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Linux Mint 17.1 Xfce Released [How to Upgrade]

Last updated: January 11, 2015

Linux Mint 17 Rebecca Xfce

Linux Mint team finally announced the Xfce edition of Linux Mint 17.1. All editions (Cinnamon, MATE, KDE and Xfce) can upgrade from Linux Mint 17 to 17.1 via Update Manager.

Linux Mint 17.1 features Xfce 4.10, MDM 1.8, a Linux kernel 3.13 and an Ubuntu 14.04 package base. The Xfce edition also features:

  • Out of the box support for Compiz
  • Xfburn received Blu-Ray support
  • In the application menu, categories are now placed on the left and react to mouse hover by default (these options are configurable)
  • Moving a window towards the edge of the screen now tiles the window by default rather than switching to another workspace
  • Quick launchers for Firefox and the terminal were added by default in the Xfce panel
  • The panel clock applet is now used by default so you can see the current date by placing your mouse over it

The iso images for Linux Mint 17.1 Xfce as well as other editions are available for download at:

Linux Mint Download Page

To upgrade from Linux mint 17 to 17.1 see the official howto.

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Linux Mint 17.1 KDE Available For Download

Last updated: January 9, 2015

The Mint Team finally announced the KDE release of Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca. The XFCE release should follow shortly in the coming days.

Linux Mint 17.1 is Long-Term Support release features KDE 4.14, MDM 1.8, a Linux kernel 3.13 and an Ubuntu 14.04 package base.

  • KDE wallet is fully integrated with Linux Mint.
  • Redesigned Update Manager
  • Redesigned Login Window Preferences
  • System, artwork, and other improvements.

Upgrade to Linux Mint 17.1 KDE:

For Linux Mint 17.1 RC users, launch Update Manager and install any Level 1 update available.
For Linux Mint 17 users, please wait for a few days while the Mint Team release a new version of the Update Manager to you.

Download Linux Mint 17.1:

The Linux Mint 17.1 KDE as well as other editions are available for download at the official download page:

And the release note is here.

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How to Install / Upgrade to Linux Kernel 3.18.2 in Ubuntu

Last updated: January 9, 2015

The second update of the latest stable Linux Kernel 3.18 is out! Greg Kroah-Hartman announced this kernel and urged all users of 3.18 kernel series to upgrade as soon as possible.

Linux Kernel 3.18.2 various important improvements, such as architecture updates (ARM, ARM64, x86), driver updates for mac80211 wireless, various fixes to Btrfs filesystem, and more. See the release note for details.

Upgrade to Kernel 3.18.2 in Ubuntu:

Ubuntu Kernel team has made the binary packages of this kernel release, available for download at the link below:

DOWNLOAD KERNEL 3.18.2 .DEBs

First check out your OS type, 32-bit (i386) or 64-bit (amd64), then download and install the packages below in turn:

  1. linux-headers-3.18.2-031802_xxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-3.18.2-031802-generic_3.18.2-031802.xxx_i386/amd64.deb
  3. linux-image-3.18.2-031801-generic_3.18.2-031802.xxx_i386/amd64.deb

If you need a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio) then download and install the packages below in turn:

  1. linux-headers-3.18.2-031802_xxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-3.18.2-031802-lowlatency_3.18.2-031802.xxx_i386/amd64.deb
  3. linux-image-3.18.2-031801-lowlatency_3.18.2-031802.xxx_i386/amd64.deb

For Ubuntu Server without graphical session, run below commands one by one to download & install the kernel debs:

For 64-bit system, run:

cd /tmp/

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-headers-3.18.2-031802-generic_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-headers-3.18.2-031802_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-image-3.18.2-031802-generic_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.18.2-*.deb linux-image-3.18.2-*.deb

For 32-bit system, run:

cd /tmp/

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-headers-3.18.2-031802-generic_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-headers-3.18.2-031802_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18.2-vivid/linux-image-3.18.2-031802-generic_3.18.2-031802.201501082011_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.18.2-*.deb linux-image-3.18.2-*.deb

Once done, restart the machine. For proprietary graphics driver, you may have to re-install/re-built your driver.

If for some reason, the new kernel does not work properly for you, reboot with the previous Kernel (Grub boot loader -> Advanced -> select previous kernel) and run below command to remove Linux Kernel 3.18.2:

sudo apt-get remove linux-headers-3.18.2-* linux-image-3.18.2-* && sudo update-grub

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos ,
 

Enable Nautilus File Preview in Ubuntu 14.10 / 14.04

Last updated: January 8, 2015

Want to enable Nautilus file quick preview in Ubuntu? There are two Nautilus add-ons, Gnome Sushi and Gloobus Preview, allow you to preview Audio, Video, Picture, Document files quickly by tapping the Space key and close preview by hitting the Space again.

