chromixium quick start guide 0.7a
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Chromixium Quick Start Guide
Chromixium Guides Quick Start Guide
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Chromixium Quick Start Guide
Contents
1. What is Chromixium?
1.1 Chromixium looks and works like a Chromebook™ 1.2 Chromixium uses Web apps
2. Download and Run Chromixium 2.1 Create a Live USB 2.2 Create a Live DVD 2.3 Run Chromixium 2.4 Connect to WiFi 2.5 Sign in to Chromium
3. The Chromixium Desktop 3.1 Dock icons 3.3 System Tray 3.4 Applications Menu 3.5 Change the Wallpaper
3.5.1 Add Your Own Wallpaper
4. Install More Applications 4.1 Install from Synaptic 4.2 Add Chrome Apps
5. Add Applications to the Dock 5.1 Adding Chrome Apps to the dock 5.2 Pin a Website to the Dock
6. Customize Chromixium 8. Where to get more information
8.1 Help and Support 8.2 Comments and Feedback 8.3 Updates and Progress 8.4 Contact Us Directly
9. License
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1. What is Chromixium? Chromixium is a free, modern, computer operating system designed to look and work just like Google’s Chrome OS. It is webcentric, meaning it puts the Internet at the heart of the user experience, whilst at the same time giving you complete control over your system thanks to its Linux base. Security comes as standard. Most computers come with an operating already installed. Many come with Microsoft Windows (now at Windows 8). Apple computers come with Mac OS X installed. The operating system makes the computer work for you. Linux is an alternative operating system that is different in one important way Linux is free to download and use and the source code is open to the public. Chromixium is based on the Linux operating system, specifically, Ubuntu Linux, and will be free to download, use and update forever. Just because your computer came with an operating system, doesn’t mean you can’t change it! You can use Chromixium instead of Windows, or as well as. It provides a modern and hassle free way to use your computer. There are thousands of applications available for download; most of them free. It is designed to automatically detect your hardware and to install quickly so you are usually ready to use it within minutes. Security is a prime concern and Chromixium will update automatically in the background so you don’t need to worry about installing antivirus software. The Linux community is quick to deal with new security issues, and updates are provided usually within hours if needed. Unlike Windows or Apple, Linux isn’t controlled by just one company. It is the collaborative work of thousands of developers. Some development comes from high profile tech companies eg Red Hat, Intel, Novell, IBM and Canonical, whilst others comes from freelance developers. This group effort ensures that Linux will always be technically cutting edge whilst remaining free and open. Linux already powers millions of Android mobile phones and tablets around the world and at least half of the world’s web servers.
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1.1 Chromixium looks and works like a Chromebook™ The Chromebook is a laptop PC specially designed to be cheap, easy to use, and focused totally on the Web. They are the fastest growing segment of PC sales since 2013. Chromebooks do not run Windows. Instead, they run Google’s Chrome OS (which is actually a modified and locked down version of Linux). Chrome OS looks and works similar to Windows, so if you can use Windows, then you can use Chrome OS (and you can use Chromixium)! Unfortunately, you cannot download or buy Chrome OS to use it on other devices it only comes preinstalled on Chromebooks. Chromixium is designed to fill this gap. It is designed to look and work as close as possible to Chrome OS, but allow you to install it on any computer you want, effectively turning them into Chromebooks. Because Chromixium can happily run off a USB drive, you don’t even need to install it. You can take it with you and use it on any computer you like. You can also install conventional applications like Office applications or media players and run games through the Steam platform. Because Chrome OS and Chromixium are not the same, you should keep this guide handy for times when you want to change settings or do something beyond what Chrome OS can do.
1.2 Chromixium uses Web apps Like Chrome OS, Chromixium uses Chrome Web apps. Web apps are really just web pages that are equally as powerful as any program. Anytime you use a popular service like Spotify, GMail, or Facebook, you are using a Web app. Chrome OS and Chromixium takes those web pages and treats them like real programs. If you are used to installing apps on a phone, then Chromixium will feel right at home. Just head to the Chrome Store, browse or search for an app and install it in a single click. Chromixium has an added advantage over Chromebooks, because it can run a lot more than just Web apps. With Chromixium, you can have Chrome Web Apps, conventional Linux applications, and even (if you install “Wine”), some Windows applications all at your fingertips.
