Slowly but steadily, Ubuntu is turning out to be a dark horse in the operating system race. It is with the consistent efforts of Canonical that the open-source distribution can now measure up against biggies like Windows and Mac. When compared to its competitors, Ubuntu does pretty much any other desktops can do. It can read documents, it can let you watch movies, and it also lets you play your favorite games. Not only that, with growing demand for the open-source operating system, many developers are coming up with interesting software.
In fact, the Ubuntu Software Center, which was a barren land for quite a while is slowly getting inundated with software that are not only useful but also worth paying for. Following is a list of 5 such apps that you won't mind spending your hard-earned cash on.
In fact, the Ubuntu Software Center, which was a barren land for quite a while is slowly getting inundated with software that are not only useful but also worth paying for. Following is a list of 5 such apps that you won't mind spending your hard-earned cash on.
Machinarium
Machinarium is an award-winning puzzle adventure game by Amanita Design. The game involves solving a series of puzzles and brain teasers. There are no dialogues, neither written nor spoken. However, despite the lack of dialogues the game does an excellent job at keeping the player hooked from start to end. The game, which took 3 years to develop, has been rated 85% on Metacritic. Definitely something you'd want to spend your $10 on.
Braid is another popular game that Ubuntu users can brag about. It is a platformer that involves the main character Tim trying to rescue a princess from a monster. With an engaging narrative and a captivating storyline, Braid manages to keep the player hooked till the very end. The game has received a lot of awards and is regarded as one of the best independent games out there. Priced at $10, the princess in this game is definitely worth saving.
Steelstorm reminds me quite a lot of GTA 2 and those old top-down shooters that I would spend my nights playing. Packed with fast-paced action, Steelstorm is set in an alternative universe where you are in control of a powerful hovertank. As your homeland gets invaded by extraterrestrials, it is your job to save yourself and prevail. Priced at only $5, Steelstorm is definitely a game worth paying for.
Oil Rush is a real-time naval strategy game that is based on group control. Blending the elements of a classical RTS and Tower defense, the title has some spectacular graphics. With the visuals powered by UNIGINE engine, Oil Rush can be played in single-player mode and multiplayer mode as well. The game is priced at $20 and requires a powerful graphics card. It is advised to check your system before purchasing it.
I've been dual-booting my computer with Windows 7 for years now. Despite being a Linux fanboy, I find the interface quite appealing. However, Microsoft's decision to include the 'desktop gadgets' feature, in my opinion, needed a lot of thinking. Not only do those gadgets look out of place, but also look ugly. Soon, once I booted to Ubuntu, I started looking out for better alternatives to the gadgets feature. I was specifically looking for something that will allow me to check the weather. However, I was disappointed again. There was no good Linux-equivalent of the gadgets feature.
Then, after a year or so, I stumbled upon Stormcloud. Stormcloud is a wonderful desktop gadget-like application that shows you the weather. The app is beautifully designed, something reminiscent of the Windows 8 Metro-style interface. Furthermore, you can choose to display the application in your favorite color. Blue, Red, Black, or anything you want.
One of the best features of this application is that it integrates nicely with the Ubuntu desktop. Once installed, you'll find the Stormcloud icon on your launcher. Whenever the application is open, the application's icon shows a small badge denoting the current temperature. This is very useful if you have a bunch of windows open and don't want to keep minimizing them.
At $3 USD, Stormcloud is a perfect application for anyone who travels a lot and needs to check the weather on the go.
Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate
