Howtos | UbuntuHandbook

How to Install Google Chrome in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Last updated: April 3, 2024 — 3 Comments

This is a step by step guide shows how to install Google Chrome web browser and keep it up-to-date in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Google Chrome is the top popular web browser today. It is a proprietary software free for use. For those who prefer open-source, then Google also offers Chromium browser for choice.

Google Chrome is available to install in Linux on only Intel/AMD platform through 2 ways! They are:

official and native .deb/.rpm package.
unofficial community maintained Flatpak package, runs in sandbox environment.

Here I’m going to show you how to install the browser in both ways. Choose either that you prefer.

In Howtos chrome, google chrome

How to Install Spotify Client in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: April 2, 2024 — Leave a comment

This tutorial shows how to install the popular Spotify music app in Ubuntu Linux though Snap, Deb, or Flatpak packages.

Spotify supports for Linux officially through Snap package which runs in sandbox environment, and Deb package that’s native in Debian and Ubuntu. For choice, there’s also a community maintained Flatpak package, which also runs in sandbox environment. All of them is available for only x86_64 (Intel/AMD CPUs) platform so far.

Spotify for Linux packages:

Snap package, runs in sandbox and receives updates automatically.
Deb package, the classic package format runs natively in Debian and Ubuntu.
Flatpak package, unofficial community maintained package, runs in sandbox and works in most Linux desktop.

In Howtos Audio, cloud music, spotify

Add Google Gemini AI Chatbot in Ubuntu 24.04/23.10 Panel

Last updated: April 2, 2024 — Leave a comment

Want an AI chatbot in Ubuntu Desktop? There’s now an extension can do the job by adding Gemini AI into GNOME Panel.

Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is an AI chatbot developed by Google. It’s initially released last year in 2023, and available in 239 countries for 46 languages. The AI chatbot is a proprietary software, but available in both free and paid versions.

If you want to try out the Gemini AI, then this is a step by step guide shows you how to do the trick in Ubuntu Desktop.

In Howtos AI Chatbot, Gemini

How to Install Blender & Keep it Updated in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: March 29, 2024 — Leave a comment

This is a step by step guide shows how to install Blender app in Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop.

Blender is a popular free open-source 3D graphics software works in Linux, Windows, and MacOS.

Ubuntu includes the software package in system repository, but always old as you know. The upside is that it supports all platforms, including x86_64 (AMD/Intel), arm64 (e.g., Raspberry Pi), ppc64el (IBM Power platform), RISC-V 64, and s390x (IBM zSystems and LinuxONE).

For Ubuntu user on x86_64 (AMD/Intel) computers, the latest version can be installed through following packages:

Official Linux Tarball.
Official Snap package (runs in sandbox).
Flatpak package (Community maintained and runs in sandbox).

In Howtos 3D Graphics, blender

How to Install/Remove Flatpak (.flatpakref) in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: March 29, 2024 — Leave a comment

This is a step by step beginner’s guide shows how to install (or uninstall) Flatpak App Package, including local .flatpakref file, in Ubuntu 24.04.

Flatpak is an universal package format that can be installed in most Linux with a sandbox environment. It’s a free open-source project developed by Flatpak Team, which has closer relationship to GNOME and Red Hat.

As a competitor, Ubuntu has its own universal Snap package runs in sandbox. Flatpak is NOT supported out-of-the-box in Ubuntu, but easy to enable!

In Howtos flatpak

How to Install & Use TeamViewer Free in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: March 28, 2024 — Leave a comment

This is a step by step beginner’s guide shows how to install and use TeamViewer in Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop.

TeamViewer is a popular German remote desktop access and remote control software that works in Linux, Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS/iPadOS.

It’s a proprietary software that provides paid versions, as well as free license for personal use. For Linux, TeamViewer provides support for x86/x64, and arm64/armhf devices support. It’s a good choice for users who don’t know how to setup remote desktop sharing.

Remote Control Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop via TeamViewer

In Howtos TeamViewer

2 Apps to Play Ambient Noise in Ubuntu 24.04 & 22.04

Last updated: March 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

Want to play some soothing sounds in your Linux Desktop? Here are 2 applications can do the job in current Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04.

To improve focus and increase your productivity, or easy to fall asleep, there are a few applications can help by playing natural sounds in Linux.

1. Relaxator

In Howtos Ambient Noise

How to Fix Python Pip Install Error in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: March 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

When using pip command to install a Python package in Ubuntu 24.04 will output “error: externally-managed-environment“. Here are a few workarounds to ‘fix’ the issue.

As the terminal output shows you, it’s the change due to PEP 668. Since Ubuntu 23.04, it recommends Python-specific package management tools (e.g., pip) to install packages using a virtual environment, to avoid conflicts to packages installed by OS package managers. Though, user can still force pip to install into interpreter’s global context just like before.

In Howtos python

[Quick Fix] Enlightenment Xorg Session is Missing in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: March 23, 2024 — Leave a comment

After installed Enlightenment desktop in Ubuntu 24.04, the classic Xorg session is missing from the login screen. And, here’s a quick fix for it.

Enlightenment released version 0.26.0 last year with experimental Wayland session support. Which is however missing the Xorg session in the login screen due to bug.

Why the Enlightenment Xorg Session is missing

Ubuntu now finds the desktop sessions from both /usr/share/wayland-sessions/ and /usr/share/xsessions/ directories. And, the former one has higher priority!

Enlightenment 0.26.0 installs its session entries in both directories with same name. In the case, only the one for Wayland is in active, while another for Xorg is ignored and hidden from login screen.

Ubuntu 24.04 missing Enlightenment on Xorg

In Howtos Enlightenment

Get Rid of thunderbird.tmp in Ubuntu 24.04 Downloads Folder

Last updated: March 23, 2024 — Leave a comment

For Thunderbird users, there will be a thunderbird.tmp sub-folder in Downloads in Ubuntu 24.04. Here are the workarounds to get rid of it!

As you may know, the Thunderbird package in Ubuntu 24.04 is a Snap package that runs in sandbox! Due to this switch, the “thunderbird.tmp” sub-folder will be created on every launch (even after you deleted it) of the email client, in user’s Downloads folder.

According to this discussion page:

“This is a tmp dir to store files you choose to open directly from Thunderbird. The snap can’t use the usual (insecure) /tmp location so had to choose something widely available so other apps can open the files if chosen.“