How to customize Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition Gnome panel?

Question

In 10.10 Ubuntu Netbook edition the panel is even more locked down than in 10.04. Is it possible to unlock it so that one can add/remove things from it? Will the 10.04 method of unlocking work with 10.10?

Answer 1

No, that method won't work, as the new UNE interface uses a specifically created panel, not in any form related to the old gnome-panel UNE in Lucid used. So, as of now, you really can't customize/add/remove things.

This new panel only holds down the indicator-applet (indicator-applet-complete) package. Let's see what's coming in Natty for UNE and if options like this one, autohide, etc, are added.

Answer 2

The Ubuntu Network Edition has the Unity interface. This provides the dock on the side and the panel. The panel is not gnome-panel, but part of unity so you can't add panel applets to it. I think Unity is deliberately unconfigurable to improve usability (it is up to you whether or not you agree with this philosophy).

If you want a more configurable interface, you can switch to using a normal GNOME desktop. You can add a panel applet for the global menu to the GNOME panel and use a dock such as docky. This will give you a similar, but more configurable) interface. You will, however, lose out on some of unity's features such as the search interface.

Answer 3

to remove a program from the side panel: right click -> remove from launcher. to add a program to the side panel: open program, right click -> Keep in launcher.