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How to Install The Latest Skype Snap in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher

Last updated: August 8, 2019

Skype for Linux

The official Skype for Linux Snap package has not been updated for almost one year.

Last week Skype updated the latest Skype Preview Snap package through new insider channel. And here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

1. First of all, REMOVE Skype Snap if you previously installed it via Ubuntu Software.

2. Then you can install the Skype snap from insider channel either via Ubuntu Software after switching channel:

or by opening terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo snap install skype --channel=insider/stable --classic

Once installed, launch Skype from application menu and enjoy!

In Howtos, News
 

qBittorrent 4.1.7 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 5, 2019

qBittorrent Bittorrent client 4.1.7 was released yesterday. Here’s how to install in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

qBittorrent 4.1.7 features:

  • Add 12 hour and 24 hour speed graphs
  • Change “Add new torrent” dialog to horizontal layout
  • Avoid race conditions when adding torrent
  • Fix torrent checking issues
  • Fix torrent properties not saved for paused torrents
  • Some improvements on qtsingleapplication code
  • Remove limits of “Disk cache expiry interval” setting
  • Remove upper limit of “Disk cache” setting
  • Don’t turn window blank when closed to system tray
  • Fix WebUI encoding of special characters
  • Change the speed unit of WebUI from Bytes/s to KiB/s for the rate limiter
  • Ignore RSS articles with non-unique identifiers
  • And various other bug-fixes. See news page for details.

How to Install qBittorrent 4.1.7 in Ubuntu:

The official qBittorrent PPA contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 19.04.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching “Terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run:

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

Type user password (no asterisk feedback while typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. To upgrade from a previous release, launch Software Updater and you’ll see qBittorrent available for upgrade after checking for updates.

Or run commands below to install /upgrade it from terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install qbittorrent

Uninstall:

To remove qBittorrent PPA, 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 Howtos, News
 

Liferea 1.12.7 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 4, 2019

Liferea (Linux Feed Reader) 1.12.7 was released a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

Though it’s been 8 months since the last release, Liferea 1.12.7 is a small release with a few bug-fixes:

  • Fix crash when selecting empty nodes.
  • Fix out-dated documentation on Firefox live bookmarks
  • Fix headline large images/videos or images with margins causing horizontal scrolling in headline view

How to Install Liferea 1.12.7 in Ubuntu:

The ppa repository contains the latest Liferea packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

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:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Type user password (no asterisk feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade Liferea via Software Updater utility:

or run commands one by one to install the Linux feed reader:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install liferea

Finally launch the news reader from your application launcher and enjoy!

Uninstall Liferea:

As the PPA also contains many other software packages, you may remove it by launching Software & Updates and navigating to Other Software tab.

If you want to remove the Liferea news reader software, either use your system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove liferea liferea-data
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DeaDBeeF Music Player 1.8.2 Released with Stability Fixes

Last updated: August 4, 2019

The second bug-fix release for Deadbeef 1.8 series was released a day ago with some stability fixes and improvements.

Deadbeef 1.8.2 release highlights:

  • Volume control from command line supports increment syntax
  • Fixed writing multi-value fields into FLAC tags
  • Map ALBUMARTIST field to ALBUM ARTIST field in FLAC
  • Fixed sound output plugin selection bug in GTK UI
  • Fixed crash when opening files of 0 size
  • Fixed UI freeze when nullout plugin is selected
  • Fixed a regression in restoring the last selected folder in GTK file chooser

How to Install Deadbeef in Ubuntu:

There’s a PPA repository contains the most recent Deadbeef packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and their derivatives.

NOTE: the PPA is not updated at the moment for the new release. CHECK the previous PPA link before getting started.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) from application menu, and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:starws-box/deadbeef-player

2. Then install or upgrade the music player via command:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install deadbeef

To remove Deadbeef:

To remove the PPA repository, open Software & Updates -> Other Software, and remove the repository line.

To remove DeadBeef, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove deadbeef
In Howtos, News
 

Blender 2.80 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04

Last updated: July 31, 2019

Blender 2.80 was officially released yesterday with redesigned UI, new render engine, and other improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.

Blender 2.80 features:

  • Redesigned user interface with:
    • New dark theme and modern icon set
    • Use the left mouse button for selection by default.
    • Right-click context menu, and Quick Favorites menu (Q key)
    • Templates, and Workspaces
  • A new Workbench render engine
  • The 3D viewport and UV editor have new interactive tools and gizmos, along with a new toolbar.
  • Eevee – a new physically based real-time renderer.
  • Grease Pencil gets full 2D drawing and animation support
  • Combined CPU+GPU rendering for the Cycles renderer

How to Install Blender in Ubuntu:

Blender offers official Snap packages (runs in sandbox) for Linux Desktop.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for and install it from Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04, first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install snapd:

sudo apt install snapd

Then install the official Blender snap package via command:

sudo snap install blender --classic

Once installed, launch it from your system application launcher and enjoy!

In addition, for those who previously installed the snap of Blender 2.80 Beta, remove it before installing the stable package via command:

sudo snap remove blender
In Howtos, News
 

gImageReader 3.3.1 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: July 30, 2019

gImageReader 3.3.1, open source GTK/Qt front-end of tesseract-ocr, was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

gImageReader 3.3.1 release highlights:

  • Allow specifying a DPI to assume for image sources when exporting to PDF
  • Allow to choose whether to sanitize hyphens when exporting to PDF
  • Attempt to map 639-2 language codes to ISO 639-1 to set spelling language
  • Allow specifying character whitelist / blacklist for recognition
  • Various other improvements, bug-fixes, and translation updates.

How to Install gImageReader 3.3.1 in Ubuntu:

The PPA repository has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sandromani/gimagereader

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

2. You may remove old gImageReader package if installed from Ubuntu Software:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gimagereader

3. Finally install the latest packages via command:

sudo apt update; sudo apt install gimagereader-gtk

For qt version, replace gimagereader-gtk with gimagereader-qt in last command.

Uninstall gImageReader:

To remove the software, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gimagereader-qt gimagereader-gtk

And remove the PPA repository by going to Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News ,
 

FlightGear Flight Simulator 2019.1 Released! (Ubuntu PPA)

Last updated: July 29, 2019

Free open-source multi-platform flight simulator FlightGear 2019.1 was finally released today. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher.

FlightGear 2019.1 release highlights:

  • METAR interpretation: Change CAVOK visibility to 9999.0 metres
  • Add the ability to control the turbine engines spin down factor
  • Add the ability to set up the starter and acceleration times of a turbine
  • Yasim ground friction (stiction) changes
  • fgcommands “add-aiobject” and “remove-aiobject” for adding/removing objects to the AI subsystem.
  • Support for DDS Texture Cache
  • New experimental Compositor rendering framework
  • Some Boeing 777 update, and other more.

How to Install FlightGear in Ubuntu:

FlightGear is available in Ubuntu Software by default, but always old. To get the most recent version, you can:

  • either install or upgrade FlightGear via PPA repository.
  • or install the Flatpak package (runs in sandbox).

NOTE: Both PPA repository and Flatpak package are not updated at the moment. The new release packages will be available in a few days.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:saiarcot895/flightgear

Then you’ll be able to either upgrade FlightGear through Software Updater,

or install the simulator via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install flightgear

(Optional) You can remove the PPA either via the first step command with --remove added in the end, or by going to “Software & Updates -> Other Software” tab.

2. FlightGear Flatpak package is available in Flathub repository, where also contains how to install instructions.

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IntelliJ IDEA 2019.2 Released with Java 13 (Preview) Support

Last updated: July 28, 2019

A new major update IntelliJ IDEA 2019.2 was released a few days ago with a lot of exciting new features and improvements.

IntelliJ IDEA 2019.2 release highlights:

  • Java 13 Preview support:
    • support for the Switch Expressions preview feature and its new syntax.
    • support for the Text Blocks preview feature
  • Much improved startup times
  • Work smoothly with large files.
  • New modern borderless UI on Windows 10.
  • Integrate with Async profiler (macOS and Linux), and with Java Flight Recorder.
  • See announcement for more details.

How to Insall the Latest IntelliJ IDEA in Ubuntu:

It’s quite easy to install the latest IDEA packages in Ubuntu since Jetbrains offers official snap (containerised software package) package in snappy store.

Simply open Ubuntu Software, search for and you’ll see IDEA ultimate and community packages available for install.

NOTE for Ubuntu 16.04 users who never installed a snap package, make sure snapd is installed by running command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the package via command (you may replace community in the code with ultimate):

sudo snap install intellij-idea-community --classic

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How to Install Parole Media Player 1.0.3 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.04

Last updated: July 27, 2019

Xfce’s lightweight Parole media player released the third bug-fix update for the 1.0 series today. Here’s how how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and their derivatives.

Parole 1.0.3 release highlights:

  • Drop deprecated OnlyShowIn keys in desktop actions
  • Ensure the time divider is shown/hidden correctly
  • Fix closing of Parole process with Ctrl-Q
  • Fix Gtk-CRITICAL when closing main window
  • Change text ‘…’ to ‘…’ for consistency with other Xfce apps
  • Change text ’60 seconds’ to ‘1 minute’
  • Move appdata to metainfo

How to Install Parole 1.0.3 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.04:

The unofficial PPA has made the new release package for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 19.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Type user password (no asterisk feedback when typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade the media player via Software Updater utility:

or run following commands to install / upgrade it:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install parole

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the .deb package from HERE.

Uninstall:

Run following command to purge the PPA repository which also downgrade installed packages to the stock version in your Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps
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How to Install Linux Kernel 5.2.2 in Ubuntu / Linux Mint

Last updated: July 25, 2019

Ubuntu mainline kernel packages for Linux 5.2 finally available to download & install in 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

Due to build failure, Ubuntu mainline kernel packages for Linux 5.2 missed 32-bit & 64-bit packages for a few weeks.

Linux Kernel 5.2 release highlights:

  • Nouveau suppport for GeForce GTX 1650.
  • Intel Icelake graphics considered production-ready.
  • Intel Comet Lake support
  • Improved AMD Ryzen laptop support.
  • Better Logitech wireless device support.
  • New “RTW88” 802.11ac WiFi driver.
  • Various other improvements and updated drivers.

At the moment, Linux 5.2 series is at the second 5.2.2 maintenance release. And here’s how to install it in Ubuntu, Linux Mint.

How to Install Linux Kernel 5.2.2 in Ubuntu:

The mainline kernel packages for Linux 5.2.2 are available for download at the link below:

Depends on your OS type, download and install the packages in turns:

  1. linux-headers-5.2.2-xxxxxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-5.2.2-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb
  3. linux-modules-5.2.2-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb
  4. linux-image-xxx-5.2.2-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb

Select generic for common system, and lowlatency for a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio), amd64 for 64bit system, i386 for 32bit system, or armhf, arm64, etc for other OS types.

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

For 64-bit OS:

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-headers-5.2.2-050202_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-headers-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-image-unsigned-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-modules-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

for 32-bit OS:

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-headers-5.2.2-050202_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-headers-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_i386.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-image-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_i386.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.2.2/linux-modules-5.2.2-050202-generic_5.2.2-050202.201907231250_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Once installed, restart your computer and enjoy!

Uninstall Linux Kernel 5.2.2:

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 5.2.2:

sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-5.2.2-050202-generic linux-image-unsigned-5.2.2-050202-generic
In Howtos, News