UbuntuHandbook

Show System Info / Hardware Details in Ubuntu Command Line

Last updated: January 9, 2019

To check system information and hardware details in Ubuntu command console, without confused with various Linux commands, there’s a full featured CLI system information available.

There’s already a great graphical tool Hardinfo available in Ubuntu Software. For the command line tool, inxi is available to check:

Audio/sound card(s), driver, sound server.
System battery info
CPU output
Hard Disk info
Graphics card, driver, display server, resolution, renderer, OpenGL version.
General info, including processes, uptime, memory, IRC client or shell type, inxi version.
Memory (RAM) data (Require root)
Network card, driver.
system info, partition info, sensors output, USB data, and more.

To install inxi in Ubuntu, simply run command:

sudo apt-get install inxi

Then run man inxi to get a list of command options, or run inxi -F to get a brief output:

For more about the tool, go to inxi web page.

In App Review hardware info CLI, system info CLI

Rhythmbox 3.4.3 Released with Numerous Bug Fixes

Last updated: January 8, 2019

Rhythmbox music player

The default Rhythmbox music player released version 3.4.3 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04.

Rhythmbox 3.4.3 release highlights:

Improved Android plugin to work better with Samsung and Android 9 devices
Replaced status bar with floating bar as used by Nautilus
Fixed crash when store request processing fails
Fixed crashes when editing auto playlist sorted by Location / Bitrate
Fixed crashes when insert a cd
Fixed issue that can not transfer songs to phone over MTP
And many other changes.

How to Install Rhythmbox 3.4.3 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10 and derivatives, you can install Rhythmbox 3.4.3 from the unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal either from app launcher or via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then launch Software Updater, upgrade the music player packages:

How to Restore:

You can purge the PPA which also downgrade Rhythmbox to the stock version via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

In Howtos, News rhythmbox

How to Get ‘2×2’ Grid Workspaces in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: December 11, 2019

Workspace Grid is not maintained anymore. Try Workspace Matrix.

This quick tutorial is going to show you how to get the previous ‘2×2’, ‘3×3’ style rectangular grid workspaces in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

The default Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome shell lists all workspaces in a column, and navigates via Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down keyboard shortcuts. To arranges workspaces in a configurable grid, there’s an extension called Workspace Grid.

1. Install the extension by searching for and installing Workspace Grid in Ubuntu Software:

2. Then launch its settings either via the install page, or using Gnome Tweaks -> Extension.

There set the number of rows and columns of workspaces, other settings, and enjoy!

In Howtos grid workspaces

How to Install Nautilus Actions in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: February 12, 2019

Nautilus actions is a file manager extension allows to add arbitrary program to be launched through the context menu of selected files.

Ubuntu does no longer ship the Nautilus actions package in universe repositories since it’s been deprecated and renamed to FileManager actions.

For those still need the tool, it has made into PPA repository for Ubuntu 18.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:daniel-marynicz/filemanager-actions

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

2. Then run commands to install the extension:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install filemanager-actions-nautilus-extension

For Linux Mint Cinnamon or MATE desktop, you can install Nemo or Caja extension via command:

sudo apt install filemanager-actions-nemo-extension filemanager-actions-caja-extension

Once installed, search for and launch FileManager Actions to launch the tool.

Uninstall:

To remove filemanager actions, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove filemanager-actions

To remove the PPA, go to Software & Updates -> Other Software.

In Howtos nautilus actions

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 Released with W64 Support

Last updated: January 4, 2019

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 was released today with new features, enhancements, and bug-fixes.

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 release highlights:

mkvextract now writes W64 files for .w64 file or file size > 4 GB
Add button to show the 10 most recently used output directories.
Predefined split sizes and durations can now be customized in the preferences.
Add option to append chapters from an existing file to the current open editor tab.
Add new context menu action to copy selected entry to another open editor tab.
And more other changes, see the release note for details.

How to Install MKVToolNix 30.0.0 in Ubuntu:

The latest MKVToolNix packages will be soon made into its official apt repository for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19/18, and higher

Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching it from app launcher. When it opens, do following steps:

1. Run command to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb https://mkvtoolnix.download/ubuntu/ $(lsb_release -sc) main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/bunkus.org.list'

Replace $(lsb_release -sc) with bionic for Linux Mint 19, or xenial for Linux Mint 18.x. And input your password (no asterisks while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then install the key:

wget -q -O - https://mkvtoolnix.download/gpg-pub-moritzbunkus.txt | sudo apt-key add -

3. Finally either upgrade the software via Software Updater (Update Manager):

or run command to install the software packages:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

Uninstall:

To remove the apt repository, launch Software & Updates utility and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove MKVToolNix, use Synaptic Package Manager or run following command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

In Howtos, News mkvmerge GUI, MKVToolNix

How to Install 2D Animation Software ‘OpenToonz’ in Ubuntu

Last updated: January 3, 2019

OpenToonz, open source 2D animation software, now can be installed in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher easily via Snap package.

