UbuntuHandbook

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

opera web browser

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

HP Linux Imaging and Printing

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:

HPLIP Download Page

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

Gscan2PDF 2.1.3 Adds timezone / time info in PDF Metadata

Last updated: July 29, 2018

Gscan2pdf, a GTK tool to produce PDF / DjVu from scanned document, reached the 2.1.3 release a few days ago.

Gscan2pdf 2.1.3 closed feature request “gscan2pdf always set the time to 0 UTC“, by optionally including timezone and time information in metadata of PDF or DjVU.

The new release also contains following changes:

Only run test if session file can be deserialised. This fixes t/175_open_session2.t fails on i686 machine.
Don’t unnecessarily use tiffcp on single-page TIFFs.
Update to German translation.

How to Install gscan2pdf 2.1.3 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and derivatives, gscan2pdf 2.1.3 can be easily installed via its official PPA repository.

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or using software launcher. When it oepns,run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jeffreyratcliffe/ppa

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

2. For those who have a previous release installed, upgrade it through Software Updater:

upgrade gscan2pdf

For the first time, you can either install it via Synaptic Package Manager or by running following commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gscan2pdf

How to Remove:

To remove gscan2pdf, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove gscan2pdf

And the PPA can be removed via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News gscan2pdf

How to Install the New Ubuntu Theme ‘Yaru’ in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: July 28, 2018

Yaru is the new Ubuntu theme that will be used as default in next Ubuntu releases.

Yaru, originally named “Communitheme“, is based on the GNOME Adwaita theme. The new theme contains GTK3 theme, Gnome shell theme, and icon theme. And Ubuntu 18.10 will ship with the new theme.

For Ubuntu 18.04 users who want to try the new Ubuntu theme, do:

search for and install communitheme in Ubuntu Software.
or launch terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:
```
snap install communitheme
```

Once installed, reboot and choose login with the ‘Communitheme’ session and enjoy.

In addition for those who don’t prefer Snap package, the new Ubuntu theme has a PPA repository.

In News New Ubuntu Theme, Yaru

The First Point Release Ubuntu 18.04.1 Available to Download

Last updated: July 27, 2018

Ubuntu 18.04

The first point release of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS was finally released.

Except for Ubuntu 18.04.1 Desktop, Server, and Cloud, Ubuntu Budgie 18.04.1 LTS, Kubuntu 18.04.1 LTS, Ubuntu MATE 18.04.1 LTS, Lubuntu 18.04.1 LTS, Ubuntu Kylin 18.04.1 LTS, and Xubuntu 18.04.1 LTS are also now available.

Ubuntu 18.04.1 come with updated Kernel and hardware support, many sever and cloud related fixes, installation and upgrade bug-fixes, and desktop fixes that include:

Make audio work on Lenovo machines with dual audio codecs
Upgrade Gnome Shell, GDM, and some other core apps to 3.28.2
Fix login fails (blank purple screen and mouse pointer only)
Ubuntu Software improvements for Snap packages.
New thunderbolt panel in System Settings (under Devices)
And see the change summary for details.

How to get Ubuntu 18.04.1:

For Ubuntu 18.04 users, simply launch Software Updater and install all system updates will bring you to Ubuntu 18.04.1.

For Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 17.10 users, see the official how to upgrade documentation.

For the iso images, go to http://releases.ubuntu.com/bionic/

In News Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.04.1

PyCharm 2018.2 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: July 26, 2018

PyCharm IDE

PyCharm python IDE 2018.2 was released yesterday. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04.

PyCharm 2018.2 release highlights:

Fully supports pipenv: easily create projects with pipenv, create a pipfile, and have PyCharm update it for you when you install packages.
Improved support for pytest: code completion and inspections are now support for pytest fixtures.
Redesigned quick documentation for easy use and better look.

See the feature video for more about PyCharm 2018.2: