UbuntuHandbook

How to Install Nomacs Image Viewer via PPA in Ubuntu Linux

Last updated: December 22, 2013

Nomacs is a small and fast image viewer which handles the most common image formats including RAW images. Additionally it is possible to synchronize multiple viewers on same computer or via LAN. It allows to compare images and spot the differences (e.g. schemes of architects to show the progress).

Nomacs image viewer works on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. The latest version now is at 1.6.2 and here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint and their derivatives via PPA repository.

New features added in Nomacs 1.6:

Grid View for Thumbnails
Image Mosaicing Tool
Gif Player (Pause Animated Images and View Frame by Frame)
WebP on all platforms
Customizable Mouse Wheel
French Translation

Video:

Install Nomacs:

Ubuntu and Linux Mint users can easily install the latest version from PPA repository.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nomacs/stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install nomacs

For Windows, other Linux, and source code go to the official download page

In Howtos compare images, nomacs image viewer

Enlightenment E18 released, Install it in Ubuntu via PPA

Last updated: December 22, 2013

Enlightenment desktop environment 0.18 was finally released. It’s been exactly one year since the last major release of Enlightenment.

According to the announcement, the compositing window manager is more stable than E17 and now has Wayland client support along with a new teamwork module.

Enlightenment DR 0.18 also has a new music-control module, bluez4 BLuetooth module, an AppMenu DBus module, and a conf_comp module for controlling compositor settings.

Making this annual Enlightenment update more exciting is also better systemd integration, the internal theme merged into Elementary, RandR and binding config domains have been split into separate files, and many file-manager improvements. Enlightenment’s file manager improvements for version 0.18 include UDisks2 support, more accurate directory listings, and other improvements.

Install E18 via PPA in Ubuntu:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands below one by one to install e18 from PPA (coming soon) in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10 and their derivatives:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vase/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install enlightenment

Enlightenment E18 will be available soon in the main rolling release distributions like Arch Linux, Sabayon, Debian Sid etc.

In Howtos E18 PPA, Enlightenment

KDE Audio Converter CD Ripper soundKonverter 2.0.5 & 2.0.90 released

Last updated: December 22, 2013

SoundKonverter, the KDE audio converter, Replay Gain tool and CD ripper now is at version 2.0.5 and 2.0.90 (2.1.0 rc1).

According to the changelog, soundKonverter 2.0.5 added Catalan, Swedish, Chinese (Taiwan), and Romanian translations. 2.0.90 added following new features:

Hide main window when started with –replaygain argument
Option to eject CD after ripping has been completed (enabled by default)
New space holder for the “meta data” naming mode that contains the source directory
Configuration options for cdparanoia
icedax ripper plugin
Copy album artist tags
Remember last folder for add files/directory/playlist dialogs
Add symlinked files to file list

SoundKonverter Features:

Convert audio files between many formats
Change sample rate and sample size during conversion
Apply effects like normalize during conversion
Convert the audio stream from video files to audio files
Convert multiple files at once
Calculate Replay Gain for many formats
Replay Gain tool for calculating and removing Replay Gain tags
Calculate Replay Gain for multiple files or file stets at once
Conversion and Replay Gain calculation is very scalable, the conversion of 10000 files or more is not a problem
Copy tags and covers when converting files (note: for ogg/METADATA_BLOCK_PICTURE, flac and asf/wma files, taglib 1.7 or higher is needed)
Rip multiple audio CDs at once
Retrieve audio CD information from CDDB and MusicBrainz
Easy to use, just choose a file format and a quality level
Detailed control, if you want to choose the conversion settings in more detail, simply switch to the “detailed” tab
Manage your preferred conversion options with profiles
Contextual help, e.g. if you don’t know what the speex format is, just click on the “info” button next to it.
Or if you want to add a file that isn’t supported, soundKonverter will tell you how to enable the format if possible.
Possibility to configure which backend shall be used for which codec – or let soundKonverter optimize that for you.
Every time you install or remove backends soundKonverter will suggest optimizations if possible.
Possibility to integrate soundKonverter in other applications or scripts by using its command line interface
Data recovery in case of a crash

Install SoundKonverter in Ubuntu Linux:

The installers for CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Mandriva, RedHat, OpenSuse, Ubuntu are available in this page.

For Ubuntu users, use the Deb package for xUbuntu 12.04 which works good in my Ubuntu 13.10 64 bit machine.

In News CD ripper, KDE audio converter, Replay Gain tool

Rainlendar – A Great Desktop Calendar for Linux

Last updated: December 22, 2013

Looking for a calendar app? Besides Google Calendar, there’s a good choice for Ubuntu Linux users, called rainlendar, which a highly customizable desktop calendar that keeps your events and tasks and reminds your with alarms.

Rainlendar supports events and tasks which both are kept in separate lists.

You’ll get notified in advanced before the event is due so that you don’t forget your important events. It is also possible to snooze the alarm if you want to get reminded about it later.

Rainlendar Alarm

All the data is stored in the standard iCalendar format (RFC2445) which means it easy to transfer the events between most calendar applications.

Rainlendar comes with a few skins, you can get some from internet. There’s a link in settings page.

Install Rainlendar:

This app works on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. EXE, DEB, DMG files and source code are available in this page

Ubuntu users need to install the required package tofrodos which is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

In Howtos Desktop Calendar, Rainlendar

Pipelight – Silverlight In Linux Got A New Ubuntu PPA

Last updated: December 21, 2013

Pipelight, a browser plugin allows to use Microsoft Silverlight in your Linux browser now get a NEW PPA which includes the required Wine packages.

The PPA supports Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty, Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint and their derivatives.

What’s Pipelight

Pipelight consists out of two parts: A Linux library which is loaded into the browser and a Windows program started in Wine. The Windows program, called pluginloader.exe, simply simulates a browser and loads the Silverlight DLLs. When you open a page with a Silverlight application the library will send all commands from the browser through a pipe to the Windows process and act like a bridge between your browser and Silverlight. The used pipes do not have any big impact on the speed of the rendered video since all the video and audio data is not send through the pipe. Only the initialization parameters and (sometimes) the network traffic is send through them. As a user you will not notice anything from that “magic” and you can simply use Silverlight the same way as on Windows, like you can see on the following screenshot:

Install Pipelight on Ubuntu

NOTE: It is strongly recommended to close your browser before installing! Some browsers try immediately to load the plugin which might fail or crash the browser when the installation is not complete!

For those who have already installed previous version of Pipelight. It’s recommended to remove the earlier PPAs (Ctrl+Alt+T to open teminal and run):

sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:mqchael/pipelight

sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:ehoover/compholio

Then add the NEW PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipelight/stable

Update package lists and install the plugin:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install pipelight

Once installed, start (or restart) your browser and go to the bottom of www.iis.net/media/experiencesmoothstreaming to see the result.

For user agent or blank screen problem, take a look at this FAQ

Pipelight on launchpad

In Howtos Pipelight PPA, Silverlight plugin for Ubuntu

How to install / upgrade Kernel 3.10.25 LTS in Ubuntu Linux Mint

Last updated: December 21, 2013

The Linux Kernel 3.10 (Long Term Support) now is at 25th maintenance release. Linux Kernel 3.10.25 is a big released which brings several x86 improvements, numerous updated drivers (Radeon, i915, hwmon, ALSA, wireless, USB), various fixes (KVM, PowerPC, ARM, Btrfs), as well as other changes. See the changelog for details.

All users of 3.10 Kernel series are urged to upgrade as soon as possible, here’s how to do it in Ubuntu, Linux Mint and their derivatives.

Install / Upgrade Kernel 3.10.25:

The DEBs are available in Ubuntu Kernel page. Follow the steps below to download & install them if you’re on familiar with command line:

1. Download the DEB:

For 32 bit system:

cd ~/Downloads/ && wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.25-031025-generic_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.25-031025_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-image-3.10.25-031025-generic_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_i386.deb

For 64 bit system:

cd ~/Downloads/ && wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.25-031025-generic_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.25-031025_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.25-saucy/linux-image-3.10.25-031025-generic_3.10.25-031025.201312201135_amd64.deb

2. Install the DEBs:

cd ~/Downloads/ && sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.10.25-*.deb linux-image-3.10.25-*.deb

Restart your computer and done.

If you’re using proprietary video driver, you may need to re-build or re-install to get it work with new kernel.

If for some reason this kernel release doesn’t work properly for you, reboot into previous kernel (Grub -> Advanced -> select previous kernel) and run commands to remove Linux Kernel 3.10.25:

sudo apt-get remove linux-headers-3.10.25-* linux-image-3.10.25-*

In Howtos kernel 3.10 series, Linux Kernel

How to Install / Upgrade Kernel 3.12.6 Ubuntu Linux Mint

Last updated: December 21, 2013

The sixth maintenance release of Linux kernel 3.12 has been released recently, which brings several ARM and x86 improvements, numerous updated drivers (Radeon, i915, HID, hwmon, md, Ethernet, wireless, DVB, USB), various filesystem improvements (Btrfs, XFS, NFS), as well as sound and networking fixes. See the changelog for details.

Linux Kernel 3.12.6 is a very big release, Greg Kroah-Hartman recommended users of 3.12 kernel series upgrade to this release as soon as possible.

Install / Upgrade Kernel 3.12.6:

Users of Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04, Linux Mint, and their derivatives can easily get the DEBs of this kernel from Ubuntu Kernel page. Or follow the steps below:

1. Download the Kernel DEBs:

For 32 bit:

cd ~/Downloads/ && wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.6-031206-generic_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.6-031206_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-image-3.12.6-031206-generic_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_i386.deb

For 64 bit:

cd ~/Downloads/ && wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.6-031206-generic_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-headers-3.12.6-031206_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12.6-trusty/linux-image-3.12.6-031206-generic_3.12.6-031206.201312201218_amd64.deb

2. Install the DEBs:

cd ~/Downloads/ && sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.12.6-*.deb linux-image-3.12.6-*.deb

Restart your computer and done.

If you’re using proprietary video driver, you may need to re-build or re-install to get it work with new kernel.

If for some reason this kernel release doesn’t work properly for you, reboot into previous kernel (Grub -> Advanced -> select previous kernel) and run commands to remove Linux Kernel 3.12.6:

sudo apt-get remove linux-headers-3.12.6-* linux-image-3.12.6-*

In Howtos Linux Kernel, Linux Kernel 3.12 series

How to Display Lock Keys Status & Notifications in Unity Panel

Last updated: December 20, 2013

For Ubuntu laptops that don’t have LED indicators, indicator applet on panel that displays Lock Keys status as well as notifications may be helpful.

Indicator-keylock is the applet for Ubuntu Linux, which displays Lock Keys status on panel and notifications when status changed.

Screenshots:

By default the indicator will be used only when the Caps Lock key is on, it can be easily changed by the Preferences settings.

Install indicator-keylock

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

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:tsbarnes/indicator-keylock

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-keylock

Works on Unity, Xfce, Gnome Shell (only notifications), Gnome Classic for Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 11.10, Ubuntu 11.04, Ubuntu 10.04.

In Howtos Lock Keys indicator

How to Install LXQt / LXDE-QT via PPA in Ubuntu 14.04, 13.10

Last updated: December 20, 2013

LXQt or LXDE-Qt is a NEW lightweight desktop environment, the mergence of LXDE and Razor-Qt. It uses Openbox window manager, PCManFM-Qt (qt port of PCManFM) file manager, razor-panel desktop panel, as well as other qt items as its core components. (See more at wiki page)

This project is still in development and this simple tutorial is going to show you how to install the development version of LXQt in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10 via PPA.

LXDE-qt DE preview

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

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/lubuntu-daily 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gilir/q-project

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get install lxqt-metapackage

Once installed, log out and select “LXDE-Qt Desktop” to log in.

Note that after installed LXDE-Qt, your LightDM login screen will be changed. To revert back to original:

1. Run command to edit the config file:

sudo gedit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

2. Change value of greeter-session to unity-greeter

In Howtos LXDE, Razor-Qt

QNetStatView – QT Graphical Network Connections Viewer for Linux

Last updated: December 20, 2013

QNetStatView is a qt networking tool that shows you detailed listings of all TCP and UDP endpoints on your system, including the local and remote addresses and state of TCP connections.

Similar in functionality with Netstat, it has following features:

Shows all udp, tcp, udp6 and tcp6 network connections in an automatically refreshed list.
The presented information includes protocol names, addresses, connection states along with process information.
The connections can be killed or closed.
The connections list can be filtered.
Works on Windows and Linux

Screenshots: