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RSS Guard Feed Reader 3.8.0 Released with Labels Support

Last updated: November 10, 2020

RSS Guard feed reader 3.8.0 was released today. The new release adds supporting for labels and basic CLI interface.

RSS Guard is simple, light and easy-to-use RSS/ATOM feed aggregator based on Qt. It support online feed synchronization with:

  • Tiny Tiny RSS,
  • Inoreader,
  • Nextcloud News,
  • Gmail API.

RSS Guard 3.8.0 was released with following changes:

  • Add support for labels:
    • Labels are even synchronizable for Inoreader and TT-RSS
    • Each message can have assigned multiple labels
    • Feed’s view now offers “Labels” folder with handy per-label filtering
    • Labels assigned in message are now even available in message filtering
    • You can assign arbitrary color to each of your labels
  • New bundled icon theme – Numix (Windows only)
  • Numix is now default icon theme
  • Use mini.css instead of Bootstrap as built-in web-base message viewer
  • Message body now has “auto” reading direction
  • JSON feeds are now supported
  • Added basic CLI interface

Install RSS Guard in Ubuntu:

There’s no deb packages for the feed reader so far. It however offers official .Appimage for 64-bit Linux.

1. Download the .Appimage package from the github releases page.

2. Right click on the file, and go to its Properties dialog. Under ‘Permissions’ tab, tick the box which says “Allow executing file as program”.

3. Finally, right-click on the Appimage file and select “Run” to launch the application.

The feed reader is also available as Flatpak package, though it’s not been updated to v3.8.0 at the moment.

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LiVES Video Editor 3.2.0 Released with Tons of New Features [PPA]

Last updated: November 10, 2020

LiVES, a free and open-source video editor and VJ tool, released new major version 3.2.0 with new features, performance and resource usage improvements, and tons of other changes.

Changes LiVES 3.2.0 include:

  • Initial startup has been rewritten.
  • Updated GTK+ support to 3.24.
  • A total rewrite of buttons, a new font chooser.
  • Specify configuration directory from commandline.
  • Implemented a thread pool with generic worker threads.
  • Introduced the idea of lives_proc_threads.
  • optimised memory handling in some specific cases.
  • Disk space quota can be set for the application.
  • Implemented auto gamma correction.
  • Implemented threading for swscale.
  • Added a predictive caching mechanism to the player.
  • Fixed several screen / window sizing issues.
  • The renderer now uses a separate thread for saving frames to disk, making rendering much faster.
  • New intelligent “auto-layout” mode to improve the appearance of all parameter windows.
  • Visual tweaks for Preferences window.
  • Fixed mkv_decoder so it can decode webm clips.
  • ctrl-alt-space now performs loop locking in clip editor (trickplay).
  • Add keys a / A (audio track lock / unlock) for clip editor playback.
  • Added two more keyboard effect keys (ctrl-minus and ctrl-equals).
  • Audio can now be normalised after rendering.
  • Added “audio bleedthru” mode in multitrack.
  • Individual clip volume levels can now be adjusted during playback (temporary) and non-playback (permanent).
  • Added a new “normalize audio” function.
  • Add more preferences to the prefs window.
  • Frame number now defaults to pointer position when opening the seperate window.
  • Seperate window in multitrack can now appear undecorated.
  • Improved appearance for ‘fireTV’ effect.
  • Add menu options jump to next mark / jump to previous mark in multitrack.

How to Install LiVES 3.2.0 in Ubuntu:

For the source code go to:

github.com/salsaman/LiVES/releases

The unofficial PPA contains the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/lives

Type user password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade the software from an existing release via Software Updater:

or simply run commands in terminal to install or upgrade LiVES:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install lives lives-plugins

Uninstall:

To remove the software, simply run commands:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove lives lives-plugins

The PPA can be removed via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

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FlightGear 2020.3 Released with New Default Keflavík (BIKF) Airport [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: November 8, 2020

After 2 years of development, Flightgear 2020.3 was released as the latest stable version of the flight simulator. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, and derivatives.

FlightGear 2020.3 release highlights:

  • New default Keflavík International Airport (BIKF)
  • Aircraft updates:
    • The A320 has been overhauled
    • The C182 gained an excellent integration of the FG1000 glass-cockpit, as did the J3 Cub and the Diamond DA40.
    • The SEPCAT Jaguar GR.1, Bombardier Q400 and twenty more aircraft were added.
  • FlightGear now simulates tides covering and uncovering shallow areas (littoral areas), like tidal flats (mudflats).
  • Textures can be cached & compressed for faster loading and reduced memory use, giving better performance.
  • Connection to the VATSIM network via SWIFT is officially supported.
  • Better translation support, and handling of non-ASCII file names.
  • Many view improvements, including a new Tower-AGL view.

1.) To install the flight simulator, first open terminal either from system application menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard.

When terminal opens, run command to add the PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:saiarcot895/flightgear

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

2.) Then refresh system package cache and install the software via command:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install flightgear

If an old version was installed, you can also upgrade it via Software Updater utility.

Uninstall:

To remove FlightGear PPA, either go to Software & Updates > Other Software, or run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:saiarcot895/flightgear

And remove the flight simulator if you want by running command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove flightgear flightgear-data
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How to Install GIMP 2.99.10 (Dev for GIMP 3.0) in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

This tutorial shows how to install the latest Beta release of GIMP 3.0, so far GIMP 2.99.10, in Ubuntu 20.04 using the official flatpak package.

What’s New in GIMP 2.99.10 compare to current stable:

  • GTK+3 user interface
  • Native Wayland and HiDPI support.
  • Major refactoring and cleanup
  • New plug-in API
  • Plugins now possible with Python 3, JavaScript, Lua, and Vala
  • More (color) space invasion
  • Render caching available for better performance
  • Clone-type tools on multiple layers
  • JPEG-XL file format support.
  • Pinch gesture on canvas for zooming
  • New Paint Select tool in the playground
  • New generic dialog generation and metadata support API for export plug-ins
  • Multi-threaded JPEG2000 decoding

GIMP 2.99.10 is available to install via Flatpak package in the “beta” branch of the official Flathub repository. You can open terminal and run following commands one by one to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 21.10.

1. Install Flatpak framework if you don’t have it (For Ubuntu 18.04 and even 16.04, add this PPA first).

sudo apt install flatpak

2. Add the flathub beta channel via command:

flatpak remote-add --user flathub-beta https://flathub.org/beta-repo/flathub-beta.flatpakrepo

3. Finally install GIMP 2.99.x via command (for single user only):

flatpak install --user flathub-beta org.gimp.GIMP

Once installed, launch it from ‘Show Applications’ menu and enjoy! In the case, I have GIMP 2.10 (via deb) and GIMP 2.99.x (via flatpak).

NOTE: If you installed both GIMP flatpak stable and beta packages, only one will be visible in app launcher. To make beta version visible, run command:

flatpak make-current --user org.gimp.GIMP beta

And to make stable version visible, replace beta in the command with stable.

Uninstall GIMP 2.99.x:

To remove the package, simply run command:

flatpak --user uninstall org.gimp.GIMP
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Bluefish Editor 2.2.12 Released with Python 3 Compatibility [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: September 25, 2022

Bluefish, a powerful editor targeted towards programmers and web developers, released version 2.2.12 a day ago with some minor new features.

Bluefish 2.2.12 release highlights:

  • Fix for a crash in simple search.
  • Python 3 compatibility has been further improved.
  • Improved encoding detection in python files.
  • Triple click now selects the line.
  • On Mac OSX Bluefish deals better with the new permission features.
  • Improved syntax highlighting for several programming languages.
  • Bluefish now works fine with Enchant2 for spell checking.

Install Bluefish via PPA:

UPDATE: as Klaus Vormweg’s PPA is no longer exist, I uploaded the 2.2.12 packages into this unofficial PPA for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 18.04. For Ubuntu 22.04, the latest package is already available in system repository.

1. Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching from ‘Activities’ overview.

When terminal opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/bluefish

Type user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then run commands to check updates and install the programmers editor:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install bluefish

Or launch ‘Software Updater’ and update the package if an old version was installed.

Uninstall:

You may remove the PPA repository either via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab, or by running command in terminal:

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

And remove Bluefish programmers editor if you want via command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove bluefish
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Chromium Browser (Deb) Now Available to Install via Linux Mint 20 Repository

Last updated: February 21, 2021

Prefer installing Chromium web browser via deb over the snap package? Linux Mint 20 now includes the browser and keeps it updated in its own repository for both Ubuntu based and LMDE editions.

Since Ubuntu 20.04, chromium browser in the main repository is a dummy package. It’s redirected to the SNAP (containerized software package) when you trying to install it.

The Linux Mint team argued against this change and removed the package from its main repositories.

When it starts replacing packages for no good reason though, when it starts harming our interaction with upstream projects and software vendors and reducing our choice, it becomes a threat.

Now the Chromium browser is back to the official repositories for both Linux Mint and LMDE. And it’s a deb package built by the Linux Mint team.

How to Install Chromium Deb Package in Ubuntu 20.04:

Though there’s already an Ubuntu PPA that maintains the deb package, the one from Linux Mint is available for choice:

Just click the button below, download the deb package, install it and you’re done!

Note: For Ubuntu grab the package with “ulyana” in filename. For Debian download the one with “debbie” in filename.

Add the Linux Mint repository & receive updates:

You can add the Linux Mint repository, so you’re able to receive the package updates through Software Updater.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the Linux Mint 20 upstream repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyana upstream" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list'

2. Download and click install the key (its “linuxmint-keyring_2016.05.26_all.deb” so far):

3. Set the priority to make Ubuntu only install chromium from Linux Mint repository.

Run command to create and open the configuration file in text editor:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/preferences.d/mint-ulyssa-pin

When it opens, paste below lines and save the file.

# Allow upgrading only chromium from Ulyssa repository
Package: chromium
Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com
Pin-Priority: 500

# Never prefer other packages from the Ulyssa repository
Package: *
Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com
Pin-Priority: 1

4. Finally check updates and install the web browser:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install chromium

Note the package is chromium rather than chromium-browser.

To remove Linux Mint repository:

Simply go to Software & Updates -> Other Software tab and remove the repository line.

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Pandora Client Pithos 1.5.1 Released [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: September 13, 2022

Pithos, native Pandora Radio client for Linux, released version 1.5.1 a day ago with minor bug-fixes and improvements.

Pithos is much more lightweight than the Pandora.com web client, and integrates with desktop features such as media keys, notifications, and the sound menu. The latest v1.5.1 release highlights include:

  • Add Quit to the app menu
  • Remove the limit of 95 stations
  • Handle Enter keypress in stations search
  • Fix app menu keybindings failing to work
  • Fix syntax error on Python 3.8
  • Fix an exception on newer versions of pygobject
  • Fix album art downloads in Flatpak
  • MPRIS: Fix media keys failing to bind on KDE

How to Install Pithos 1.5.1 in Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

If you’re OK with the containerized flatpak package. Pithos 1.5.1 has been made into flathub.org for most Linux systems.

For those prefer .deb package, the unofficial PPA is available for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20, Ubuntu 22.04.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

2. Then check updates and install the client:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install pithos

How to Remove Pithos:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

And to remove the Pandora client, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove pithos
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Kodi 18.9 Released with HTTP Access Workaround [PPA]

Last updated: October 25, 2020

Kodi media center released one more update for the 18.x “Leia” a day ago, with a quick workaround to the third-party HTTP2 and SSL changes that impacted internet access from Kodi by scrapers, streaming addons, etc.

Okay, one more roll of the “Leia” die, although this one is really driven by circumstances beyond our control. Technical changes by Cloudflare caused significant issues with HTTP access to any site using them – metadata sources, for example – and we need to put in a quick workaround before everyone gets too upset; while 19.x “Matrix” is close, it’s not close enough to leave these issues unaddressed. So, as we’re building that new code, we thought that we might as well fix a couple of other regressions while we’re here.

Changes in Kodi 18.9 also include:

  • Fix memory leaks in TexturePacker
  • Fix event server unable to send raw key strikes
  • Fix issues around directory navigation and incorrectly-set start directories
  • Fix MediaCodec OES/EGL rendering

How to Install Kodi 18.9 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:

or refresh system package cache and install Kodi 18.9 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

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Ubuntu 20.10 Released! How to Upgrade from Ubuntu 20.04 to Ubuntu 20.10

Last updated: October 23, 2020

Ubuntu 20.10 Groovy Gorilla was officially released! Here’s how to upgrade from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Ubuntu 20.10 will be supported for 9 months until July 2021. It features Linux Kernel 5.8, desktop images for Raspberry Pi 4, and GNOME 3.38 on Ubuntu Desktop.

Other changes include:

  • Airtime Queue limits for better WiFi connection quality
  • USB 4 (Thunderbolt 3 protocol) support added
  • Intel Gen11 (Ice Lake) and Gen12 (Tiger Lake) graphics support
  • Initial support for AMD Family 19h (Zen 3)
  • Initial support for POWER10
  • Toolchain update: GCC 10, LLVM 11, Python 3.8.6, etc.
  • nftables is now the default backend for the firewall.
  • The latest OpenStack, updated apps, and more.

Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 to Ubuntu 20.10:

Ubuntu 20.10 ISO images are available to download at releases.ubuntu.com/20.10.

If you want to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.10 Groovy Gorilla from Ubuntu 20.04, do following steps one by one.

1. Back up all your important data. And you may also create a system restore point via TimeShift which is available in Ubuntu Software.

2. Open Software & Updates and do:

  • select download from Main Server in the first tab.
  • disable all third-party PPAs in the second tab.
  • select ‘Notify me of a new Ubuntu version: For any version‘ in the third tab.

3. Open Software Updater and install all system updates! Restart after installation if it asks.

4. Open Software Updater again, and it should prompt that Ubuntu 20.10 is available to upgrade.

5. Click on the Upgrade… button. Type your password when it prompts. You will be presented with the Release Notes for the release you’re about to upgrade to.

Click on the Upgrade button. It will download the upgrading tool and show you a Distribution Upgrade window allows you to monitor progress. If everything goes OK, you’ll be prompted to restart the system to complete the upgrade.

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KeePassXC 2.6.2 Released with ‘Always on Top’ Option

Last updated: April 24, 2024

KeePassXC, KeePass Cross-Platform Community Edition, released a new update today with new menu option to keep window always on top.

Besides the ‘Always on Top’ menu option, KeePassXC 2.6.2 also features:

  • Move show/hide usernames and passwords to view menu
  • Add command line options and environment variables for changing the config locations
  • Include TOTP settings in CSV import/export and add support for ISO date times
  • Mask sensitive information in command execution confirmation prompt
  • Change “Add key” keyboard shortcut to Ctrl+H.
  • Various bug-fixes, and stability improvements.

How to Install KeePassXC 2.6.2 in Ubuntu:

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
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