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Cross Stitch Software ‘Kxstitch’ 2.0 Available in Ubuntu PPA

Last updated: December 5, 2016

Kxstitch, an open-source cross stitch pattern and chart creation software for KDE, has now reached the 2.0 release with KF5 port, a number of improvements and lots of new language translations.

Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics formats which will allow you to reduce the number of colours and to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches.

You may also use an image as a background. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.

Kxstitch Features:

Creation of new patterns
Editing of existing patterns – KXStitch is also capable of reading PC Stitch 5 files.
Use of various floss pallets, DMC, Anchor, Madeira, JP Coates
Creation of custom palettes and colours.
Use of standard stitches
Free use of backstitching
Importing of various picture formats
Printing of patterns and floss keys

How to Install Kxstitch 2.0 in Ubuntu 16.04, 16.10:

Due to lack of official deb binaries, I’ve made the 2.0 release into an Ubuntu PPA, available for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Linux Mint 18, and derivatives.

You can either run commands in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to add the PPA and install kxstitch:

Run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/kxstitch

Update the system package index:
```
sudo apt update
```
And finally install the software:
```
sudo apt install kxstitch
```

or grab the .deb directly from THIS PAGE (amd64.deb for 64-bit, or i386.deb for 32-bit), and click install via Ubuntu Software.

Install MKVToolNix 9.6.0 via the Official Repository in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: June 17, 2018

The free and open-source MKVToolNix MKV (Matroska) manipulation tool has reached the 9.6.0 release. Here’s how to install or upgrade it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, and/or Ubuntu 16.10.

MKVToolNix 9.6.0 fixes one major bug in mkvmerge (an endless loop) when appending files. It mostly occurred when muxing MPLS playlists. Several other minor bug fixes and usability enhancements were implemented.

mkvmerge and mkvextract now support HDMV TextST subtitles.
MKVToolNix GUI has option to only show the list of often used languages/country codes/character sets.
mkvextract has been updated to add a “langidx” line to the .idx file upon extraction
multiplexer enhancement: added a column “source file’s directory” to the track list
multiplexer enhancement: added an option for selecting all tracks of the currently selected source files in the source file context menu

How to Install MKVToolNix 9.6.0 in Ubuntu:

The official MKVToolNix repository for Linux has been updated for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.10 and derivatives.

1. To add the repository, first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to setup the key:

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

2. Go to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab, then click Add and paste following line:

deb http://mkvtoolnix.download/ubuntu/ xenial main

You may replace xenial (16.04) in the line with yakkety for Ubuntu 16.10, or trusty for Ubuntu 14.04 and their derivatives.

3. Finally upgrade the software from a previous release via Software Updater:

Or install it for the first time via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

In Howtos, News mkvmerge GUI, MKVToolNix

HPLIP 3.16.11 Adds New Printers, Fedora 25, OpenSuse 42.2 Support

Last updated: November 29, 2016

HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP), HP Linux solution for printing, scanning, and faxing with HP inkjet and laser based printers, has reached the 3.16.11 release one day ago.

HPLIP 3.16.11 adds following new printers support:

HP LaserJet M101-M106 Printer
HP LaserJet Pro M203-M206 Printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227-M231 Printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M129-M134

Also new Linux Distro’s Fedora 25 and OpenSuse 42.2 are supported in this release.

How to Install HPLIP 3.16.11 in Ubuntu:

Download the official Linux binary from the link below:

Download HPLIP (.run)

Then open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), run commands to give executable permission, and finally run the installer:

cd ~/Downloads/ && chmod +x hplip-3.16.11.run && ./hplip-3.16.11.run

Follow the terminal prompts and finally restart your computer when everything’s done.

In Howtos, News HP Print Driver for Linux, HPLIP

How to Install PyCharm 2016.3 in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10

Last updated: November 28, 2016

PyCharm 2016.3, the third update in the 2016 series of the cross-platform PyCharm and Django IDE, has been released a few days ago.

PyCharm 2.16.3 features:

Better Django support
Improved Python console
Full support for Python 3.6
Enhanced version control integration
A better variable explorer
Upgrades to coverage and profiling tools
And much more, see the what’s new page.

How to Install PyCharm 2016.3 in Ubuntu:

Thanks to Mystic-Mirage, both professional and community editions are made into PPA, available for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Linux Mint 18 and derivatives.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mystic-mirage/pycharm

Type in your password (no visual feedback) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then update system package index and install the IDE via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install pycharm-community

Or use sudo apt install pycharm to install the professional version.

Uninstall:

The packages can be easily removed by using apt command with remove flag:

sudo apt remove pycharm pycharm-community && sudo apt autoremove

And the PPA can be removed by going to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News PyCharm

Intel Graphics Update Tool 2.0.3 for Ubuntu 16.10 Released

Last updated: November 24, 2016

Intel Graphics Update Tool, formerly known as the Intel Graphics Installer, has now reached the 2.0.3 release with support for Ubuntu 16.10 and Fedora 24.

The Intel® Graphics Update Tool for Linux* OS (formerly known as the Intel® Graphics Installer for Linux*) was renamed starting from version 2.0.2, in order to more accurately reflect the purpose of the tool. Linux distributions already include by default an Intel® graphics driver, without needing any extra installation. This tool aims to make the latest Intel® Graphics Stack available before it gets officially released by Linux* OS vendors. Specifically, it benefits those Linux* users of both Ubuntu* and Fedora* distributions who want to update their graphics subsystems for Intel® platforms.

Version 2.0.3 of the update tool is targeted specifically at both Ubuntu* 16.10 and Fedora* 24. Earlier revisions for those Linux distributions are now deprecated and are no longer being supported by the update tool. Please upgrade to a more recent version of your OS distribution if you want to take advantage of this release.

The 2.0.3 release includes the Mesa 12.0.3 3D Graphics Library, Cairo 1.15.2 graphics library, libva-intel-driver 1.7.2, as well as all the libva related libraries, such as libva-wayland, libva-tpi, libva-glx, libva-egl, libva-drm, libva-x11, and libva-utils. Also Intel Graphics Stack Recipe 2016Q3 for Linux is supported in this release.

Download & Install Intel Graphics Update Tool 2.0.3:

Download the installer from the link below:

Intel Graphics Update Tool 2.0.3

For Ubuntu, they are .deb binaries, just grab the one matches your OS type, and click to open & install via Ubuntu Software.

Once installed, launch it from Unity Dash and enjoy!

In Howtos, News intel graphics driver, intel graphics installer

Mozilla Firefox 50 Released! [How-to-upgrade]

Last updated: November 15, 2016

Mozilla Firefox browser has now reached the 50 release, with updated keyboard shortcuts, other new features, various security fixes and more.

According to the release note, Firefox 50 features:

Updates to keyboard shortcuts
- Set a preference to have Ctrl+Tab cycle through tabs in recently used order
- View a page in Reader Mode by using Ctrl+Alt+R (command+alt+r on Mac)
Added option to Find in page that allows users to limit search to whole words only
Increased availability of WebGL to more than 98 percent of users on Windows 7 and newer
Added download protection for a large number of executable file types on Windows, Mac and Linux
Improved performance for SDK extensions or extensions using the SDK module loader
Playback video on more sites without plugins with WebM EME Support for Widevine on Windows and Mac
Fixed rendering of dashed and dotted borders with rounded corners
Added a built-in Emoji set for operating systems without native Emoji fonts (Windows 8.0 and lower and Linux)

Download / Install Firefox 50 in Ubuntu:

For the portable non-install version, please go to mozilla.org.

For Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04, and derivatives, Canonical will soon offer the new Firefox 50 updates via the updates/security repository. Check out the build page.

At that time, just launch Software Updater and upgrade Firefox after checking for updates.

In News Firefox

0 A.D. Alpha 21 Released, How to Install in Ubuntu 16.04, 16.10

Last updated: November 9, 2016

The twenty-first alpha version of 0 A.D., a free open-source RTS game of ancient warfare, was released one day ago. And the PPA repository is ready for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04 and their derivatives.

0 A.D. Alpha 21 “Ulysses” features new game modes, plenty of new maps, the official introduction of the final civilization: The Seleucid Empire and more! See the announcement for more details.

How to Install 0 A.D. Alpha 21 in Ubuntu:

The official 0 A.D. PPA just built the new release a few hours ago, available for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04, and Linux Mint 18, Elementary OS Loki, etc.

To install it, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and do:

1. Run command to add PPA (Type in password when it asks and hit Enter.):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wfg/0ad

2. To upgrade from a previous release, now launch Software Updater and install the updates for the game:

To install it for the first time or upgrade it from the command line, run command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install 0ad

Uninstall:

To remove the game, use Ubuntu Software or Synaptic Package Manager. The PPA can be removed via System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

To downgrade to the stock version of 0 A.D. in official Ubuntu repository, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:wfg/0ad

In Howtos, News 0 A.D., Arianne game

Install Planetarium App KStars 2.7 via PPA in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: October 29, 2016

KStars, an open-source and cross-platform Astronomy Software, has reached 2.7.0 release with speed improvements, better cross-platform support, and Android mobile/tablet support.

KStars provides an accurate graphical simulation of the night sky, from any location on Earth, at any date and time. The display includes up to 100 million stars, 13,000 deep-sky objects,all 8 planets, the Sun and Moon, and thousands of comets, asteroids, supernovae, and satellites. For students and teachers, it supports adjustable simulation speeds in order to view phenomena that happen over long timescales, the KStars Astrocalculator to predict conjunctions, and many common astronomical calculations.

KStars 2.7.0 features:

much better experience on embedded devices such as Raspberry PI
object internet lookup from online catalogs
Ekos GUI improvements, especially on low-resolution displays.
guide module rewritten to support multiple external guiders
guide drift graphics written, minor improvements to alignment module, significant updates to Focus module.
And much more, see the official announcement.

How to install KStars 2.7.0 in Ubuntu 16.04, 16.10:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mutlaqja/ppa

Type in your password when it asks (no visual feedback) and hit Enter.

2. After added the PPA, run commands in terminal to update the index and install the software:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install indi-full kstars-bleeding

3. (Optional) To uninstall KStars, simply run apt command with remove option:

sudo apt remove indi-full kstars-bleeding && sudo apt autoremove

And the PPA can be removed via System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News free planetarium software, KStars

HPLIP 3.16.10 Released with Ubuntu 16.10 Support

Last updated: October 28, 2016

HPLIP, HP Linux solution for printing, scanning, and faxing with HP inkjet and laser based printers, has reached the 3.16.10 release with Ubuntu 16.10 and Debian 8.6 support.

Also following new printers are supported in HPLIP 3.16.10:

HP officejetPro7740 wide Format All in one
HP Office jet 6950 All-in-One printer
HP ScanJet Pro 3000 s3 Sheet-feed Scanner
HP ScanJet Enterprise Flow 5000 s4 Sheet-feed Scanner
HP Scanjet Entrprise Flow 7000 s3 sheetfeed Scanner
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277c6

How to Install HPLIP 3.16.10 in Ubuntu:

The project offers the .run binary packages available for download at the link below:

Download HPLIP (.run)

After downloaded the binary, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

cd ~/Downloads/ && chmod +x hplip-3.16.10.run && ./hplip-3.16.10.run

The commands navigate to Downloads folder, give executable permission, and finally run the binary.

Follow the terminal prompts and restart your computer when everything’s done.

In Howtos, News HP Print Driver for Linux, HPLIP

NetBeans 8.2 Released, How to Install it in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: October 3, 2016

The Oracle Corporation has announced the release of NetBeans IDE 8.2 today. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04.

NetBeans 8.2 features:

ECMAScript 6 support
experimental ECMAScript 7 support
better Node.js support
improved Oracle JET support
PHP 7 support
Docker support
a new SQL queries profiling mode
some C/C++ enhancements

Install NetBeans 8.2 in Ubuntu:

1. First install Oracle Java via PPA, or install OpenJDK using Ubuntu Software.

2. Download the NetBeans bundles from the link below:

NetBeans Download Page

3. Open terminal from Unity Dash, App Launcher, or via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key. When it opens run commands:

navigate to Downloads folder:
```
cd ~/Downloads
```
make the downloaded script executable:
```
chmod +x netbeans-8.2-javase-linux.sh
```
finally run the script:
```
./netbeans-8.2-javase-linux.sh
```

In the commands, change “netbeans-8.2-javase-linux.sh” with the package name you downloaded.

The last command launches the installer wizard, just follow it and enjoy!

To make the things easier, there’s a installer script (no ready for NetBeans 8.2 yet, check the PPA page) that automatically downloads and installs the latest version of Netbeans IDE including the Java SE, Java EE, C/C++, HTML5 & PHP plugins (‘All’ version on oracle’s download page).

To install the script, run commands below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vajdics/netbeans-installer

sudo apt update

sudo apt install netbeans-installer

In Howtos, News NetBeans IDE

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