UbuntuHandbook

Twitter App Corebird 1.3.1 Released with some Fixes

Last updated: September 6, 2016

The open-source desktop twitter client Corebird has reached the 1.3.1 release with some fixes to 1.3 release. For those who prefer this modern twitter app, it’s available for upgrade in my PPA (unofficial) for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 16.10.

Changes in Corebird 1.3.1:

Fix muted and/or blocked tweets still showing up in timelines
Fix accounts not getting saved when first created
Fix retweets of the authenticating user not getting theiry correct seen status
Fix profiles descriptions containing ampersand characters and links
Fix profile banner fade-in transition
Fix doubly-escaped ampersands in link tooltips
Fix missing underlines in @screen_names in the profile popover

Corebird with Numix GTK theme

How to install Corebird 1.3.1 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 16.04, and/or Ubuntu 16.10, you can either download the .deb binary from the PPA file archive, or run the commands below one by one in terminal to add PPA and install Corebird:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/corebird

sudo apt update

sudo apt install corebird

Tip: The GetDeb repository also maintains Corebird packages for Ubuntu 16.04, now it contains Corebird 1.3 and the 1.3.1 release should be available soon.

With the PPA added, you can upgrade Corebird along with other system updates via Software Updater when a new release is out and uploaded into PPA.

And the PPA can be easily disabled or removed via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News corebird, twitter client

How to Enable and Play a Login Sound in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: September 5, 2016

Ubuntu 16.04 does not play a startup / login sound in my laptop, but it’s easy to play a sound at login and customize the sound file by adding a new startup program using Startup Applications utility.

And below steps will show you how:

1. Launch Startup Applications utility from the Dash.

2. When it opens, click Add to add a new startup program and:

Type any word in Name and Comment boxes.

For the Command box, paste below line to play the default Gnome login sound:

/usr/bin/canberra-gtk-play --id="desktop-login" --description="GNOME Login"

3. To play any other .ogg, .oga, or .wav sound at login, you can use paplay command in the Command box.

For example:

paplay /home/handbook/Audio/linux-startup.ogg

paplay /usr/share/sounds/purple/login.wav

After saved the changes, you’ll hear the sound at next login.

In Howtos custom login sound, login sound

How to install Gambas 3.9.0 in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

Last updated: September 4, 2016

Gambas has recently reached the 3.9.0 release. Available in its official PPA repository for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, and Ubuntu 12.04.

Gambas 3.9.0 brings hundreds of new features, bug fixes and optimizations. The main feature is gb.web.form, a new component that allows to make the GUI of your web application from the Gambas IDE. Other features are:

gb.form.terminal, a new component providing a full-featured terminal emulation.
A new IDE output console based on the previous component.
A new and better project argument list interface.
Project creation is now based on project templates. Custom templates can be defined.
New library management system.
The Expression class is now inheritable and allows to customize the interpreter evaluator.
FileView and DirView controls automatically refresh themselves if your project uses the gb.inotify component.
TextEditor now can display thin vertical lines to emphasize indentation.
Menu can have a proxy, i.e. pop up the children of another menu.
Paint.StretchImage() is a new method that scales an image to fit a rectangle, keeping the image proportions.
gb.net.smtp component support PLAIN and CRAM-MD5 authentication.

How to install Gambas 3.9.0 in Ubuntu via PPA:

1. Before installing Gambas 3.9.0, remove the previous release if installed:

sudo apt remove gambas3 && sudo apt autoremove

Type in your password when it asks and hit Enter

2. Add Gambas PPA via command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gambas-team/gambas3

3. Update and install the new Gambas 3.9.0 release via:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gambas3

Revert to original Gambas in Ubuntu:

ppa-purge will not downgrade the software due to a package conflict. So to undo changes:

remove the current release via the command in step 1:
```
sudo apt remove gambas3 && sudo apt autoremove
```

remove the PPA via command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:gambas-team/gambas3

