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Linux Mint 20.2 Released with Improved Update Manager, Bulky File Renamer, Cinnamon 5.0

July 8, 2021 — 1 Comment

Linux Mint team announced the second point release for Mint 20 today. Features Kernel 5.4, Ubuntu 20.04 package base, and Cinnamon 5.0, Xfce 4.16, MATE 1.24 for each desktop edition.

Linux Mint 20.2 will be supported until 2025. It comes with improved Update Manager that supports installing updates for applets, desklets, themes, and extensions.

As well, it now displays software update notifications if it has been available for more than 7 logged-in days or older than 15 calendar days. However, you can change the time period or disable the notification entirely.

The release comes with the new Bulky batch file renamer out-of-the-box. As a desktop independent app, you can install it on Ubuntu easily via the .deb package.

For Cinnamon edition, the new Cinnamon 5.0 features file search and content search in Nemo file manager, memory limit for the desktop usage, new CLI and python3 module.

Other changes include:

  • Automated Flatpak updates in Update Manager preferences. It will automatically remove unused flatpak run-times to free up your disk space.
  • Replace GNote with Sticky Notes as default note taking app.
  • Improvements for the ‘Warpinator’ file transfer app.
  • HPLIP 3.21.2 as well as the latest ipp-usb and sane-airscan
  • The WebApp manager now supports for incognito/private browsing.
  • The NVIDIA Prime applet can now switch between AMD onboard chipsets and discrete GPUs.

How to Get Linux Mint 20.2:

You can get the Linux Mint 20.2 upgrade wizard easily via “Edit->Upgrade to Linux Mint 20.2 Uma” menu in Update Manager. However, it’s recommended to backup, disable screensaver, and update Cinnamon spices (applets, desklets, extensions, themes) before getting started.

For the ISO images as well as release notes, go to linuxmint.com.

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Converseen Adds Support for Batch Converting JFIF files to JPEG / PNG

July 5, 2021 — Leave a comment

Batch image converting and scaling app Converseen released version 0.9.9.1, features JFIF file format support.

Converseen is a free open-source tool based on Qt5 framework. It provides a lightweight and easy to use interface to convert single or multiple photo images.

Thanks to Magick++, it supports 100+ supported file formats, including the most popular DPX, EXR, GIF, JPEG, JPEG-2000, PhotoCD, PNG, Postscript, SVG, and TIFF. And, it supports for converting PDF to image, and/or image to PDF.

In addition, it can scale, rotate, and flip images, and replace transparent background with specified color. For JPEG and PNG, you can set the quality level via ‘Image settings’ button.

By releasing Converseen 0.9.9.1, it now supports for converting JFIF file to any supported image format. As well, there are minor updates and various bug-fixes in the release.

How to Install Converseen 0.9.9.1 in Ubuntu:

Besides building from the source tarball, you can install the app from the unofficial PPA in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, as well as Linux Mint 20.

1.) Firstly, open terminal from system app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

2.) After that, run command to update package cache, though it’s done automatically in Ubuntu 20.04 and higher:

sudo apt update

3.) You can finally either upgrade the tool from existing release via Software Updater, or install it via command:

sudo apt install converseen

How to Remove Converseen:

To remove the software, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove converseen

As well, you can remove the PPA either via command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

or by removing relevant line from “Software & Updates -> Other Software”:

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Darktable 3.6.0 Released, How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04, 21.04

July 3, 2021 — 1 Comment

Darktable, open-source raw photo development tool, released version 3.6.0 today with exciting new features! Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu via PPA.

No version 3.5.x, Darktable goes directly to 3.6 release series. It introduced new “Import” module for easy multiple import tasks, thumbnail preview. And it is now used for importing from disk, card or camera in the same dialog.

Other changes in Darktable 3.6.0 include:

  • A vector-scope to complement the current histogram, waveform and parade views.
  • New default demosaic algorithm (RCD)
  • Support for “dual demosaic”, allows to combine “RCD + VNG4” and “AMaZE + VNG4” for bayer sensors, “Markesteijn 3-pass + VNG” for xtrans sensors.
  • Create opacity mask based on the sharpness of the image.
  • New Color Balance RGB module, censorize module, crop module.
  • Basic adjustments module replaced with the quick access panel

There are also much more other features, bug-fixes. And Lua API changed to 7.0.0. As well, the release added base support for new cameras including:

  • Fujifilm GFX100S (compressed)
  • Fujifilm X-E4 (compressed)
  • Fujifilm X-S10 (compressed)
  • Leica D-Lux 7 (4:3, 1:1, 16:9, 3:2)
  • Nikon Z 6_2, Nikon Z 7_2 (14bit-compressed, 14bit-uncompressed, 12bit-compressed, 12bit-uncompressed)
  • Panasonic DC-G100 (4:3), DC-G110 (4:3), DC-GF10 (4:3), GF90 (4:3).
  • Pentax K-3 Mark III
  • Ricoh GR III (dng)
  • Sony ILCE-1, ILCE-7SM3, ILCE-QX1

How to Install Darktable 3.6.0 in Ubuntu:

The software offers official .deb and .rpm packages available to download at OBS repository.

For choice, an unofficial PPA is available with the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, Linux Mint 20.

1. Open terminal either from system app launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/darktable

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. If an old version was installed, upgrade it using Software Updater:

upgrade darktable

or run commands in terminal to install Darktable:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install darktable

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA, either launch Software & Updates navigate to Other Software and remove the relevant line:

or run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/darktable

To remove the RAW developer, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove darktable
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Free DJ Software Mixxx 2.3.0 Released as New Major Update [PPA]

July 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

After more than two years of development, free open-source DJ software Mixxx 2.3.0 released as the big stable release with a total of 7477 changes over 1 million lines of code since the last release.

The new release introduced hotcue colors and custom labels. Hotcues can now have individual colors to make them visually distinguishable. And it’s now possible to see the hotcue labels on the overview waveforms, as well edit them by right-clicking.

For Rekordbox or Serato users, switching to Mixxx is easier. And it can now play tracks directly from USB drives that contain Rekordbox and Serato libraries.

The 2.3.0 also added Opus and HE-AAC streaming and recording support, as well as out-of-the-box support for:

  • Pioneer DDJ-200 and DDJ-400
  • Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S3
  • Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200 and Jogvision
  • Roland DJ-505
  • Behringer B-Control BCR2000 and DDM4000
  • ION Discover DJ Pro and the Numark iDJ Live II.

Other changes in Mixxx 2.3.0 include:

  • Add deck cloning (aka “instant doubles”) by dragging and dropping between decks
  • Add laptop battery widget to skins
  • New default skin “LateNight”
  • Multithreaded analysis for multicore CPUs
  • Remove VAMP plugin support and use Queen Mary DSP library directly.
  • Add FFmpeg audio decoder, bringing support for ALAC files
  • And much more.

How to Install Mixxx 2.3.0 in Ubuntu via PPA:

For Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, Linux Mint 20, you can install the release package from its official PPA.

1. Open terminal either from app launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxx/mixxx

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

2. If an old Mixxx package exist on your system, upgrade the DJ software using Software Updater:

Or run commands one by one in terminal to install or upgrade the software:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install mixxx

Uninstall:

You can easily remove the software by running command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove mixxx

And remove the PPA repository via Software & Updates, by removing relevant line utility under Other Software tab.

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Audacity Finally Adds Official Binary for Linux via Appimage

June 29, 2021 — 1 Comment

By releasing version 3.0.3 RC1, Audacity digital audio editor finally adds official Linux binary support!

It’s the 64-bit Appimage package that runs in most Linux Distributions. Without installing, it’s a single executable that launches the software via double-click.

According to the Privacy Notice, Audacity may COLLECT personal data necessary for law enforcement, litigation and authorities. And it dissuade those under 13 years old from using the App.

It is incompatible with the GPL license. Use it at your own risk!

Other changes in Audacity 3.0.3 so far includes:

  • switch to 64-bit Windows binary, and drop Windows XP support.
  • Improved default spectrogram colors
  • Fix user interface display issue on HiDPI display in Linux.
  • Fix that font size scales incorrectly.
  • Fix crashes with Macros on files when the macro-output folder is in an unwriteable location
  • No error message when attempting to save to SMB drive
  • Fix Macros running on files can’t be cancelled

To get the Audacity Appimage, go to:

Download Audacity (Appimage)

Once you get it, add executable permission in file Properties dialog. Then click run to open the editor:

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