OpenToonz is based on Toonz Studio Ghibli Version, originally developed in Italy by Digital Video, Inc., and customized by Studio Ghibli over many years of production.

This snap is maintained by the Snapcrafters community, and is not necessarily endorsed or officially maintained by the upstream developers.

How to Install OpenToonz in Ubuntu:

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one.

1. For Ubuntu 16.04, you need to make sure snapd is installed by running command:

sudo apt install snapd snapd-xdg-open

2. While the snap is not available in Ubuntu Software at the moment, install it via Linux command instead:

sudo snap install opentoonz

add --classic flag if need to access directories outside of user home.

Once installed launch it from application menu.

Uninstall:

To remove the 2D animation software, run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove opentoonz

In Howtos 2D animation, opentoonz

GnuCash 3.4 Released with Tons of Bug-fixes / Improvements

Last updated: January 2, 2019

GnuCash

Free accounting software GnuCash 3.4 was released a few days ago with tons of bug-fixes and improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10.

According to the release note, GnuCash 3.4 redesigned gnc-uri-utils, cleaned up more report code, improved toolbar buttons, text options widget, and fixed a large number of bugs.

How to Install GnuCash 3.4 in Ubuntu 18.04:

While GnuCash flatpak package is still at version 3.2, you can install the latest 3.4 release via an unofficial PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 18.10.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut key. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sicklylife/gnucash

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then either upgrade GnuCash via Software Updater, or install it via command:

sudo apt install gnucash

Uninstall:

To remove GnuCash 3.4, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gnucash

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates -> Other Software.

In Howtos, News Free Accounting Software, GnuCash

Live For Speed Available to Install via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: January 1, 2019

Live For Speed, a online racing simulator, now can be installed in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher easily via Snap package.

Live for Speed is a serious racing simulator. No arcade modes, no steering aids – YOU have to do the driving.

The forces affecting the car’s motion are simulated individually at each wheel. We recommend the use of a steering wheel, because although you can use the keyboard and/or mouse, a wheel and pedals provide a lot more accuracy. The force feedback sent to the steering wheel is calculated directly from the forces, with no canned effects. This allows you to feel what is happening at the contact patch between your tyres and the road, helping you to get closer to the limit without exceeding it too much!

Thanks to Taqi Raza, you can now install LFS in Ubuntu via Snap package, which is built against Wine platform.

To install the simulator in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for liveforspeed in Ubuntu Software.

first install wine-platform
and then install live for speed.

For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run following commands one by one to install snapd, wine-platform, and liveforspeed

sudo apt install snapd

sudo snap install wine-platform

sudo snap install liveforspeed

Once installed, launch the software from application menu. For the first time, it sets up wine environments and installs the racing simulator automatically.

In Howtos live for speed, racing simulator

Rambox Available to Install via Snap in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher

Last updated: December 31, 2018

Rambox, open source messaging and emailing app combines common web applications into one, now can be easily installed via Snap package in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher.

Rambox is a workspace browser that allows you to manage as many applications as you want, all in one place. It is perfect for people who care about productivity and work with many applications, both business and personal.

Both Rambox community and professional versions are available as Snap, containerized software package runs in most Linux desktop. The snap bundles all required libraries, and auto-update itself.

To install Rambox snap in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, open Ubuntu Software, search for and install rambox package.

To install the software in Ubuntu 16.04, run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo snap install rambox

replace rambox with ramboxpro for the professional edition.

You may install snapd first if the previous command does not work:

sudo apt install snapd snapd-xdg-open

In Howtos rambox

VLC 3.0.5 Released, How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: December 29, 2018

VLC media player released version 3.0.5 a few days ago with performance improvements and numerous fixes. Here’s how to install it in all current Ubuntu releases.

VLC 3.0.5 release highlights:

Faster and more complete support for the AV1 codec
Compatibility with macOS 10.14 “Mojave”, with native dark mode, and notarization
Improvements for Blu-ray playback, RTP and UDP streams
Improvements for MP4, MKV, CAF and AV1 media
Improvements for HDR support, tone-mapping and native Windows HDR support
Fixes for Chromecast, Direct3D11, Youtube and subtitles rendering

How to Install VLC 3.0.5 in Ubuntu:

Linux Snap package:

The official VLC snap package (containerized software package) has been updated to v3.0.5. For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply install it from Ubuntu Software.

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

sudo apt install snapd && sudo snap install vlc

VLC package for Ubuntu:

Ubuntu comes with VLC package (see previous picture), and offers software updates through updates repository.

NOTE VLC 3.0.5 is not available at the moment of writing. As usual, the new release package will be published in a few days.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply install VLC .deb package from Ubuntu Software, and VLC 3.0.5 package will be available via Software Updater once published.