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GIMP 2.8.18 Released with Security Fix to XCF

Last updated: July 14, 2016

GIMP 2.8.18

GIMP image editor 2.8.18, a new point release in the stable branch, has been released to fix a vulnerability in the XCF loading code. With special XCF files, GIMP can be caused to crash, and possibly be made to execute arbitrary code provided by the attacker.

Besides this security fix, GIMP 2.8.18 also brings following changes:

  • Fix “GIMP is not responding” on initial startup on Windows and OS X.
  • Fix GUI crashed on OS X
  • Fix gamut warning color for lcms display filter
  • Fix unbolding of bold font on edit
  • Decrease installer size by changing compression settings
  • Many other fixes, translation and documentation updates.

How to Install GIMP 2.8.18 in Ubuntu:

GIMP does not provide official Linux binary package. But Otto Meier is maintaining a PPA with most recent packages. So far, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives are supported.

1. Add the PPA.

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

2. Upgrade GIMP using Software Updater.

Or run the command below one by one:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gimp

3. (Optional) For any reason, you want to downgrade to stock version of GIMP in your Ubuntu. Install ppa-purge and purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
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Virtualbox 5.1 Released, How to Install in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: July 13, 2016

Oracle Virtualbox has just reached a new major 5.1 release. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04.

Virtualbox 5.1 ports its UI to Qt5, brings better Python 3 support, HDA (High Definition Audio) support for newer Linux guests, various VMM and other improvements and fixes.

Virtualbox release highlights:

  • VMM: new APIC and I/O APIC implementations that result in significantly improved performance in certain situations
  • VMM: added support for Hyper-V paravirtualized debugging of Windows guests
  • VMM: emulate even more MMIO and shadow pagetable exits without going back to user mode
  • GUI: overall migration to Qt5
  • GUI: passive API event listener improving the VM GUI performance and response time
  • Audio: added HDA (High Definition Audio) support for newer Linux guests
  • Audio: added on-demand timers which should improve the overall performance and reduce the CPU consumption
  • Audio: more fine-grained volume control for the AC’97 emulation, which now also takes the master volume control into account
  • better support for Python 3
  • For more details, see the ChangeLog.

How to install Virtualbox 5.1 in Ubuntu:

1. The 5.1 release conflicts with the old 5.0 or 4.x releases, so first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove the previous VBox installation:

sudo apt remove virtualbox virtualbox-5.0 virtualbox-4.*

2. Download Virtualbox 5.1 for your OS (i386=32bit, amd64=64bit):

Download Virtualbox for Linux

Then click install via Ubuntu Software.

3. For those who want to install VBox 5.1 from official Linux repository and receive future updates via Software Updater. Run the commands below one by one in terminal:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian xenial contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list'

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

sudo apt update

sudo apt install virtualbox-5.1

According to your Ubuntu codename, replace xenial with wily, trusty, or precise.

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Support for Ubuntu 15.10 Ends on July 28

Last updated: July 7, 2016

Ubuntu 15.10 Wily Werewolf will reach the end of its life on July 28, 2016.

The Ubuntu 15.10 desktop users will receive no more security notices, critical fixes, or updated packages from the main Ubuntu archives as of this July 28th. Ubuntu announced in fridge.ubuntu.com:

    Ubuntu announced its 15.10 (Wily Werewolf) release almost 9 months ago, on October 22, 2015. As a non-LTS release, 15.10 has a 9-month month support cycle and, as such, the support period is now nearing its end and Ubuntu 15.10 will reach end of life on Thursday, July 28th. At that time, Ubuntu Security Notices will no longer include information or updated packages for Ubuntu 15.10.

Users of Ubuntu 15.10 can choose upgrade to Ubuntu 16.04 or install Ubuntu 14.04, both Long-Term Support release with 5-year support cycle.

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How to Install digiKam 5.0 in (K)Ubuntu 16.04 via PPA

Last updated: April 24, 2024

After two years of development, digiKam 5.0 stable was finally released one day ago with fully Qt5 port.

In addition to code porting, digiKam 5.0 now uses many Qt dependencies instead of KDE dependencies. To provide a pure Qt5 version of digiKam in the future, around 80% of KDE dependencies have been removed, 10% become optional for Linux Desktop. This simplifies the porting job and code maintenance on Windows, OS X, and other operating systems.

Other changes in digiKam 5.0:

  • remove KIO-slaves, instead a multi-threaded implementation is used to query the database
  • use virtual trash folder, accessible from album tree, instead of KDE desktop trash
  • improve metadata workflow in digiKam with a new Lazy Synchronization Tool
  • port kipi-plugins to Qt5
  • The whole database code has been reviewed, polished, cleaned, and documented.
  • database configuration panel rewritten
  • possible to setup MySQL datebase at first run

For more details, read the official release note.

How to Install digiKam 5.0 in (K)Ubuntu:

Philip Johnsson is maintaining a PPA with digiKam binary for Ubuntu. Now digiKam 5.0 is available in the PPA for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.10, and derivatives.

1. Add PPA.

Open terminal emulator and paste the command below and run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:philip5/extra

Type in your password when it asks. There’s no visual feedback on password typing, so just type in mind and hit Enter.

2. Now search for and install digikam5 using your package manager after refresh package caches.

Or just run the commands below one by one in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install digikam5

The digiKam5 packages is independent of previous digiKam 4.x. You may have both version installed at the same time.

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Sigil ePub Editor 0.9.6 Released, PPA for Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: June 21, 2016

Sigil, an open-source and multi-platform ePub ebook editor, has reached the 0.9.6 release with some new features and various bug fixes.

New features added in Sigil 0.9.6:

  • create sgc-nav.css stylesheet for nav and allow templates in Prefs Dir for user to control it
  • add General Setting to allow user to set own temporary directory location
  • add Qt Stylesheet support – Recognize and load “qt_styles.qss” file if stored in Sigil Preferences folder
  • extend the plugin interface to add support for epub3 bindings elements
  • add option + forward delete shortcut to active Metadata Editor remove

It also brings a lot of bug-fixes in the release, see sigil website for details.

How to install Sigil 0.9.6 in Ubuntu:

There’s no official binary releases for Linux. While Ubuntu Software provides an old version, you may either build the latest release from source or use a third-party PPA.

And here are my personal builds of Sigil 0.9.6, available for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 15.10:

Download and install the .deb package for sigil-data and then sigil package (i386 for 32bit, amd64 for 64bit).

For those who prefer adding PPA, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run the commands below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/sigil

sudo apt update

sudo apt install sigil sigil-data

To manage PPAs, go to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software.

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Oracle Virtualbox 5.0.22 Released with Various Fixes

Last updated: June 17, 2016

A new maintenance release for Virtualbox 5.0 series was announced a few days ago with various fixes and improvements.

Virtualbox 5.0.22 fixes build failure on Linux Kernel 4.7, mouse pointer offset in Linux client fullscreen mode, a potential Linux guest panic on AMD hosts, a potential hang with 32-bit EFI guests on Intel CPUs.

It also adds X.org 1.18 support for Solaris additions, brings fixes for certain Intel Atom hosts and certain 32-bit guest, adds a new I/O-APIC implementation fixing several bugs and improving the performance under certain conditions. For more details, go to the changelog page.

Download & install Virtualbox 5.0.22 in Ubuntu:

1. Download the pre-compiled package for your Ubuntu release from (i386 for 32-bit, amd64 for 64bit):

2. If you installed the stock version of VBOX from official Ubuntu repository, you have to remove it first via Ubuntu Software, or by running the command below in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt remove virtualbox virutalbox-*

3. Finally install the new version by opening the package via Ubuntu Software, or run the dpkg command in terminal:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/virtualbox-5.0_5.0.22-*.deb

4. (Optional) For those who’d like to receive future updates of VBox along with other software updates via Software Updater utility, paste the 2 commands below and run one by one in terminal to add Virtualbox Linux repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list'

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

You can manage the PPA later via System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software.

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Install SMPlayer 16.6 in Ubuntu with High-DPI Support

Last updated: June 15, 2016

SMPlayer, open-source Qt front-end for MPlayer and MPV, has reached the 16.6 release with some great new features including a tablet mode and high-DPI support.

High DPI screens are supported now in SMPlayer. You can turn on/off this feature and manually adjust the scale factor by navigating to Preferences -> Interface -> High DPI.

There’s a new ‘tablet mode’, available in menu Options, that brings support for 2 in 1 computers with touch screens.

SMPlayer 16.6 also brings:

  • Option to send video to an external screen.
  • Global shortcuts support, enable it in Preferences -> Keyboard and mouse
  • Settings are remembered for online streams.
  • built with Qt 5 by default.

How Install /Upgrade SMPlayer in Ubuntu:

For all current Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04, and Ubuntu 16.10, the most recent build can be installed from the PPA by following the steps below one by one:

1. Add PPA.

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste the command below and hit run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/smplayer

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

2. If you have a previous release installed, you can upgrade it by launching Software Updater:

Or run the commands below one by one to do update and install in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt-get install smplayer smtube smplayer-themes

3. (Optional) To revert back to the stock version of SMPlayer in your Ubuntu release, purge the PPA via ppa-purge by running command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:rvm/smplayer
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Ubuntu Tweak Officially Discontinued

Last updated: May 5, 2016

Ubuntu Tweak, one of the most popular Ubuntu configuration tools, now is officially discontinued!

Tualatrix Chou, the creator and maintainer, finally announced the discontinuation of Ubuntu Tweak in his Chinese blog a few days ago, though the last software update was more than one year ago.

The website Ubuntu-Teak.com has been redirected, and it will be shut off one year later, though it’s still getting 4000+ visits per day. Moreover, the Github and Launchpad page has been added a line said “This project is no long under maintenance”.

Ubuntu Tweak Alternative:

The best alternatives are Unity Tweak Tool for Unity Desktop and Gnome Tweak Tool for Gnome Shell. Both can be installed via Ubuntu Software App.

Unity Tweak Tool for Unity

Gnome Tweak Tool for Gnome Shell

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Firefox 46 Released With GTK3 Integration, Upgrade in Ubuntu

Last updated: April 27, 2016

Mozilla Firefox has reached the 46 release, which features GTK3 integration for GNU/Linux, security improvement for the JavaScript, and some fixes:

  • Correct rendering for scaled SVGs that use a clip and a mask
  • Various security fixes
  • Screen reader behavior with blank spaces in Google Docs corrected
  • WebRTC fixes to improve performance and stability

    • For details, see the release note.

Upgrade Firefox in Ubuntu:

The new release has been made into universe repositories of all current Ubuntu releases and derivatives. Just run Software Updater and install the available update for Firefox after checking for updates.

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Clementine 1.3 Released, How to Install it in Ubuntu 16.04

Last updated: April 15, 2016

Clementine Music Player has just reached the new stable 1.3 release. Official Linux binary adds support for Ubuntu 16.04.

After two years of development, Clementine 1.3 was finally released earlier today. It brings so many new features and a large number of bug-fixes.

Main feature in Clementine 1.3:

  • Vk.com support
  • Seafile support (server >= 4.4.1)
  • Add Ampache compatibility (through Subsonic service)
  • Add new analyzer “Rainbow Dash”
  • Answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything
  • Add “Psychedelic Colour” mode to all analyzers

There are also some other features such as m4b support for non-drm files, HipHop and Kuduro equalizers, IDv3 tag lyrics support, lyrics from AZLyrics, bollywoodlyrics.com, hindilyrics.net, lololyrics.com, Musixmatch, Tekstowo.pl, and more and more.

See other improvements and bug fixes in the full changelog page.

How to Install Clementine 1.3 in Ubuntu:

Select download the official binary for your Ubuntu release (Check System Settings -> Details) from:

Clementine Download Page

You can also install Clementine 1.3 from its official PPA, which allows you to receive future Clementine updates along with other system updates via Software Updater utility.

1. Add PPA.

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste below command and hit run to add PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:me-davidsansome/clementine

Type in your password when it asks and hit Enter to continue.

2. Update package cache and install Clementine. You can use Synaptic Package Manager instead if installed.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install clementine
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