Archives For jimingkui

Firefox 55

Mozilla Firefox 69.0 was released today. The new release rolls out stronger privacy protections by enabling Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) by default.

Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks third-party sites from tracking cookies and cryptominers. There’s also optional strict setting blocks fingerprinters as well as the items blocked in the default standard setting.

Other changes in Firefox 69.0 includes:

  • Option to block any video that automatically starts playing
  • New “New Tab” page experience for users in the US or using the en-US browser
  • WebRTC conferencing services support for receiving multiple video codecs
  • Performance and UI improvements to Windows 10
  • Improved battery life and download UI for macOS.
  • Various security fixes.
  • See the release note for details.

How to Install Firefox 69.0 in Ubuntu:

The new release package has been made into the main repositories for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and their derivatives.

Simply open Software Updater (Update Manager) and install the updates for Firefox.

If you don’t see the Firefox updates, go to Software & Updates and make sure the security and updates repositories are enabled in Updates tab.

Warzone 2100, an open-source real-time strategy game, released 3.3.0 a few days ago with an enormous amount of changes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher.

Changes Warone 2100 3.3.0 include:

  • Reinstated secondary orders Pursue, Guard, and Hold
  • Reinstated range orders Optimum, Short, and Long range
  • Improved window resizing and display scaling
  • Support for more graphics driver workarounds and platform compatibility
  • Fixed very slow map/mod transfer when vertical sync is enabled
  • Disable PIE SHADERS directive support
  • Fixed loading OpenGL on older Intel chipsets on Windows 10
  • Fix of shooting through walls, and many other changes.

How to Install Warzone 2100 3.3.0 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for and install ‘warzone 2100’ in Ubuntu Software.

NOTE there are two warzone 2100 packages in Ubuntu Software. Check the package details before installing the package.

For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install snapd:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the game via command:

sudo snap install warzone2100

(Optional) To remove Warzone 2100, either use Ubuntu Software utility or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove warzone2100

Kodi media center 18.4 was released today as another bug-fix release for Kodi 18 “Leia”. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

Kodi 18.4 release highlights:

  • FFmpeg: Bump to 4.0.4-Leia-18.4
  • Load program from stream property without using streaminfo (video)
  • Fix initialization of AVD3D11VAContext structure (video, Windows)
  • Fix TS resume point, related to PR16314 (video)
  • Fixed memory leak, fixed segfault (video, Linux)
  • Fix PAPlayer to handle passthrough for TrueHD (audio)
  • Fix file times for vfs addons
  • And many interface and general fixes.

How to Install Kodi 18.4 in Ubuntu:

The Kodi stable PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from application menu. When it opens, paste below command and hit run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then either upgrading Kodi from an existing version via Software Updater:

upgrade Kodi

or refresh system package cache and install Kodi 18.4 via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kodi

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can skip the apt update command as it’s done automatically in step 1.

Uninstall:

To remove the Kodi PPA repository, simply open Software & Updates -> Other Software.

To remove Kodi, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kodi kodi-data kodi-bin

AppEditor is an open-source tool allows you to edit application entries shown in application menu and their properties.

AppEditor features:

  • Hide and show applications from the application menu
  • Create new application entries
  • Change application’s display name, icon and more

How to Install AppEditor in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher:

UPDATE Jan, 2024: The steps below will install the Flatpak package, but it’s OLD. For the latest version, the only way is building from source.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

2. Paste below command and run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

3. Add flathub repository, which hosts a large list of flatpak applications:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4. Finally install AppEditor via command:

flatpak install flathub com.github.donadigo.appeditor

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove AppEditor flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.github.donadigo.appeditor

Wine Stable

The new development version Wine 4.15 was released one day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 19.04 and/or Ubuntu 18.04.

Wine 4.15 release highlights:

  • Initial implementation of the HTTP service.
  • Stack unwinding support on ARM64.
  • Better multi-monitor support on macOS.
  • RichEdit control optimizations.
  • Various bug-fixes, including fixes to Dragon Age, World of Warcraft 7, Need For Speed, etc.

How to Install Wine 4.15 in Ubuntu:

Note: following steps may not work in Ubuntu 18.04 due to unmet dependencies issue. Please comment if you have a solution.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run following commands to download and install the key:

wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key && sudo apt-key add winehq.key

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then add Wine repository for Ubuntu 19.04:

sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ disco main'

For other Ubuntu releases, replace disco in the code with:

  • bionic for Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19.x

3. Install unmet dependence: faudio

The wine devel package requires libfaudio0 library which is not available in Ubuntu repositories.

As a workaround, run command to add the third-party PPA, which offers the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cybermax-dexter/sdl2-backport

4. Finally run command to install Wine 4.14, which will automatically install the required libfaudio0 libraries.

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-devel

Once installed, run winecfg to bring up the configuration window and check Wine version.

Uninstall:

Open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab. Then remove the PPA, and Wine apt repository lines.

