News | UbuntuHandbook

Mozilla Firefox 85 Released with Enhanced Privacy Protection

Last updated: January 26, 2021

Firefox 55

Mozilla Firefox 85.0 was officially released today with improvements to privacy protection, bookmarks, and password manager.

Firefox 85 introduces a fundamental change in the network architecture. It now partitions network connections and caches, including HTTP cache, image cache, favicon cache, HSTS cache, OCSP cache, style sheet cache, font cache, DNS cache, HTTP Authentication cache, Alt-Svc cache, and TLS certificate cache. So it protects you from supercookies.

Since this release Adobe Flash is no longer supported, and there is no setting available to re-enable Flash support.

Other changes in Firefox 85 include:

Remember user preferred location for saved bookmarks
Display bookmarks toolbar by default in new tab.
Easy access to all of your bookmarks via a toolbar folder.
An option to remove all of saved logins.
Various security fixes.

How to get Firefox 85 in Ubuntu:

For all current Ubuntu releases, simply wait! The new Firefox package will be published in Ubuntu security & updates repositories in next a few days.

At that time, you can easily update the browser through Software Updater (Update Manager)

For those can’t wait, go to the release page which also includes a download button:

Firefox 85 Release Note

In News Firefox

VLC Media Player 3.0.12 Released with Apple Silicon Support

Last updated: January 20, 2021

The VideoLAN team announced the release of VLC 3.0.12 as the thirteenth version of the “Vetinari” branch.

The new release features native support for Apple Silicon hardware, the M1 processor in new versions of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.

Other changes in VLC 3.0.12 include:

Fix audio distortion when starting playback on macOS
Fix crashes with Direct3D video filters
Fix adaptive streaming resolution settings handling
Add support for RIST protocol
Visual improvements on macOS Big Sur
Several web interface fixes
YouTube &Vocaroo scripts updates
And some security issues

How to Install VLC in Ubuntu:

VLC offers official Ubuntu binary via Snap package, which can be installed directly through Ubuntu Software.

Just install the package which will update automatically to the latest though it’s still 3.0.11 at the moment of writing.

In News vlc media player

Scorewriter MuseScore 3.6 Released with New Fonts, Improvements

Last updated: January 16, 2021

MuseScore, free open-source sheet music player and editor, released the new major version 3.6 with many new features, improvements and bug-fixes.

New features in MuseScore 3.6 include:

New default notation fonts “Leland”
New default text font “Edwin”
New dialog suggests trying out the new engraving defaults
Automatic score ordering and bracketing
Automatic vertical justification of staves
Added Mountain Dulcimer instrument and 3-string tab presets
Added portamento for FLUID synthesiser
Added Petaluma notation font
Added mnemonics for “Save”, “Save As” and “Resource Manager”

The new release also features many UI and performance improvements including:

Improved the vertical staff justification algorithm
Improved functionality and appearance of ‘Add Palettes’ button
Implemented a new “Export” dialog
Added extended fermata symbols to MusicXML I/O
Added heavy, reverse end and heavy double barlines
Added a harmony duration interpretation
Added support for triple sharp and triple flat

And much more other improvements, tons of bug-fixes. For details, see the link below.

How to Get MuseScore 3.6 in Ubuntu Linux:

For Linux users MuseScore 3.6 is only available as Appimage package so far.

MuseScore in Github (Appimage)

Just grab the package, right-click and go to its Properties. Under ‘Permissions’ tab check the box which says ‘Allow executing file as program‘. Finally click run the Appimage to launch the scorewriter.

In News free scorewriter

KeePassXC 2.6.3 Released with Argon2id, XML2 Support [PPA]

Last updated: January 15, 2021

KeePassXC, cross-platform community fork of KeePass password manager, release version 2.6.3 a few days ago with new features and improvements.

KeePassXC 2.6.3 features Argon2id KDF and version 2 XML key files support. Other changes include:

Improve CSV Import/Export
Support empty area dragging of app window.
Display default Auto-Type sequence in preview pane.
Remove strict length limit on generated passwords
Hide key file path by default when unlocking database
Document support for managed Microsoft Edge
Prevent clipboard history and cloud sync.
Various bug-fixes.

How to Install KeePassXC 2.6.3 in Ubuntu:

The Latest KeePassXC is available in Ubuntu Software via Snap package. The official download page also offers non-install Appimage package.

For those prefer the classic apt method, the official upstream PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 20.10.

1.) Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, or by searching for ‘terminal’ from system application launcher.

When terminal opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:phoerious/keepassxc

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

2.) Then either update the software package using Software Updater

or run command to install the software:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install keepassxc

Uninstall:

You can run the PPA repository simply by running command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:phoerious/keepassxc

And if you want, remove keepassxc password manger via command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove keepassxc

In News password manager

KeePass 2.47 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04, 20.10

Last updated: April 24, 2024

KeePass password manager 2.47 was released user interface and integration enhancements and minor new features and improvements.

KeePass 2.47 release highlights:

Save search parameters as profiles, access via menu ‘Find’->’Search Profiles’.
Add ‘XPath expression’ search mode.
Add ‘Histop’ option in Find dialog.
Add ‘Help’ button in Find dialog.
Add auto-type matching option ‘Consider similar dashes as identical’.
Add commands ‘Copy Group (Encrypted)’, ‘Copy Group (Unencrypted)’ and ‘Paste Group’.
Added {TIMEOTP} placeholder, generates a time-based one-time password.
Enhanced XML key file format.
Add command ‘Print Key File Backup’.
Add command ‘Create Key File’.
Add Argon2id key derivation function.
Add support for importing Dashlane 6.2039.0 JSON files.
Add a few more options in the import/export dialog.
Plugins can now disable/enable specific Mono workarounds.

How to Install KeePass 2.47 in Ubuntu via PPA:

Although there’s a Linux native community fork KeePassXC available, KeePass2 is still available to install via an Ubuntu PPA. So far, the PPA supports for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 20.04.

1.) Open terminal and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/keepass2

2.) Then refresh system package cache via command:

sudo apt update

3.) Finally install the mono based password safe package:

sudo apt install keepass2

Uninstall KeePass2:

To remove the software package, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove keepass2

And remove the Ubuntu PPA via command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/keepass2

In Howtos, News KeePass2

Linux Mint 20.1 “Ulyssa” Officially Released [How to Upgrade]

Last updated: January 9, 2021

Linux Mint 20.1, code-name “Ulyssa”, was officially released. It includes Linux Kernel 5.4, based on Ubuntu 20.04, and features Xfce 4.14, Cinnamon 4.8, and MATE 1.24 for each desktop edition.

Linux Mint 20.1 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2025. New features in the release include:

Web App manager to turn any web page into desktop application.
A new IPTV Player, Hypnotix
Favorites support in Nemo file manager, Xed, Xreader, Xviewer, Pix and Warpinator.
Removed ippusbxd, printing and scanning work the same way as in Linux Mint 19.x.
Updated to HPLIP 3.20.11.
Hardware video acceleration enabled by default in Celluloid.
The driver manager was migrated to PackageKit.
Added Chromium browser package to the repository.
Clock format in the login screen is configurable.
A unified filesystem layout, superb collection of backgrounds, and more.

Linux Mint 20.1 system requirements:

1GB RAM (2GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
1024×768 resolution (on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don’t fit in the screen).

Download / Upgrade to Linux Mint 20.01:

For the official announcements as well as iso images download link, simply go to LinuxMint.com.

To upgrade from Linux Mint 20 to Linux Mint 20.1:

1. Use TimeShift to create a system snapshot, so you can easily restore your system if anything goes wrong.

2. Disable your screensaver, and upgrade installed Cinnamon spices (applets, desklets, extensions, themes) from System Settings.

3. Open Update Manager and click on the Refresh button. If there are updates for mintupdate or mint-upgrade-info, apply them.

Then go to menu “Edit->Upgrade to Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa” to launch system upgrade.

Follow the wizard and reboot once the upgrade is finished.

4. (optinal) To convert the system with usrmerge, simply run command:

sudo apt install usrmerge

In News Linux Mint

GTK+ Twitter Client ‘Cawbird’ 1.3 Released with Uploading Video Support

Last updated: January 1, 2021

Cawbird, free and open-source GTK+ Twitter Client for Linux, released version 1.3 with many new features, improvements, bug-fixes.

Cawbird 1.3 comes with improved DM (Direct Messages). It adds ability to send media in DMs, delete DMs, load older DMs, and fixes DM load order issue.

The new release includes new Vala implementation API allows to upload videos and larger animated GIFs.

Other changes in Cawbird 1.3 include:

Apply filtering across all feeds (including search)
Apply changes to filtering, muting, blocking and hiding RTs across all feeds instantly
Allow the filtering of mentioned @-handles
Load media in DMs and linkify users and hashtags
Use HTTPS avatars throughout
Allow Compose view to shrink to narrower screens (e.g. for PinePhone)
Design changes, stability improvements, and bug-fixes.

