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How to install Songbird in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy

Last updated: April 4, 2019

songbird ubuntu 13.10

This quick tutorial is going to show beginners how to install songbird music player in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander & Linux Mint 16 Petra.

Songbird for Linux has discontinued, but the v2.0 is still available in GetDeb repository for Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy and its derivatives.

To get started installing this web player, first click the link below to download the DEB:

Download GetDeb package

Then double-click to install the package via pop-up Ubuntu Software Center. It’ll add the get repository to your system.

For Linux Mint 16, there’s an option in ‘Software & Sources -> Additional repositories’ to enable the repository.

After added the repository, use synaptic package manager to install Songbird. Or run below commands in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install songbird
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Create system restore point in Ubuntu via TimeShift

Last updated: December 10, 2022

Want to create a Windows like system restore point? Well, TimeShift is the tool, which protects your system by taking incremental snapshots of the file system at regular intervals. These snapshots can be restored later to bring your system to the exact state it was in at the time when the snapshot was taken.

TimeShift is designed to protect only system files and settings. User files such as documents, pictures and music are excluded.

create system restore point

Features:

  • TimeShift requires very little setup. Just install it, run it for the first time and take the first snapshot. A cron job will be enabled for taking automatic snapshots of the system at regular intervals. The backup levels can be selected from the Settings dialog.
  • Snapshots are saved by default on the system (root) partition in path /timeshift. Other linux partitions can also be selecte
  • Boot snapshots provide an additional level of backup and are taken 30 minutes after the system is started.
  • Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly levels can be enabled if required.
  • TimeShift runs at regular 30-minute intervals but takes snapshots only when needed.
  • Applications like rsnapshot rotate a snapshot to the next level by creating a hard-linked copy. Creating a hard-linked copy may seem like a good idea but it is still a waste of disk space. This is because only files can be hard-linked and not directories. The duplicated directory structure can take up as much as 100 MB of space. TimeShift avoids this wastage by using tags for maintaining backup levels. Each snapshot will have only one copy on disk and is tagged as “daily”, “monthly”, etc. The snapshot location will have a set of folders for each backup level (“Monthly”, “Daily”, etc) with symbolic links pointing to the actual snapshots tagged with the level.
  • Snapshots can be restored either from the running system or from a live CD. Restoring backups from the running system requires a reboot to complete the restore process.
  • You can also TimeShift across distributions. Let’s say you are currently using Xubuntu and decide to try out Linux Mint. You install Linux Mint on your system and try it out for a week before deciding to go back to Xubuntu. Using TimeShift you can simply restore the last week’s snapshot to get your Xubuntu system back. TimeShift will take care of things like reinstalling the bootloader and other details. Since installing a new linux distribution also formats your root partition you need to save your snapshots on a separate linux partition for this to work.

Install TimeShift via PPA:

The PPA is ready for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 22.10 and their derivatives, such as Linux Mint, Elementary OS.

Press Ctrl+ALt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands one by one:

sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/timeshift
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install timeshift
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Upgrade to gThumb 3.2.3 in Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04

Last updated: October 10, 2013

gThumb 3.2.3

The Gnome Desktop image viewer gThumb 3.2.3 has been released for months. It brings Flickr access via Facebook / Google accounts as well as other bug fixes.

This release was built on dhor’s PPA a couple hours ago, so you can easily upgrade gThumb 3.2.3 in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise and Linux Mint.

What’s New in gThumb 3.2.3:

  • Flickr: allow to use a facebook or google account. (#703534)
  • Thumbnail list: images drawn with wrong offset. (#702538)
  • Fixed the video player stopping after saving a screenshot.
  • Fixed saving of TGA images.
  • Fixed the size of the toolbar in fullscreen mode.
  • Show the cursor again after stopping the slideshow.
  • Web services: do not delete the previous account when creating a new one.
  • translations update: Russian

Upgrade gThumb 3.2.3

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run commands below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhor/myway

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gthumb

gThumb 3.2.3 ubuntu

Once installed, you may want to remove this PPA because it’s ‘highly explosive’:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:dhor/myway
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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

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.

rhythmbox 3.0 ubuntu 13.10

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
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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

SparkleShare 1.2

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Integrate PeaZip into Nautilus Context Menu in Ubuntu 13.10/13.04

Last updated: October 8, 2013

peazip-logo

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

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”.

peazip scripts for nautilus

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

nautilus -q

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Install Format Junkie Media Converter in Ubuntu 13.10

Last updated: November 3, 2013

format junkie ubuntu 13.10

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.

format junkie ubuntu 13.10

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
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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 file as root in elementary os

open folder 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!

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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.

Open as Administrator ubuntu 13.10

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’

create 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.

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

Last updated: October 9, 2013

Linux Kernel 3.10.15

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-*
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