UbuntuHandbook

How to Install xVideoServiceThief 2.5 in Ubuntu 12.04 / 13.10

Last updated: April 4, 2019

This tutorial shows how to install the latest xVideoServiceThief 2.5 in Ubuntu 12.04 (fix dependencies), Ubuntu 13.10, Linux Mint, Elementary OS Luna.

As you may know, xVideoServiceThief is the tool for downloading video clips from Google Video, Youtube, etc.(currently supports 93 websites and increasing) and allows to convert each video in most popular formats: AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2, WMV, MP4, 3GP, MP3 file formats.

You can easily install this tool in Ubuntu based systems using the GetDeb repository. But the latest version (so far, it is 2.5) is only available for Ubuntu 13.04 Raring because it depends on the qt5 based libraries. So here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise and its derivatives. Also works in Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal.

Install Qt 5 modules in Ubuntu 12.04

The Ubuntu SDK Team PPA contains Qt 5 based libraries for Ubuntu 12.04 and Ubuntu 12.10. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-sdk-team/ppa

Then update system package lists:

sudo apt-get update

The command in next step will automatically install the required packages from this PPA. After that, you can disable / remove this ppa from Software & Updates or Software Sources -> Other Software tab.

Download & Install xVideoServiceThief 2.5

First download the Debs from the below links. You may check OS type 32-bit or 64-bit by System Settings -> Details.

Download xVideoServiceThief 2.5 ~~32-bit~~ | ~~64-bit~~

Then run below commands in terminal to install it as well as the dependencies:

sudo dpkg -i xvst_2.5-1~getdeb2_*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

That’s it. Enjoy!

In Howtos download, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.10, xVideoServiceThief

Block Access to Unwanted Websites in Ubuntu 13.10/13.04/Linux Mint

Last updated: September 10, 2013

Want to block access to certain websites from your machine running Ubuntu or Linux Mint? It’s easy to do it by editing the host file.

With the hosts file, you can tell Ubuntu to redirect the specific websites to 127.0.0.1. So that the web browser returns below error:

To do so, edit the /etc/hosts with your favorite editor. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to edit the hosts via gedit:

sudo gedit /etc/hosts

Add below lines to the end of the file. Exclude the “http://” and change the domain names.

# block access to certain sites
127.0.0.1 www.websites1.com
127.0.0.1 www.websites2.com
127.0.0.1 websites3.com
127.0.0.1 morewebsites.com

Save the file and re-launch your web browser. Done.

In modify ubuntu block, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

How to Easily Create Desktop Slideshow in Ubuntu via Pictoric

Last updated: September 10, 2013

Pictoric is a simple utility for Ubuntu Unity to create a desktop slideshow out of the directory of your choice that contains either .jpg/.jpeg or .png files for a given time interval that you choose. Your desktop slideshow will then be initiated and saved to be ready to go for subsequent logins.

Just simple and efficient! To install it in Ubuntu, download and double-click to install the DEB via pop-up Ubuntu Software Center.

Download Pictoric in Launchpad

You can also install this app from the PPA. Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal, then run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:glacier-apps/pictoric
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pictoric

Once installed, you can open it from Unity Dash or in System Settings window.

In Howtos desktop slideshow, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

Install HexChat via PPA in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy

Last updated: September 10, 2013

HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat, but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems. HexChat was originally called XChat-WDK which in turn was a successor of freakschat.

Features:

Easy to use and customizable interface
Cross-platform on Windows and Unix-like OSes
Highly scriptable with Python and Perl
Translated in multiple languages
Fully open source and actively developed
Multi-network with auto-connect, join, and identify
Spellcheck, Proxies, SASL, DCC support and more

Here’s how to install HexChat via PPA in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives such as Linux Mint and Elementary OS.

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

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

Then update system package lists and install the IRC Client:

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

Once installed, open hexchat from unity dash home.

In Howtos IRC client, Ubuntu 13.10, xchat

Audacity 2.0.4 Released, Install / Upgrade in Ubuntu 13.04, 12.04

Last updated: September 9, 2013

The Audacity audio editor & recorder has reached version 2.0.4. Here’s how to install or upgrade it via PPA in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, Linux Mint and Elementary OS.

Audacity 2.0.4 replaces all previous versions, with these improvements:

New Effect > Reverb (based on Freeverb), that replaces GVerb.
New View > Go to Selection Start and Go to Selection End commands.
New Tracks > Align End to End command to append selected tracks.
WAV files import/export now supports “Album Title”, “Track Number” and “Genre” LIST INFO tags and ID3 tags.
(Windows) New support for Windows WDM/KS host which can provide very low latencies if you reduce “Audio to Buffer” in Recording Preferences.
(Windows Vista and later) You can now record computer playback by choosing the new Windows WASAPI host in Device Toolbar, then a “loopback” input.
Bugs have been fixed, involving Keyboard Preferences, Equalization curves, and Effect > Change Pitch, and several more.

Install Audacity 2.0.4

The Audacity team PPA has reached to 2.0.5 alpha. So here I use Nate Muench’s PPA.

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

For Ubuntu 13.04 and its derivatives:

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

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install audacity

For Ubuntu 12.04 and its derivatives:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/vlc2

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install audacity

For source code and other systems, go to this page.

In Howtos audacity, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 13.04

Use Foto Image Viewer and Album Manager on Ubuntu

Last updated: September 9, 2013

Foto is a very simple image viewer and album manager written in Vala using Gtk3, Clutter, Cairo and Granite. Here are the screenshots:

Foto is a new project, and it’s still in early development stage. If you are interested, install it in Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04 and Linux Mint via PPA (press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:erasmo-marin/foto-daily-builds

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install foto

Or download the DEB from this page

In App Review image viewer, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 13.04

How to Install and Use Numix Icon Theme in Ubuntu 13.10 / 13.04

Last updated: September 9, 2013

This brief tutorial shows you how to install & use Numix Ubuntu Touch style icons on Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy and Ubuntu 13.04 Raring.

Numix is a modern flat theme with a combination of light and dark elements. It supports Gnome, Unity, XFCE and Openbox.

To install this icons, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands to add the ppa:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:numix/ppa

Then update and install:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install numix-icon-theme numix-icon-theme-utouch

Or you can download the Debs from the PPA packages page if you don’t want to add the ppa.

Once installed this theme, use the theme via unity tweak tool or gnome tweal tool. To set the theme in Xfce, run the following commands in Terminal:

xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Net/ThemeName -s "Numix"
xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/theme -s "Numix"

In Howtos icons, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

How to Watch Live Streams on Ubuntu via Your Favorite Video Player

Last updated: September 8, 2013

Want to watch live streams on Ubuntu via your favorite video player? Well, here’s how to do it using Livestreamer which supports most of the big streaming services such as Dailymotion, Livestream, Twitch/Justin.tv, YouTube Live, UStream.

Livestreamer is a Command Line Interface that pipes video streams from various services into a video player, such as VLC, Mplayer. The main purpose of Livestreamer is to allow the user to avoid buggy and CPU heavy flash plugins but still be able to enjoy various streamed content.

There is also an API available for developers who want access to the video stream data.

It’s very easy to use this tool. Let’s say you want to watch the stream located on http://twitch.tv/day9tv, just run below command in terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T to open it).

livestreamer twitch.tv/day9tv

[cli][info] Found matching plugin justintv for URL twitch.tv/day9tv
Found streams: 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p (best), mobile_high, mobile_low (worst)

It will find out what streams are available and print them out for you to choose from. Simply give livestreamer the stream as the second argument and playback will start in your video player of choice.

In this case the best stream is a reference to the stream that is considered to be of highest quality, e.g 720p. The –player argument will specify the video player (It will open VLC as the default player if not specified).

livestreamer twitch.tv/day9tv best --player mplayer

Install Livestreamer in Ubuntu, Linux Mint

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens run below commands to install pip installer:

sudo apt-get install python-pip

Then install Livestreamer via pip:

sudo pip install livestreamer

This will work on all current supported Ubuntu releases, include 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.

In App Review live streams, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10

Linux Kernel 3.10.11 Released, Install / Upgrade in Ubuntu Linux Mint

Last updated: September 8, 2013

The Linux Kernel 3.10.11 has been released. All users of the 3.10 LTS kernel series are urged to upgrade as soon as possible. Here’s how to install or upgrade in Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04 and Linux Mint.

This maintenance release introduces ARM, x86, and PowerPC fixes, as well as many updated drivers, including Nouveau, i915, iSCSI, and a few wireless ones. See the official announcement.

Install / Upgrade Kernel 3.10.11:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to download the DEBs.

for 32-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.11-031011-generic_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.11-031011_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-image-3.10.11-031011-generic_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_i386.deb

for 64-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.11-031011-generic_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.11-031011_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.11-saucy/linux-image-3.10.11-031011-generic_3.10.11-031011.201309080217_amd64.deb

Then install them via below command:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.10.11*.deb linux-image-3.10.11*.deb

If you’re not comfortable with command line. Download & install the Debs from the kernel ppa.

In News kernel, Linux Kernel, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 13.04

FrostWire 5.6.4 Released, Ubuntu Installation Instructions Included

Last updated: September 8, 2013

As you may know, FrostWire is a free and high quality BitTorrent client. The latest version 5.6.4 fixed a few bugs and updated translations.

Fixes issues parsing some cloud urls.
Fixes issues with soundcloud meta search.
Spanish translation updated.
French translation updated. Thanks @jeromemorignot.
Portuguese translation updated. Thanks @tati110.
Brazilian Portuguese translation updated. Thanks @tati110.
Arabic translation updated. Thanks @nisrmasr.
Turkish translation updated. Thanks @Serrae.

Interested? Here’s how to install or upgrade in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives.

Before getting started, you need to install OpenJDK from Ubuntu Software Center or install Oracle Java via ppa

1.) You can always download the latest Debs for Ubuntu based system from the official download link:

Download FrostWire for Ubuntu

Then double click to install the Deb via pop-up Ubuntu Software Center.

2.) The other way to install FrostWire is using the GetDeb repository. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one:

wget http://archive.getdeb.net/install_deb/getdeb-repository_0.1-1~getdeb1_all.deb

sudo dpkg -i getdeb-repository_0.1-1~getdeb1_all.deb

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install frostwire

In Howtos bittorrent client, frostwire, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10