How to Install Cawbird in Ubuntu:

The software developer maintains OBS repository with the packages for CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE. You can download the deb package directly from the link below:

Download Cawbird

To receive future updates via Software Updater, you can open terminal and run following commands one by one to add the OBS repository:

Run command to add the cawbird repository (you may replace xUbuntu_20.04 with xUbuntu_18.04 or xUbuntu_20.10 depends on your system edition):

echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/IBBoard:/cawbird/xUbuntu_20.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:IBBoard:cawbird.list

Then install the keyring via command (also replace xUbuntu_20.04 to your system edition):

curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:IBBoard:cawbird/xUbuntu_20.04/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_IBBoard_cawbird.gpg > /dev/null

You can finally refresh package cache and install the twitter app via commands:
```
sudo apt update; sudo apt install cawbird
```

Uninstall Cawbird:

To remove the Twitter client, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove cawbird

To remove the software repository, go to Software & Updates -> Other Software, and remove the relevant line.

In News twitter client

qBittorrent 4.3.2 Adds Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) Support

Last updated: December 29, 2020

qBittorrent

qBittorrent 4.3.2 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu via PPA.

The new release of the Bittorrent client features an option for Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) support, which enable people around the world to use domain names in local languages and scripts.

It now allows to add root folder to torrent content. And “HTTPS tracker validation” option is available on all platforms with latest libtorrent.

Bug-fixes in qBittorrent 4.3.2 include:

Fix broken sorting on some columns
Fix availability per file value
Fix status of torrents without metadata
Don’t try to remove folders for a torrent without metadata
Lift upper limit of “Max concurrent HTTP announces” option
Add links to libtorrent documentation
Move “embedded tracker” options to qbt section
Properly handle “Append extension” option changing
Correctly save paused torrent state
Fix bug of “move storage job” can be performed multiple times

There are also a few WEB UI changes, including ability to use ‘shift+delete’ to delete torrents, allow to attach tags while adding torrents.

How to Install qBittorrent via PPA:

The official qBittorrent PPA has built the new release packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and derivatives.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. If an old version was installed on your system, upgrade it via Software Updater,

upgrade qBittorrent

or run following commands to install /upgrade qBittorrent in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install qbittorrent

Uninstall:

To remove qBittorrent PPA, either go to Software & Updates -> Other Software, or run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable

To remove the bittorrent client, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove qbittorrent

In News qbittorrent

TeXstudio 3.0.2 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04, 20.10

Last updated: December 28, 2020

TeXstudio, an open-source fully featured LaTeX editor, released version 3.0.2 a few hours ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu, Linux Mint.

Though it’s a bug-fix version, TeXstudio 3.0.2 was released after two beta test releases. It features:

Add large number of default dictionaries.
Handle \tabularnewline correctly
Fix text insertion on selected text
Change behavior for cut buffer and Ctrl+e (insert env).
Add texdoc as selectable command
Windows build now uses 64 bit and can handle larger documents

How to Install TeXstudio 3.0.2 in Ubuntu:

Non-install Appimage:

The editor offers official Appimage package, available to download at the link below:

TeXstudio Github Releases

Just grab the .appimage package, add “allow executing as program” in file’s Properties -> Permissions dialog, and finally run it to launch TeXstudio.

Install the LaTeX editor via PPA:

The official TeXstudio PPA maintains the software packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10.

While the PPA is not updated for the new release at the moment, you may grab the .deb binary from OBS repository (official).

Once the PPA is updated with the new release packages, you can do following steps one by one to install it:

1. Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sunderme/texstudio

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to add the PPA.

2. If the stock version in Ubuntu main repository was installed, remove the texstudio-doc, texstudio-l10n (if any) package before upgrading the software:

sudo apt-get remove texstudio-doc texstudio-l10n

3. After adding the PPA, you can either upgrade it via Software Updater:

or run commands in terminal to install or upgrade the software:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install texstudio

Uninstall:

To remove the LaTeX editor, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove texstudio

And go to Software & Updates -> Other Software to remove PPA repositories.

In Howtos, News LaTeX editor

GIMP 2.99.4 Released as New Development Version to GIMP 3.0

Last updated: December 27, 2020

GIMP image editor 2.99.4 was released a few days ago as the second development release for the next major GIMP 3.0.

Release highlights include:

Usability fixes across various parts of GIMP
New Paint Select tool in the playground
New generic dialog generation and metadata support API for export plug-ins
Multi-threaded JPEG2000 decoding
Initial documentation on porting plug-ins to 3.0

As Xmas present, there’s also a comic strip in the release note:

How to Install GIMP 2.99.4 in Ubuntu Linux

The new release has been made as Flatpak package available to install via flathub beta channel. Like the previous GIMP 2.99.2, you can follow this how to guide to install it in Ubuntu.