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Install qBittorrent 4.6.2 (Qt5) in Ubuntu 22.04 (New PPA)

Last updated: November 30, 2023 — Leave a comment

 

This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest qBittorrent 4.6.2 (the Qt5 build) from PPA in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

qBittorrent has an official PPA, which however seems no longer updating for Ubuntu 22.04 since v4.6 release series.

User can choose to install the Flatpak package, which runs in sandbox. But if you prefer the classic .deb package, then here’s new unofficial PPA for Ubuntu 22.04.

While Ubuntu 22.04 has Qt6 6.2.4 in system repository, now qBittorrent requires at least Qt6 6.4. That could be the reason the official PPA stop updating for 22.04. Thankfully, Qt5 version is still supported, so I built it into PPA for those who need it.

Features in qBittorrent 4.6.x

  • Experimental I2P support
  • UI editor for the default theme
  • Implement torrent tags editing dialog
  • Allow to add new torrents to queue top
  • Option to stop seeding when torrent in-actived.
  • See HERE for more.

Install qBittorrent 4.6.2 in Ubuntu 22.04 via PPA

The PPA package uses the total same debian/rule from the official PPA. It seems working good in my case though with minor testing.

1. Add the PPA

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/qbittorrent

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo authentication and hit Enter to continue.

2. Update system package cache

Ubuntu now automatically refresh system package cache while adding PPA, but Linux Mint does NOT.

To do it, simply run command:

sudo apt update

3. Install or Update to qBittorrent 4.6.2

If you’re using the torrent client package from either system repository or its official PPA, simply launch Software Updater (Update Manager) to update it.

Or, run the command below in terminal window to install/update it:

sudo apt install qbittorrent

Uninstall qBittorrent

To uninstall the torrent client package, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove qbittorrent libtorrent-rasterbar2.0

Also, remove the unofficial Ubuntu PPA either by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/qbittorrent

or by removing source line under Other Software tab in “Software & Updates” tool.

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How to Install Original GA Kernel 5.15 in Ubuntu 22.04

Last updated: November 30, 2023 — Leave a comment

There are so many tutorials teaching how to install the latest Kernel, while, this one is going to show you how to downgrade to the original GA (General Availability) Kernel 5.15 in Ubuntu 22.04.

The GA Kernel is shipped by default in the first stable release of Ubuntu 22.04. By rolling out Ubuntu 22.04.1, 22.04.2, and 22.04.3, it now has Kernel 6.2 as default (next should be 6.5 in 22.04.4).

Don’t know why, but someone asked how to revert back the original Kernel 5.15. So, here’s the quick tips show you how.

Install GA Kernel in Ubuntu:

All current Ubuntu releases, including the next Ubuntu 24.04 Noble, include linux-image-generic package in system repositories for the Generic Linux kernel.

Simply press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then, run command to install it:

sudo apt install linux-image-generic

Run sudo apt update if the command above does not work.

Boot Your Ubuntu with Kernel 5.15

After installing the kernel package, you have to either set it as default in boot-menu or remove the HWE 6.2 Kernel.

Firstly, boot/reboot your machine, press Esc while booting to show the Grub menu. Then, select boot the Kernel 5.15 from “Advanced options for Ubuntu” -> “Ubuntu, with Linux 5.15.0-xx-generic”.

After booted into Ubuntu and logged in, verify by running command in terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T):

uname -a

To make it default, either remove the HWE kernel by running command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove linux-image-generic-hwe-22.04

Or, use Grub Customizer to set default boot entry under ‘General settings’ tab. See how to install Grub Customizer in Ubuntu.

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How to Install Ungoogled Chromium in Ubuntu 22.04 / 23.10

Last updated: November 29, 2023 — Leave a comment

This simple tutorial shows how to install ungoogled chromium web browser in Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 23.10, and their based systems.

Ungoogled-chromium is a free open-source variant of Chromium web browser, that removes all Google web services.

The project was started in 2015. It retains the default Chromium experience as closely as possible. But disables functionality specific to Google domains, including Google Safe Browsing, blocks internal requests to Google at runtime by replacing Google web domains in the source code with non-existent alternatives, and strips binaries from the source code.

It also features tweaks to enhance privacy, control, and transparency. However, almost all of these features must be manually activated or enabled.

How to Install Ungoogled Chromium in Ubuntu

The project refers to OBS repository for Debian and Ubuntu packages, however, no longer updated for long time.

As far as I know, there are still community maintained Flatpak and Ubuntu PPA available for choices.

Option 1: Flatpak package

The flatpak package can be installed in most Linux, but run in sandbox and take more disk space due to run-time library.

Tips: Linux Mint 21 can directly search for and install the Flatpak package from Software Manager.

All current Ubuntu releases can open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run 2 commands below to install the browser as Flatpak:

  • First, run command to install the flatpak daemon: 
    sudo apt install flatpak

  • Then, install the browser package by running command: 
    flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.flatpakref

If you’re first time installing a software package as Flatpak, then you need log out and back in to make the app icon visiable.

Option 2: Ubuntu PPA

For Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 23.04, and Ubuntu 23.10, the xtradebs PPA also contains the browser packages for amd64 (Intel/AMD), arm64/armhf (Apple Silicon/Raspberry Pi) CPU architecture types.

First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps

Type user password when it asks (no asterisk feedback) and hit Enter to continue.

Linux Mint 21 users need to manually refresh system package cache after adding PPA. To do so, run command:

sudo apt update

Finally, install the web browser as .deb package by running command:

sudo apt install ungoogled-chromium

For choice, also install ungoogled-chromium-driver package for WebDriver support.

After installing the package, search for and launch the web browser from start/application menu or ‘Activities’ overview depends on your DE and enjoy!

Uninstall Ungoogled chromium

Depends on how you installed the software package, select remove it via:

  • For the Flatpak package, uninstall it by running command: 
    flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium

    Also, run flatpak uninstall --unused to uninstall useless runtime libraries.

  • For the .deb package installed from Ubuntu PPA, remove it by running command: 
    sudo apt remove --autoremove ungoogled-chromium

    Also, remove the Ubuntu PPA, either by running command:

    sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps

    Or by launching “Software & Updates” and remove source line under “Other Software” tab.

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Switcheroo – Simple & Modern GTK4 Image Converter for Linux

Last updated: November 27, 2023 — Leave a comment

Looking for app to convert your photo images into other formats? Try Switcheroo.

For batch image processing, I’d recommend to use Converseen. However, stupid simple applications are always good choices for beginners.

And, Switcheroo is one stupid simple app for converting photo images, while having modern look and feel in today’s Linux desktop.

Click ‘Open Images’ or drag’n’drop files into app window

With it, just click “Open Images” button and choose your image file/files, or drag and drop files into the app window to open them.

It shows thumbnail preview of all opened images, along with delete buttons in top-right for each images.

By using top-left ‘+’ button, user can add more images (Tips: hold Ctrl or Shift can select multiple files). And, ‘≡’ menu even provides an option to paste images from clipboard.

After opening all your photo images, click the drop-down box in the right of “Export Format” to select which file format to convert to.

At the moment of writing, it support converting image to PNG, JPG, WEBP, HEIF, HEIC, BMP, AVIF, JXL, TIFF, PDF, GIF. Though, you have to either use top-right hamburger menu or press Ctrl + H to show less popular file types.

The app’s hamburger menu

Before clicking ‘Convert’, it provides few more options, such as set background color, resize with or without aspect ratio, and change image quality. There’s also “Save To Zip” to directly output images into ZIP archive.

Instead of providing an in-app option, it pops-up file chooser dialog asks to choose where to save output images or ZIP archive, once clicking “Convert” button.

How to Install Switcheroo Image Converter

The app is available as universal Flatpak package, that can be installed in Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Chrome OS, and most other Linux, even including the mobile device, such as PinePhone.

1. First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the Flatpak daemon:

sudo apt install flatpak

Other Linux can follow the official setup guide to get Flatpak support.

