UbuntuHandbook

How to Install Flatpak Apps from Flathub Beta Repository

Last updated: March 14, 2024 — Leave a comment

This simple tutorial shows how to install Beta version of your Flatpak app package from Flathub Beta repository in Ubuntu Linux.

Flatpak now is one of the top popular package formats for Linux. It runs in sandbox, allowing to easily manage software permissions and installing latest apps without worrying about dependency issues.

Most software developers publish their Flatpak app packages through Flathub repository. And for testing purpose, Flathub also provides a Beta repository.

There used to be beta.flathub.org web page for browsing and installing beta apps. The page however does no longer present in the website, though the beta apps are still installable.

In Howtos flatpak

OBS Studio 30.1 Released! Enabled HDR for HEVC, AV1 for VA-API

Last updated: March 14, 2024 — Leave a comment

OBS Studio, the popular free open-source live streaming app, announced new major 30.1 release this Wednesday!

The new release enabled HDR for HEVC over the RTMP protocol, AV1 HDR is not currently supported by YouTube.

OBS Studio 30.1 reworked Image Slideshow source to load files asynchronously, and fixed an issue where the slideshow would loop before showing all images. Existing Image Slideshow sources will continue functioning as before. To change them to the new version, you have to re-create them.

The release also added AV1 support for VA-API video hardware acceleration, and AV1 support for WebRTC/WHIP output.

In News live streams, OBS Studio

Install Kdenlive 24.08.1 Deb Package via New Ubuntu PPA

Last updated: September 23, 2024 — 3 Comments

For those who prefer the native .deb app packages, here’s new unofficial PPA for installing the most recent Kdenlive video editor 24.08.1 in Ubuntu 24.04.

Since version 24.02, the Kdenlive video editor is finally ported to Qt6 plus KDE Frameworks 6, which brings big performance improvements, but also a few regressions.

Due to this change, the developer team discontinued the official Kdenlive PPA, since KF6 is NOT yet made into Ubuntu repositories.

The official packages are now only Flatpak and AppImage, that run in sandbox. For those who prefer the .deb package format, here’s the new unofficial PPA for choice.

Kdenlive 24.04 with Qt5 and KDE Frameworks 5

In Howtos Kdenlive, video editor

How to Turn Off Laptop Screen in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: May 5, 2024 — 1 Comment

This tutorial shows how to turn off your laptop’s built-in display for using external monitors in Ubuntu Desktop.

When working with multiple monitors, it can be useful to disable the built-in screen for saving power. You can set lid close action to do nothing then just close the laptop lid.

However, the lid close action may not work properly in some laptops, or you need to use the built-in keyboard and touch-pad. In the cases, here are a few other ways to do the job.
Continue Reading…

In Howtos display, Ubuntu Laptop

Kdenlive 24.02 Released! Ported to Qt6, Dropped Ubuntu PPA

Last updated: March 12, 2024 — Leave a comment

Kdenlive video editor released new 24.02.0 version this Monday!

The new release now takes use of Qt6 and KDE Frameworks 6 for its user interface. The port gets overall experience and better Wayland support for Linux users. And, it now runs natively on DirectX, Metal, and Vulkan respectively on Windows, MacOS, and Linux with substantial performance boost.

However, due to this change, the developer team discontinued supporting for the official PPA that contains the native .deb package for Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Now, it supports only AppImage & Flatpak for Linux.

Other downsides due to switched to Qt6 and KDE Frameworks 6 include:

Themes and icons not applied properly in Windows and Linux AppImage.
Temporarily removed audio recording feature.
Text not properly displays in clips in the timeline for Linux Wayland.

In News Kdenlive, video editor

Linux Kernel 6.8 Released with New Laptops & Game Controllers Support

Last updated: March 11, 2024 — Leave a comment

Linus Torvalds announced Linux 6.8 stable as the latest Kernel series this Sunday.

For Intel, the new kernel now includes the IAA (Intel Analytics Accelerators) crypto compression kernel driver, Qualcomm WCD939X USB subsystem Altmode Mux driver. It added support for QAT 420xx devices, and Thunderbold support for next 16th gen CPUs, QAT 420xx devices. The intel_idle driver now supports ntel Meteor Lake 14th Gen CPUs. And, the issue that the maximum frequency of Core Ultra mobile processors is 100MHz less has been fixed.

AMD PMC (Power Management Controller) driver has been updated with next-gen Zen 5 CPUs support. And, the kernel now supports AMD MicroBlaze V soft-core RISC-V processor.

Kernel 6.8 also added many new devices support. They include Samsung Exynos Auto v920, Google GS101 (Tensor G1), MediaTek MT8188, Qualcomm SM8650 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), Qualcomm X1E80100 (Snapdragon X Elite), and Unisoc UMS9620 (Tanggula 7), as well as new Lenovo, ASUS, and Acer Chromebooks with Mediatek MT8183 SoC.