Gnome Sushi

Gnome Sushi quick previewer is available in Ubuntu universe repositories by default. It can be easily installed by clicking the link below to bring up Ubuntu Software Center and clicking install button.

The previewer works immediately once installed. If not, restart Nautilus by nautilus -q commands.

Gloobus Preview:

Gloobus Preview supports even more file formats and looks a little better than Gnome Sushi previewer. Thanks to György Balló and Alin Andrei, the software now available in PPA for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17.

Install Gloobus Preview in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one to install the software from Webupd8 PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gloobus-preview gloobus-sushi unoconv gnumeric

For Linux Mint, install nemo-gloobus-sushi instead of gloobus-sushi in the previous code.

After installation restart Nautilus by running the command below:

nautilus -q

Note that you have to install media codecs to make audio/video preview work.

In Howtos ,
 

Blender 2.73 Released [How to Install it in Ubuntu]

Last updated: January 8, 2015

Blender, the popular 3D graphics and animation software, has reached the 2.73 release with numerous improvements, stabilization and bug fixes.

A major upgrade was given to the Grease Pencil tool, which inter alia brought the ability to edit and animate strokes. The first developments from the Gooseberry Project like a Sequencer Backdrop, Cycles viewport world background and others were added. Cycles got various improvements and speedups, as well as support for cameras inside volumes, the UI got a new ‘minimalistic’ fullscreenmode and Input Method Editor support for textbuttons (used for complex Chinese and Japanese character input), the Knife-tool was improved, Freestyle got a SVG exporter, and many more features which are worth checking out!

For the detailed changes in Blender 2.73, see the official release note.

How to Install Blender 2.73 in Ubuntu:

Blender download page provides the binary packages for GNU/Linux, while there’s no PPA contains the latest built of Blender packages you can follow this step by step how to guide to install Blender in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10 from the official package.

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Install Variety Automatic Wallpaper Changer 0.5 in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: January 7, 2015

Variety automatic wallpaper changer has reached the 0.5 release a few hours ago. Here’s what’s new and how to install it in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 15.04 and Ubuntu 12.04

For those who have never heard of Variety, see the below description from the launchpad page

Variety changes the desktop wallpaper on a regular basis, using user-specified or automatically downloaded images.

Variety sits conveniently as an indicator in the panel and can be easily paused and resumed. The mouse wheel can be used to scroll wallpapers back and forth until you find the perfect one for your current mood.

Apart from displaying images from local folders, several different online sources can be used to fetch wallpapers according to user-specified criteria.

Variety can also automatically apply various fancy filters to the displayed images – charcoal painting, oil painting, heavy blurring, etc. – so that your desktop is always fresh and unique. Applying a heavy blurring filter for example is a great way to get abstract-looking and unobtrusive, yet colorful wallpapers, similar in spirit to the default one in Ubuntu.

Video Demo:

Release Highlights of the v0.5:

  • Added Reddit support
  • Show Next and Previous in main menu only in non-Unity DEs (Unity supports indicator scroll, no need for them there)
  • Adding Wallhaven.cc support
  • More details at launchpad.net/variety/trunk/0.5.0

Install / Upgrade Variety in Ubuntu:

The packages have been made into the official PPA, available for Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04, Linux Mint and derivatives.

To add the PPA and install the software, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:peterlevi/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install variety

Don’t want to add PPA? Download the package “variety_0.5.0_all.deb” at:

Once downloaded, click to open it with Ubuntu Software Center and finally install the software.

NOTE: if you have a previous version installed, you need to remove the config files under user’s “.config/variety” folder (press Ctrl+H to view hidden folders) to use Wallhaven.cc instead of Wallbase.cc.

In Howtos ,
 

How to Install ‘MATE Tweak’, Configuration Tool for MATE Desktop

Last updated: July 28, 2015

The MATE Desktop now has a graphical configuration tool called ‘MATE Tweak’, developed by Martin Wimpress – co-founder and project lead for Ubuntu MATE.

The MATE Desktop is the continuation of classic GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Ubuntu MATE is the community Ubuntu flavor uses the MATE Desktop. So far, it has released Ubuntu MATE 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu MATE 14.10.

