Change launcher icon opacity/brightness

Question

My app creates a large amount of output, but only over a long time. Each time there is new output to add it is just a string (a few hundred bytes worth).

It would simplify my code considerably if I could add incrementally (i.e. append) to a pre-existing GZIP (or Zip) file. Is this even possible (in Java, specifically)?

I am looking for a solution that will create a file that can be opened by 3rd party apps.

I realize I can decompress the file, add the additional text and compress it again as a new blob.

Thanks

PVS

Solution 1

You can do this with a new tool that several users here on Ask Ubuntu have made. Its called Unity Tweak Tool. It's still in early development but it is very stable from my testing.

To install it:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freyja-dev/unity-tweak-tool-daily  
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool  

Now open the dash and search for "Unity Tweak Tool". It looks like this:

Open it up and navigate to Launcher.

From there you can:

1. Change the transparency of the launcher

2. Change the color of the laucnher

3. Auto-hide the launcher

4. Or change the background for applications (This is closest to what you want I think)

   

Another suggestion is changing your icon theme under Icons.

You need to note however, you can't very well change icons of other applications.

Brightness is relative, but I got them this dark:

For certain icons, like the software center, you might have to change the actual icon, wherever the system stores it.

Solution 2

With MyUnity (http://www.uielinux.org/myunity) you can change these settings for the launcher:

1. color
2. transparency
3. icon size
4. icon "backlights"
5. hide animation
6. behavior by default (auto-hide or not)
7. show device icons

Themes and icon themes can be also changed.

Check the demos in their webpage.

edit: Perhaps the best strategy is to adjust the appearance of the launcher (backlights, auto-hide, color) and select a more pleasing icon theme (any suggestion?).

Comments

[BevynQ]

The Zip and GZip file formats do not allow simultaneous read write access.

[user207421]

You can append to a GZipOutputStream: the format permits it. But applications that read files that are still being written by other parts of the application are inherently poorly designed, and probably poorly implemented. It's rather difficult to get this right, and particularly to cope correctly with various error cases.

[Desmond Hume]

According to this statement, omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/02/…, Unity Tweak Tool doesn't work for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which is the version I happened to have. Can't confirm or disprove this though, the tool won't even install, says W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/freyja-dev/unity-tweak-tool-daily/u‌​buntu/dists/precise/‌​main/binary-amd64/Pa‌​ckages 404 Not Found.

[web.learner]

You're right, UTT doesn't support 12.04, only 12.10 and beta 13.04. I forgot to mention that. I'm afraid this won't help then unless you upgrade.

[Desmond Hume]

But can the tool really make launcher icons less bright by changing their opacity level or by other means, or does it only affect the launcher's background, like CompizConfig and MyUnity do?

[Desmond Hume]

Only affects the launcher's background...

[web.learner]

No, that itself is not possible. It would require manually editing each icon. The closest you can get is changing the launcher's opacity, changing the "backlight" or background and changing icon sets. You might consider looking at this Q/A.

[carnendil]

Indeed, it affects the launcher's background, including the inside (¿transparent?) area of each app button. I don't remember the default setting for 12.04, but turning off the "backlights" might help diminish the discomfort expressed in the question.

[Desmond Hume]

Nah, no one's talking about changing actual icons here, just their opacity/brightness.

[web.learner]

Right, in order to change the actually opacity of the icons you would have to edit their source i'm afraid.

[Desmond Hume]

Let's put it this way, is Unity Tweak Tool able to make launcher icons appear less bright?

[web.learner]

I think it can, but others might not think so. I'll edit in a screenshot.

[Desmond Hume]

Obviously, telling from the screenshot you've added, the actual icons show no change in either opacity or brightness. In particular, the Opera browser icon is as loud as before. Hence, I'd ask you to delete your answer as it has next to nothing to do with the question and make it seem to be answered which is not the case.

[web.learner]

I don't think you understand. That is as close as you can get without editing each icon manually. I'm not even sure that is possible, but, if you want, I will find out and add that to my answer.