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Tethered shooting with Pentax DSLR cameras in Ubuntu

Last updated: November 28, 2013

This tutorial shows you a tethered camera control tool pkTriggerCord which is base on PKRemote. After you connect the camera to your PC with the USB cable, you can control the camera from pkTriggerCord, such as read status information, change settings, and take pictures. The pictures are stored in the camera’s buffer and can be downloaded to the PC. Pictures are not written on the SD card of the camera.

Currently supported Cameras are:

Pentax K-x
Pentax K10D (Samsung GX-10)
Pentax K20D (Samsung GX-20)
Pentax K200D
Pentax K-7
Pentax K-r
Pentax K-5
Pentax K-m / K2000
Pentax K-30
Pentax K-01 (bugs)
Pentax K-5 II / K-5 IIs NEW

Install pkTriggerCord in Ubuntu via PPA:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhor/myway

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pktriggercord

This will install pktriggercord on Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10 and Linux Mint 16, 15, 14.

Once installed, open the GUI interface from Unity Dash. Or run man pktriggercord-cli to check out command line tool usage.

For RPM package and source code, go to pktriggercord project homepage

In Howtos pkTriggerCord, tethered shooting

Kart Racing Game SuperTuxKart 0.8.1 released, Install in Ubuntu

Last updated: November 28, 2013

SuperTuxKart, a Free 3D kart racing game recently released v0.8.1 with Wiimote support, new karts, modes and track.

This tutorial is going to show you how to install this new release in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and enjoy the game.

New features in SuperTuxKart:

New track ‘STK Enterprise’
Updated tracks ‘Old Mine’, ‘Around the Lighthouse’ and ‘Zen Garden’
New modes ‘Soccer’ and ‘Egg Hunt’
New karts ‘Xue’ and ‘Sara’
Updated ‘Beastie’ kart
Wiimote support (for most Wiimotes; check supertuxkart.net/wiimote for instructions and compatibility)
Added tutorial
Added new ‘SuperTux’ difficulty
New bubblegum shield defensive weapon
New combined speedometer and nitro meter
Added ability to filter add-ons
Updated nitro models
Added ability to save and resume Grand Prix
Improved skid marks and particle effects

SuperTuxKart 0.8.1 official video:

Install SuperTuxKart 0.8.1:

First check out system type (32 bit or 64 bit) under System Settings -> Details. Then download the portable version from the official download page for Linux.

Then extract the package and run executable from result folder/bin/

To create a launcher for SuperTuxKart 0.8.1, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command below to install required packages:

sudo apt-get install gnome-panel --no-install-recommends

Then run command to bring up new launcher dialog:

sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit /usr/share/applications/ --create-new

In pop up window, type:

Name: SuperTuxKart-portable
Command: /home/YOURUSERNAME/Downloads/SuperTuxKart/bin/supertuxkart ### You may change the code to PATH to your GAME folder
Icon: choose from /home/YOURUSERNAME/Downloads/SuperTuxKart/data/ folder.

Once done, you can launcher the game from Unity Dash.

In Howtos SuperTuxKart

Install gscan2pdf 1.2.0 in Ubuntu 13.10, 13.04, 12.04, Linux Mint

Last updated: November 27, 2013

gscan2pdf is a GUI to ease the process of producing PDFs from scanned documents. You scan one or several pages in with File/Scan, and create a PDF of selected pages with File/Save PDF.

gscan2pdf 1.2.0 was released recently with various bug fixes and translation updates. This tutorial shows how to install it via PPA in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 10.04 and Linux Mint.

gscan2pdf 1.2.0 changelog:

Don’t lose extension if user-defined tool converts pnm to pbm, ppm or pgm.
Allow thread to import different number of pages than requested. Fixed import of pdf no longer working
Take the resolution directly from the scanner when scanning rather than assuming that the system value is up-to-date.
Fixed UTF8 handling with gocr
Fixed import existing multipage tif file loads only the first one
Actually change the device when the device combobox is changed.
Show/hide options in CLI frontends via Edit/Preferences
Fixed Thunderbird detection (for send email) does not work reliably on XFCE
Fixed bug opening a session file from multiple sessions
Added option in Edit/Preferences to automatically open the scan dialog in the background on program start.
Translation updates: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, French, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Turkish, Ukranian