MATE Tweak is a simple configuration tool written in Python. It’s a fork of mintdesktop that removes the Mint specific configuration options.

As a new project, the tool only provides a few options, see the screenshots (from lffl.org) below:

How to Install MATE Tweak:

The developer has made the packages into his Ubuntu MATE PPA, available for test in Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 14.04 and Linux Mint 17.

To add the PPA and install MATE Tweak, press Ctrl+Alt+T and run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/trusty-mate

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install mate-tweak

Don’t want to add PPA? You can download & install the .deb package directly from the launchpad page.

In Howtos ,
 

OS X Yosemite Like Theme for Elementary OS 0.2 Luna

Last updated: January 6, 2015

For Elementary OS users now there’s an OS X Yosemite like GTK theme for the 0.2 Luna desktop.

Some guys have created a new project called yellowstone, which is an OS X Yosemite like ElementaryOS Luna theme based on the excellent Elementary default theme.

Screenshots:

To install the theme:

1. Downloads Yellowstone theme at the link below:

2. Open file browser and press Ctrl+H on keyboard to view hidden file folders. Create a new folder called .themes folder if not exist.

3. Open the downloaded package via Archive Manager and select extract to the .themes folder.

To apply the theme:

1. Install Elementary Tweaks by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal and then running below commands one by one:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:versable/elementary-update

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install elementary-tweaks

2. Go to System Settings -> Tweaks, select Yellowstone theme from the drop-down list:

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos ,
 

How to Remotely Access Graphical Desktop of Ubuntu 14.04 Server

Last updated: January 5, 2015

Want to remotely access your Ubuntu Server with a graphical interface? Well, here’s a simple guide shows you how to do it with X2Go, an implementation of NX remote desktop protocol.

All you need to do is install X2Go Server package as well as the Desktop Environment in remote server side and install X2Go client in the client side.

On Ubuntu Server Side:

The latest X2Go server is available in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS via PPA. Just connect to your Ubuntu server and run below commands to add the PPA and install the server packages:

Before adding the PPA, you have to install add-apt-repository:

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties software-properties-common

To add PPA, run:

sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:x2go/stable

Refresh system package lists:

sudo apt-get update

Install X2Go Server:

sudo apt-get install x2goserver x2goserver-xsession

In this case I’m going to access the XFCE4 Desktop of remote Ubuntu server, so also install the Xfce4:

sudo apt-get install xfce4

Finally restart the server by running reboot command.

On Client Side:

For Windows and/or Mac OS X, see this how to install wiki.

For Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04, Ubuntu 14.04, and Ubuntu 14.10 you can get the latest client from PPA by running below commands one by one in a terminal window (or you can install an old version directly from Ubuntu Software Center):

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:x2go/stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install x2goclient

The first time you start the client, it prompts you to create a session with:

  • a session name of your choice
  • an icon of your choice
  • remote server ip
  • the login name
  • ssh port (default is 22)
  • select session type (XFCE in the case)

After that, you can see the session available in the right pane of the client window. Go to menu session -> new session if you have more that one remote server to connect.

Click a session from the right pane and type in remote user password to connect:

Once connected, you can operate on the remote desktop in a new window:

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos
 

Qt Audio Player Qmmp 0.8.3 Released with Important Fixes

Last updated: January 5, 2015

Qmmp audio player has reached the 0.8.3 release a few hours ago with fixes for skin, equalizer, auto-play, and crash issues.

Qmmp is a free and open-source audio player written in C++ and Qt. It started 7 years ago in 2007 and officially supports the operating systems Linux, FreeBSD and Microsoft Windows. It is the only audio player not featuring a database that uses the Qt library.

It features:

  • A simple, intuitive user interface. XMMS and Winamp 2.x skins support
  • Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 music playback support
  • Automatic album-cover fetching
  • Support for embedded ID3v2 album images
  • ReplayGain support
  • Support for multiple artist and performer tags per song
  • A system tray icon
  • Plugin support
  • Translations into many languages

The 0.8.3 release brings below changes:

  • Reduced time of the ‘Randomize List’ and “Remove Duplicates” operations
  • Fixed ffmpeg 2.5 support
  • Fixed 24/32 bit modes in the equalizer
  • Fixed skin parsing
  • Fixed autoplay when playlist was opened from command line
  • updated Portuguese translation
  • updated Czech translation

Install / Upgrade to Qmmp 0.8.3:

Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and derivatives users can install or upgrade this player from PPA. Just open terminal from the Dash or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, then run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:forkotov02/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos