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Gscan2pdf reached 1.8.5 release with enhancements

Last updated: August 20, 2017

Gscan2pdf, a simple graphical tool to produce PDFs or DjVus from scanned documents, reached the new 1.8.5 release a day ago with some new features.

Five clicks are required to scan several pages and then save all or a selection as a PDF or DjVu file, including metadata if required.

gscan2pdf can control regular or sheet-fed (ADF) scanners with SANE via libimage-sane-perl, scanimage or scanadf, and can scan multiple pages at once. It presents a thumbnail view of scanned pages, and permits simple operations such as cropping, rotating and deleting pages.

OCR can be used to recognise text in the scans, and the output embedded in the PDF or DjVu.

PDF conversion is done by PDF::API2. The resulting document may be saved as a PDF, DjVu, multipage TIFF file, or single page image file.

Changes in gscan2pdf 1.8.5 include:

  • Add support for Poppler (pdftops) as postscript backend.
  • Remove support for libsane-perl
  • Reapply current scan settings for those scanners that reset them when forcing a reload
  • Eliminate unnecessary strings from gscan2pdf.pot to prevent unnecessary work and confusion on the part of the translators.
  • Add A3 to default paper sizes
  • Translation updates.

How to Install Gscan2pdf 1.8.5 in Ubuntu:

The developer’s PPA offers the latest packages for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and derivatives.

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

1. Add the PPA via command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jeffreyratcliffe/ppa

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

gscan2pdf ppa

2. For those who have a previous release installed, upgrade it through Software Updater:

upgrade gscan2pdf

For the first time, you can either install it via Synaptic Package Manager or by running following commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gscan2pdf

How to Remove:

To remove gscan2pdf, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove gscan2pdf

And the PPA can be removed via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.

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Install Latest Gnome Twitch 0.4.1 via Snap in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: August 19, 2017

Gnome Twitch App

Gnome Twitch, GTK+3 Twitch app for Linux desktop, now is available as Snap package in beta channel for testing.

WebUpd8 PPA is maintaining the latest Gnome Twitch app for Ubuntu, however, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS is excluded due to old system GTK+3 libraries.

Now Ubuntu 16.04 and even Ubuntu 14.04 users can easily install the latest Gnome Twitch app via snappy store, though it’s in beta stage at the moment.

1. For those who’ve never installed a snap app, install the snapd deamon first in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt install snapd snapd-xdg-open

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

2. Install Gnome Twitch snap app via command:

sudo snap install --beta gnome-twitch

3. And gnome environment is required. Install and connect to it via 2 commands:

sudo snap install gnome-3-24

sudo snap connect gnome-twitch:gnome-3-24-platform gnome-3-24:gnome-3-24-platform

Finally launch the app from your application launcher and enjoy! And it should automatically update itself once a new release is out and published in snappy store.

Uninstall:

To remove Gnome Twitch snap app, simply run command:

sudo snap remove gnome-twitch

You may also remove the gnome-3-24 snap if you don’t require it via sudo snap remove gnome-3-24 command.

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IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.2 Released with New Features & Numerous Fixes

Last updated: August 16, 2017

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA java IDE has reached the new point release 2017.2.2 a few hours ago. The new release brings some new features, numerous bug-fixes and improvements.

Changes in IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.2 includes:

  • Fix crashes that occurred with the use of using custom fonts
  • Fix wrong HiDPI scaling on multiple monitors for Windows 10
  • Kotlin pugin updated to 1.1.4
  • Support for CSS Modules with LESS and SASS
  • XQuery/XPath with Language Injection
  • Favorites in the Database tool window
  • Fix major performance regression

IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2 splash

How to Install IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.2 in Ubuntu:

JetBrains offers official Linux packages for download at the link below:

Download IntelliJ IDEA for Linux

Just extract and run the executable file to launch the Java IDE.

For Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 17.10, you can also use the installer script available in the link below.

Run the script will download the official package from JetBrains web server, then install it in your Ubuntu automatically with application shortcut integration.

Then install the script via command:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/intellij-idea-*_2017.2.2-1_all.deb

To automatically update the installer script, add the PPA repository via command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Uninstall:

To remove IntelliJ IDEA installed via the script, run command:

sudo apt-get remove intellij-idea-community intellij-idea-ultimate
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Avidemux Video Editor Reached 2.7.0 Release

Last updated: April 4, 2019

Avidemux video editor

The Avidemux video editor has reached the new version series 2.7.0 release earlier today.

The official website wrote in the announcement:

“On windows, some antivirus do not like recent versions, it is a false positive. There is no virus/trojan…… The code is generated on linux.”

Changes in Avidemux 2.7.0 include:

  • FFmpeg switched to the 3.3.x branch
  • Fixed frame computation bug that led to bad cutting
  • Put log files into the local folder for Win32.
  • Steplessly zoom paused video when the window is resized
  • Added Ctrl+Shift+C shortcut to copy the current PTS to clipboard
  • HEVC decoding via DXVA2 blacklisted on win32, active on win64
  • Fix VP9 decoding
  • New filter:ADM ivtc
  • Distinguish between AC3 and EAC3 when importing
  • UI improvements and more.

Avidemux 2.7.0

Download / Install Avidemux 2.7.0 in Ubuntu:

The getdeb repository and Thanh Tung Nguyen’s PPA maintain the Avidemux packages for Ubuntu, though the two repositories do not update with the new 2.7.0 release at the moment of writing.

The official AppImage, a single executable file for all Linux, is available for download at the link below:

Download Avidemux (AppImage)

Make the AppImage executable from its ‘Properties’ dialog, and run the file will launch the video editor:

If you don’t see ‘Run’ option, go to menu Edit -> Preferences -> Behavior -> tick the box says ‘Run executable text files when they are opened’, and finally re-open Nautilus file browser.

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Visual Studio Code 1.15 Released with Large File Improvements

Last updated: August 11, 2017

Visual Studio Code IDE

Microsoft VS Code IDE has reached the 1.15 release recently. 64-bit installation now has no size limit for large files.

Visual Studio Code 1.15 release highlights:

  • Large file improvements. No size limit on 64-bit, and 300MB limit on 32-bit.
  • Full search for Release Notes, Markdown preview, and Extensions.
  • Source code auto-indenting and new Emmet support.
  • User definable syntax highlighting colors
  • A color picker to easily create colors in your CSS, SASS, and Less files.
  • Added Loaded Scripts explorer
  • Support for Markdown preview plugins
  • See the release note for details.

Visual Studio Code 1.15

How to Install VS Code 1.15 in Ubuntu:

The official .deb package for Debian/Ubuntu is available for download at the link below:

Download VS Code (.deb)

Then install it via either Gdebi package manager or command (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/code_*.deb; sudo apt -f install

For those who want to receive updates for VS Code via Software Updater utility, add the Microsoft repository via following steps (64bit only):

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'

2. Download and install the repository key via commands:

curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > microsoft.gpg

sudo mv microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/microsoft.gpg

Install VS Code Snap app in Ubuntu:

Microsoft Visual Studio Code is available via Snap app in Ubuntu, though it’s not updated to version 1.15 at the moment of writing, see how to install VS Code vis Snap in Ubuntu.

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Vivaldi Browser 1.11 Released with New App Icon

Last updated: August 10, 2017

The Vivaldi web browser reached the 1.11 stable release today with new application icon and accessibility improvements.

Vivaldi 1.11 release highlights:

  • Advanced reader mode with font, text size, column width and line height, and background setting at the top.
  • Apply custom theme to the reader mode.
  • Turn off animated GIFs easily from the Status Bar.
  • Adjustable mouse gesture sensitivity
  • Optional Speed Dial buttons
  • And the new application icon.
  • See the release note for details.

Download / Install Vivaldi Browser:

For Ubuntu, it offers the DEB package available for download at the link below:

Download Vivaldi Browser

For those who have installed a previous release, and enabled the Vivaldi Linux repository, upgrade the browser via Software Updater:

To manually add the repository, run command to edit the source file:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list

When the file opens, un-comment or add (if empty) the following line and save it:

deb http://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main

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Mozilla Firefox 55 Released with WebVR Support

Last updated: August 8, 2017

Firefox 55

Mozilla Firefox 55.0 was released earlier today. The new release features WebVR support, faster start time, updated address bar and more.

Firefox 55.0 release highlights:

  • Windows support for WebVR.
  • Option to enable Hardware VP9 acceleration on Windows 10 Anniversary Edition.
  • Significantly faster startup times when restoring lots of tabs.
  • Search with any installed one-click search engine directly from address bar.
  • Added support for stereo microphones with WebRTC
  • Made the Adobe Flash plugin click-to-activate by default
  • And see the release note for more.

Firefox 55 one-click search

How to Install Firefox 55 in Ubuntu:

Although Mozilla website offers non-install version Linux binaries, the best way to get the latest Firefox in Ubuntu is using Software Updater to upgrade it through Ubuntu main (security & updates) repository.

NOTE that there will some delay for the new release being published in main repositories, check the build page.

upgrade firefox 46

The security and updates repositories are enabled by default. If you don’t see the Firefox updates even after Ubuntu published it in these repositories, check out the Updates tab in Software & Updates utility.

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Qmmp Audio Player 1.1.10 Released with New Feature & Fixes

Last updated: August 5, 2017

Qmmp Qt-based multimedia player

Qmmp, an Qt based and winamp or xmms like audio player, has reached the 1.1.10 (and 0.10.10 for Qt4) release last night.

Changes in Qmmp 1.1.10 & 0.10.10 include:

  • added feature to download playlist from https
  • increased DirectSound buffer size
  • decreased waiting time in the WASAPI plugin
  • improved plugin list in the settings dialog
  • fixed regression in the ‘jump to track’ dialog
  • fixed possible segmentation fault
  • fixed seeking in the ffmpeg plugin
  • fixed null pointer dereference in the mpeg plugin
  • fixed gcc warnings
  • fixed dithering settings
  • fixed 24 bits support in the WASAPI plugin
  • fixed segmentation fault on Ogg FLAC streams
  • fixed XPM skins support
  • fixed Qt 5.9 support in the global hotkey plugin (1.1.10 only)
  • updated translations.

Qmmp 1.10.0

How to Install Qmmp 1.1.10 (or 0.10.10) in Ubuntu:

Qmmp has an PPA repository that offers the latest packages for Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or from app launcher, and then run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:forkotov02/ppa

2. Then update and install Qmmp and its plugins:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack

The commands install Qmmp 1.1.10 (Qt5 version) in Ubuntu 16.04 & higher, and Qmmp 0.10.10 (Qt4 version) in Ubuntu 14.04 & Ubuntu 12.04.

For Ubuntu 16.04 and higher users who want to install Qmmp 0.10.10 (Qt4 version), run following commands instead:

sudo apt-get update 

sudo apt-get install qmmp-qt4 qmmp-plugin-pack-qt4

Uninstall:

You can manage the PPA repository via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.

To remove Qmmp music player, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack
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Install Video Cutter & Joiner ‘VidCutter’ 4.0 in Ubuntu 16.04, 17.04

Last updated: August 2, 2017

VidCutter, a simple and fast video cutter and joiner software, has reached the 4.0 release earlier today.

VidCutter 4.0 features:

  • OpenGL-callback rendering
  • full macOS support back
  • big improvements on the old graphics hardware.
  • much better stability and quality playback
  • improved thumbnailed timeline w/ larger previews
  • loads of fixes and see more here.

How to Install VidCutter 4.0 in Ubuntu:

The developer’s PPA contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ozmartian/apps

Type in your password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then update and install the app via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install vidcutter
VidCutter 4.0 does not launch in my Ubuntu 16.04. A workaround is to upgrade PyOpenGL by running command:

sudo apt install python-pip && pip3 install --upgrade PyOpenGL

Remove VidCutter:

To remove the software, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove vidcutter

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates utility under ‘Other Software’ tab.

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IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.1 Released with Lots of Fixes [How-to Install]

Last updated: August 1, 2017

JetBrains’ IntelliJ IDEA Java ide has reached the 2017.2.1 release a few hours ago with lots of bug-fixes and some performance updates.

IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.1 is the first bug-fix release for the 2017.2 series that fixes:

  • Performance issue while typing
  • 100% of one core CPU usage issue
  • Version 2017.2 can’t load project with character “|” in its name
  • Java 9 compilation fails with error
  • Add feature: showing comments in Database tree
  • Various fixes to Docker, Java. Inspections, Spring, JavaScript, JavaScript. Frameworks, JavaScript. Inspections
  • Some new features and many other fixes, see release note for details.

IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2 splash

How to Install IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2.1 in Ubuntu:

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

IntelliJ IDEA Linux Download

Grab the package, extract, and run the executable to launch the IDE. You may manually create an application shortcut to be able to start it from app launcher.

For Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 17.10, you can also use the installer script to download the IDE from JetBrains’ web server, install it to /opt/, and automatically create an app shortcut for it.

installer script (.deb) for IntelliJ IDEA Community | IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate

Install the script via dpkg command:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/intellij-idea-*_2017.2.1-1_all.deb

Alternatively, simply open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run following commands one by one to add the PPA and install the script:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install intellij-idea-community

replace intellij-idea-community with intellij-idea-ultimate in the last command to install the ultimate edition.

Uninstall:

To remove the Java IDE, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove intellij-idea-community intellij-idea-ultimate

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

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