Archives For November 30, 1999

Want to install and use Google Sketchup on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring? Well, this simple tutorial will show you how to do it. With the help of Wine software, you can install and use Windows software easily in Ubuntu.

Wine is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on several POSIX-compliant operating systems, including Ubuntu Linux. It’s free and open-source software. Wine now is getting a lot better at handling Windows software on Linux systems.

To get started with installing Sketchup 2013 in Ubuntu, download the lastest version of wine. To do that, press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to add its PPA.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa

Then run below command to update package lists and install wine1.5 (Now the latest wine1.7 is recommended):

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install wine1.5

Once wine is installed, run below command to configure it so that Sketchup could be installed. You may need to log out and log back:

winecfg

Next, navigate to Libraries tab, then select ‘Riched20’ library from the drop-down list and add it. When done, click OK

wine-configuration

Download Google Sketchup from http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/gsu.html. Then navigate to the Downloads folder and right-click on the EXE to ‘Open with Wine Windows Program Loader’.

open-with-wine

Follow the setup wizard and finally you’ll get the shortcut on the desktop and Unity dash.

sketchup

That’s it. Enjoy!

UPDATE: If Sketchup hangs after choosing a template, try launching it with /DisableRubyAPI as a workaround. Or read the new post about install Sketchup 2014 in Ubuntu 14.04.

When you’re running your laptop on battery, Ubuntu dims the screen after a few seconds of inactivity. It annoying and here’s how to increase the timeout.

Objectives:

  • Increase Ubuntu screen dimming timeout on your laptop
  • Enjoy!

To get started, open dconf Editor from the dash search results.

dconf editor in unity dash

In next window, navigate to org -> gnome -> settings-daemon -> plugins -> power. You’ll find the key which says “idle-dim-time”, change its value to what you want.

change idle screen timeout

Enjoy!

When your Ubuntu laptop is on battery, the screen dims after about a few seconds of inactivity. It’s annoying and here’s how to turn if off.

Objectives:

  • Disable Screen Dimming on Ubuntu 13.04 Laptop
  • Enjoy!

To get started, open Brightness & Lock utility from Unity Dash search results or from System Settings.

brightness and lock utility

Un-check the box where it says “Dim screen to save power”

disable dim screen

That’s it!

How to Flush DNS Cache on Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10

Last updated: July 18, 2013

This simple tutorial will show you how to flush or clear your system’s DNS records on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring and 12.10 Quantal.

Objectives:

  • Flush DNS records on Ubuntu 13.04 or Ubuntu 12.10
  • Enjoy!

To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window.

Open Terminal to run commands

Then run command to flush dns:

sudo /etc/init.d/dns-clean restart

You can also use this command:

sudo /etc/init.d/networking force-reload

In addition, to flush nscd dns cache:

sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart

To flush dnsmasq dns cache:

sudo /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart

Getdeb is an unofficial project which provides the latest open-source and freeware applications for Ubuntu Linux, and PlayDeb provides games. As Ubuntu based Linux distribution, Linux Mint users are available to install software from this repository.

Objectives:

  • Install / add / enable GetDeb & PlayDeb repository on Linux Mint
  • Enjoy!

To get started, go to Start menu, search and open Software Sources

software-sources

Navigate to Additional repositories, check the box where it says ‘archive getdeb.net’. Click ‘update the cache’ button to update package lists.

enable getdeb repository

That’s it!

If it is not there in your Linux Mint edition, click ‘Add a new repository’ and type in

deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu raring-getdeb apps games

In the line, change raring to yours based Ubuntu release code name.

Linux Mint 14 Nadia based on Ubuntu 12.10 quantal
Linux Mint 13 Maya based on Ubuntu 12.04 precise
Linux Mint 12 Lisa based on Ubuntu 11.10 oneiric
Linux Mint 11 Katya based on Ubuntu 11.04 natty
Linux Mint 10 Julia based on Ubuntu 10.10 maverick
Linux Mint 9 Isadora based on Ubuntu 10.04 lucid

And get the key by running below commands in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

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

Enjoy!

ultrastardeluxe

UltraStar Deluxe is a free video singing game. It allows up to six players to sing along with music using microphones in order to score points, depending on the pitch of the voice and the rhythm of singing.

The UltraStar Deluxe official ppa repository is not available for Ubuntu 13.04. You can install the DEBs for Ubuntu 12.04 and it runs well on my laptop with 32-bit system.

To download the DEBs, you may check 32-bit or 64-bit by going to top-right shutdown menu and choose ‘About This Computer’.

Then download UltraStar Deluxe Deb for 32-bit or 64-bit, and date package.

After that, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window:

Open Terminal to run commands

Install downloaded package via below command:

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

Enjoy!

How to Install UltraStar Deluxe on Linux Mint

Last updated: July 17, 2013

UltraStar Deluxe is a free and open-source singing game. It allows up to six players to sing along with music using microphones in order to score points, depending on the pitch of the voice and the rhythm of singing.

Objectives:

  • Install UltraStar Deluxe on Linux Mint
  • Enjoy!

Linux Mint 13 users can install it from the official ppa repository, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window.

Linux Mint Terminal

Then run below 3 commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tobydox/ultrastardx

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ultrastar-deluxe

For Linux Mint 14 and 15 users, directly download and install the debs:

ultrastar-deluxe deb for 32-bit | 64 bit

ultrastar-deluxe data for all

Then install the 2 Debs and fix dependencies:

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

Enjoy!

Install Cuckoo Alarm Clock on Ubuntu 13.04

Last updated: July 17, 2013

Cuckoo is a simple alarm application that is designed specifically for Ubuntu. It supports the Ubuntu Unity Launcher, HUD, and Indicator interfaces which allows for you to control Cuckoo faster.

Objectives:

  • Install Cuckoo Alarm Clock app on Ubuntu
  • Enjoy!

Since cuckoo is no longer available in Ubuntu Software Center, you can install it from the ppa repository. Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal.

Open Terminal to run commands

Then run below 3 commands one by one to install cuckoo:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:john.vrbanac/cuckoo

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install cuckoo

If you don’t want to add the ppa, download the DEB from the link below:

cuckoo_1.0.8-1~raring_all.deb

Then install it via:

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

cuckoo-alarm

DownVerter is a popular Youtube downloader which also has the ability to convert videos to MP3, M4A, MPEG, 3GP, OGG and other formats. It’s free!

Objectives:

  • Install DownVerter Youtube downloader and fix can not open error.
  • Enjoy!

To get started, download DEB package from the official site. You may check 32-bit or 64-bit via ‘Details’ utility.

DownVerter for Linux

Then press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal.

Open Terminal to run commands

Run below command to install the package:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/downverter*.deb

That’s it. The installed executable script is /opt/downverter/Downverter. But Ubuntu keeps looking for /opt/downverter/downverter when you open Downverter from Unity Dash. To fix this problem, run below commands to rename it:

sudo mv /opt/downverter/Downverter /opt/downverter/downverter

Then give executable permission:

sudo chmod +x /opt/downverter/downverter

Enjoy!

downverter