finally reinstall the stock version of gambas in Ubuntu:
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt install gambas3
```

In Howtos Gambas, Gambas PPA

Install Spotify with Light Theme ‘Spotio’ in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: September 3, 2016

For those who prefer light skins in desktop applications, ‘spotio‘ is open-source project offers a proof-of-concept Rdio-inspired skin for Spotify desktop app.

The project provides a setup script that automatically downloads the latest Spotify client binary from its official repository, extracts it, and rebuilds the package with Spotio theme so your Spotify app looks like:

To get started:

1. Download Spotio from the link below:

Download Spotio master (.zip)

2. Extract the package, and go to the result directory in terminal by:

either right-clicking on the folder and choosing “Open in terminal”.
or launching terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and running cd ~/Downloads/spotio* command

3. Now run the setup script to download Spotify for its official repository and repack it with spotio theme:

./setup-linux.sh

4. The new package will be generated in dist/ folder and named spotio.deb, install it when done:

cd dist/ && sudo dpkg -i spotio.deb

It will replace previous Spotify version you installed.

Restore Spotify with Dark UI:

So far the easiest way to restore changes is to download and re-install the official package

In Howtos Spotify Light Skin, Spotify Light Theme

Batch Image Resizer and Converter ‘Converseen’ Ported to Qt5

Last updated: September 2, 2016

Converseen, a free and open-source batch image resizer and converter, has reached the 0.9.5 a few days ago.

Converseen 0.9.5 is the first Qt5 port release written in C++. It works on Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD. With Magick++ image libraries it supports more than 100 image formats.

Features:

Convert an unlimited number of images
Create thumbnails to any of the most popular formats
Carry out a single or a multiple conversion
Resize, compress images.
Rotate and flip images.

How to install Converseen 0.9.5 in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

While Ubuntu offers the 0.9.2 release in its main repository, you can install or upgrade Converseen from an third-party PPA.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

2. To upgrade from a previous release, launch Software Updater and install available updates after checking for updates:

Or just run the commands below in terminal to install or upgrade the software:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install converseen

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the .deb package from the file archive.

3. (Optional) To remove converseen image processor, run:

sudo apt remove converseen && sudo apt autoremove

And the PPA can be disabled or removed via Software & Updates utility in Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News batch image converter

How to Install OpenShot 2.1 Stable in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

Last updated: August 31, 2016

OpenShot video editor finally reached the new major 2.1 stable release. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04 via PPA.

OpenShot 2.1 adds support for displaying audio waveforms on clips, improves property editing, provides a new selection dropdown, supports user-configurable keyboard mapping, Windows 64-bit support, timeline improvements, a new startup tutorial, performance gains for effects, improved transitions, and much more.

The OpenShot Stable PPA has made the 2.1 release packages (Qt5 built) for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04. To install it, do:

1. Launch terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa

2. You may have both 1.4.3 and 2.1 releases installed on your system since the new release is built against Qt5 and uses different application icons.

Just run the commands below in terminal to update and install Shotwell 2.1:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install openshot-qt

And finally launch the video editor from Unity Dash and enjoy!

In Howtos OpenShot Video Editor, video editor

How to Install KDE Connect 1.0 in (K)Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: August 30, 2016

KDE Connect has officially reached the first stable 1.0 release after a year of development. And now it’s made into Kubuntu Backports Landing PPA.

KDE Connect is a project that aims to communicate all your devices. For example, with KDE Connect you can receive your phone notifications on your computer, or just use your phone as a remote control for your desktop.

New features in KDEConnect 1.0:

Trigger custom commands from your phone
Reply to SMS messages from your desktop
Receive desktop notifications on your phone
TLS encryption

For more details, read the official announcement.

How to install KDE Connect 1.0 in Ubuntu 16.04:

Kubuntu Backports Landing PPA is a test repository for packages that will land in KUbuntu Backports PPA.

1. Don’t install it in Unity Desktop, the required Qt 5.6 library will break Unity Web Apps
2. For a stable system, please wait the packages to be landed in KUbuntu Backports PPA.

1. Open terminal and add the PPA

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports-landing

2. This build uses the old packaging, you need to remove the old kdeconnect-plasma package before installing the new release:

sudo apt remove kdeconnect-plasma

3. Update and install KDEConnect 1.0:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kdeconnect

And also install the latest KDE Connect in Android device from Google Play.

Undo / Restore the changes:

To downgrade installed packages and libraries from that repository, run command the purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports-landing

In addition, the maintainer offers a separate PPA with KDEConnect 1.0 packages for Ubuntu 16.10, and Ubuntu 16.04. However, the 16.04 build requires Qt5 core libraries >= 5.6.0.

In Howtos KDE Connect

How to Install FocusWriter 1.6 in Ubuntu 16.04/16.10

Last updated: August 28, 2016

FocusWriter, a simple, feature-riched, and distraction-free word processor, has now reached the 1.6.0 release with some great enhancements and fixes.

FocusWriter 1.6.0 adds 4 new background themes, headings (h1 to h6) format, ODT Flat XML files and high DPI displays support.

Other Changes in FocusWriter 1.6.0:

Option to always show scrollbar, topbar, bottom bar.
Allow removing user-installed dictionaries
Add shortcut for typographical apostrophe
Switched to QSoundEffect
Update dictionaries
Bug fixes and translation updates:
- Daily progress did not reset when run longer than a day
- Printer margins were too big
- Was replacing session files with command-line files
- Did not add new default symbol shortcuts

FocusWriter 1.6.0 with Spy Games theme (fullscreen mode)

How to install FocusWriter 1.6.0 in Ubuntu:

The official Ubuntu PPA has been updated with Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 16.10 support, the new release also available for Ubuntu 14.04 and derivatives.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

2. To upgrade from a previous release, just launch Software Updater and install the updates after checking for updates.

Or you may install the program via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install focuswriter

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the latest .deb package directly from the PPA archive.

In Howtos focuswriter, word processor

The First Beta of Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak Released

Last updated: September 29, 2017

The Ubuntu Team has announced the first beta release of Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak, feathers images for Lubuntu, Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio.

This pre-release includes the v4.4 kernel, LibreOffice 5.2, and a number of software updates that are ready for wider testing. These images are still under development, so you should expect some bugs.

Ubuntu 16.10 Beta 1 Release Highlights:

Lubuntu still uses LXDE since LXQT is still in development.

Ubuntu GNOME 16.10:

includes GNOME 3.20
Select apps have been updated to their GNOME 3.22 Beta 1 (3.21.90) versions.
GTK 3 version of LibreOffice 5.2 by default.
GNOME’s Initial Setup utility is included and enabled.
Empathy is no longer installed by default for new installs.
The new Characters character map utility is installed by default.
The experimental wayland session is included.

Ubuntu Kylin 16.04 fixed many internationalization and localization bugs.

Ubuntu MATE 16.10:

Migrated to GTK 3.20
Updated to MATE Dock Applet 0.74
Updated many MATE packages for improved GTK 3.20 support
Removed MATE Heads-Up Display (HUD)

Ubuntu Studio 16.04 included dgedit, drumgizmo, gpick, calibre, pdf-shuffler, plume-creator. Replaced recordmydesktop with vokoscreen, and gnome-color-manager with dispcalgui. Also an updated list of packages included.

Future releases for Ubuntu 16.10:

September 22nd	Final Beta
October 6th	Final Freeze, Release Candicate
October 13th	Final release of Ubuntu 16.10

In News Ubuntu 16.10

PyCharm 2016.2.2 Released with Fixes and Performance Improvements

Last updated: August 27, 2016

The PyCharm Team announced the release of PyCharm 2016.2.2 on August 25. Now it’s available in PPA for upgrade in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04, and derivatives.

The new release fixed several major problems in the debugger and in the code analysis subsystem. It updates bundled JSHint version to 2.9.2, provides better exclude rules for indexing for Node.js, usability, UI, editing performance improvements, and various bug fixes. See the release note for details.

How to install PyCharm 2016.2.2 in Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

Both the professional and community version with Unity menu-bar integration are available in Mystic Mirage’s PPA for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04, and the old Ubuntu 15.10, 15.04.

GetDeb repository also contains the professional version of PyCharm IDE for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 14.04.

1. Add the PPA

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mystic-mirage/pycharm

2. For those who have a previous release installed, launch Software Updater and upgrade the IDE:

Or install the PyCharm IDE professional via command in terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install pycharm

Replace pycharm with pycharm-community in the code to install the community version.

3. (Optional) To remove PyCharm IDE, simply run command:

sudo apt remove pycharm pycharm-community

And the PPA repository can be removed via Software & Updates utility (Other Software tab).

In News IDE, PyCharm

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