Four new tone-mapping operators: ferwerda, kimkautz, lischinski and vanhateren.
Speed up for hdr creation
Added post processing gamma and saturation.
Great speedup and better memory usage for all tonemapping operators
Preview of created HDR in HDR Wizard
Other small improvements and bug-fixes as usual.
How to Install Luminance HDR 2.6.0 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.04
There’s an unofficial PPA contains the latest Luminance HDR packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.
Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:
1. Run command to add the PPA repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhor/myway
Type user password (no visual feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
2. If you have a previous release installed, launch Software Updater (Update Manager) and upgrade the software:
Or run following command to install (or upgrade) Luminance HDR:
sudo apt install luminance-hdr
How to Uninstall:
The PPA repository can be removed by going to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.
To remove the software, either use your system package manager or run command:
Improvements on the Blu-ray support, notably for menus
Improve MP4 support
Improvements for HDR support on Windows, including for HLG streams
Improve Chromecast support with new ChromeCast apps
Fixes for UPnP discovery on MacBooks with a TouchBar
Fixes for some 10bit and 12bit rendering on Windows 10
And numerous security fixes.
How to Install VLC 3.0.7 in Ubuntu:
The official VLC 3.0.7 snap package (containerised software package) is available in Ubuntu Software for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04, and higher.
For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and make sure snapd daemon is installed.
sudo apt-get install snapd
Then install VLC 3.0.7 snap package via command:
sudo snap install vlc --classic
Once installed, open VLC from your system application launcher and enjoy!
(Optional) To remove the snap package, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:
sudo snap remove vlc
VLC 3.0.7 PPA:
For those who are looking for traditional VLC .deb package, the unofficial PPA contains the latest VLC 3.0.7 packages for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04.
KXStitch, KDE software to create cross stitch pattern and chart, released version 2.2.0. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.
KXStitch is a program that lets you create cross stitch patterns and charts. Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics file formats which will allow you to reduce the number of colors and to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches. You may also use images as backgrounds allowing you to trace over them. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.
KXStitch 2.2.0 was released silently. No release note, no changelog. According to the project commits, it’s a bug-fix release with fixes for Qt 5.11 compile issue, importing images for V6 of ImageMagick, and many other issues.
How to Install KXStitch 2.2.0 in Ubuntu:
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:
Introduce a memory wiping feature to reduce the risk of secrets.
Prevent infinite save loop when location is unavailable.
Fix opening URL’s with non-http schemes.
Fix data loss due to not reading all database attachments if duplicates exist
Update group in preview widget when focused
Remove non-functional apply button in application settings
Linux Snap package fixes and improvements.
And fixes to Mac OS, web browser, and others
How to Install KeePassXC in Ubuntu via Snap:
The official snap package (runs in sandbox and auto-updates itself) is available in Ubuntu Software for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, though it’s not updated to v2.4.2 at the moment.
For Ubuntu 16.04, run command to install snapd daemon first:
sudo apt-get install snapd
Then install the snap package via command:
sudo snap install keepassxc
How to Install KeePassXC in Ubuntu via PPA:
For those who don’t prefer snap packages, the official KeePassXC PPA contains the most recent .deb packages for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, and Ubuntu 19.04.
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:phoerious/keepassxc
Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
2. Then upgrade KeePassXC via Software Updater:
or run commands one by one in terminal to install the latest package:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install keepassxc
Uninstall:
To remove the PPA, open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.
To remove KeePassXC .deb package, run command in terminal:
Scrn, formerly known as iTeleport, is a remote desktop control software that support accessing your computor from anywhere via phone, tablet, other computer, or web browser.
“Scrn is on a mission to help you quickly, easily, and securely access your computer from anywhere. Our patented interface makes it incredibly simple to navigate your computer from your iPhone/iPad, using the touchscreen as a giant trackpad, with intuitive gestures for clicking, dragging, double-clicking and even triple-clicking. Try it out (it’s free!) to see what we mean.
Scrn is built upon WebRTC (a web standard for live video-conferencing and screen sharing), which we’ve optimized for remote desktop. It blows VNC/RDP out of the water. You’ll enjoy a fast (30 frames per second), HD-quality view of your screen, with a user interface that is far superior to anything on the market. You can even control your computer from a browser, no mobile app required: https://scrn.app”
The official Scrn snap package now is available in snap store for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher.
For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply open Ubuntu Software, search for and install Scrn.
For Ubuntu 16.04, first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install snapd daemon:
sudo apt-get install snapd
Then install Scrn snap via command:
sudo snap install scrn
Once installed, launch if from your system application launcher and enjoy!
(Optional) To remove the Scrn snap package, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal window:
The open-source music notation software MuseScore 3.1 was released today with new features and significant improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.
Ignificant improvements to automatic placement and layout
Automatic placement no longer prevent user from moving elements
Fretboard diagrams improvements including:
Multiple dots per string
Partial and multiple barres
Different dot shapes (especially useful for Ted Greene diagrams)
Ability to not show nut
Customizable distance between strings and frets
Chord symbols for diagrams
New commands Edit > Paste Half Duration and Edit > Paste Double Duration
New command Tools > Unroll Repeats
How to Install MuseScore 3.1 in Ubuntu:
Appimage:
For non-install, single executable appimage, it’s available at the link below:
Right-click the Appimage, go to Properties -> Permissions -> tick the box says ‘Allow executing file as program’, finally run it to launch MuseScore 3.1:
Install MuseScore via PPA:
The official MuseScore3 PPA maintains the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.
The 3.1 release package will usually available in 2 or 3 days.
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
KTorrent, full-featured BitTorrent application by KDE, now is officially available as Snap package. Which means you can now easily install the latest KTorrent in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher, and keep it always updated.
KTorrent features:
Queuing of torrents
Previewing of certain file types, build in (video and audio)
Importing of partially or fully downloaded files
File prioritization for multi-file torrents
Selective downloading for multi-file torrents
Kick/ban peers with an additional IP Filter dialog for list/edit purposes
UDP tracker support
Support for private trackers and torrents
Support for µTorrent’s peer exchange
Support for protocol encryption (compatible with Azureus)
Support for creating trackerless torrents
Support for distributed hash tables (DHT, the Mainline version)
Support for UPnP to automatically forward ports on a LAN with dynamic assigned hosts
Support for webseeds
Scripting support via Kross, and interprocess control via D-Bus interface
Tracker authentication support
Connection through a proxy
How to Install KTorrent Snap in Ubuntu 18.04 & Higher:
Open Ubuntu Software and search for ktorrent. There will be two packages available:
KTorrent snap maintained by KDE.
Stock KTorrent package offered by Ubuntu.
For Ubuntu 16.04, run following command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install snapd first.
sudo apt-get install snapd
Then install the KTorrent snap package via command (it’s in --candidate channel at the moment):
snap install ktorrent --candidate
The snap package co-exists with stock Ubuntu package, you’ll see two KTorrent icons in application menu if both installed.
(Optional) To remove the snap package, run command in terminal:
Many popular applications (e.g., PyCharm, Blender and even Firefox) provide Linux tarball that include executable files can be run directly to launch the apps.
However, we need to manually create app launcher, to make it possible to launch them by searching the apps from start menu (‘Activities‘ overview). And, ‘Arronax’ is the app to do the job easily.
The .desktop files
App launchers in Linux are handled by files via .desktop extension. Each app you can see in system start menu has an associated .desktop file in either ‘/usr/share/applications‘ or ‘.local/share/applications‘ directory.
For portable Linux tarball, or appimage that does not have an app launcher, user may manually create a .desktop file in either directory to link app into system start menu.
Arronax:
KDE, Cinnamon, and XFCE now have built-in utility to create desktop app launcher. But, GNOME does not!
Arronax is the simple tool started almost 10 years ago, with ability to create and edit .desktop file.
With it, user may either right-click on the executable file and select ‘Create a Starter’, or open the app by searching from start menu (‘Activities’ overview):
For basic function, just type name to display in start menu, select executable file for ‘Command’ box, and choose an icon! Save it to the right location, and that’s all!!
All other options are optional! Though, you may move cursor over an option to get tool-tip tells what it does, and enable it as need.
Finally, click on “Save” button. In the bottom of file save dialog, user may choose the standard location to save the .desktop file.
“User app folder” – stores app launcher files for current user only.
“System app folder” – stores app launcher files for all system user.
“User / System Autostart folder” – store app launchers start automatically on start up.
NOTE: save to system folder needs to run Arronax as root (run sudo arronax in terminal).
How to Install Arronax in Ubuntu:
The app is available to install via an official PPA for all current Ubuntu releases, including Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.10, and Ubuntu 22.04.
1. Firstly, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the software PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:diesch/stable
Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
UPDATE for Ubuntu 23.10: the app seems to be no longer updated! If you do need it, run command to add this unofficial PPA instead of 23.10.
