UbuntuHandbook

Install Desktop Weather Widget ‘Gis Weather’ in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: July 5, 2014

Want to display weather forecast on your Ubuntu desktop? Well, there is an open-source and highly customizable desktop weather widget called Gis Weather.

Gis Weather is a new project, about half a year old, that displays up to 12-day weather forecast on your Linux desktop. So far, supported weather services include gismeteo and weather.com. It has been translated to Spanish, French, Romanian, and Latvian.

Gis Weather has few dependencies: python3-gi, python3-gi-cairo, and gir1.2-gtk-3.0. It works on Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10 and other derivatives.

Features:

View weather for several days – 3 to 12
Detailed weather forecast for today and tomorrow
Fast switching between cities
Select the background and theme weather icons
“Compass” with the wind direction, with adjustable angle of rotation
Highlighting the high wind

Install Gis Weather in Ubuntu:

Just download and install the latest “gis-weather_x.x.x_all.deb” file from the link below:

Download Gis Weather

Once installed, open it from Unity Dash or Menu and set up your location as it prompted.

In Howtos Ubuntu 14.04, weather widget

Cloud Music Player ‘Nuvola’ Now Supports Amazon Prime Music

Last updated: July 4, 2014

Linux desktop music player Nuvola has reached v2.4.1 with support for Amazon Music Prime streaming.

Nuvola is a free and open-source music player that brings many cloud music services, such as Amazon, Bandcamp, Deezer, 8tracks, Goolge Play Music, Grooveshark, Hype Machine, Logitech Media Server, Pandora, Rdio, and This is my Jam.

Changes in Nuvola 2.4.1:

Disabled test suite failing under Fedora’s mock tool.
Added a work-around to get rid of ABOUT protocol source missing dialog.
Fixed a memory leak in Media Player Remote Interface and optimized metadata property.
Added support for Amazon Music Prime streaming.
Updated translations.

Install Nuvola 2.4.1 in Ubuntu:

This player is available in the developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nuvola-player-builders/stable

After that, update and install the player as well as the flash support:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install nuvolaplayer nuvolaplayer-flashplugin

If you don’t like Ubuntu PPAs, directly grab the .deb packages from HERE.

In Howtos Nuvola Cloud Player, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 14.04

Ubuntu Tweak Updated for Ubuntu 14.04 with Fixes

Last updated: July 3, 2014

Ubuntu Tweak, the graphical configuration tool, has been updated to v0.8.8 silently with a few fixes for Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr.

For those who never heard of this tool, Ubuntu-Tweak is one of the first graphical tool for Ubuntu which was started almost 7 years ago when Ubuntu was at 7.10 Gutsy.

The latest Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.8 was released only for Ubuntu 14.04 with following changes:

Cache path of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird in Linux has changed to ~/.cache. Now Ubuntu Tweak updated with the cache path changed.
Add support to clean the cache2 folder for Firefox
Fix the bug that show “Computer Icon” and rename will crash in Ubuntu 14.04

Install or Upgrade to Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.8:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands below one by one to add the developer’s PPA and receive updates:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

If you don’t like Ubuntu PPAs, grab the .deb package directly from HERE.

In Howtos Ubuntu 14.04, ubuntu tweak

Shotwell 0.18.1 Fixed Flickr Issue, Install it in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: July 2, 2014

Yorba team has released an update of its photo organizer with important fixes. According to the changelog, the new release shotwell 0.18.1 fixed:

Fix Flickr publishing errors due to Flickr moving to HTTPs-only
Fix crash when updating photo data/time
Fix crash due to nested tag and changing sidebar selection
Corrected URLs to point to new gnome.org pages

If you’re using Shotwell in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10 or other derivatives, you may consider upgrading it from Yorba’s PPA.

After making a backup, do below steps:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run command to remove previous version:

sudo apt-get remove shotwell shotwell-common

Then add the Yorba’s PPA via:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yorba/ppa

Finally install shotwell after checking for updates:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install shotwell

In Howtos shotwell, Ubuntu 14.04

Install / Upgrade to The Latest MKVToolNix 7.0 in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: June 17, 2018

This quick tutorial shows you how to install the latest release of MKVToolNix (mkvmerge GUI) and receive future updates from its official repository in Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr LTS.