2. Then, run command to install the app as flatpak:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/io.gitlab.adhami3310.Converter.flatpakref

As you see in the screenshot, the downside is that a small app can have 1 GB downloading due to run-time libraries (though shared).

3. Once installed, search for and launch it from your system application launcher, start menu, or ‘Activities’ overview depends on desktop environment.

First time installing Flatpak app needs a log out and back in, to make app icon visible.

4. To enable drag’n’drop support, you need to grant access permission to the folders that contain the photo images.
To do so, install Flatseal, then use it to allow access either all user files or certain folders (by adding Other files).

Uninstall Switcheroo

To uninstall the image converting application, also open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), then run command:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data io.gitlab.adhami3310.Converter

Also run flatpak uninstall --unused to remove useless run-time libraries.

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Add Shortcut Key to Switch Monitor Input Source in Ubuntu 22.04

Last updated: November 24, 2023 — Leave a comment

Have 2 or more PCs connected to a single external monitor? If you run Ubuntu (or other Linux) on one of the PCs, then here’s how to add a keyboard shortcut to switch video source on the monitor.

Most external monitors today have more than one video input ports, e.g., HDMI1, HDMI2, DP1, allowing to connect with different computers at the same time.

And, they usually support DDC/CI protocol to control monitors without hitting physical buttons.

I have multiple computers connected to the single monitor.

To save desktop space, I have only one monitor on my desk, and 2 computers connected to this single monitor. One is running Windows 10 for gaming and another with Ubuntu for work.

In Windows, I use ControlMyMonitor (it’s http link, not sure if it works now) to modify monitor settings and autohotkey to setup keyboard shortcuts.

In Ubuntu and most other Linux, it’s easy to do the job through ddcutil. And, here’s the how to steps one by one.

NOTE: This tutorial should works in all current Ubuntu releases (Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 23.04/23.10), and most other Linux, though only tested in 22.04 LTS.

Step 1: Install ddcutil

For Ubuntu user, simply press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command to install the command line tool:

sudo apt install ddcutil

Type user password when it asks for sudo authentication, though there’s no asterisk feedback.

For Fedora, RHEL, based systems, run the dnf command below instead:

sudo dnf install ddcutil

And, Arch based Linux can install it via command:

sudo pacman -S ddcutil

Step 2: setup permission

After installing the package above, i2c user group is created. You have to add current user to that group by running command:

sudo gpasswd --add $USER i2c

Not sure if required, but try to restart computer if next step does not work for you.

Step 3: Use Linux command to Switch Monitor Input Source

1. Now, run command in terminal to report connected monitors, and find out the logical display number:

ddcutil detect

In my case, it’s number 1. Usually you can skip this step if only one monitor connected.

2. Next, run command to find out the feature code, as well as its values for input source:

ddcutil --display 1 capabilities

Replace number 1 to yours according to the last command. And you can just skip for --display 1.

In the terminal output, 60 is the input source feature code for me. And, values include: 0f and 11 in hex. So, they are 0x0f and 0x11.

3. After finding out the feature code and its values, try running command to switch monitor input source:

ddcutil setvcp 60 0x11

In this command, replace 60 to yours feature code. And, replace 0x11 (its HDMI-1 in my case) to your values according which video source to switch to.

Step 4: Setup keyboard shortcut to switch input source

If the ddcutil setvcp command works for you, now you may do following steps to set keyboard shortcuts to do the job.

For GNOME (default desktop in Ubuntu & Fedora), open ‘Settings’ and navigate to “Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> View and Customize Shortcuts”.

In pop-up dialog, select “Custom Shortcuts”, then add new shortcut with:

  • Name: switch monitor input source (or whatever you want).
  • Command: ddcutil setvcp 60 0x11 (change code 60 & 0x11 according to yours).
  • Shortcut: whatever key combination that you want.

Also, add another keyboard shortcut to switch back.

For other Desktop Environments, try launching “Keyboard Shortcuts”, “Shortcut Keys”, “Custom Shortcuts”, “Keyboard”, etc, for the custom keyboard shortcuts settings page.

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