UbuntuHandbook

Audacious 3.10 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 15, 2018

Audacious music player

After nearly a year of development, Audacious audio player 3.10 was finally released yesterday. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Linux Mint 19 and 18.

Audacious 3.10, code-named “Not Quite There Yet”, added following new features:

Shuffle history is remembered at exit to avoid repeating songs
Exported M3U and PLS playlists now use relative paths by default
Recursively adding subfolders to the playlist is now optional
The URL history shown in the Add/Open URL dialogs can be cleared
Toolbar buttons in the GTK UI now show tooltip hints
The adplug input plugin has a new settings window
The Search Tool can be configured to scan for new files at startup
The number of results shown in the Search Tool is now configurable
The Delete Files plugin is clearer about which files will be deleted
Icons from the desktop theme are used more consistently
Scalable icons are now used on Windows for better high-DPI support
The bottom info bar now matches the color tone of dark themes
The soxr resampler has some new, more detailed settings

There are also many UI improvements and various bug-fixes. See the previous link for details.

How to Install Audacious 3.10 in Ubuntu:

You can install the new release packages in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, and their derivatives via the unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for ‘terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8

Type your password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then you can upgrade Audacious via Software Updater:

or run commands one by one in terminal to install or upgrade the audio player:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install audacious audacious-plugins

Uninstall:

You can easily remove the PPA either by going to Software & Updates utility -> Other Software tab, or by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8

To remove audacious, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove audacious audacious-plugins

In Howtos, News audacious, music player

Quick Tip: Display Battery Percentage in Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome panel

Last updated: August 8, 2018

This quick tutorial will show Ubuntu beginners how to show or hide the battery percentage in Ubuntu 18.04 top-right system tray.

I’ve already written about this while the default System Settings utility does not have an option for the function. And in Ubuntu 18.04 you can do it easily via Gnome Tweaks tool.

1. Gnome Tweaks is one of my must-have applications, specially for configuring Gnome 3 desktop.

To install it, search for and install ‘Gnome Tweaks’ in Ubuntu Software:

2. Then launch the tool, navigate to Top Bar settings page. There you can see the option for turning on / off battery percentage.

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos battery percentage

How to Install Converseen batch image converter in Ubuntu

Last updated: April 22, 2024

Converseen is a free open-source application, allows you to convert, resize, rotate and flip an infinite number of images with a mouse click. As well, it supports for transforming an entire PDF file into a bunch of images with the characteristics you prefer.

Converseen is written in C++ with Qt5 libraries. Thanks to Magick++ it supports more than 100 image formats.

With converseen, you can:

Carry out a single or a multiple conversion.
Resize one or multiple images.
Compress images for your web pages.

How to install the new Converseen in Ubuntu

The image converter is available to install in different package formats: AppImage, Snap, and Deb. Choose either one that you prefer.

1. AppImage

The software website provides the universal AppImage for downloading via the link button below:

Download Converseen (AppImage)

It’s a non-install package. Just grab it, right-click and go to ‘Properties’ dialog to add executable permission. Finally, click run the AppImage will launch the tool.

2. Snap

For Ubuntu 20.04+, the snap package is the easiest way to get converseen, though it runs in sandbox. Just open Ubuntu Software, search for and install the package marked as ‘Snap Store (snap)’.

3. Ubuntu PPA (.deb)

For those who prefer the classic .deb package format, there’s unofficial PPA that contains the package for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 22.10.

1. First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

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

2. Then, install the software package by running command:

sudo apt install converseen

Linux Mint user may have to run sudo apt update first to update cache.

Uninstall:

The PPA also contains some other software packages, so you may remove it immediately after installed Liferea.

To do so, either run the command below in terminal, or remove the source line under “Other Software” tab in Software & Updates tool.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

To remove the feed reader package, simply run command:

sudo apt remove converseen

That’s all. Enjoy!

In Howtos, News batch image converter, Converseen image converter

How to Display Internet Speed in Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome Panel

Last updated: August 6, 2018

Want to display internet speed in Ubuntu panel? I used to use an indicator applet in Ubuntu when the Unity desktop was the default. Now in Ubuntu 18.04 this can be done via a Gnome shell extension.

The Gnome shell extension system is a replacement for the “applets” or “widgets” system. Extensions can add their own items to the top panel. And NetSpeed extension display internet speed in Gnome panel.

To install NetSpeed extension, simply open Ubuntu Software, search for and install “netspeed”:

It displays internet speed in top-right system tray area once you installed the extension. For settings, go to Ubuntu Software -> NetSpeed -> Extension Settings.

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos netspeed indicator

Install BeeBEEP Secure Lan Messenger via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: August 5, 2018

BeeBEEP is an open-source, peer to peer, lan messenger that works on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, OS/2 and eComStation.

With BeeBEEP, you can talk and share files over local area network without a server. It supports offline messengers, messenger history, and messengers are encrypted based on Rijndael Algorithm.

For Windows and Mac OS, the official binaries are available for download at sourceforge.

How to Install BeeBEEP in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, the latest BeeBEEP now is available as Snap package. Simply open Ubuntu Software, search for and install beebeep.

Or open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install BeeBEEP snap package:

snap install beebeep

Once installed, open it from software launcher and enjoy!

In Howtos BeeBeep, secure lan messenger

Video Cutting App ‘VidCutter’ 6.0 Released with New Features

Last updated: August 3, 2018

Video cutting and joining software VidCutter 6.0 was released a day ago with great new features and performance improvements.

VidCutter 6.0 release highlights:

Add video filters -> BLACKDETECT in app menu: create clips via black frame detection.
Automatic chapters created per clip in your list
Add “Edit chapter name” option to right-click on a click option.
External media file joins issue were fixed.
Added new “Enable use of PBOs” setting under the Video category
OSD (on-screen display) text defined for all user actions + standardised OSD case and wording/format.
Improvements to Snap, Appimage, Flatpak, and UI.

How to Install VidCutter 6.0 in Ubuntu:

The Appimage is available for download at the release page (see the previous link). And the snap package is on the way.

To install the traditional .deb packages, VidCutter 6.0 is available via the developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 16.04.

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for “terminal” from software launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ozmartian/apps

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

2. Then install VidCutter either via Synaptic Package Manager or by running 2 commands in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install vidcutter

Uninstall:

You can remove the developer’s PPA repository via Software & Updates -> Other Software:

And remove VidCutter .deb package via command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove vidcutter

In Howtos, News vidcutter, video cutter, video cutting and joining

Install Opera Web Browser Easily via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: August 2, 2018

The latest Opera web browser now is available to install easily via Snap package in Ubuntu.

Snap is containerised software package, designed to work securely within most Linux desktop. It bundles most required dependencies and auto-updates itself.

Opera announced its snap packages for Linux users, so that you can:

install Opera (snap) in Ubuntu Software.
always has up-to-date Opera application (since it auto-update itself)

For Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 users you can now install Opera snap in Ubuntu Software:

Or run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) instead to install the snap:

In addition to Ubuntu 16.04 users who never installed snap package, you may need to install snapd first via command:

sudo apt install snapd snapd-xdg-open

In Howtos, News Opera, opera snap package

HPLIP 3.18.7 Released with New Printers & Fedora 28 Support

Last updated: September 20, 2018

HPLIP 3.18.7, a new monthly release of HP developed Linux drivers for HP inkjet and laser based printers, was released a few hours ago.

HPLIP 3.18.7 added 64-bit Fedora 28, and following new printers support:

HP Smart Tank 350
HP Smart Tank Wireless 450
HP Ink Tank 310
HP Ink Tank Wireless 410
HP Ink Tank 115
HP DesignJet Z6 24in
HP DesignJet Z6 44in
HP DesignJet Z6dr 44in
HP DesignJet Z9 24in
HP DesignJet Z9 44in
HP DesignJet Z9dr 44in

The new release also added support for CDS feature and fixed a few bugs:

Supplies and status information are not displayed in the hp-toolbox for Ruby
HPLIP Google Reported Issues related to models.dat file on PPD mapping
HPLIP Google Reported Syntactical Issues related to models.dat file

Download / Install HPLIP 3.18.7 in Ubuntu:

To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.18.7.run” from the link below:

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

cd ~/Downloads/ && chmod +x hplip-3.18.7.run && ./hplip-3.18.7.run

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

Then 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!

In Howtos, News HP Print Driver for Linux, HPLIP

Mesa 18.1.5 Available to Install in Ubuntu 18.04 via PPA

Last updated: July 31, 2018

For open-source graphic driver users, the latest Mesa 18.1.5 now is available in Ubuntu-X team PPA for Ubuntu 18.04.

Mesa 18.1.5 was released a few days ago with RADV Radeon Vulkan driver fixes, a number of Intel ANV Vulkan driver fixes, and some fixes to i965, RadeonSI, and even R600g driver.

You can now install Mesa 18.1.5 in Ubuntu 18.04 via following steps:

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for ‘Terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Type your password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

In Howtos, News Mesa 3D graphics library, Mesa PPA

How to Set Animated Wallpaper Background in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: July 30, 2018

Want to use animated wallpapers on Ubuntu desktop? Well, you can try the new awesome wallpaper manager called Komorebi.

Komorebi is an open-source animated wallpaper manager for Linux. With it, you can set your desktop background with:

a picture with time & date.
a video wallpaper.
a web page.

The software ships with a list of default animated wallpapers. And there’s a Wallpaper Creator allows to manually create animated wallpapers from pictures, videos, or web pages.

How to Install and Use Komorebi in Ubuntu:

You can download the 64-bit deb, so far it’s “komorebi-2.1-64-bit.deb” from the release page:

Then install the package either via Gdebi (install it via Ubuntu Software) or by running command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/komorebi-*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

Once installed, launch Komorebi from your software launcher:

Then right-click on desktop, and choose Change wallpaper. There you can change animated wallpapers and do some basic settings.

Manually create animated wallpapers:

The software offers Wallpaper Creator utility. Open it from software launcher and you can do following steps to create an animated wallpaper from pic, video, or a web page.

1. When Wallpaper Creator launches: