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Archives For November 30, 1999

How to Install Linux Kernel 5.8 in Ubuntu

Last updated: August 4, 2020

Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux kernel 5.8 two days ago on Sunday. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu and / or Linux Mint.

New features in Linux Kernel 5.8 include:

Qualcomm Adreno 405 / 640 / 650 open-source support.
AMDGPU TMZ support.
Intel Tiger Lake SAGV support.
New Arm SoC and platform support.
AMD Energy Driver.
Initial support for booting POWER10 processors.
Intel Tiger Lake Thunderbolt support for Intel’s Gateway SoCs.
And many other new features and improvements.

How to Install Linux Kernel 5.8 in Ubuntu:

The mainline kernels do not include any Ubuntu-provided drivers or patches. They are not supported and are not appropriate for production use

The mainline kernel packages for Linux 5.8 (64-bit) are now available for download at the link below:

Download Kernel 5.8

Select generic for common system, and lowlatency for a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio):

linux-headers-5.8.0-xxxxxx_all.deb
linux-headers-5.8.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
linux-modules-5.8.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
linux-image-xxx-5.8.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb

Alternatively you can download and install the kernel binaries via terminal commands ( open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T):

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8/amd64/linux-headers-5.8.0-050800_5.8.0-050800.202008022230_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8/amd64/linux-headers-5.8.0-050800-generic_5.8.0-050800.202008022230_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.8.0-050800-generic_5.8.0-050800.202008022230_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8/amd64/linux-modules-5.8.0-050800-generic_5.8.0-050800.202008022230_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Once installed, restart your computer and enjoy!

Uninstall Linux Kernel 5.8:

Restart your machine and select boot with the previous kernel in boot menu ‘Grub2 -> Advanced Option for Ubuntu’. Then run command to remove Linux Kernel 5.8:

sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-unsigned-5.8.0-050800-generic

In Howtos, News Linux Kernel

Kodi Media Center 18.8 Released [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: July 29, 2020

Kodi Media Center 18.8 was released today with various fixes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 20.04.

Kodi 18.8 is likely to be the final release in the 18.x “Leia” series. Release highlights include:

Fixes a severe security issue in gnutls (Linux)
Other significant library/compatibility updates
Gets client/server on MariaDB 10.5.4 working for Android
Fixes video database access for Ubuntu 20.4 (search and other filtering failed)
Fixes subtitle handling from archives
Fixes CDDB access
Makes minor improvements to logging and memory reporting/display
Fixes EDLs where skip points are at the very start of a file
Contains code improvements to fix specific events, e.g. race conditions in the EPG or “pause” on end of streams on Android
Enables alpha blending for the video player (Windows)
Better handles specific exceptions (Android, mostly)

How to Install Kodi 18.8 in Ubuntu:

Kodi Team PPA has made the new release packages for all current Ubuntu releases and derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa

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

2. Then either upgrading Kodi from an existing version via Software Updater:

upgrade Kodi

or refresh system package cache and install Kodi 18.8 via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kodi

Uninstall:

To remove the Kodi PPA repository, simply open Software & Updates -> Other Software.

To remove Kodi, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kodi kodi-data kodi-bin

In Howtos, News Kodi, Kodi PPA

Opera 70 Released with Improved Search in Tabs

Last updated: July 29, 2020

opera web browser

Opera web browser 70 was released a day ago improvements to existing features and tools.

Opera 70 release highlights include:

The history and bookmark panels now has wider search field.
Search in Tabs feature now include recently-closed tabs section.
Search in Tabs now searches both title and content of open pages.
More Workspace icons

How to Install Opera 70 in Ubuntu:

Snap Package:

The Opera team offers official snap package (runs in sandbox), available to install directly from Ubuntu Software:

Deb package:

Also the native Ubuntu .deb package is available for downloading at the link below:

Download Opera for Linux

Grab the .deb package, and double-click to install it.

You may also add the official apt repository via following steps to receive future software updates.

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

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

2. Get the key:

wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

Finally either install Opera via following command or upgrade the browser via Software Updater:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install opera-stable

Uninstall:

For the Opera snap package, simply remove it from Ubuntu Software.

For the Opera apt repository, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove traditional opera package, either use your system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove opera-stable

In News Opera

Mozilla Firefox 79.0 Released with Various Security Fixes

Last updated: July 28, 2020

Mozilla Firefox web browser 79.0 was released a few hours ago with new features and various security fixes.