As you may know, MKVToolNix is a set of tools to create, alter and inspect Matroska files under Linux.

As the program updates so frequently (almost one release per month), the MKVToolNix version available in Ubuntu repositories is always old. If you would like to receive latest features and bug fixes, using mkvtoolnix repository is recommended.

1. Command Line Way:

If you’re familiar with Linux command line, just a few commands will add the repository and install / upgrade to the latest MKVToolNix release in your Ubuntu.

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://www.bunkus.org/ubuntu/trusty/ ./"

wget -O - http://www.bunkus.org/gpg-pub-moritzbunkus.txt | sudo apt-key add -

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

After that, running regular Ubuntu updates (via Software Updater) will upgrade the app if there’s a new release.

2. Hate Linux commands? Well here is a step by step guide in graphical

1.) Open Unity Dash, search for and open Software & Updates

2.) Under “Other Software” tab, click Add button and then paste below line and click the Add Source button.

deb http://www.bunkus.org/ubuntu/ trusty main

3.) Create an empty document and name it to gpg-pub-moritzbunkus.txt. Paste all content from the keyring page into the document and save it.

4.) Import the document you just created in Authentication tab of Software & Updates.

Finally you’re able to install MKVToolNix via Synaptic Package Manager (available in Software Center) after checking for updates (Click Reload button). Or use Software Updater to receive updates if you have a previous version installed.

In Howtos mkvmerge GUI, MKVToolNix, Ubuntu 14.04

Better Samsung Laptops Support with Samsung Tools in Ubuntu

Last updated: July 2, 2014

For those who are running Ubuntu on Samsung Laptops, samsung-tools is a strongly recommended application that brings a better Ubuntu experience.

Samsung-tools is an open source project that enables control in a friendly way of the devices available on Samsung laptops (bluetooth, wireless, webcam, backlight, CPU fan, special keys) and the control of various aspects related to power management, like the CPU undervolting (when a PHC-enabled kernel is available).

Install Samsung Tools in Ubuntu:

This app is available in the developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04 and their derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:voria/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install samsung-tools

For any questions, you can go to the forum that discusses about Linux installation and configuration on Samsung laptops

(Optional) To remove samsung-tools, run:

sudo apt-get remove samsung-tools && sudo apt-get autoremove

In Howtos samsung laptops, Ubuntu 14.04

Install Rhythmbox Plugins in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: July 1, 2014

This quick tutorial is going to show you how to install a list of plugins for Ubuntu’s default music player Rhythmbox in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.

The plugins currently include:

rhythmbox-plugin-artdisplay – display art covers as per v2.96 rhythmbox
rhythmbox-plugin-countdown-playlist – Countdown Playlist
rhythmbox-plugin-close-on-hide – really exit rhythmbox when click close button
rhythmbox-plugin-coverart-browser – Browse your cover-art albums in Rhythmbox
rhythmbox-plugin-desktopart – show cover art on desktop
rhythmbox-plugin-equalizer – rhythmbox sound equalizer
rhythmbox-plugin-fileorganizer – Intelligently move files to folders according to track tags
rhythmbox-plugin-fullscreen – This python plugin gives you a stylish full screen window
rhythmbox-plugin-hide – rhythmbox_hide
rhythmbox-plugin-jumptowindow – JumpToWindow
rhythmbox-plugin-llyrics – rhythmbox alternative lyrics plugin
rhythmbox-plugin-looper – Loop part of the song in Rhythmbox.
rhythmbox-plugin-opencontainingfolder – open containing folder
rhythmbox-plugin-parametriceq – parametric equalizer with up to 64 Bands
rhythmbox-plugin-playlist-import-export
rhythmbox-plugin-randomalbumplayer – Random Album Player
rhythmbox-plugin-rating-filters – Rating filters for the library browser.
rhythmbox-plugin-remembertherhythm – Remember the rhythm

All these plugins are developed by fossfreedom and available in his PPA. As some plugins were developed for old Rhythmbox 2.9x, it may or may not work on Ubuntu 14.04 with Rhythmbox 3.0.2.

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboad to open the terminal. When it opens, run the command below to add the plugins PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/rhythmbox-plugins

After that, you can install each plugin after checking for updates. Or install all of them by:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install rhythmbox-plugin-complete

Once installed, open Rhythmbox and go to Tools -> Plugins. Enable plugins you want from the list.

In Howtos rhythmbox, Ubuntu 14.04

Install Whisker Menu 1.4 for Xfce4 in Ubuntu 14.10 / 14.04

Last updated: June 30, 2014

Whisker Menu is an alternate application launcher for Xfce, it gives you a unity/gnome3 style search in xfce4 desktop. As well as that you can browse through all of your installed applications by clicking on the category buttons on the side.

Whisker Menu is the default app launcher in Linux Mint Xfce edition since Mint 15 Olivia. The developer has released version 1.4.0 with new features and various translation updates:

Add option to switch position of categories and launchers
Add waiting for grabs
allows modifier as shortcut
Add padding to username
Add single panel row option
Add about entry to context menu
Load applications immediately
Recognize keypad enter as return for searching
Set menu window type hint to DIALOG
Translation updates: Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Taiwan), Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish

Install Whisker Menu 1.4.0 in Ubuntu 14.10 / 14.04:

The binary packages has been built into developer’s PPA, available for Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives such as Linux Mint 13 and 17.

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, paste the command below and run to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

After that install it via your package manager after checking for updates. Or run:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

If you don’t like Ubuntu PPAs, grab the .deb package directly from the launchpad page.

Once installed, add the launcher menu onto panel and move it to the left.

In Howtos, Linux Mint Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Whisker Menu

Ubuntu 14.04 Quick Tip: Enable Notification for VLC

Last updated: June 29, 2014

Here is a quick tutorial about how to make VLC media player use Ubuntu desktop notifications in Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty LTS.

VLC is one of the most widely used media player in Linux desktops. It is well integrated with Ubuntu Unity except that it does not use the native libnotify daemon so that you won’t see any notification bubble that indicates what’s playing. To enable this feature, follow below steps.

1. Open VLC media player, go to menu Tools -> Preferences.

2. On the left bottom, choose All to display all VLC settings.

3. Go to Interface -> Control Interface, check the box where it says “LibNotify Notificatior” to make VLC use Ubuntu’s notification daemon.

4. Click to expand Control Interface in left sidebar and you can change the notification bubbles timeout under Notify settings.

Restart VLC media player and enjoy!

In Howtos Notify-OSD, Ubuntu 14.04, vlc media player

Ubuntu 14.04 Quick Tip: Hide Grub Boot Menu While Booting

Last updated: June 28, 2014

This quick tutorial is going to show you how to get rid of (hide) the annoying Grub boot menu while booting up Ubuntu and make it directly go to the login screen.

If you just have a single Ubuntu installed on your computer, Grub bootloader is hidden by default and you can press and hold Shift key to show the menu while booting.

If you have more that one kernel on your system, Grub menu keeps showing up on booting and you can follow below steps to hide it again.

Method 1: Edit the config file.

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, paste below command and run to edit the grub config file:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

You’ll be asked to type in user password. Type in mind and finally hit enter (terminal won’t display your password).

When the file opens, remove “#” before “GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0” and set “GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true”. So it looks like:

…
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=”`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`”
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=””
…

Save the file and apply the changes by running below command:

sudo update-grub

Method 2: Use graphical tool grub-customizer:

Grub Customizer is a graphical interface to configure the GRUB2/BURG settings and menu entries. Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one to install it from developer’s PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer 

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install grub-customizer

Open the app and do below changes:

Switch to General settings.
un-check the boxes which say “show menu” and “look for other operating systems.”
Click refresh button.
Click Save button.

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos hide grub menu, Ubuntu 14.04

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