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FisicaLab, A Physics Education App for Ubuntu Linux

Last updated: December 16, 2013

FisicaLab (can be pronounced as PhysicsLab) is a free and open source educational application to solve physics problems. Its main objective is let the user to focus in physics concepts, leaving aside the mathematical details (FisicaLab take care of them). This allows the user to become familiar with the physical concepts without running the risk of getting lost in mathematical details. And so, when the user gain confidence in applying physical concepts, will be better prepared to solve the problems by hand (with pen and paper). The latest release of FisicaLab have the following modules:

  • Kinematics of particles 2D.
  • Circular kinematics of particles 2D.
  • Static of particles 2D.
  • Static of rigid bodies 2D.
  • Dynamics of particles 2D.
  • Circular dynamics of particles 2D.
  • Heat, calorimetry, ideal gas and expansion.

The static and dynamic problems are entered constructing the free body diagrams of the objects. Although FísicaLab is easy and intuitive, we recommend you read the help files first before set any problem. You can access these files in the option menu Info -> Help (or FisicaLab -> Info -> Help).

See the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqsFCpS-Hmk

Install:

Source code, binary and DEB packages are available in official download page

webmin official repository

This tutorial shows how to install the latest version of Webmin in Ubuntu Linux from its official repository.

As you may know, Webmin is a web-based interface for system administration for Unix. Using any modern web browser, you can setup user accounts, Apache, DNS, file sharing and much more. Webmin removes the need to manually edit Unix configuration files like /etc/passwd, and lets you manage a system from the console or remotely.

To get started, login your remote server and follow the steps below:

1. Run below command to edit the source file:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

2. Press i on keyboard to start editing the file and add this line into the end:

deb http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib

Press Esc to exit edit. Shift + : and followed by wq to save the changes.

3. Now execute command to download and install the key:

wget -q http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

4. After that, you can always use below commands to install the latest version of Webmin:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install webmin

Finally in your client’s web browser go to the webmin login page https://ubuntu-serverip:10000


Fritzing, easy-to-use electronic design software now is at version 0.8.4b. Here’s how to install it via PPA in Ubuntu, Linux Mint and their derivatives

As you may know, Fritzing is an open source project designed to help one transition from a prototype to a finished project. Aimed at users who want to produce or document circuits and experiments, one starts by building a physical prototype, then recreating it with Fritzing’s graphical editor. From there one can generate a schematic, PCB artwork, and PCB production files.

What’s New in Fritzing 0.8.4b:

  • Fritzing gets a facelift! (special thanks to Christian and Fabian)
  • new Welcome view
  • new Fritzing Creator Kit examples (in both English and German)
  • Tips and Tricks updated
  • First Time Help now a separate dialog
  • binaries built using Qt 4.8.5
  • updated Dutch translation (thanks Dave)
  • updated German translation
  • new parts:
    • Breadboard BB 301 (contributed by Jeremy)
    • RGB LED WS2812
  • bug fixes:
    • Mac OSX Mavericks Parts Bin Hover crash
    • Saving files with custom parts: sometimes the fzp did not list the latest svg files
    • Boost 1.54 bug no longer crashes Fritzing
    • Many part tweaks

Install Fritzing:

The DEB packages for Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint and their alternatives are maintained by ehbello’s PPA.

Once the PPA updated, press Ctrl+Alt+T and run commands below one by one in terminal to install the app:

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:ehbello/fritzing

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install fritzing

You can also follow the steps below to install this release before the PPA updated.

1. Download the DEB:

For 32-bit:

wget http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu/pool/apps/f/fritzing/fritzing_0.8.4b-1~getdeb1_i386.deb

For 64 bit:

wget http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu/pool/apps/f/fritzing/fritzing_0.8.4b-1~getdeb1_amd64.deb

2. Download the data file:

wget http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu/pool/apps/f/fritzing/fritzing-data_0.8.4b-1~getdeb1_all.deb

3. Install them:

sudo dpkg -i fritzing_0.8.4b-*.deb fritzing-data_0.8.4b-*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

FF Multi Converter, simple app to convert audio, video, image and document files between all popular formats. It uses ffmpeg for audio/video files, unoconv for document files and PythonMagick library for image file conversions.

FF Multi Converter 1.6.0 was released recently, it has been finally ported to python3 and PythonMagick library replaced by ImageMagick. Users can now pass extra command line parameters for image conversions to the program.
New translations: Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Taiwan) and Malay.

Install ffmulticonverter:

The DEB packages for Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint will be available soon in this page or the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ffmulticonverter/stable

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get install ffmulticonverter

Once installed, open it from Unity Dash or Menu.

ffDiaporama is an app for creating video sequences consisting of title, photos, video clips, and music. The default version in Ubuntu repository is old. Here’s how to install the latest version from ffDiaporama PPA. So far, it supports Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint and their derivatives.

At the moment, the latest stable version is ffDiaporama 2.0 which brings following improvements:

  • Accelerated rendering of video (reduced the time needed to compile videos by up to 25%)
  • Can compile with Qt 4 and Qt 5 (depending on what is available in the system)
  • 64-bit Windows version and support for Windows 8 and 8.1
  • Adding dynamic text variables (calculated texts can be used in the slides)
  • Generate thumbnails at 600×800 corresponding to rendered videos (very useful for differentiating videos when using Jukebox and MediaCenter application)
  • Generate .nfo file for XBMC (very useful for those who use XBMC because it allows the videos to have a poster and a sheet into XBMC)
  • Adding models (predefined elements used as the basis for creating thumbnails or slides)
  • Adding an export project function (saves the project and all the files used by the project in a subdirectory)
  • Support of ffmpeg 2.0 and 2.1
  • Integrating Wiki directly into the application for offline reading
  • Cliparts managment
    • Alias ​​in the multimedia file browser (A clipart entry is displayed in the directory tree)
    • Portability clipart from one PC to another and an Operating System with another (Cliparts from the clipart directory are treated as library items and do not need to be copied into the project resources )
  • Supports project containing several thousand slides (instead of several hundred in previous versions)

Install ffDiaporama:

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

sudo apt-get --purge remove ffdiaporama

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ffdiaporamateam/stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ffdiaporama

Caffeine, the screensaver and sleep inhibiting application, now is at version 2.5. It has been over 2 years since the last release.

According to the announcement, Caffeine 2.5 is now much simpler, flash video support is gone as it was too complicated to keep it working and many bugs are fixed.

See the changelog:

  • New maintainer: Reuben Thomas
  • Fix right-click on icon
  • Several new localisations.
  • Update and clean up packaging.
  • Replace autostart option with an XDG autostart .desktop file.
  • Remove specific support for Quake Live.
  • Require appindicator3; remove non-appindicator support.
  • Put requirement for notify support in package, not code.
  • Remove ability to disable icon: this should be done by the desktop environment, not the application.
  • Remove hash-bang lines from non-executable files
  • .

  • Fix race condition for notifications, patch from André Ericson
  • Fix i18n issues
  • Fix Open Build Service desktop file errors
  • Add dependencies for all required libraries
  • Fix recognition of apps which mention their name in their arguments
  • Use freedesktop ScreenSaver DBus API instead of per-desktop APIs.
  • Put description string on one line in setup.py to placate rpmbuild
  • Remove non-working Flash support.
  • Remove custom logging module.
  • Remove –preferences command-line option, no longer needed.
  • Remove –time command-line option: we’re not supporting timed disabling any more.
  • Make Ctrl+C work.

Install Caffeine 2.5

The developer only built this release into PPA for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy. You can easily install it by running below commands one by one in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:caffeine-developers/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install caffeine

For Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04 (not tested) and their derivatives download the .DEB from this page and install it via:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/caffeine_2.5_all.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

 

Grub Customizer, graphical grub2 (Ubuntu’s default bootloader) settings manager now is at version 4.0. It has been a long time since the last version was released in September 2012.

Grub Customizer 4.0 gets a better user interface and adds a Revert button to undo the changes. See the changelog:

  • hiding placeholders by default (too confusing for most people, can be re-enabled at “view” -> “show placeholders”)
  • view options
  • improved trash view (sidebar instead of separate window)
  • GTKmm 3.0 (a backport to gtkmm-2.4 exists for older distributions)
  • Theming (of grub)
  • improved appearance settings
  • script replacement detection (no more duplicates when grub scripts are replaced by an update of grub)
  • backup creation on first run (allows simple restoring of the default config)
  • more help texts
  • fallback on systems without grub-mkdevicemap/device.map (better compatibility)

Screenshots:

How to Install Grub Customizer:

The PPA is ready for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Linux Mint, Pear OS, Elementary OS 8 and other derivatives.

To get started installing the tool, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, add the PPA via:

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

Update package lists:

sudo apt-get update

Install the tool:

sudo apt-get install grub-customizer

RedNotebook, a modern journal app with calendar, templates and keyword searching, is now at version 1.8.0. See what’s new in this release:

  • Add font selection for edit mode (Philip Akesson).
  • Allow changing preview and cloud font in preferences.
  • Only allow opening RedNotebook minimized on Windows since other systems may lack a system tray.
  • Fix: Display tags starting with “SEP” in preview.
  • Write scripts to cross-compile RedNotebook Windows exe and installer on Linux.

The PPA has updated the packages for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04, Linux Mint and their derivatives.

To get started installing or upgrading this app, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

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

Then update package lists:

sudo apt-get update

Finally install the app:

sudo apt-get install rednotebook

Once installed, you can find it from Menu or Unity Dash:

rednotebook main picture, from its website

This tutorial shows how to install the latest Gnome-Pie, a circular application launcher for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 13.10 via PPA repository.

With Gnome-Pie you can quickly access your favorite apps, bookmarks, main menu, window controls via shortcut keys:

 

Gnome-Pie is available in Ubuntu Software Center, but the default version is a little old. To install the latest, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens:

1. Copy and paste command below and run to add the PPA. Enter user password when prompt:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:simonschneegans/testing

2. Update package lists:

sudo apt-get update

3. Finally install Gnome-Pie from Ubuntu Software Center or via the command:

sudo apt-get install gnome-pie

Once installed, open it from Unity Dash or Menu. You’ll see the indicator applet on panel, click and go to the Preferences window for editing shortcuts and menu items.

 

There’s a lightweight tool in Ubuntu repository called gLabels, which makes it easy to create labels, barcodes, business cards and media covers.

gLabels is simple and easy to use. On its main window click on “Create a New file” button, and then you can choose to create labels, business cards, CD/DVD covers, Photo Products, or even user defined items under Category drop-box.

Choose Brand and Paper size and get started designing your label or card. In next window, you can easily add text, rectangle, ellipse, pictures and edit the size, position, shadow, set as font or background, etc.

Finally save or print your job and done!

To install gLabels, just open up Ubuntu Software Center, search for and click install it.

For other Linux, you may download the source from www.glabels.org/download/