Firefox 79.0 release highlights include:

WebRender for more Windows users with Intel and AMD GPUs
More Pocket recommendations for users in Germany.
Various security fixes.
Several crashes while using a screen reader were fixed

How to Install Firefox 79 in Ubuntu:

Firefox 79 will be made into official Ubuntu security / updates repositories for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 20.04 in a few days!

At that time, you can upgrade Firefox via Software Updater (Update Manager) utility:

In News Firefox

digiKam 7.0 Released with Improved Face Detection

Last updated: July 25, 2020

digiKam 5.6.0

digiKam photo management software 7.0 was released a few days ago with greatly improved face detection and recognition.

digiKam 7.0 was released after one year of development. It features new deep learning faces management. No learning stage is required to perform face detection and recognition. And face detection reaches 97% of true positives.

The improved face detection and recognition also supports non-human faces, blurred faces, covered faces, profiles of faces, printed faces, faces turned away, partial faces, etc.

And it supports multiple cores to speed-up computations.

Other changes include:

Improved HEIF image format support
A new tool Image Mosaic Wall.
The SlideShow tool ported as plugin.
New RAW files support including the famous Canon CR3, Sony A7R4, and more:
- Canon: PowerShot G5 X Mark II, G7 X Mark III, SX70 HS, EOS R, EOS RP, EOS 90D, EOS 250D, EOS M6 Mark II, EOS M50, EOS M200
- DJI Mavic Air, Osmo Action
- FujiFilm GFX 100, X-A7, X-Pro3
- GoPro Fusion, HERO5, HERO6, HERO7
- Hasselblad L1D-20c, X1D II 50C
- Leica D-LUX7, Q-P, Q2, V-LUX5, C-Lux / CAM-DC25
- Olympus TG-6, E-M5 Mark III.
- Panasonic DC-FZ1000 II, DC-G90, DC-S1, DC-S1R, DC-TZ95
- PhaseOne IQ4 150MP
- Ricoh GR III
- Sony A7R IV, ILCE-6100, ILCE-6600, RX0 II, RX100 VII
- Zenit M
- and multiple smartphones…

Download / Install digiKam:

1. Non-install single executable Linux Appimage is available in the official download page.

2. digiKam is also available as Flatpak package, you can get it from flathub repository.

3. For those prefer Ubuntu PPA, keep an eye on this launchpad page.

In News digikam, digikam PPA

Kart Racing Game SuperTuxKart 1.2 RC1 Released (Ubuntu PPA)

Last updated: July 21, 2020

SuperTuxKart 1.2 Release Candidate, free and open-source kart racing game, was released today with many great new features and performance improvements.

SuperTuxKart 1.2 release highlights according to the change-log:

Add support for IPv6 LAN server.
Add team chat for team games.
Haiku support.
Resizable window in game.
New version of Pidgin by Crystal
Sever creation improvements.
Better gamepad support.
Modern skin and SVG icons support.
Add camera settings in option screen.
And many other improvements.

How to Install SuperTuxKart 1.2 RC in Ubuntu:

Non-install Linux portable package are available for download at Sourceforge project page.

The kart racing game is available as SNAP package which can be installed from Ubuntu Software. Flatpak package is also available in flathub.org repository.

SuperTuxKart team PPA will build the DEB package for apt install. Check the PPA Link before getting started.

At that time, open terminal from application launcher and run following commands one by one:

1.) Run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stk/dev

Type user password, no visual feedback, when it asks and hit Enter to continue.

2.) After adding the PPA, either upgrade from an old version via Software Updater, or run commands in terminal to install the game:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install supertuxkart

Uninstall SuperTuxKart:

To remove the PPA, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:stk/dev

To remove the racing game, run:

sudo apt remove --autoremove supertuxkart supertuxkart-data

In Howtos, News supertuxkart ppa

Ubuntu 19.10 Eoan Ermine Reached End of Life

Last updated: July 19, 2020

Ubuntu 18.04

Ubuntu 19.10 Eoan Ermine reached end of life on July 17 2020. Users are recommended to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Ubuntu 19.10 was released 9 months ago, on October 17, 2019. As a non-LTS release, it has 9 months support. Now it is no longer supported by Canonical. No more security and package updates will be accepted to 19.10.

