Archives For Howtos

Here I’ll show you how to connect to Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail from Windows 7 via Remote Desktop Connection. All you need to do is install xRDP server in Ubuntu, then use Windows RDP to connect to Ubuntu without any configuration.

xRDP is a rdesktop project which uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to make it easy to connect Ubuntu from remote client especially not having to log into Ubuntu first.

xRDP is available in the universe repository, just search for and install it from Ubuntu Software Center.

rdp server

Or you can install it via below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install xrdp

After that, open Windows 7’s Remote Desktop Connection and type in Ubuntu hoastname or IP address.

windows rdp

Then type in Ubuntu username and password to login to xrdp:

xrdp login

You’re done. Enjoy!

How to Install Cool Reader 3 in Ubuntu 13.10

Last updated: July 31, 2013

This simple and brief tutorial shows you how to install Cool Reader 3 in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander.

As you may know, CoolReader is fast and small cross-platform XML/CSS based E-Book reader for desktops and handheld devices. Supported formats: FB2, TXT, RTF, DOC, TCR, HTML, EPUB, CHM, PDB, MOBI. Platforms: Win32, Linux, Android. Ported on some eInk based devices.

CoolReader3

Without adding a ppa repository, we can directly download and install the Deb package to get Cool Reader on your Ubuntu system. To do so, first open System Settings -> Details to check out your OS type (32-bit or 64-bit).

Then press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to download the reader:

For 32-bit system:

wget https://launchpad.net/~vovansrnd/+archive/coolreader/+files/cr3_3.0.59.2-1_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget https://launchpad.net/~vovansrnd/+archive/coolreader/+files/cr3_3.0.59.2-1_amd64.deb

Once the downloading process finished, both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install Cool Reader 3:

sudo dpkg -i cr3_3.0.59.2-1_*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

cool reader ubuntu 13.04 dash

This simple tutorial will show you how to install the QupZilla Web Browser from its ppa repository in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail.

As you may know, QupZilla is a new and very fast QtWebKit browser. It aims to be a lightweight web browser available through all major platforms. This project has been originally started only for educational purposes. But from its start, QupZilla has grown into a feature-rich browser.

qupzilla web browser

News:QupZilla will be available in upcoming Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy’s default repository. Just search for and install it from Ubuntu Software Center

Install QupZilla:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to add the ppa repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nowrep/qupzilla

add qupzilla ppa

Update package lists and install the browser:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install qupzilla

install qupzilla web browser

Once installed, you’ll be able to open it from Unity Dash.

qupzilla in ubuntu

This simple and brief tutorial is going to show you how to install Zipwhip text messaging app in Ubuntu. As you may know, Zipwhip is a small utility that allows you to text anyone from PC, Android tablet, or web browser using your existing mobile number.

Zipwhip-starting

Tutorial Objectives:

  • Install Zipwhip Text Messaging app in Ubuntu
  • Enjoy!

To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to download the app:

For 32-bit system:

wget http://zipwhip.cachefly.net/zipwhip-desktop-i586.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget http://zipwhip.cachefly.net/zipwhip-desktop-amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install the package:

sudo dpkg -i zipwhip-desktop*.deb

Once installed, you may need a restart to be able to open this tool from Unity Dash. Then input your phone number and a password (register for free):

Zipwhip-phone

This simple tutorial will show you how to install the Jitsi Video Calls and Chat & add its repository in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.04 Precise and 12.10 Quantal.

Jitsi call window

As you may know, Jitsi is an audio/video Internet phone and instant messenger written in Java. It supports some of the most popular instant messaging and telephony protocols such as SIP, Jabber/XMPP (and hence Facebook and Google Talk), AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo! Messenger.

Jitsi contact

Install Jitsi:

The official download page provides the latest Deb installer for Ubuntu users

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to download it:

For 32-bit system:

wget https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi/debian/jitsi_2.2-latest_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi/debian/jitsi_2.2-latest_amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install the Deb:

sudo dpkg -i jitsi_2.2-latest_*.deb

It installs Jitsi as well as adds its repository to your system so that you’ll receive updates when a new release comes out.

This simple tutorial will show you how to install and use Faenza Icons 1.3.1 in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander while the PPA is not available yet.

faenza icons 1.3.1

As I know, the Faenza icons ppa contains actually the same DEB package for Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.10 Quantal, 12.04 Precise. We can also use the Deb on Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy to install this icon set. Here’s how:

1.) Click on below link to download the theme:

faenza-icon-theme_1.3.1_all.deb

2.) Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to install the Deb:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/faenza-icon-theme_1.3.1_all.deb

install faenza icons

3.) To apply this theme to your system, install unity-tweak-tool in Ubuntu Software Center. Or run below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool

Once installed, open it from Unity Dash. You’ll be able to choose Faenza icons under Appearances -> Icons.

apply faenza icons

yEd graph editor

This tutorial shows how to install the most recent yEd Graph Editor in Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Linux Mint 21/22.

yEd is a powerful desktop application that can be used to quickly and effectively generate high-quality diagrams. Create diagrams manually, or import your external data for analysis. The automatic layout algorithms arrange even large data sets with just the press of a button.

Install yEd via its official script

The official website provides the yEd installer script for 64-bit (AMD/Intel CPU) Linux systems, which includes a suitable JRE.

To download this script, simply click the link below to go to its download page:

After downloaded the script, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open up a terminal window, then run 2 commands below one by one:

  • First, add executable permission to the script for current user:
    chmod u+x ~/Downloads/yEd*.sh

    Here, assume you saved the downloaded script in user’s Downloads folder.

  • Then, run the script via command:
    sh ~/Downloads/yEd*.sh

    It will pop-up an installer wizard. Just follow it until done. Finally, you may launch it from system start menu or Gnome overview.

Uninstall yEd

The yEd installer script by default installs it into user’s Home directory. So, just delete that folder will remove it from your system.

To get rid of the leftovers, such as desktop entry, and app data, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove them:

rm -R ~/.yEd && rm rm ~/.local/share/applications/*yEd*.desktop

This simple tutorial will show you how to convert your photos to cartoon or sketch images in Ubuntu Linux using a simple tool XnSketch.

turn to cartoon

XnSketch is a very small tool that allows you to turn your photos into cartoon or sketch images. It works on Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Apple and Android devices.

Features:

  • 18 different effects (black strokes, white strokes, pastel, pencil sketch, colored sketch, …)
  • Edge strength, and opacity adjustement
  • Contrast, brightness, saturation adjustement
  • Save or share the result to Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Imgur, Thmblr, ImageShack, Yfrog, GlowFoto, TwitPic, and Email.

Install XnSketch

XnSketch is available to download for Linux (64-bit AMD/Intel CPUs) through the link below:

After downloaded the package, just decompress, then click run the “XnSketch” file from the extracted folder will launch the application.

If you like this app, and want to add it to system start menu or Gnome app grid, then do the following steps one by one:

  • First, move the app folder to a desired location for long time use. In my case, I created a “MyApps” folder in user home, and put these apps folders there.
  • Then, navigate into the XnSketch app folder, and click edit the “XnSketch.desktop” file.
  • When file opens, replace the values of “Exec” and “Icon” according to where you moved the app folder (press Ctrl+L in that folder then copy).
  • Finally, press Ctrl+Shift+S to open ‘Save as’ dialog, and choose save the file into .local/share/applications (press Ctrl+H to view hidden folders) directory.

If everything goes well, you’re able to launch the app from start menu or Gnome overview a few moments later.

How to Install Areca Backup in Ubuntu Linux

Last updated: July 28, 2013

This simple and brief tutorial shows you how to download and install Areca Backup utility in Ubuntu Linux Unity Desktop.

Areca Backup in ubuntu unity

As you may know, Areca Backup is an Open Source personal backup solution which is released under the General Public License (GPL) v2. It basically allows you to select a set of files / directories to back-up, choose where and how (as a simple file copy, as a zip archive, …) they will be stored, and configure post-backup actions (like sending backup reports by email or launching custom shell scripts).

Download & Install Areca Backup

The acrca backup depends on Java, so first install OpenJDK from Ubuntu Software Center or Oracle Java from ppa.

The last stable version can be downloaded from below link:

download areca backup

Choose to download the areca-*-linux-gtk.tar.gz. You may check 32-bit or 64-bit by opening Details from Unity Dash.

download areca backup

Once downloading process finished, decompress the package and put the result folder to /opt/ directory. To do so, press Alt+F2 and type in gksudo nautilus to open file browser with root privilege.

open nautilus as root

Then move the extracted folder to computer -> /opt/ folder.

move-to-opt

Now you’re able to open this backup utility via command: /opt/areca/areca.sh

To create a launcher for Areca Backup

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to install required package:

sudo apt-get install gnome-panel --no-install-recommends

After that, run below commands to create the .desktop launcher file:

sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit /usr/share/applications/ --create-new

It brings up a dialog, where you can set the icon, name, and command of new launcher.

launcher for areca backup

Once done, you’ll see areca backup in Unity Dash.

areca backup in unity

Install Gyachi in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring via PPA

Last updated: July 28, 2013

This simple and brief tutorial is going to show you how to install Gyachi Yahoo! client in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail via the ppa repository.

gyachi unity

GyachE Improved (GyachI) is a fork from Gyach Enhanced Yahoo! client for Linux operating systems. This Yahoo! client supports almost all of the features you would expect to find on the official Windows Yahoo! client: Voice chat, webcams, faders, ‘nicknames’, audibles, avatars, display images, and more. Yet, it remains very light-weight and memory-friendly.

NOTE: The latest version of Gyachi was released on 2011-09-03, so it may or may not work. Use it at your own risk!

Install Gyachi:

There’s a PPA repository contains the latest Gyachi packages for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid and higher.

To add the ppa, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:adilson/experimental

Then you can update your system package lists and install it via:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install gyachi

Run gyachi command to launch it first time, then click its icon and choose “lock to launcher”.

gyachi

pin gyachi to unity launcher