Of all the desktops available for the Linux operating system, GNOME has managed to become on of the most efficient, stable and reliable -- while still remaining incredibly user-friendly. In fact, most users -- regardless of experience -- can get up to speed with GNOME with next to no effort.

If you aren't a fan of Ubuntu's new "Unity" interface, weblog OMG! Ubuntu! shows us how to get the old GNOME 2-style look back with just a few tweaks (and without having to downgrade).

The highly anticipated (and controversial) GNOME 3 desktop environment released its final version today, adding better hardware integration, window management and application management to Linux.

Linux: Free app Synapse goes beyond the simple application launcher to tightly integrate with your Linux system, quickly accessing any recent action you've performed so you can return to it or perform something similar in an instant.

We've mentioned one way to improve the look of Windows apps in Wine, but now there's an even simpler Python script that will get your Wine apps looking native in no time.

Linux only: Recent switchers from Windows to Linux are probably used to using the Windows key to open up the start menu — to get the same thing on Linux, you'll have to tweak a simple setting instead.

The great thing about Linux systems? They're so highly configurable. The really rough part of Linux? When things go wrong, it's hard to figure out where to look. To get your GNOME-based desktop back to its startup condition, try this terminal command.

Linux only: While lots of people like advanced file browsers like previously mentioned Total Commander or Path Finder, sometimes the explorer can get overwhelmingly complicated. Nautilus Elementary is a mod that compacts and streamlines Nautilus in GNOME to make file browsing easier.

Linux: Sometimes you just need to see what's inside a file without actually opening the application meant to handle it. Gloobus, a sleek, dark file previewer based on the Mac Quicklook tool, wants to make file previews elegant and convenient.

Linux: Application launcher GNOME Do has a "theme" called Docky that we rated as an intelligent Linux interface. Now Docky is available as its own application, bringing many of its best features over and setting the stage for many more.

Linux: There are lots of music and media managers for Linux desktops, and the Music Applet controls almost all of them. It places helpful notifications, button controls, track time and rating data in a convenient corner for your listening pleasure.

Linux only: To-Do list application Getting Things GNOME! manages your to-do items easily, complete with tags and nested subtasks.

A new version of the quick-firing Linux keyboard launcher GNOME Do landed last week, bringing with it a "theme" that acts as a whole new desktop interface. Let's check out how it works.

Linux only: The latest release of Linux app launcher GNOME Do serves up a helping of new plug-ins (including Google search and Remember the Milk), a clever "Docky" style, and much, much more.

Along with adding a bunch of new functionality through official and third-party plug-ins like Remember the Milk (which also provides task due alerts), TinyURL (paste in a URL, shrink it instantly), translation tools, Banshee and Opera support, and much more, GNOME Do 0.8 also fixes more than 100 bugs, including many plug-in problems. Memory usage has been knocked back, longer lines of text can be manually pasted into Do's launcher, and more file types get icon previews. The biggest news, however, might be what initially seems like a theme choice, but actually opens up a whole new way of using GNOME Do—as a dock:

Evolution, the personal information manager bundled into most GNOME-based Linux distributions, can be tweaked to integrate tightly with Google's mail, contacts, and calendars. Linux.com guides those not already familiar with Evolution's ins and outs through the process of hooking up IMAP mail, setting up two-way sync between the Google and desktop calendars, and even auto-completing contacts importing. From experience, Evolution—which has also been ported for Windows— is convenient in the way it hooks into your GNOME desktop in all kinds of ways—click on the time in the taskbar, for instance, and you can browse Evolution appointments on a calendar. But there are a few quirks to how the PIM handles some Google functions, which Linux.com helpfully explains. Have you got a fully Google-integrated suite working on your Linux desktop, maybe with Thunderbird and Sunbird? Tell us about it in the comments. How to sync Evolution with Google's PIM apps

Linux only: MPlayer is a versatile, sturdy media player with an ability to handle nearly as many files as VLC Media Player, but its integration into Firefox leaves a bit to be desired in the interface department. Free browser plug-in Gecko Media Player has looks that integrate nicely into a GNOME desktop, plays anything in the browser that can play in MPlayer, and is simple to install or set up. If you're an Ubuntu user, you've already got a gecko-mediaplayer package available; those on other Linux distros without a package can compile from source. Gecko Media Player is a free download for Linux systems only. geck-mediaplayer

Linux only: GNOME Do, a favourite application launcher of Linux-using readers and Lifehacker editors, has released a 0.5 version that hugely expands its reach and functionality. Most apparent are a built-in configuration tool, re-enabling of the simple-but-powerful "Open With" dialog, and the wealth of both official and "community" plug-ins. Upload pictures to Flickr, add and search Google Calendar events, start Skype calls, get live stock quotes—there's a lot to look into here. GNOME Do is a free download for Linux systems only; Ubutnu users can upgrade from the Launchpad PPA, while other distro users can find a source here. Thanks, Dušan!

Announcing GNOME Do 0.5: "The Fighting 0.5″

Evan Meagher's written an interesting overview of the "advanced desktop effects" built into Ubuntu 7.10. He talks through virtual desktops, ADD Helper, Scale and Focus Desktop, but saves the biggest kudos for Gnome-Do.Gnome-Do is for Gnome/Ubuntu what Quicksilver is for OS X - an app which lets you do a large number of things such as open apps, URLs, bookmarks or folders just by typing their name and hitting enter:"With the right set of plugins, you can start chats in Pidgin
by typing in contact’s names, play music without having to actually
interact with your media player, search the web, or put your computer
to sleep, just to name a few. You can tie Compiz Animation to it too,
just to make it even more cool-looking."Got any personal Ubuntu productivity favourites to share? Leave them in comments please!Full-throttle Productivity and Web-Work with Ubuntu

Linux/Gnome application launcher Gnome-Do is turning into one mighty powerful app/data organiser, due in no small part to the wealth of plug-ins cobbled together by an eager fan base. To extend Gnome-Do's powers to music management, Gmail, system functions, and other tasks, Ubuntu Tutorials has put together a simple guide to installing plug-ins for the launcher, a trick that's not readily apparent for first-time users. There's also links to some of the neater plug-ins available, such as those found at the Ubuntu wiki. Found yourself using and digging Gnome-Do's functions? Have your own must-use plug-in? Share the alt-space wisdom in the comments. How To Install Gnome-Do Plugins