To remove Wine devel package, run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove winehq-devel

Qmmp Qt-based multimedia player

Qmmp, Qt based music player with winamp or xmms like user interface, released version 1.3.4 (and Qt4 version 0.12.4) a few days ago with stability improvements.

Qmmp 1.3.4 release highlights:

  • improved mp3 file determination;
  • added format name in the ffmpeg plugin;
  • fixed pausing logic;
  • fixed random crash when changing audio settings;
  • fixed crash in the QtMultimedia plugin (1.3.4 only);
  • fixed build warning;
  • fixed duration formatting;
  • fixed ReplayGain support;
  • fixed memory leak;
  • fixed multiple channels support in the equalizer;
  • updated translations.

Qmmp

Install Qmmp 1.3.4 in Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and higher

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:forkotov02/ppa

Input your password (no asterisk feedback while typing) and hit Enter to continue.

2. If a previous version exists, upgrade Qmmp using Software Updater:

Or run commands to install or upgrade Qmmp and its plugins:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack

For qt4 version, use qmmp-qt4 and qmmp-plugin-pack-qt4 instead in the last command.

Uninstall:

You can manage the PPA repository via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.

To remove Qmmp music player, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove qmmp qmmp-*

GNU Emacs text editor 26.3 was released last night. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher.

Emacs 26.3 is a maintenance release contains following changes:

  • New GPG key for GNU ELPA package signature checking.
  • New option ‘help-enable-completion-auto-load’, allows disabling the new feature introduced in Emacs 26.1 which loads files during completion of ‘C-h f’ and ‘C-h v’ according to ‘definition-prefixes’.
  • Emacs now supports the new Japanese Era name.

How to Install Emacs 26.3 in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher:

Emacs 26.3 has made into Snap Store as containerized snap package. For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for and install it via Ubuntu Software.

For those prefer native Ubuntu .deb package, this PPA repository contains the most recent Emacs packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04 and higher. Emacs 26.3 packages should be made into the PPA in a few days.

HP Linux Imaging and Printing

HPLIP 3.19.8, HP developed printer and scanner drivers for Linux, was released today with new devices and new Linux Distro’s support.

HPLIP 3.19.8 add following new printers and scanners support:

  • HP DesignJet T1530 Postscript
  • HP DesignJet T2530 Postscript
  • HP DesignJet T930 Postscript
  • HP DesignJet T1600 Postscript Printer
  • HP DesignJet T1600dr Postscript Printer
  • HP DesignJet T2600 Postscript MFP
  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M329dn
  • HP LaserJet Pro MFP M329dw
  • HP LaserJet Pro M305d
  • HP LaserJet Pro M304a
  • HP LaserJet Pro M305dn
  • HP LaserJet Pro M305dw

It also added support for following new Distro’s: OpenSuse 15.1, Debian 9.9, Debian 10, Manjaro 18.0.4, Linux Mint 19.2, RHEL 8.0.

1. To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.19.8.run” from the link below:

HPLIP Download Page

2. Then make the downloaded file executable from its Properties dialog > Permissions tab:

3. Finally open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or search for “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to start installing it:

./Downloads/hplip-3.19.8.run

4. Follow the terminal prompts, answer some questions to build and install HPLIP on your system. When everything is done, plug/re-plug your printers and enjoy!

StepMania icon

This quick tutorial shows how to install StepMania 5.1.0 Beta2, free dance and rhythm game, in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04

StepMania is a free dance and rhythm game for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It features 3D graphics, keyboard and “dance pad” support, and an editor for creating your own steps.

If you’re looking for the latest stable StepMania 5.0.12, use the unofficial PPA repository instead.

StepMania 5.0.6 in Ubuntu 14.10

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can follow the steps below one by one to install StepMania 5.1.0 Beta 2 via the Flatpak package (runs in sandbox).

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

When terminal opens, paste command below and hit run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

2. Add flathub repository, which contains the game flatpak package:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4. Finally install StepMania via command:

flatpak install flathub com.stepmania.StepMania

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy (if the app icon is not visible, try log out and back in)!

NOTE: After installation, open “Files” (nautilus file manager), press Ctrl+H to show hidden folders, and navigate to .var/app/com.stepmania.StepMania/.stepmania-5.1, and put songs, themes, etc into relevant sub-folders to install them.

Uninstall:

To remove RetroArch flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.stepmania.StepMania

Gnome Feeds is a minimal RSS/Atom feed reader written in Python 3 and GTK+ 3.

It offers a simple user interface that only shows the latest news from your subscriptions. Articles are shown in a web view by default, with javascript disabled for a faster and less intrusive user experience. There’s also a reader mode included, built from the one GNOME Web/Epiphany uses.

Gnome Feeds doesn’t integrate or sync with a cloud-based service, like Feedly or Inoreader, but feeds can be imported and exported via OPML.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

2. Paste below command and run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

3. Add flathub repository, which hosts a large list of flatpak applications:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4. Finally install Gnome Feeds via command:

flatpak install flathub org.gabmus.gnome-feeds

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove Gnome Feeds flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall org.gabmus.gnome-feeds