UbuntuHandbook

Translatium – Simply Yet Powerful Translation Tool For Linux

Last updated: August 22, 2019

Translatium is an open-source translation application that translate words, phrases, and text between over 90 languages.

Translatium works in Linux, mac OS, and Windows. And features:

auto detect language.
Listen to translations using text-to-speech.
Take a picture to translate.
History support.
Personalize your experience with beautiful themes and colors.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, Translatium snap package can be easily installed from Ubuntu Software utility:

For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and first install snapd by running command:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the tool via command:

sudo snap install translatium

(Optional) To remove translatium, either use Ubuntu Software or run command:

sudo snap remove translatium

In App Review translation tool

Vivaldi Web Browser 2.7 Released with Better Sound Control

Last updated: August 21, 2019

Vivaldi web browser 2.7 was released today. The new version features better sound controls, smoother navigation and overall improvements.

Vivaldi 2.7 release highlights:

Add ‘Mute Tab’ option.
Add “Mute other Tabs” option in any background tab right-click menu.
Ability to create a desktop shortcut to access User Profiles quicker
Add a new option for the Flash player plugin (Settings > Webpages > Plugins)
Informative Status Bar at the bottom of the window.
Improved stability for mac OS.
And various other changes.

How to Install Vivaldi 2.7 in Ubuntu:

The official Ubuntu .DEB packages are available for download at the link below:

Grab the deb matches your OS, then install it via Ubuntu Software or Gdebi package manager. Or run command in terminal:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/vivaldi-stable_2.7*.deb

Vivaldi also has apt repository, with it you can install the browser and get future updates through Software Updater utility.

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. Download and install the repository keyring:

wget -qO- https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -

Typer user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Add Vivaldi repository via command:

sudo add-apt-repository 'deb https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/deb/ stable main'

3. Finally check updates and install the web browser via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install vivaldi-stable

Or upgrade from an old version via Software Updater utility.

(Optional): To remove Vivaldi apt repository from you system, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News Vivaldi

Opera 63 Released with Improved Private Mode

Last updated: August 21, 2019

Opera web browser 63 was released a day ago with improved private browsing mode.

Opera 63 release highlights:

Improved private browsing mode (also known as incognito mode)
Use Bookmarks Bar as default location for saving bookmarks
Add “Speed Dial Filtering” feature for Windows.
Add improvements to the Snapshot tool: ‘Save page as pdf’ and ‘Copy and close’ options
The Bookmarks Bar is now hidden once the last bookmark is removed
Remove the double “New window” button when right-clicking on the Launcher bar
Updated Chromium version, and various other changes.

How to Install Opera 63 in Ubuntu:

The Opera team offers snap package (runs in sandbox), which is always up-to-date (auto-updates itself). You can simply install it in Ubuntu Software:

Also native .deb package for Ubuntu is available for downloading at the link below:

To receive future updates through Software Updater, add the official Opera apt repository via following steps:

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the opera repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

2. Get the key:

wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

Finally either install Opera via following command or upgrade the browser via Software Updater:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install opera-stable

Uninstall:

For the Opera snap package, simply remove it from Ubuntu Software.

For the Opera apt repository, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove traditional opera package, either use your system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove opera-stable

In News Opera

How to Install FFmpeg 4.2 in Ubuntu 18.04 / Linux Mint 19.x

Last updated: December 11, 2019

FFmpeg multimedia libraries 4.2 was released a few weeks ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19.x.

FFmpeg 4.2, codename “Ada”, is a major release that features:

tpad filter, dedot filter, freezedetect filter, lagfun filter, asoftclip filter, colorhold filter, xmedian filter, asr filter, derain filter, deesser filter, anlmdn filter, maskfun filter
chromashift and rgbashift filters, truehd_core bitstream filter, AV1 frame split bitstream filter, showspatial multimedia filter
dhav demuxer, vividas demuxer, KUX demuxer, IFV demuxer
hymt decoder, ARBC decoder, agm decoder, lscr decoder, VP4 video decoder, hcom demuxer and decoder
PCM-DVD encoder
GIF parser
removed libndi-newtek
libaribb24 based ARIB STD-B24 caption support (profiles A and C)
Support decoding of HEVC 4:4:4 content in vdpau, nvdec and cuviddec
AV1 decoding support through libdav1d
mov muxer writes tracks with unspecified language instead of English by default
added support for using clang to compile CUDA kernels

How to Install FFmpeg 4.2 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has built the packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and its derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/ffmpeg4

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

2. Two more PPAs are required for the dependencies. Run following commands one by one in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/graphics

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/multimedia

3. You can then upgrade FFmpeg libraries via Software Updater (Update Manager):

Or run commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

Once installed, you may check the software version via command ffmpeg -v

How to Restore:

The two dependencies PPAs contain many other application packages, you may remove them either via Software & Updates -> Other Software or by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:savoury1/graphics

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:savoury1/multimedia

For any reason, you can downgrade FFmpeg to the stock version in Ubuntu universe repositories by purging the PPA via command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:savoury1/ffmpeg4

In Howtos FFmpeg 4

CopyQ Clipboard Manager 3.9.1 Released (How-to Install)

Last updated: August 18, 2019

CopyQ, open-source clipboard manager with editing and scripting feature, released version 3.9.1 today. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.

CopyQ 3.9.1 release highlights:

Commands are moved to a separate configuration file “copyq-commands.ini”.
Horizontal tabs in the configuration dialog were replaced with a list of sections so it’s possible to view all of the sections even in a smaller window.
New option hide_main_window_in_task_bar can be set using copyq config hide_main_window_in_task_bar true.
New logs() script function prints application logs.
New clipboardFormatsToSave() script function allows to override clipboard
formats to save.
Some hidden options can be modified using config() script function.
Font sizes in items and editor are limited to prevent application freeze.
Application icons are cached so as to avoid creating icons for the snip
animation again.
And various bug-fixes.

How to Install Copyq 3.9.1 in Ubuntu:

The official PPA repository has made the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and Linux Mint 18.x, 19.x.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) from application menu and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hluk/copyq

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

2. After added the PPA repository, install CopyQ either via Synaptic package manager or by running commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install copyq

Once installed, start the clipboard manager from application menu and you’ll see the icon in system tray area.

Uninstall:

To remove the software, either use Synaptic package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove copyq

To remove PPA repositories, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News clipboard manager, CopyQ

Mesa 19.1.4 Available to Install in Ubuntu 18.04 / 19.04

Last updated: August 16, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.1.4, which was released a week ago, now is made into PPA for Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 19.04.

For those sticking to the open-source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, Mesa 19.1.4 is the latest stable release with following release highlights:

Vulkan 24/48 bit formats are now not supported on Ivybridge.
R8G8B8_UNORM_SRGB is not supported on Haswell.
A fix for hair artifacts in Max Payne 3 on AMD/RADV.
Vulkan transform feedback extension is disabled on Intel gen7.

Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has made Mesa 19.1.4 package into “Ubuntu-X” team PPA, available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 19.04.

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

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

Type user password (no asterisk 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 package cache.

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

Avidemux 2.7.4 Released with Tons of Bug-fixes (How to Install)

Last updated: August 15, 2019

Avidemux video editor released version 2.7.4 today with tons of bug-fixes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

Aivdemux 2.7.4 release highlights:

Detect and warn when cut points in H.264 video streams may result in playback issues despite being on keyframes
Update to the 4.1.4 release
Enable HW accelerated decoding of 8-bit HEVC for recent versions of Intel graphics driver on Windows
Support audio tracks in fragmented MP4 files
Support E-AC3 audio tracks in MP4 files
Fix ASF demuxer still broken by chance with MSVC++ only, the fix relevant for all platforms
Support more varieties of BMP images
Optimize output of the Mp4 muxer for streaming on Windows too
Add option to the Mp4 muxer to output fragmented MP4 files
Support WMAPRO audio codec for decoding
Support AAC with signal band replication (SBR) in external audio tracks
Numerous other fixes. See HERE for details.

How to Install Avidemux 2.7.4 in Ubuntu:

There are a few ways installing the latest the video editor in all curren Ubuntu releases.

Appimage, single executable (enable it in file properties dialog) to launch the editor.
Flatpak, community maintained package that runs in sandbox.
Native Ubuntu (.deb) packages via an unofficial PPA.

For Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 19.04, here’s how to install Avidemux 2.7.4 via 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/avidemux

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

2. Then run following 2 commands to refresh package cache and install the video editor:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install avidemux2.7-qt5 avidemux2.7-qt5-data avidemux2.7-plugins-qt5 avidemux2.7-jobs-qt5

NOTE: if you get software launching error similar to:

avidemux2.7_qt5: symbol lookup error: avidemux2.7_qt5: undefined symbol: _Z20extractH264FrameTypePhjPjPiP11ADM_SPSInfoS0_

try updating your system via command sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.

Uninstall:

To remove the native Ubuntu .deb package of Avidemux 2.7, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove avidemux2.7-*

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates utility under ‘Other Software’ tab.

In Howtos, News avidemux

How to Upgrade Default Office Suite to LibreOffice 6.3 in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 14, 2019

Libreoffice, Ubuntu’s default office suite, released version 6.3 a few days ago. Here’s how to upgrade it in Ubuntu 18.04 and/or Ubuntu 19.04 via PPA.

LibreOffice 6.3 release highlights:

New ‘Tabbed Compact UI’
improved PDF export
improved Microsfot office file formats support.
Redact documents to remove/hide sensitive information
New ‘Tip-Of-The-Day’ dialog on startup

Although LibreOffice offers the latest snap package (runs in sandbox) in Ubuntu Software utility, you can choose upgrade the pre-installed LibreOffice package using the Fresh PPA.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback while typing) when it prompts, and read terminal output for PPA description and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then you’ll see the upgrade available in Software Updater after checking for updates.

Or run commands in terminal to install LibreOffice:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install libreoffice

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can skip sudo apt update as it’s done while adding PPA.

Uninstall:

You can restore to stock version of LibreOffice in Ubuntu main archive by running command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:libreoffice/ppa

In Howtos, News LibreOffice

LiVES Video Editor 3.0 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu

Last updated: August 13, 2019

LiVES video editor and VJ tool released version 3.0.1 today. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 19.04.

LiVES 3.0 release highlights:

Render silence to end of video if necessary during rendering.
Improvements to openGL playback plugin, including much smoother playback.
Re-enable Advanced options for the openGL playback plugin.
Allow “Enough” in VJ / Pre-decode all frames
Refactor code for timebase calculations during playback (better a/v synch).
Overhaul external audio and audio recording to improve accuracy and use fewer CPU cycles.
Auto switch to internal audio when entering multitack mode.
Eliminate some race conditions between the audio and video threads.
Implemented reference counting for realtime effect instances.
Extensively rewrote the main interface, cleaning up the code and making many visual improvements
Improvements to online video downloader, clip size and format can now be selected, added an update option.
Improvements to the projectM filter wrapper, including SDL2 support.
Eliminate race conditions when applying rendered effects.
Added an option to invert the Z-order in multitrack compositor.
Added support for musl libc.

How to Install Lives 3.0.1 in Ubuntu:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/lives

Type user password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade the software from an existing release via Software Updater:

or simply run commands in terminal to install or upgrade LiVES:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install lives lives-plugins

Uninstall:

To remove the software, simply run commands:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove lives lives-plugins

The PPA can be removed via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News LiVES, video editor, VJ tool

Xfce Desktop 4.14 Officially Released! Ported to GTK3

Last updated: August 12, 2019

After 4 years and 5 months of development, Xfce 4.14 was finally released today. Xfce 4.14 sees all core components ported to Gtk3 and GDBus, most components received GObject Introspection support.

Xfce 4.14 release highlights:

Window manager xfwm4 now supports Vsync
Improved GLX support with NVIDIA proprietary source drivers
better HiDPI support, and support for XInput2
The desktop and panel support for RandR’s primary monitor feature
per-panel “icon-size” setting, new default clock format and clock format evaluator
save and (automatically) restore complete multi-display configurations
support RandR display scaling (configured via Xfconf).
added a switch user button in the logout dialog
Thunar now supports for larger thumbnails, and a “folder.jpg” file altering the folder’s icon.
Add “Do Not Disturb” mode for notification.
MPRIS2 support in PulseAudio panel plugin
And much more other changes. See the official announcement.