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Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce Officially Released

Last updated: June 29, 2018

Cinnamon

Linux Mint 19, a popular Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, was officially released today for Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions.

Linux Mint 19, codename “Tara”, is a long term support (LTS) which will be supported until 2023. It ships with Linux kernel 4.15 and based on Ubuntu 18.04.

Linux Mint 19 features:

  • Ships with Cinnamon 3.8, MATE 1.20, Xfce 4.12 for respective editions.
  • TimeShift now is used for performing OS system snapshots (system restore points).
  • Brand new welcome screen.
  • Various improvements to Update Manager and Software Manager.
  • Great improvements for HiDPI support
  • The multimedia codecs now include the Microsoft fonts.
  • All the Mint tools support HiDPI, GTK3 and Python3.
  • XApps, Artwork, and many other improvements.

 

Download Linux Mint 19

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Opera 54 Released with News Feed in Speed Dial

Last updated: June 28, 2018

opera web browser

Opera 54 stable was released today with some new features. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.

Opera 54 release highlights:

  • Display news feed below your regular Speed Dial folders (enable it in Easy setup).
  • Add “Update and Recovery” in Opera Menu to check browser updates, and reset browser settings.
  • Updated to Chromium version 67.0.3396.87.

How to Install Opera 54 in Ubuntu:

The opera website offers official .deb binaries for Ubuntu Linux, available for download at the link below:

Download Opera for Linux

If you have a previous release installed, and enabled the official Opera Linux repository, upgrade it via Software Updater:

To manually add the Opera for Linux repository, open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or from app launcher, when it opens, run commands:

1. Add the opera repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

2. Get the key:

wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

Finally either install Opera via following command or upgrade the browser via Software Updater:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install opera-stable
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Firefox 61.0 Released with Further Performance Improvements

Last updated: June 26, 2018

Firefox 55

Mozilla Firefox 61.0 was released a few hours ago with further more performance improvements, new features, and safer online experience.

Firefox 61.0 release highlights:

  • Faster page rendering with Quantum CSS improvements and the new retained display list feature
  • Faster switching between tabs on Windows and Linux
  • WebExtensions now run in their own process on MacOS
  • Ability to add search engines to the address bar “Search with” tool from the page action menu.
  • On-by-default support for the latest draft of the TLS 1.3 specification
  • Access to FTP subresources inside http(s) pages has been blocked
  • Improvements for dark theme support across the entire Firefox user interface
  • Added support to allow WebExtensions to hide tabs
  • Improved bookmark syncing

Download / Install Firefox 61

Ubuntu Mozilla team will package the new Firefox release, and publish it in updates / security repositories.

The new release packages will be usually available in a few days, at that time you can install it via Software Updater.

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Install OBS Studio Easily via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: June 25, 2018

For those who don’t want to add third-party repositories, the free and open-source streaming and recording program OBS Studio now can be easily installed in Ubuntu via Snap package.

Snap is an universal Linux package format. Snap application runs in sandbox and it auto-updates itself once a new release is out and snapped by the maintainer.

The latest OBS Studio 21.1.2 is now available as snap package. You can easily install it from Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04 users who never installed a snap package, run command sudo apt install snapd first to install the daemon.

Or run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install the OSB Studio snap package:

snap install obs-studio

You may found that the snap package is kinda large in file size that because it bundles almost all its dependencies.

NOTE: To access webcam and content on external storage, you need to run 2 two commands:

sudo snap connect obs-studio:camera

sudo snap connect obs-studio:removable-media

Finally launch the software from Gnome launcher or Unity launcher (may need to log out and log in back) and enjoy!

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SMPlayer 18.6.0 Released with Updated Library for Chromecast

Last updated: June 23, 2018

SMplayer

SMPlayer media player 18.6 was released earlier today. Here’s how to install it via PPA in all current Ubuntu releases.

SMPlayer 18.6 release highlights:

  • Updated the library used by the web server for the chromecast feature
  • Added option to choose type of the playlist window: dockable (as before) or just a normal window.
  • Fix the bug that the key shortcuts for play next/previous cause a “busy” mouse cursor in Windows 10.

SMPlayer with Mac skin

How to Install SMPlayer 18.6 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.10, Ubuntu 18.04, and derivatives, do following steps to install or upgrade SMPlayer via the PPA repository.

1. Search for and launch “terminal” from application launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/smplayer

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it asks and hit Enter.

Smplayer PPA

2. Then upgrade SMPlayer using Software Updater (or Update Manager):

upgrade smplayer

or run commands in terminal to install (or upgrade) the media player:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install smplayer smtube smplayer-themes

Uninstall:

To remove SMPlayer, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove smplayer smtube smplayer-*

And remove the PPA via “Software & Updates” utility under Other Software tab.

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Handbrake Video Transcoder 1.1.1 Released (How to Install)

Last updated: June 19, 2018

Handbrake 1.1.1, the first bug-fix release for Handbrake 1.1 series, was released yesterday.

Handbrake 1.1.1 release highlights:

  • Fixed a potential crash in the comb detection filter
  • Fixed a potential crash in the padding filter
  • Fixed decoding certain very high bit rate ultra-high definition sources with extra large packets
  • Fixed last frame in source video missing in output
  • Fixed crash when decoding an empty audio track
  • Updated libraries: libvpx 1.7.0 (VP8/VP9 video encoding), x264 155 r2901 (H.264/AVC video encoding)
  • Fixed issues occurring when running multiple HandBrake instances simultaneously
  • Miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

How to Install HandBrake 1.1.1 in Ubuntu:

The official HandBrake PPA has built the 1.1.1 release for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 17.10.

The Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 14.04 builds are broken at the moment, check the PPA link before getting started.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then use Synaptic package manager or run following commands to install the video transcoder:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk handbrake-cli

Note: If you installed the distribution build of HandBrake from Ubuntu Software, you need to remove it before installing the new release from PPA.

Uninstall:

To remove the software, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove handbrake-gtk handbrake-cli

And launch “Software & Updates -> Other Software” to remove PPAs.

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Adobe Brackets 1.13 Released with Auto Update (How to Install)

Last updated: June 18, 2018

brackets code editor

Adobe Brackets code editor 1.13 was released a few hours ago with some great new features.

Brackets 1.13 release highlights:

  • Manipulate folder structures from within Brackets
  • Open a remotely hosted web-page from within Brackets.
  • Brackets can now be updated with just a few clicks from within the app.

How to Install Brackets 1.13 in Ubuntu:

The official .deb packages are available for download at the link below:

Download Brackets (.deb)

Just grab the .deb that matches your OS tyle, then click install via Gdebi package manager.

Or run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install the downloaded package:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/Brackets.Release.1.13*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

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Clipboard Manager ‘CopyQ’ 3.5.0 Released (How to Install)

Last updated: June 17, 2018

CopyQ, an advanced clipboard manager with editing and scripting features, reached the 3.5.0 release a few hours ago.

CopyQ 3.5.0 release highlights:

  • Icon for global shortcuts in Shortcut configuration tab
  • Simpler icons (smaller installation footprint)
  • Faster copying and pasting from the application
  • Faster and simpler invocation for commands run automatically
  • More compact Process Manager dialog
  • Scriptable function select() waits for clipboard to be set
  • Image masks for colorizing icons (“icon-mask” and “icon-busy-mask”)
  • Improved logging and updated icons (Font Awesome 5.0.13)
  • X11: Faster clipboard/selection synchronization
  • And various bug-fixes.

Install Copyq 3.5.0 in Ubuntu:

The software has an official PPA repository that contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.10, Ubuntu 18.04 so far.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal from application launcher and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hluk/copyq

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After added the PPA repository, install CopyQ either via Synaptic package manager or by running commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install copyq

Once installed, start the clipboard manager from application launcher and you’ll see the icon in system tray area.

Uninstall:

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

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove copyq

To remove PPA repositories, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

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How to Install Cinnamon Desktop 3.8 in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: June 17, 2018

Cinnamon

For those who want to try out the latest Cinnamon Desktop 3.8, without downloading Linux Mint 19, here’s how to install Cinnamon 3.8.x via PPA in Ubuntu 18.04.

Cinnamon 3.8 will be included in the upcoming Linux Mint 19. This Gnome based desktop environment has received better support for GTK+ 3.22 and client-side decorated windows, fully ported to Python 3, backported various changes from upstream GNOME, and more.

For Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, a stable PPA has built the Cinnamon 3.8 packages, so the desktop can be easily installed via following steps.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcuts, or by searching for ‘Terminal’ from app launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon

Input your password (no visual feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter. Read the PPA description and finally hit Enter to add the PPA.

2. Then run command to install Cinnamon Desktop 3.8:

sudo apt-get install cinnamon

3. Finally restart your computer. When you’re at Gnome login screen, click on your username and then click the gear button to select ‘Cinnamon‘ desktop session.

Uninstall:

To remove Cinnamon desktop, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove cinnamon cinnamon-*

And launch Software & Updates then navigate to Other Software tab to remove PPAs.

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MKVToolNix 24.0.0 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: January 4, 2019

MKVToolNix 24.0.0, free and open-source Matroska software, was released 2 days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.10.

MKVToolNix 24.0.0 “Beyond The Pale” release highlights:

  • mkvmerge: MP4 reader: improved the detection of edit lists consisting of two identical entries, each spanning the file’s duration as given in the movie header atom.
  • mkvmerge: JSON identification: the “display unit” video track property is now reported as ‘display_unit’.
  • mkvmerge, mkvextract: AVC/h.264: empty NALUs will now be removed.
  • mkvextract: VobSub extraction: empty SPU packets will now be dropped during extraction
  • mkvmerge: E-AC-3 parser: fixed determining the number of channels for streams that contain an AC-3 core with dependent E-AC-3 frames.
  • Updated Niels Lohmann’s JSON library to v3.1.1.
  • Updated pugixml library to v1.9.
  • Various bug-fixes.

How to Install MKVToolNix 24.0.0 in Ubuntu:

The official apt repository offers the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.10, and Ubuntu 18.04 so far.

Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching it from app launcher. When it opens, do following steps:

1. Run command to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb https://mkvtoolnix.download/ubuntu/ $(lsb_release -sc) main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/bunkus.org.list'

Replace $(lsb_release -sc) with xenial for Linux Mint 18.x. And input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then install the key:

wget -q -O - https://mkvtoolnix.download/gpg-pub-moritzbunkus.txt | sudo apt-key add -

3. Finally either upgrade the software via Software Updater (Update Manager):

or run command to install the software packages:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

Uninstall:

To remove the repository, launch Software & Updates utility and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove MKVToolNix, use Synaptic Package Manager or run following command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui
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