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How to Install Rhythmbox 3.0 via PPA in Ubuntu 13.10 & 13.04

Last updated: October 9, 2013

Rhythmbox 3.0 was released in early september, but due to the software freeze and probably the lack of manpower, this newer version did not make it into Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy.

Some PPAs has updated the packages for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy and Ubuntu 13.04 Raring. So you can upgrade it on your system via below steps.

NOTE 1: The PPAs below are both for personal use. They may or may not work. Use it at your own risk!

NOTE 2: Because the plugins in v3.0 now use Python 3.0, your rhythmbox plugins are probably not work after upgraded.

For Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy:

A rebuild of the Debian sid rhythmbox v3.0 package has been created and updated to fossfreedom PPA. It works great!

Before installing it, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. Remove the default installation:

sudo apt-get purge rhythmbox rhythmbox-plugins

Then run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/rhythmbox
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install rhythmbox

For Ubuntu 13.04 Raring:

After removed the default installation, run below commands to install Rhythmbox v3.0 from Jacob’s PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jacob/media

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install rhythmbox

In Howtos rhythmbox, rhythmbox 3.0

SparkleShare 1.2 Released, Install in Ubuntu 13.04/12.04/12.10

Last updated: October 8, 2013

The distributed collaboration and sharing tool SparkleShare has released version 1.2 with many bugfixes. This tutorial is going to show you how to install it in Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10 and their derivatives.

How does SparkleShare work?

SparkleShare creates a special folder on your computer. You can add remotely hosted folders (or “projects”) to this folder. These projects will be automatically kept in sync with both the host and all of your peers when someone adds, removes or edits a file.

What’s New in 1.2:

Fixes to the invite feature, now works when SparkleShare isn’t running yet (by Jo Shields)
Don’t crash, but complain when FIPS is enabled on Windows
Fix some interface logic in Add dialog
Fix some inaccurate sync state messages in the status icon
Fix conflict when running when TortoiseGit is installed
Fix blank Add dialog on OS X Snow Leopard
Fix crash when user cancels initial project download
Fix Continue button not enabling when entering encryption password
Fix Planio plugin name showing up as Gitorious on Linux
Show download speed on initial project add

Install SparkleShare via PPA:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands to add the SparkleShare PPA as well as git-core ppa (required):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rebuntu16/sparkleshare+unofficial

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa

After added the PPA, install the tool as well as the latest git via:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install sparkleshare

In Howtos cloud file sync, file sync, sparkleshare

Integrate PeaZip into Nautilus Context Menu in Ubuntu 13.10/13.04

Last updated: October 8, 2013

Want to use ‘Extract Here’, ‘Add to Archive’, and so forth with PeaZip in Nautilus’ context menu? Well, here’s how to well integrate PeaZip into Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy & Ubuntu 13.04 Raring via Nautilus scripts.

integrate peazip into nautilus

Because PeaZip for Linux comes default with the scripts, all you need to do is move them into the correct location.

To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, follow the steps below:

1. For installed version, the PeaZip should be installed under /usr/local/share/PeaZip. Run command to move the scripts:

cd /usr/local/share/PeaZip/FreeDesktop_integration/nautilus-scripts/Archiving/PeaZip/

sudo mv * ~/.local/share/nautilus/scripts

2. For portable version, just go to the PeaZip directory “FreeDesktop_integration/nautilus-scripts/Archiving/PeaZip/”, copy and paste all scripts to “user HOME/.local/share/nautilus/scripts”.

3. After that, restart Nautilus file browser and done.

nautilus -q

In Howtos integrate peazip into nautilus, Peazip

Install Format Junkie Media Converter in Ubuntu 13.10

Last updated: November 3, 2013

This tutorial is going to show you how to install Format Junkie media converter in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, while its PPA is not ready.

As you may know, Format Junkie is a program that can convert your media files (audio files, videos and pictures) to all the popular formats! It supports:

Conversion between the audio formats: mp3, mp2, wav, ogg, wma, flac, m4r, m4a and aac
Conversion between the video formats: avi, ogv, vob, mp4, vob, flv, 3gp, mpg, mkv, wmv
Conversion between the image formats: jpg, png, ico, bmp, svg, tif, pcx, pdf, tga, pnm
Create an iso with selected files, convert iso to cso and vice versa.
Encode subtitles to an avi file.

Install Format Junkie:

For Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint 13/14/15, Elementary OS Luna, you can install it from Format Junkie PPA by running below commands one by one in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:format-junkie-team/release

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install formatjunkie

For Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to download DEB for raring:

for 32-bit system:

wget https://launchpad.net/~format-junkie-team/+archive/release/+files/formatjunkie_1.07-1~raring0.2_i386.deb

for 64-bit system

wget https://launchpad.net/~format-junkie-team/+archive/release/+files/formatjunkie_1.07-1~raring0.2_amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit install the Deb via:

sudo dpkg -i formatjunkie_1.07-1*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

In Howtos format junkie, media converter

Add ‘Open as Administrator’ to Pantheon in Elementary OS Luna

Last updated: October 7, 2013

This simple tutorial will show you how to add ‘Open as Administrator’ or ‘Open as root’ to Pantheon Context menu in Elementary OS Luna. So that you can easily open system files or folders with super user privilege through the default Pantheon file browser.

First take a look at the screenshots:

open file as root in elementary os

open folder as root in elementary os

Before getting started, search for and install gksu from Software Center. It is a Gtk+ frontend allows graphical programs to ask a user’s password to run another program as root / administrator.

Open files as root in Panthen Context Menu:

It’s a little different to Ubuntu Nautilus. Because I don’t know how to use if conditional statements in ‘.contractor’ files, so I divided this into two parts: Open files as root and Open folders as root.

1. Use your favorite editor to create and edit the config file. Here I use gedit (press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal for running commands):

sudo apt-get install gedit

sudo gedit /usr/share/contractor/scratch-openasroot.contract

2. Copy and paste below lines into the file and save it.

[Contractor Entry]
Name=Open file as root
Icon=scratch-text-editor
Description=open file as root with scratch
MimeType=text
Exec=gksudo scratch-text-editor %U
Gettext-Domain=scratch-text-editor

This will add an option “Open file as root” to Pantheon context menu, which open text files as root user with Scratch Text Editor (the default editor for eOS).

Open folders as root in Panthen Context Menu:

1. Use your favorite editor to create and edit the config file:

sudo gedit /usr/share/contractor/folder-openasroot.contract

2. Copy and paste below lines into the file and save it.

[Contractor Entry]
Name=Open folder as root
Icon=pantheon-files
Description=Open current folder as root privilege
MimeType=inode;
Exec=gksudo pantheon-files %U
Gettext-Domain=pantheon-files

This adds the option ‘Open folder as root’ to context menu, which open folders as root privilege.

Remember, you need a restart to get things done. Enjoy!

In Howtos Elementary OS Luna, open as administrator, open as root

How to Enable Open as Administrator for Ubuntu 13.10 Nautilus

Last updated: October 7, 2013

This quick tip is going to show beginners how to add ‘open as administrator’ or ‘open as root’ into Nautilus context menu in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy.

With this feature enabled, you can quickly open files and folders in Nautilus with root (super user) privilege. This also works on Linux Mint 16 Petra if you’re using Nautilus 3.8.x.

To get started:

1. Open Ubuntu Software Center, search for and install gksu. It allows graphical programs to ask a user’s password to run program as root / administrator.

2. Open Nautilus file browser, press Ctrl+H to view hidden files & folders. Navigate to USER Home -> .local -> share -> nautilus -> scripts.

Create an empty document under this directory named ‘open-as-administrator’

3. Open this file with Gedit, copy and paste following codes into the file and save.

#!/bin/bash # # this code will determine exactly the path and the type of object, # then it will decide use gedit or nautilus to open it by ROOT permission # # Determine the path if [ -e -n $1 ]; then obj="$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" else base="`echo $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI | cut -d'/' -f3- | sed 's/%20/ /g'`" obj="$base/${1##*/}" fi # Determine the type and run as ROOT if [ -f "$obj" ]; then gksu gedit "$obj" elif [ -d "$obj" ]; then gksu nautilus "$obj" fi

exit 0

4. Right-click on this file, go to Properties -> Permissions tab. Check the box which says ‘Allow executing file as program’.

Log out and back in, or restart Nautilus by nautilus -q command. Done.

In Howtos open as administrator, open as root, Ubuntu 13.10

Linux Kernel 3.10.15 LTS Released, Upgrade in Ubuntu & Linux Mint

Last updated: October 9, 2013

The Latest Kernel 3.10.15 LTS has been released with lots of drivers updates or fixes, including Radeon, Intel i915, and USB. Same to Kernel 3.11.4, the ARM platform gets a fix for the Thumb-2 bug in the AES assembler code, and two bugs were squashed for the x86 architecture. See the official announcement.

All users of Kernel 3.10 series are urged to upgrade as soon as possible. Here’s how to do it in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal, Linux Mint.

Upgrade Linux Kernel 3.10.15

Press Ctrl+ALt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, follow the steps below:

1. Download the DEBs:

For 32-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.15-031015-generic_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.15-031015_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-image-3.10.15-031015-generic_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.15-031015-generic_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-headers-3.10.15-031015_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10.15-saucy/linux-image-3.10.15-031015-generic_3.10.15-031015.201310081202_amd64.deb

2. Install the Kernel:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.10.15*.deb linux-image-3.10.15*.deb

Once done. Restart your computer.

(Optional) To remove Linux Kernel 3.10.15 and revert back to previous:

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.10.15-*

In Howtos kernel, kernel 3.10 series, Linux Kernel

Linux Kernel 3.11.4 Released, How to Upgrade in Ubuntu Linux Mint

Last updated: October 9, 2013

The Linux Kernel 3.11 series has reached 3.11.4, which brings lots of drivers updates or fixes include Radeon, Intel i915, Wireless and USB. The ARM platform gets a fix for the Thumb-2 bug in the AES assembler code, and two bugs were squashed for the x86 architecture. Read the official announcement

All users of Kernel 3.11 series are urged to upgrade as soon as possible. Here’s how to install or upgrade Linux Kernel 3.11.4 in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal and their derivatives.

To get started, press Ctrl+ALt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to download the DEBs:

For 32-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-headers-3.11.4-031104-generic_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-headers-3.11.4-031104_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-image-3.11.4-031104-generic_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-headers-3.11.4-031104-generic_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-headers-3.11.4-031104_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.11.4-saucy/linux-image-3.11.4-031104-generic_3.11.4-031104.201310081221_amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit install the Debs via:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-3.11.4*.deb linux-image-3.11.4*.deb

Once done, restart your computer.

(Optional) To remove Linux Kernel 3.11.4 and revert back to the previous, run command:

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.11.4-*

In Howtos kernel, Kernel 3.11 series, Linux Kernel

How to Upgrade to Shotwell 0.15 in Ubuntu 13.04 / 12.10

Last updated: July 25, 2014

Yorba, the developer of Shotwell has announced a new release Shotwell 0.15, which brings several enhancements:

Copy and paste color adjustments between photos
Highlights detail adjustment
YouTube plugin now uses OAuth / OpenID
Videos in Missing Files now re-import properly
Improvements when thumbnailing videos
Numerous bug fixes

Upgrade Shotwell in Ubuntu:

The Shotwell 0.15 tarball is available for download. See the installation guide for information on getting Shotwell on your system

The team has built this release on their PPA for Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal and their derivatives, such as Linux Mint 15 & 14.

To get started installing the photo management tool, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yorba/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install shotwell

For Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, you don’t have to do something special. Just open Software Center, search for and install shotwell, which is already the newest.

The developer doesn’t build it for Ubuntu 12.04 Precise and its derivatives, because the libraries change so much between versions that it isn’t practical to build on older versions.

In Howtos shotwell

Install / Upgrade FocusWriter 1.4.4 via PPA in Ubuntu 13.04/12.04

Last updated: October 4, 2013

FocusWriter is a fullscreen word processor. It has a simple, distraction-free writing environment, it utilizes a hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen, allowing the program to have a familiar look and feel to it while still getting out of the way so that you can immerse yourself in your work. It’s available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X, and has been translated into many different languages.

To install or upgrade to the latest FocusWriter in Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10 via PPA, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

Then update package lists:

sudo apt-get update

Finally install the word processor:

sudo apt-get install focuswriter

If you’re on Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, open Ubuntu Software Center and search for and install focuswriter from the universe repository. Enjoy!

In Howtos focuswriter, focuswriter ppa