Enabling advanced file permissions in Ubuntu

Change folder permissions options to more intuitive.
Folder and File permissions in Ubuntu shows the below figure as default.
You can change this to more advanced and intuitive view like this.Open Configuration Editor (Applications >> System Tools >> Configuration Editor). If you didn't find there open Terminal and type gconf-editor

Open /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_advanced_permissions key.
Check the box.Now you can manage permissions more easily.

Extending nautilus' functionality

Nautilus (http://www.gnome.org/projects/nautilus/)is the official file manager for the GNOME desktop. It allows to browse directories, preview files and launch applications associated with them. It is also responsible for handling the icons on the GNOME desktop.GNOME people have spend too much time on file manager to make it perfect.
You can extend nautilus' capabilities using extra shell scripts available over internet.Extending like allowing nautilus to send shortcut of selected file to desktop, mounting and unmounting .iso files, opening selected files with root permissions, combining selected pdf files if you have required programs installed, changing format of media files etc etc.. 

Download these scripts and copy it to /home/yourusername/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/ folder with appropriate permissions.You should check Readme files associated with these scripts on how to do it.I can't provide a generalized method. :-)

Some useful hits:

http://www.gnome-look.org/index.php?xcontentmode=188

http://g-scripts.sourceforge.net/

recording desktop in Ubuntu

recordMyDesktop (http://recordmydesktop.sourceforge.net/about.php)is a program which captures audio and video from Linux desktop and save it in .ogg format in home folder.package name is recordmydesktop.Don't forget to install its graphical front end package called gtk-recordMyDesktop too otherwise you will mess up typing commands in terminal mode.GUI will make things easier.
You can open gtk-recordMyDesktop by Applications >> Accessories >> Sound & Video.

Features of gtk-recordMyDesktop includes control over quality of video and audio, removing mouse cursor appearance, encode on the fly etc.

Gnome Screenshot

Its amazing that these GNOME people touched every nook and cranny aspects of desktop usage effectively.For example check the gnome-screenshot in Ubuntu.It is easy and having some kool extra options too.

If you click Print Screen (Prt Scr) key in keyboard you will be asked where to save the screenshot of desktop instantly.If we press Alt+Prt Scr then screenshot of current working window will be taken.The program will take care or naming even.Checkit by taking a screenshot of particular window.Its helpul while we taking continous shots.
If we open gnome-screenshot --interactive (Applications >> Accessories >> Take screenshot) then you will be provided with some more options like scheduling screenshot, applying effects and taking screenshot of current window without borders.
Remember, if we want to take screenshot of desktop in Windows then we have to press Prt Scr then go to any image manipulation program and paste there and save.We need to crop image if we want to current window.

I know..taking screenshot may be a silly thing to mention but it shows the effectiveness of GNOME desktop.