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Leafpad Editor Available to Install via Snap in Ubuntu 19.04

Last updated: June 14, 2019

Leafpad text editor now is available to install via Snap package for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and higher.

Leafpad is a simple GTK+ based text editor aims to be lighter than Gedit and KWrite. It has been removed from Ubuntu repositories since Ubuntu 19.04.

Leafpad snap package maintained by Ken VanDine makes it again easy to install in Ubuntu 19.04 and higher.

Simply open Ubuntu Software utility, search for ‘leafpad’ and you’ll see the snap package. For Ubuntu 19.04 and higher, there’s no native Leafpad Ubuntu package any more.

Or open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install the snap package:

snap install leafpad --classic

Like normal software package, you can either open Leafpad from files’ context menu ‘Open With’ menu, or launch it from application menu.

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GIMP 2.10.12 Released with Bug Fixes, Cool Improvements

Last updated: June 13, 2019

GIMP image editor 2.10.12 was released a day ago with mostly fixes for some annoying bugs.

There’s also some cool improvements in GIMP 2.10.12:

  • Improved Curves tool
  • Layers support for TIFF exporting
  • Support for user-installed fonts on Windows
  • Faster painting
  • Improved symmetry painting support
  • Incremental mode in the Dodge/Burn tool
  • Free Select tool now creates a preliminary selection
  • New Offset tool

How to Install Latest GIMP in Ubuntu & Linux Mint:

Ubuntu users can install the latest GIMP via 3 ways: GIMP PPA, Snap package, Flatpak package.

1.) GIMP Snap package:

GIMP Snap is still in v2.10.10 at the moment of writing. As usual it will be updated in a few days.

GIMP Snap is a containerized software package. Once installed, it will be updated automatically when maintainer published a new release package.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, install GIMP snap package from Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04, run following commands one by one to install GIMP snap:

sudo apt-get install snapd
sudo snap install gimp

2.) GIMP PPA:

There’s an unofficial GIMP PPA that maintains native GIMP for Ubuntu packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher.

The PPA is not updated at the moment of writing. Check the PPA link above. It should be updated in 2 or 3 days.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

2. Then you can upgrade GIMP using Software Updater is an old version was installed.

Or run following command to install GIMP:

sudo apt-get install gimp

3.) GIMP Flatpak:

Flatpak is a containerized software package. GIMP Flatpak package is available in flathub repositoy.

Uninstall:

To remove GIMP snap package, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove gimp

To remove GIMP PPA package, and restore to original status, run command in terminal to purge PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
In Howtos, News
 

Deluge 2.0 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.04

Last updated: June 12, 2019

Deluge bittorrent client 2.0 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.

Deluge 2.0 was released with following exciting new features:

  • Shiny new logo.
  • Multi-user support.
  • Performance updates to handle thousands of torrents with faster loading times.
  • A New Console UI which emulates GTK/Web UIs.
  • GTK UI migrated to GTK3 with UI improvements and additions.
  • Magnet pre-fetching to allow file selection when adding torrent.
  • Fully support libtorrent 1.2 release.
  • Language switching support.
  • Improved documentation hosted on ReadTheDocs.
  • AutoAdd plugin replaces built-in functionality.

How to Install Deluge 2.0 in Ubuntu:

Deluge stable PPA has built the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04 and their derivatives.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run commands:

1. Run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/stable

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

2. If a previous release was installed, upgrade it via Software Updater:

or run command in terminal to install or upgrade Deluge:

sudo apt install deluge

Uninstall:

To uninstall Deluge PPA, open Software & Updates -> Other Software tab and remove the repository line.

To remove Deluge torrent client, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove deluge
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Luminance HDR 2.6.0 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: June 10, 2019

After almost two years of development, Luminance HDR released version 2.6.0 was released yesterday.

Luminance HDR 2.6.0 release highlights:

  • Four new tone-mapping operators: ferwerda, kimkautz, lischinski and vanhateren.
  • Speed up for hdr creation
  • Added post processing gamma and saturation.
  • Great speedup and better memory usage for all tonemapping operators
  • Preview of created HDR in HDR Wizard
  • Other small improvements and bug-fixes as usual.

How to Install Luminance HDR 2.6.0 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.04

There’s an unofficial PPA contains the latest Luminance HDR packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:

1. Run command to add the PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhor/myway

Type user password (no visual feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. If you have a previous release installed, launch Software Updater (Update Manager) and upgrade the software:

Or run following command to install (or upgrade) Luminance HDR:

sudo apt install luminance-hdr

How to Uninstall:

The PPA repository can be removed by going to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

To remove the software, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove luminance-hdr
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Stacer – System Optimizer / Cleaner / Monitor for Ubuntu Desktop

Last updated: June 9, 2019

Stacer is an open-source, CCleaner like system optimizer and application monitor utility for Linux desktop.

Stacer features:

  • Monitoring system resource usage.
  • System cleaner for package caches, application logs.
  • Manage system services, processes, packages, startup applications, apt repositories.
  • Window manager and desktop appearance settings.

How to Install Stacer in Ubuntu:

The software offers .Appimage (non-install executable file) and .deb packages in the project release page:

Stacer also has an stable PPA with .deb packages and future updates for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut or from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oguzhaninan/stacer

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

2. Then check updates and install the utility via following 2 commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install stacer

Uninstall Stacer:

To remove the utility, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove stacer

And remove the PPA repository from Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

In App Review, Howtos
 

VLC 3.0.7 Released! Improved Blu-ray, MP4 Support (How to Install)

Last updated: June 8, 2019

VLC media player 3.0.7 was released a day ago. The new release features numerous security fixes and many improvements.

VLC 3.0.7 release highlights:

  • Improvements on the Blu-ray support, notably for menus
  • Improve MP4 support
  • Improvements for HDR support on Windows, including for HLG streams
  • Improve Chromecast support with new ChromeCast apps
  • Fixes for UPnP discovery on MacBooks with a TouchBar
  • Fixes for some 10bit and 12bit rendering on Windows 10
  • And numerous security fixes.

How to Install VLC 3.0.7 in Ubuntu:

The official VLC 3.0.7 snap package (containerised software package) is available in Ubuntu Software for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04, and higher.

For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and make sure snapd daemon is installed.

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install VLC 3.0.7 snap package via command:

sudo snap install vlc --classic

Once installed, open VLC from your system application launcher and enjoy!

(Optional) To remove the snap package, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove vlc

VLC 3.0.7 PPA:

For those who are looking for traditional VLC .deb package, the unofficial PPA contains the latest VLC 3.0.7 packages for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04.

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Install The Latest Pencil2D Animation Tool in Ubuntu 18.04 & Higher

Last updated: June 7, 2019

Pencil2D is an open-source application to make 2D hand-drawn animations in Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

Pencil2D features:

  • open source and free to use even commercially!
  • layers support (separated layer for bitmap, vector and soud part)
  • bitmap drawing, vector drawing, and sound support
  • For more, go to Pencil2D website.

How to Install the Latest Pencil2D in Ubuntu

While Ubuntu universe repositories only provide an old version, the latest Pencil2D flatpak package is available to install via following steps:

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

When terminal opens, run command to install flatpak daemon:

sudo apt install flatpak

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Add flathub repository via command:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3. Finally you’re able to install Pencil2D from the flathub repository via command:

flatpak install flathub org.pencil2d.Pencil2D

Once installed, open the tool from your system application menu and enjoy!

(Optional) To remove the Pencil2d flatpak package, simply open terminal and run command:

flatpak uninstall org.pencil2d.Pencil2D
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KXStitch Cross Stitch Editor 2.2.0 Rleased (How to Install)

Last updated: June 6, 2019

KXStitch, KDE software to create cross stitch pattern and chart, released version 2.2.0. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.

KXStitch is a program that lets you create cross stitch patterns and charts. Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics file formats which will allow you to reduce the number of colors and to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches. You may also use images as backgrounds allowing you to trace over them. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.

KXStitch 2.2.0 was released silently. No release note, no changelog. According to the project commits, it’s a bug-fix release with fixes for Qt 5.11 compile issue, importing images for V6 of ImageMagick, and many other issues.

How to Install KXStitch 2.2.0 in Ubuntu:

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/kxstitch

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

2. Then check updates and install the software either via Synaptic Package Manager or by running commands:

sudo apt install kxstitch

Uninstall:

To remove KXStitch cross stitch software, either use Synaptic or run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove kxstitch

The PPA can be removed via “Software & Updates” utility under “Other Software” tab.

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Disable Purple Splash Screen on Boot in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher

Last updated: June 5, 2019

This quick tutorial shows beginners how to disable Ubuntu purple splash screen on boot, instead, print kernel startup messages in black and white.

The default Ubuntu splash screen on boot with the indicator meter of progress:

1. To get started, open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

When terminal opens, run command to open grub configuration file via text editor:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

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

2. When the file opens, do:

  • Find out the line says GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
  • Remove splash from in double quotes to disable purple splash screen.
  • Also remove quiet to enable kernel startup messages.
  • There might be other parameters in the quotes, leave them unchanged

In the case (see picture) the line should be finally changed to 

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""

3. (Optional) If you ever tried plymouth themes, make sure plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text is not installed.

sudo apt remove plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text

4. Finally apply changes by running command:

sudo update-grub2

At the next boot you’ll see the text only startup messages.

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Virtualbox: Share A Folder in Ubuntu Host to Windows Guest

Last updated: June 3, 2019

This quick tutorial shows how to share a folder in Virtualbox Ubuntu host and get access within Windows virtual machine.

One of the top things after installed a virtual machine via VirtualBox is how to transfer files between host OS and guest OS. And this can be done via Shared Folder feature.

1. In Virtualbox (6.0.8 in the case), open Settings of the Windows Guest OS. Then do:

  • Navigate to Shared Folders in left pane.
  • Click ‘Adds new shared folder’ button in the right.
  • In next pop-up dialog do:
    • Folder Path, choose a folder in the Host OS to share with.
    • Folder Name, auto generated after chosen folder.
    • Enable ‘Auto-mount‘.
    • Enable ‘Read-only’ if you DON’T want to add/edit the folder files in Guest.
    • Mount point:, leave it empty.

2. Boot up the Guest OS (Windows 7 in the case), and then go to menu Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD image.

If you don’t see the Guest window menu, press right-Ctrl + C on keyboard.

3. Open Computer, you’ll see CD Driver marked as ‘VirtualBox Guest’.

4. Go to the CD Driver and click install the exe file to bring up guest addition install wizard.

5. Follow the install wizard until done.

6. Finally reboot the Windows guest OS, and shared folder should be there in ‘Computer’

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