Users are argued to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04, a LTS release with 5-year support. To get started, do following steps one by one:

Disable third-party repositories by Software & Updates -> Other Software.
Launch Software Updater and install all the updates after checking for updates.
You may restart your computer to complete updates.
Launch Software Updater again, and you’ll see option to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04

Full instructions and caveats for the upgrade may be found at:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FocalUpgrades

In News Ubuntu 19.10

VirtualBox 6.1.12 Released with New GLX Graphics Output

Last updated: July 15, 2020

Virtualbox

Oracle Virtualbox 6.1.12 was released a day ago as the sixth maintenance release for the 6.1 series.

Oracle Virtualbox 6.1.12 release highlights:

UI fixes for Log-Viewer search-backward icon
Fixes and improvements for the BusLogic SCSI controller emulation
Regression fixes in FIFO data handling
Experimental new type of network attachment, allowing local VM to act as if it was run in cloud
Improved resource management in the guest control functionality
Fixed command option parsing for the “snapshot edit” sub-command
Fix crash of ‘VBoxManage internalcommands repairhd’ when processing invalid input.
Guest Additions:
- New experimental 3D GLX graphics output
- Fixed releasing texture objects, which could cause guest crashes
- Fixed writes to a file on a shared folder not being reflected on the host when the file is mmap’ed and the used Linux kernel is between version 4.10.0 and 4.11.x
- Fixed the shared folder driver on 32bit Windows 8 and newer returning an error when flushing writes to a file which is mapped into memory under rare circumstances
- Improve resize coverage for VMSVGA graphics controller
- Fix issues detecting guest additions ISO at runtime
- Fixed German translation encoding for Windows GA installer

How to Install VirtualBox 6.1.12 in Ubuntu:

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

Download VirtualBox

If you’ve already added the Oracle apt repository for Linux, install the updates simply via Software Updater.

Or add the apt repository by running following commands one by one:

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

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list'

For Linux Mint, you HAVE to replace $(lsb_release -sc) in the command with bionic for Mint 19.x, or xenial for Mint 18.x, or focal for Linux Mint 20.

2. Then download and install the repository key via command:

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

3. Refresh system package cache via command:

sudo apt update

4. Finally install Virtualbox 6.1:

sudo apt install virtualbox-6.1

Uninstall:

To remove it, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove virtualbox-6.1

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

In News

Python 3.8.4 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 18.04 / 16.04

Last updated: July 14, 2020

Python 3.8.4 was released a few days ago as the latest stable release of the Python language. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 16.04.

This is the first bugfix release that is considerably smaller than the previous three. There’s almost 20% fewer changes at 162 commits than the average of previous three bugfix releases. Detailed information about all changes made in version 3.8.4 specifically can be found in its change log. Note that compared to 3.8.3, version 3.8.4 also contains the changes introduced in 3.8.4rc1.

The deadsnakes team maintains unofficial Python packages for different Ubuntu releases. Note the PPA does not contain Python 3.8 for Ubuntu 20.04 as upstream ubuntu provides the package.

Install Python 3.8.4 in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04:

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:deadsnakes/ppa

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

2.) Then run commands to refresh system package cache, and install Python 3.8:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install python3.8

3.) Once successfully installed, check your system Python versions (python –version):

4.) (Optional) To use Python 3.8 as the default python3, run commands:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.6 1

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.8 2

For Ubuntu 16.04 replace python3.6 with python3.5. And you can then switch between the two Python3 versions via command:

sudo update-alternatives --config python3

NOTE: Due to known bug, terminal won’t open if you changed python3 symlink. An workaround is recreate a symlink via command (For Ubuntu 16.04 replace python3.6 with python3.5):

sudo rm /usr/bin/python3; sudo ln -s python3.6 /usr/bin/python3

Uninstall:

To uninstall the Python3.8 packages, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove python3.8 python3.8-minimal

To remove the Deadsnakes PPA, launch Software & Updates and go to Other Software tab, then remove the repository line and close the window.

In Howtos, News python 3.8

CopyQ Clipboard Manager 3.12.0 Released (Ubuntu PPA)

Last updated: July 13, 2020

Advanced clipboard manager CopyQ 3.12.0 was released yesterday with new script function, dark mode improvements, and various bug-fixes.

CopyQ is a free open-source clipboard editor with editing and scripting features. The latest version so far is CopyQ 3.12.0 that features:

Unsaved data are now saved whenever application is unfocused
Filter field in commands can now modify menu items.
Application icon will no longer automatically change when there is an ongoing
operation.
New preview() script function shows/hides item preview.
Use brighter bar for pinned items with a dark theme
Improved notification text line wrapping
Improved layout when showing many shortcut buttons
Fix SSL/TLS errors on Windows.