Install gscan2pdf 1.2.0:

The latest release has been made into Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty, install it in Ubuntu Software Center after checking for updates.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jeffreyratcliffe/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gscan2pdf

In Howtos gscan2pdf, scan to pdf

DeaDBeeF 0.6.0 released, Install in Ubuntu Linux Mint

Last updated: November 27, 2013

The open-source DeadBeef music player recently released v0.6.0 with great new feature: GUI layout designer. It allows to customize the user interface by splitting the main window and filling with button, spectrum, scope, album art display, selection properties, playlist, playlist browser, etc.

Below is my customized DeadBeef interface. You can design it to whatever you like.

customized deabeef music player in Ubuntu 13.10

How to use Layout Designer

First enable design mode under menu ‘View > Design Mode’. Right-click on main window and choose ‘Insert -> Splitter (left and right) or (top and bottom)’ to split the window. When your splitter layout has loaded right click on each box in turn and add item to it.

deadbeef 0.6 design mode

Once done, disable design mode from the menu to apply changes.

What to do if you want to revert Deadbeef back to default layout?

Well, in file browser go to user home -> .conf (press Ctrl+H to view hidden folders), remove the whole deadbeef folder.

Full changes in Deadbeef 0.6.0:

gui layout designer, with a set of widgets to choose from (View -> Design mode, then use right click)
new API for creating GUI extension plugins
visualization support, spectrum analyzer and scope widgets
new hotkeys system, which adds local hotkeys, and many more actions to choose from
playlist browser widget: a vertical alternative to playlist tabs
album art viewer widget
selection properties widget
button widget: put custom buttons to main window, and assign any actions to them
showing seek time in the bar during seeking
added worldofspectrum downloader to artwork plugin (for AY tunes)
native flac cuesheet support
lots of fixes in MP3 and ID3v2 support
improved AAC support
fixed the context menu in metadata editor
added GTK3.6 filechooser filter regression workaround
fixed compatibility with FFMPEG up to 2.0.2
added location field to the metadata tab in track properties
fixed playlist columns sizers dead zone bug
new WMA plugin
a ton of stability/responsiveness fixes to mms plugin
added customizable content-type mapper, to associate network streams with plugins
improved remote playlist loading
fixed buffer overflow in m3u plugin
subtracks no longer get written to pls and m3u
warn a user if he attempts to quit while a job is running (e.g. converter)
fixed tabstrip scrolling timer bug
added GTK3 touchpad smooth scrolling support (kudos to thesame)
added option to always convert 16 bit input signal to 24 bit (Eugene Rudchenko)
added experimental Mac OS X support (thanks to Carlos Alberto Nunes for the CoreAudio plugin)
improved playlist tab rendering code to work better on HDPI displays
fixed rounding error in streamer sleep time calculation – that solves some stuttering problems
added OPUS and TAK support in the static build (via ffmpeg)

Download Deadbeef:

The installers for Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux and portable version are available in official download page.

In Howtos deadbeef music player, layout designer

Install MATE 1.6 to Get Classic Gnome 2 Desktop in Ubuntu 13.10

Last updated: November 27, 2013

Gnome 2 Desktop was the default in Ubuntu (10.04 Lucid and earlier). If you would like to install this classic DE in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, try MATE, which is a fork of GNOME 2, aims to preserve the classic desktop metaphor.

NOTE: If you just want a classic Gnome style panel and app menu, search for and install gnome-session-fallback in Ubuntu Software Center and log out and back in with Gnome Flashback session.

First take a look at MATE 1.6:

MATE calssic gnome 2 menu

MATE gnome 2 panel items

To install MATE desktop environments in Ubuntu 13.10, follow the steps below:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands to add MATE repository:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu saucy main"

2. Update package lists and get the keyring:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring

3. Update and install the DE:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install mate-core mate-desktop-environment

Once installed, log out current session and choose to login with MATE from LightDM:

In Howtos Gnome Classic, MATE Desktop Environment, Ubuntu 13.10

Stunt Rally 2.2 released, Install it in Ubuntu 13.10

Last updated: November 26, 2013

Stunt Rally is an open-source VDrift and OGRE based racing game with track editor. Stunt Rally 2.2 was released recently with many new features and bug fixes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy.

What’s New in Stunt Rally 2.2:

146 tracks (19 new)

Game

Challenges (new game mode)
- Short series of tracks. Only the best drivers will succeed.
  Drive with no mistakes to win bronze,silver or gold prize.
  Normal simulation, no driving aids.
Multiplayer updated
- Host can press new game and continue on other track (no need to quit and create)
- Game info text, track info now on track tab
Hud
- New layout (gauges on right, minimap on left)
- Times bar shows current points and time difference each checkpoint
- Lap result window (last, best times, final points) on right
Input checkbox to bind 1 axis to both throttle and brake
Rocks with better collision (triangle mesh)
Better water and mud particles
Damage repair each lap option
Auto camera change in loops (by marking checkpoints in editor, key 7)

Common

Gui reworked, more icons, also on Input tab
Graphics presets now on Screen tab (need to quit after change)
All sliders have default value, press RMB on slider to reset

Other

New objects for caves, pipe obstacles, column for rocks
New loading screens
Tire force circles visualization
Separated differential settings in .car, center of mass length offset, better TW handling
Road total on-pipe percentage (need to mark segments in editor, key 8)
Road stats banked angle average and max

Editor

Some edit fields now also with slider and sliders with edits
Checkpoint radius restrictions (1 to 2.5 on terrain, constant on bridges and pipes), force with ctrl
Objects
- Selection mark (glow)
- Better mouse picking
- Selection scale, rotate (only simple works)
Gui revamp
- Split tabs into Track window, Grasses tab, Settings on 3 tabs
Change in road point keys
- 1,2 Roll, 3,4 Yaw, alt-1,2 angle type, 5,6 snap, alt-shift-1 zero angles

Fixes

Optimization, less batches for Hud, opponents list hidden by default
Fixed broken translations (wrong check, loading etc.)
Fixed input on gui edits (ctrl is stuck, press it to fix) in chat after network game or in find box
Linux release archive was outputting user data into wrong location (was in .local/data)
Fixed minimap road preview save in editor (shader errors)
No simulation before game start (fix multiplayer jumps, but shows car landing more)

Sources

Huge changes in headers and cpp, split to more (CGame,CHud,CGui,CApp), fixed includes
Gui Init code shorter, grouped controls in CGui.h, common Gui code in GuiCom class
Using own classes SliderValue and Check

Install Stunt Rally 2.2:

The PlayDeb has made the new release into its repository for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy. So we can follow the steps below to install it.

1. Add the PlayDeb repository

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

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu saucy-getdeb games" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/playdeb.list'

Then get the key:

wget -q -O- http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

2. Install the required package: ttf-liberation

The game requires package ttf-liberation which is available in all other Ubuntu releases except Ubuntu 13.10. Don’t know why, but you can download it from:

ttf-liberation for raring

3. Check for udpates and install Stunt Rally

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install -y stuntrally

Once installed, open the game or track editor from menu or Unity Dash.

For source code and Windows EXE installer, go to sourceforge download page.

For more details go to Stunt Rally project homepage

In Howtos racing game, stunt rally, VDrift

Clementine 1.2.1 fixed Spotify issue, Install it in Ubuntu Linux

Last updated: November 26, 2013

Clementine, Amarok 1.4 inspired music player recently released v1.2.1 with important bug fixes. They are network remote issues, login failures with box.com, and Spotify downloader button not shown issue.

The official changelog:

Fix library download in the network remote.
Fix removing songs from playlist in the network remote.
Fix login failures with box.com.
(Mac OS X) Add a workaround for a weird font issue on 10.9.
(Linux) Fix a typo that would prevent the Spotify downloader button from ever being shown.

If you’re using Clementine 1.2, it’s strongly recommended to upgrade and here’s how:

1. For Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 10.04 and their derivatives, such as Linux Mint 13/14/15, Pear OS 7/8, Elementary OS Luna:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal and then run commands below one by one to install it and receive updates from PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:me-davidsansome/clementine

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install clementine

2. For Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 14.04 use the DEBs for Ubuntu 13.04 from the link below. Install them via:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/clementine_1.2.1~raring_*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

3. Source code, and other systems’ installer are available in the official download page.

clementine 1.2.1 in ubuntu 13.10

In Howtos Clementine, spotify downloader

PeaZip 5.2.0 released, How to Install it in Ubuntu

Last updated: November 26, 2013

PeaZip 5.2.0, the free and open-source file and archive manager has been released recently. This version contains mainly 177 new files support and very_fast mode to Secure delete.

PeaZip 5.2.0 changelog:

BACKEND

UPX 3.91

FILE MANAGER

(Windows Vista and newer) Improved UAC integration for archiving and extraction functions
Improved file deletion modes
- Added very_fast mode (single pass random data) to Secure delete
- Fast mode (two pass random data) is now default mode for secure delete
- Added Zero delete, deletion mode overwriting existing file with all 0
(Windows) Introduced free space deletion modes
- Added Secure delete free space, overwriting with random data multiple times (same as secure file delete)
- Added Zero delete free space, overwriting with all 0 to improve compressibility of filesystem (i.e. disk image backup, virtual machine optimization)
Re-introduced local help file for offline support
Various fixes and improvements
- (Linux) fixed using output path as working directory

EXTRACTION and ARCHIVING

“Extract all to” starts from input folder (or default extraction path, if set)
Implemented extract/archive to original input folder: multiple input files from different paths can be extracted/archived each in its own path in a single pass

177 file extensions supported

Added support for .msu (Microsoft update) and .mpp (Microsoft Project file)

Download & Install PeaZip 5.2.0

The source code, Windows EXE, Ubuntu DEB, Fedora RPM packages are available in sourceforge page

For Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 14.04 and higher, you may need the libgmp3c2 package.

For Nautilus integration, read this post

In Howtos Peazip

Install Jamendo scope for Unity via PPA in Ubuntu 13.10, 14.04

Last updated: November 25, 2013

Want to search music from Jamendo site in Unity Dash? Well, we can do it with Unity Jamendo scope in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy or Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty.

Jamendo is a music website which provides more than 400,000 free songs. Follow the steps below and you’ll be able to get access to this music services through Unity Dash.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:scopes-packagers/ppa

Then update the package lists:

sudo apt-get update

Finally install the Jamendo extension for Unity:

sudo apt-get install unity-scope-jamendo

Log out and back in to apply the changes.

In Howtos Jamendo music services, Jamendo scope for Unity

Touchpad Indicator 1.0.0 added ‘disable touchpad while typing’

Last updated: November 25, 2013

The touchpad indicator 1.0.0 is out! Now it has the ability to disable the touchpad while typing. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Linux Mint.

What’s New in Touchpad indicator 1.0.0:

The first of changes is the ability to disable touchpad while typing. The new release added an option under Preferences -> Actions tab to switch this feature on / off. It also allows you to configure the time to wait after the last key press before enabling the touchpad.

disable touchpad while typing

Touchpad Indicator 1.0.0 also brings following new features:

Vertical scrolling. You can perform vertical scrolling by sliding your finger along the right side of the touchpad.
Horizontal scrolling. You can scroll horizontally by sliding your finger across the bottom of the touchpad.
Circular scrolling
Vertical scrolling with two fingers. You can scroll vertically by sliding two fingers vertically
Horizontal scrolling with two fingers. You can scroll horizontally sliding two fingers horizontally
Natural scrolling

You can enable them under Preferences -> Touchpad configuration.

two finger scrolling, natural scrolling

Install Touchpad Indicator:

The new release is available in developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10 and Linux Mint. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands below one by one to install it:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install touchpad-indicator

Once installed, open touchpad indicator from menu r Unity Dash.

Read the official announcement in Spanish

UPDATE: I just found a bug that when I enabled ‘disable touchpad while typing’ feature and changed the time delay to 1. The touchpad sometimes doesn’t re-enabled after typing. If you get the same problem, run command in terminal to enable touchpad: