UbuntuHandbook

FFmpeg 2.0 PPA available for Ubuntu 13.04 / 13.10 / 12.10

Last updated: September 14, 2013

The FFmpeg 2.0 has been released for months. If you don’t want to build it from source, now you can install in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, and Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal via a PPA repository.

As you may know, FFmpeg is a complete, cross-platform solution to record, convert and stream audio and video. It includes libavcodec – the leading audio/video codec library. Version 2.0 is a major release which brings FTP Protocol support and filter graph description readable from file just to name two. Read more at www.ffmpeg.org

Install FFmpeg 2.0 via PPA:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:samrog131/ppa

Then update package lists and install ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

The PPA also contains other packages that you may not want. Remove the ppa after installation by:

sudo apt-add-repository --remove ppa:samrog131/ppa; sudo apt-get update

Enjoy!

In Howtos ffmpeg, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

Pear OS developer creates SyncDrive, Google Drive client for Ubuntu

Last updated: November 23, 2013

SyncDrive is a Google Drive Client for Ubuntu based system developed by David Tavares, the developer of the Pear OS Linux. SyncDrive creates a folder on your system and files on this folder are available on all your devices with Google Drive. It is based on the wonderful work of the team of Grive.

Features:

SyncDrive syncs your files stored on your Google Drive on your Ubuntu / Linux Mint with ease.

Automatic synchronization of your files

SyncDrive folder on your home directory

Keep an eye on your storage easily.

Install SyncDrive:

Before installing SyncDrive, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one to add the dependencies ppa. Supports Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04 and their derivatives such as Linux Mint and Elementary OS.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nemh/gambas3

sudo apt-get update

Then download SyncDrive 0.2 32-bit | 64-bit. Or go to its official download page.

Once downloaded, install it via:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/syncdrive*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

SyncDrive Homepage: syncdrive.fr

In Howtos Google Drive, Google Drive client for Ubuntu, SyncDrive

HexChat 2.9.6 Released, Install it Ubuntu / Linux Mint via PPA

Last updated: September 14, 2013

HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat, it was originally called XChat-WDK. The latest HexChat 2.9.6 has been released with many improvements and bug fixes.

HexChat 2.9.6 expanded SASL support to include BLOWFISH and AES encryption and EXTERNAL for using client certs, added server-time support so bouncers like ZNC can print their playback and show native timestamps. See the ChangeLog:

redesign edit window in network list
rename favorites to autojoin
improve url detection yet again (this time w/ more ipv6!)
implement /exec -o on Windows
improvements to the dcc window
improvements to sysinfo on unix, including -e to print info instead of saying
add support for BLOWFISH, AES, and EXTERNAL SASL mechanisms
add reload command and button in plugingui
add support for server-time and znc.in/server-time[-iso] capabilities
add attributes to hook_print/server and emit_print for information such as server-time
add support for QuakeNet’s challangeauth
add chanopt for stripping colors
add copy option to banlist entries
add autoconnect option to context menu of networks
add option for omitting alerts while window is focused
add python3 support along with various bugfixes
add libcanberra support on unix
add tracking of users accounts
add %u to userlist popups for accounts
add channelkey to channel lists in plugin api
add MONITOR support for the friends list
add QUIET and UNQUIET commands
add support for the away-notify, account-notify, and extended-join capabilities
add notifications for friends away status (requires away-notify)
add events for quiet, unquiet, and quietlist
add Ctrl+N (New Server Window) keybinding
add ctrl+home/end keybinding for scrolling to top/bottom
add theme manager to unix build system
fix compilation on FreeBSD
fix running as root
fix splitting ctcps and notices
fix alerts and scrollback chanopts
fix crash when attaching/detaching tabs
fix sending limited channel messages (op messages) to the wrong tab
change /load -e to load from config dir
remove Ctrl+L (Clear Text) keybinding
remove custom sound applications
remove away announce, replaced by away-notify on supported servers. (alternative python script)
update network list

Install HexChat via PPA:

The PPA supports for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise and their derivatives such as Linux Mint and Elementary OS.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/hexchat-stable

Then update and install it:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install hexchat

In Howtos IRC client, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10, xchat

How to View notification history in Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04

Last updated: September 13, 2013

Want to display a history of notifications on your Ubuntu desktop? Well, it’s easy to do it with an indicator called recent notifitions.

