

sudo apt-get install drivemenu-ext

19. Frippery Applications Menu

This extension will replace the Activities button with an Application menu similar to that of Gnome 2.

sudo apt-get install applicationsmenu-ext

20. Overview Icon

This extension displays icons of windows in overview mode.

sudo apt-get install overviewicon-ext