For gaming, the kernel adds driver for Adafruit Seesaw gamepad, and supports Lenovo Legion Go and Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) controllers, as well as new gaming handhelds, such as Anbernic RG351V, Powkiddy RK2023, and Powkiddy X55.

Other changes in Linux Kernel 6.8 include:

Initial Rust support for LoongArch CPU.
11% higher s390 (IBM Z) system call entry performance
Experimental Intel Xe DRM kernel graphics driver
Raspberry Pi 5 graphics driver support with V3D.
Apple M1 USB4/Thunderbolt DART support
Gigabyte AORUS Waterforce X240 / X280 / X360 AIO coolers. support.

In News kernel

KeePassXC 2.7.7 Released with Passkeys, 1Password & Bitwarden Import

Last updated: March 11, 2024 — Leave a comment

KeePassXC password manager announced the new 2.7.7 release this Sunday! Here are the new features and how to install instruction for Ubuntu.

The new KeePassXC 2.7.7 features official support for Passkeys. It’s a type of login credential, that provides a faster, easier, and more secure ways to login to websites and services without having to enter a password.

image from keepassxc website

In Howtos, News KeePassXC, password manager

Install Reading Strip to Help Focus on Reading in Ubuntu

Last updated: March 11, 2024 — Leave a comment

For Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation, and other Linux with GNOME Desktop, there’s an extension to help you focus on reading on the screen.

It’s Reading Strip, a free and open-source app written in JavaScript. With it, a horizontal (and/or vertical) strip will be displayed and follow around your mouse cursor.

By settings its background color and opacity, it can highlight the sentence to help focus on reading for people affected by dyslexia.

It also supports focus strip mode, that hides (blurs) the previous and next ones on screen. Which, is great for helping children focus on reading very well.

ReadingStrip Focus mode

How to Install Reading Strip

As mentioned above, reading strip is available as an extension for GNOME Desktop. It so far supports for GNOME from version 3.36 to 44. Sadly, GNOME 45 is not supported due to bug. Meaning it works for all current Ubuntu LTS (20.04 and 22.04), Fedora 37/38, Debian 12, RHEL 9.

For Ubuntu 22.04, first search for and install “Gnome Shell Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

Then, launch the tool and use it to search & install “Reading Strip” under Browse tab.

For Ubuntu 20.04 and other Linux with GNOME, just open web browser and go to the extension page via the link button below:

Reading Strip in EGO

Install the browser extension if it prompts, refresh, and finally use the ON/OFF switch that page to install the GNOME Shell Extension.

NOTE: Debian and Ubuntu may also needs to open terminal and run command sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell to install the agent package first.

Configure & Use Reading Strip

After properly installed the extension, an indicator applet should appear in top-right system tray area.

By clicking on the applet icon or using Ctrl + Super (Windows Logo) + Space key combination can toggle on/off the feature.

To change the strip size, background opacity, color, and/or enable focus mode, just install either Gnome Extensions or Extension Manager from either Ubuntu Software or Gnome Software.

Then, click on setting for the Reading Strip extension and do the changes as you want.

That’s all. Enjoy!

In Howtos Gnome

Cozy Audiobook Player 1.3.0 Ported to GTK4 & LibAdwaita

Last updated: March 9, 2024 — Leave a comment

After almost 2 years, Cozy audiobook player, finally announced new 1.3.0 release days ago.

Cozy is a free open-source application for Linux, allows to listen to your DRM free mp3, m4b, m4a (aac, ALAC, …), flac, ogg and wav audio books.

The new release ported the UI to GTK4 plus LibAdwaita. It now looks more native, well integrated in Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux with recent GNOME Desktop, and automatically switch to dark mode when system switched to dark style.

Other changes include:

Improved mobile support
Smaller visual refinements to match the state of the art of GNOME apps
Dozens of bug fixes and performance improvements
Significant cleanup and improvements to the codebase
As always, updated translations thanks to all translators!

In News

HexChat IRC Client Discontinued By Releasing v2.16.2

Last updated: March 11, 2024 — 2 Comments

HexChat, the popular free open-source IRC chat client, discontinued!

HexChat is a IRC chat client forked from XChat. It’s a GTK app written in mostly C programming language. Features include customizable interface, Windows and Linux support, scripting support with Lua, Python, and Perl, multi-network with auto-connect, join, and identify, and more.

By announcing the 1.6.2 release today, the developer TingPing finally discontinued working on the project, after almost 12 years of development.

“This will be the last release I make of HexChat. The project has largely been unmaintained for years now and nobody else stepped up to do that work.“