Recent Notifications is a GNOME applet that collects recent messages sent with libnotify to a notification daemon and display as an indicator applet on your panel.

This indicator works on Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, but not in Elementary OS because it uses Pantheon-notify.

Install Recent Notifications

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

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:jconti/recent-notifications

After that, update and install the applet:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install indicator-notifications

You can download and install the .DEB package from launchpad page if you don’t want to add the ppa.

Once installed, log out and back in. You’ll see the icon on panel.

In Howtos notification history, recent notifications, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

How to Move Window Buttons & Add Minimize in Elementary OS Luna

Last updated: September 24, 2013

If you’re not comfortable with the eOS style window buttons, here’s how to add minimize buttons and move close, minimize, maximize buttons to right or left.

Because Elementary OS Luna is based on Ubuntu 12.04 Precise. So the setting is kinda similar. All you need to do is install Dconf Editor and change the value of button-layout.

1.) To get started, first install Dconf Editor. Open Software Center from the dock, search for and install dconf-tools. Or you can run below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

2.) Open Dconf Editor from the top-left app menu.

3.) Navigate to org > pantheon > desktop > gala > appearance. There you can change the value of button-layout to:

:minimize,maximize,close will add the minimize button, and move all window buttons to right.
close,maximize,minimize: will add the minimize button, and move all window buttons to left.

You may find that colon ‘:’ is the line of demarcation. Button names before (or after) the colon will set them to left (or right) of window title bar.

In Howtos Elementary OS Luna, move window buttons

Add Brightness Control to Elementary OS Panel with an Indicator

Last updated: September 13, 2013

If the brightness controls don’t works in your system or you’re not satisfied with the default Fn function key, here’s an app indicator allows to change screen brightness in all the possible brightness values. The applet works in Ubuntu and its derivatives, such as Linux Mint and Elementary OS Luna.

It’s useful for me because the Fn+Arrow key in my laptop only change the brightness in 4 levels (zero, one third, two-thirds, full).

Features:

Clicking the icon shows you all the possible brightness values, to a maximum of 15 steps.

The current value is indicated with a dot.

Clicking a menu item sets the brightness to the desired value.

Scroll wheel event is enabled on the icon. Scrolling up means higher brightness, scrolling down lower.

Control screen brightness with custom keyboard shortcuts.

Install Brightness Indicator:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-brightness/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install indicator-brightness

Or you can download the .deb package and double-click to install it from Launchpad.net

Once installed, open it from the app menu. Add these commands to your custom keyboard shortcuts to control brightness with your keyboard. You need Elementary Tweak to add a custom shortcut key.

/opt/extras.ubuntu.com/indicator-brightness/indicator-brightness-adjust --up

and:

/opt/extras.ubuntu.com/indicator-brightness/indicator-brightness-adjust --down

In Howtos brightness control, Elementary OS Luna

How to Disable Mouse-over Tooltips in Ubuntu 13.04 / 13.10

Last updated: September 12, 2013

This simple tutorial will show you how to disable the mouse-over tooltip messages in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring and Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy using CCSM.

It’s easy to do it using the CompizConfig Settings Manager by setting totally transparent tooltips. So that you can see them. NOTE: This method won’t work for the tooltips for Unity Launcher.

To get started, install CCSM in Ubuntu Software Center. You don’t have to do something special, just search for and install CompizConfig Settings Manager. Then you can open it from Unity Dash.

Open CCSM, click on ‘Opacity, Brightness and Saturation’ to go to its configuration page. Then enable this plugin, click new to add a rule, type in Tooltip and set the value to 0 and finally close it.

That’s it. To restore, just remove the rule in the plugin’s configuration page. Enjoy!

In modify ubuntu tooltips, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

How to Install HP Linux Printer Driver in Ubuntu 13.04/13.10

Last updated: September 12, 2013

Have a HP printer connected with your Ubuntu machine? Well, here’s how to install HP Linux Printer Driver in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Linux Mint and Elementary OS.

HP Linux Printer Driver (HPLIP) is an HP developed solution for printing, scanning, and faxing with HP inkjet and laser based printers in Linux.

The HPLIP project provides printing support for over 2,080 printer models–including; Deskjet, Officejet, Photosmart, PSC (Print, Scan, Copy), Business Inkjet, LaserJet, Edgeline MFP, and LaserJet MFP.

The latest HPLIP 3.13.9 added Support for the Following New Printers:

HP Designjet Z5400 44-in PostScript ePrinter
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 1018 Printer
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 1518 All-in-One Printer
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2540 All-in-One Printer Series
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2545 All-in-One Printer
HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2546 All-in-One Printer
HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 4515 e-All-in-One Printer
HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 4518 e-All-in-One Printer
HP Envy 4504 e-All-in-One
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M435nw
HP Officejet 4630 e-All-in-One
HP Officejet 4632 e-All-in-One Printer
HP Officejet 4635 e-All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Premium e-AiO N911n
HP Photosmart 5521 e-All-in-One Printer

Download & Install HP Linux Printer Driver

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to download hplip 3.13.9:

cd ~/Downloads && wget http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/hplip/hplip-3.13.9.run

Or you can check out the latest version on this page.

Once downloaded, execute command to start the installation:

sh ~/Downloads/hplip*.run

Answer the questions and wait for the installing process. It’ll properly install & configure the driver for your printer. When done, you can open the HP device manager from the panel indicator. Enjoy!

In Howtos HP printer driver, Linux Mint, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

WireShark 1.10.2 Released, Install it in Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Last updated: December 6, 2013

As you may know, WireShark is a network ‘sniffer’ that captures and analyzes packages off the wire. It’s available in Ubuntu Software Center, but it’s a little old. The latest version has reached 1.10.2 and this tutorial will show you how to install it in Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04 and Linux Mint.

WireShark 1.10.2 updated the following protocols: ASSA R3, ASN.1 PER, Bluetooth HCI ACL, GTPv2, EtherCAT AMS, HTTP, IEEE 802.11, ISDN SUP, IPFIX, LDAP, NBAP, MQ, Novell SSS, Radiotap, PROFINET MRP, ROHC, SCSI, SIP, STP, and RTPS. Support for pcap-ng and Microsoft Network Monitor was also updated. Moreover, lots of vulnerabilities have been fixed and numerous bugs have been squashed. See the announcement

Install WireShark 1.10.2:

For Ubuntu 12.04 Precise:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:whoopie79/ppa

Update and install wireshark:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install wireshark

For Ubuntu 13.04 Raring:

Run commands below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/programs-ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install wireshark

For Ubuntu 13.10 and higher, install it from Ubuntu Software Center after checking for updates.

In Howtos network traffic analyzer, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04, wireshark

How to Change Nautilus Background Color in Ubuntu 13.04

Last updated: September 12, 2013

This simple tutorial shows you how to change the Nautilus file browser and other apps’ background & selected color if you’re boring with the default colors in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring.

It can be easily done in Nautilus 3.4.x and 3.6.x via Dconf Editor. So this tutorial will also work for Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal and Ubuntu 12.04 Precise.

In the screenshots below, I changed the background color to sky blue and selected color to black.

To do it, open Dconf Editor from Unity Dash. Navigate to org/gnome/desktop/interface, add or change the value of gtk-color-scheme. So that you can change the background color, tooltips color, text color, etc.