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2. Download and Run Chromixium Download the latest Chromixium .iso file from: http://sourceforge.net/projects/Chromixium/ Save the ISO file eg to your Downloads folder.
2.1 Create a Live USB The best way to try Chromixium before you install it, is to run it from a USB stick (or SD card). You can play around with it to your heart’s content without altering your current computer’s setup. Any changes you make can be saved back to the USB stick (free space allowing). It will also be truly portable and you can use it in any computer. You can continue to use Chromixium in this way, or you can install it your computer’s hard drive once you are happy with it. The ISO file can be transferred to a 1GB or larger USB stick using UNetbootin software. Linux users should install Unetbootin from their distribution’s software repositories if available. Windows users can download it from here: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ Use the software to create the Chromixium USB:
1. Select your downloaded ISO file 2. Select your USB stick 3. Enter the amount of free space on your USB stick you want to use to preserve
changes across reboots (max 4GB) 4. Click on OK to start
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2.2 Create a Live DVD The ISO file will easily fit onto any DVDR/RW disc. In all cases, select a slow burn speed eg 4x for best results. Linux doubleclicking the file will usually open it in the disc burning software supplied by your distribution eg K3b, Brasero or XFBurn. Windows 7/8 just doubleclick the ISO file to start the burning process: http://windows.microsoft.com/engb/windows7/burnacdordvdfromanisofile Windows XP/Vista download a free image burning application such as imgburn or ISO Recorder. Instructions on both are here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14183/beginnergeekhowtoburnanisoimagetoadisc/
2.3 Run Chromixium
1. Start your computer, enter the boot menu and choose your USB stick 2. When the UNetbootin or Chromixium screen appears press enter to start boot up.
3. Type in the password user at the login prompt:
4. The desktop will appear. You are ready to start using Chromixium.
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2.4 Connect to WiFi Networking is handled by the Gnome Network Manager. If you are connected to Ethernet (cable) it will be automatically detected. To connect to WiFi follow these steps: Network Manager starts with the system and sits in the system tray.
1. Use the tray icon to connect to a WiFi network. Left click on the icon to see all available networks:
2. A window will open which will show all the available WiFi networks. It might take a few seconds to refresh:
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3. If your network is protected by a password, this box will appear just type your password in and click Connect.
4. To see the password as you type, tick the Show password box.
5. Network Manager will now attempt to connect to the network:
6. The connection will be made and the taskbar icon will change to indicate so. The number of white ‘stripes’ indicates the strength of the signal/connection.
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2.5 Sign in to Chromium To get the most of the Chromixium experience, sign into Chromium. To do this you will need a Google account, if you don’t have one, you can create one during this process. Signing in means you can keep your bookmarks, chrome applications and extensions synced across devices Android phones, tablets, Windows or Mac computers or other Linux installs on which you use the Chromium or Chrome web browser.
1. Click on the Chromium browser icon on the dock:
2. When Chromium has started, click on the Customize and Control icon the ‘3 bars’
icon on the topleft near the bookmarks icon:
3. Click on Sign In To Chromium:
4. Log in using your existing details. Use your gmail address as the username and the password you use to access gmail:
5. To sign up for an account, scroll down the page until you see the Create an Account link:
6. Fill in the details on the next screen to sign up.
7. Once logged into Chromium, your bookmarks will appear in the browser and Chrome
apps will appear in the App Launcher (see next section).
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3. The Chromixium Desktop
3.1 Dock icons Chromium App Launcher. All your connected Chrome apps will appear in this menu. You have to be signed into Chromium to see apps you installed on other devices…
Chromium Browser. Click here to access the Internet. GMail. Click here to access your Gmail account. Requires a Google account. Google Drive. Click here to access documents you have saved online. Also links to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and drawing. Requires a Google account. YouTube. Watch millions of videos online. Files. Click here to access documents and files you have saved on your computer or USB devices.
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3.3 System Tray
Clock. Click to see a simple calendar. Change the time using the Time and Date application in the Applications>Settings menu.
Volume. Change or mute the system volume.
Session menu. Shows currently logged in user. Leftclick to shutdown. Rightclick to change your avatar, switch user or for more shutdown options.
Battery/Power status. Leftclick to access advanced Power Management options. Rightclick to change brightness, screen resolution or screensaver settings.
Network indicator (not connected). Click here to join a WiFi network.
Connected to WiFi.
Connected to wired ethernet network.
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3.4 Applications Menu Rightclick anywhere on the desktop to access the system applications menu. This gives access to locally installed applications and system settings.
You will find the Chromixium installer under the System submenu. Please read the detailed installation document for more information on how to install Chromixium to your hard drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZboGFy9x8G2wiCfIo1v6z7Pka5SPaSGDGXvKHn1isA/edit?usp=sharing
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3.5 Change the Wallpaper Rightclick on the desktop and select Change Wallpaper from the popup menu. Choose the wallpaper that you like and click on it.
Click on Apply. The wallpaper will appear. Depending on your screen dimensions, you may need to alter the wallpaper layout. Click on the Scaled box and try the different options until the wallpaper is displayed how you want it:
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3.5.1 Add Your Own Wallpaper
1. Find the wallpaper that you want to add on the Internet.
2. Make sure you are viewing the full resolution image.
3. Rightclick on the image and select Save image as…
4. Save it into a new folder.
5. Rightclick on the desktop and select Change wallpaper.
6. Click on Preferences:
7. Click on Add:
8. Open your newly created wallpapers folder and click on Select. Note you won’t see any pictures in the folder at this point.
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9. Your wallpaper folder will be added to the list. Click on OK:
10. Your wallpaper will now appear in the wallpaper application and can be set in the normal manner:
11. Any wallpapers that you save into this folder from now on will be automatically detected by the wallpaper application and ready to be used.
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4. Install More Applications There are 2 types of applications that can be installed in Chromixium local applications and web applications: Local these are normal computer applications that don’t require the Internet in order to use them. They are downloaded and installed on your computer’s hard drive. They are only available on the computer that you install them on. Chromixium can install any application or software package that is available in the Ubuntu software repositories. Examples include LibreOffice, VLC Media Player, GIMP Image Editor… To do this use the Synaptic graphical tool. You can also install applications from .deb files that you have downloaded from the Internet, but be careful to only install from trusted sources. These applications must be compatible with Ubuntu Trusty 14.04 LTS. Chrome Apps (or Chromium Apps). These are webbased applications and extensions supplied by Google and other 3rd party individuals or companies via Google’s Chrome/Chromium Web Store. Most of these applications need to be connected to the Internet to be used, though some offer offline access. These applications can be used on any computer and many tablet and mobile devices connected to the Internet once you have signed in with your Google account.
4.1 Install from Synaptic
1. Rightclick on the desktop and select Applications > System > Synaptic Package Manager.
2. Type in your password to unlock the application.
3. Click on the Reload icon to update the list of applications (new applications are sometimes added and applications are frequently updates):
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4. Click on Search:
5. Type in the name of the application you want to install eg Libreoffice:
6. The search may return a number of results. Scroll through the list until you find the application you want. Rightclick and select Mark for installation:
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7. Synaptic will calculate which other dependencies (related base applications and libraries) need installing alongside your chosen selection:
8. Click on Mark.
9. You can search for and mark many applications at once for installation. When you are ready to install, click on Apply:
10. Click Apply on the summary screen and the application will be downloaded and installed:
11. The Application will appear in the rightclick menu once installed.
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4.2 Add Chrome Apps
1. Click on the Chromium App Launcher icon on the dock.
2. Click on the Store icon:
3. The Chrome Web Store will appear.
4. Either browse or search for an application. Look carefully at the publisher if you want
an official app:
5. Most apps are free, though some you must pay for.
6. Click on the app name for more details about it, or click on + Free to add it to Chromium:
7. Click on Add. After a few moments, the app will appear in the App Launcher and can be used.
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5. Add Applications to the Dock As you open new applications from the rightclick menu, an icon will appear in the dock. To keep it pinned to the dock, rightclick the icon and select ‘Keep in Dock’.
You can change the order of items by clicking and dragging them on the dock itself. To remove an icon, rightclick and click on ‘Keep in Dock’ again.
5.1 Adding Chrome Apps to the dock You can set Chrome apps to open in a separate window so that you can pin them to the dock:
1. Open App Launcher and rightclick on the App you want to pin.
2. Click on Create Shortcuts...
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3. Make sure to tick both Desktop and Applications menu.
4. Rightclick the App again and select Open as Window:
5. Now when you launch the app it will appear in its own window and a new icon will appear in the dock which you can now pin in the normal way:
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5.2 Pin a Website to the Dock Before doing this, first search the Chromium App store to see if the site has an official app. If it does, add the app to Chromium and pin is as described above. If not, follow these steps:
1. Browse to a website in Chromium.
2. Click on the Customize and Control icon in Chromium:
3. Click on Tools and then Create Application Shortcuts:
4. An icon (the websites favicon) will appear in the dock and the website will appear in its own window:
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6. Customize Chromixium Most aspects of Chromixium can be customized using the Control Panel. Here you will find tools and utilities to change the look and appearance of your desktop as well as make system changes.
1. Rightclick the desktop and click on Control Panel:
2. The Control Panel will open:
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3. Some of the tools that make alterations to the system itself, require the admin (sudo) password. Here is a summary of the tools and what they do:
About Me allows you to change your Avatar (log in picture) and user details Automatic Updates change how often and how updates are installed Backup and Restore create backup and restore points Bluetooth Manager connect and manage bluetooth devices Change Theme alter the appearance of Windows and icons Change Wallpaper choose a new desktop wallpaper Connect to Server connect to a server that is on your network (may require
additional networking components to be installed) Disk Partition Manager create and manage hard disk partitions Dock Settings change the size and behaviour of the dock Dual Monitor Setup setup and connect to an external or second monitor Enable Networking enables network adapters if they are disabled for some reason Flash Player check the version of Pepper Flash, force update or uninstall Keyboard Layout change the keyboard country layout (user session only) Keyboard Shortcuts add or change system keyboard shortcuts Language Support change the system language and install new languages Modem Settings connect to the Internet using dialup/modem Monitor Settings change the screen resolution Network Connections manage and edit wired and wireless network connections Onscreen Keyboard Settings change the appearance of the onscreen keyboard Pointing Devices change your mouse or touchpad settings Power Manager change when and how the computer sleeps Printers add local or network printers (may require additional drivers to be installed) Screensaver Settings change when the screen blanks or locks Startup Applications add or change which applications startup when you log in Synaptic Package Manager add or remove applications or utilities from the Ubuntu
software repositories Time and Date change the system time and date Users and Groups add or remove users and manage groups.
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8. Where to get more information There are many ways to get more information or to get in touch with the team. We are always pleased to be able to help. The main website has links to everything you will need and regular news bulletins are posted on the blog: http://chromixium.org
8.1 Help and Support The official Chromixium Wiki is the best place to look for information and new pages are being added all the time: http://chromixium.wikidot.com If you can’t find what you are looking then please create a new post at the Project Forums. You will need to sign up before you can post anything: http://chromixium.freeforums.org
8.2 Comments and Feedback Comments and feedback are really useful so we can make sure that Chromixium develops the way that users want it to and that bugs and inconsistencies are ironed out as soon as possible. You can leave comments anywhere on the main website, on Google+ or at the Forum.
8.3 Updates and Progress To keep up to date with current development, please follow us on Google+: https://plus.google.com/+ChromixiumOrg/posts
8.4 Contact Us Directly If you would prefer you can email us using your own email account: [email protected]
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9. License Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BYSA 4.0) This tutorial has been created as part of the Chromixium OS project which is licensed under the GPL. The Author is RichJack and this work is licensed under the Creative Common AttributionShareAlike license: You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
This is a humanreadable summary of (and not a substitute for) the license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/legalcode
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