Archives For November 30, 1999
DigiKam photo manager released new major version 6.0 recently with many great new feature including video files management support as photo.
DigiKam 6.0 release highlights:
- Full support of video files management working just like photos.
- An integration of all import/export web-service tools in LightTable, Image editor and Showfoto.
- Raw file decoding engine supporting new cameras.
- Similarity data is now stored in a separate database file.
- Simplified web-service authentication using OAuth protocol.
- New tools to export to Pinterest, OneDrive and Box web-services.
- The capability to re-organize the icon-view contents manually.
- See the release note for more details.
Download DigiKam 6.0
There’s no PPA repository, snap package, or flatpak package for the latest DigiKam.
So far there’s only Appimage available to make it easy to run DigiKam in Ubuntu.
- Download the i386.appimage (for 32-bit) or x86_64.appimage (for 64-bit)
- Right-click and go to file’s Properties dialog, and make it executable
- Finally run the appimage to launch digiKam.
Handbrake video transcode 1.2.1 was released a few days ago with numerous bug-fixes and improvements.
Handbrake 1.2.1 release highlights:
- Fixed potential crashes due to use of uninitialized variables
- Improved minimum duration to only apply to DVD and BD sources
- Fixed incorrect video rotation where rotation flagged as none
- Fixed yadif deinterlace filter not properly deinterlacing all frames
- Fixed missing frame at the end of encodes from m2ts sources
- Fixed detection of MPEG-1 video in program streams
- Fixed decoding of MPEG-1 video in DVD sources
- Fixed Apple VideoToolbox encoding issues related to pyramidal B-frames
- Fixed lapsharp filter corrupting frame edges
- Improved NLMeans performance
- Improved AMD VCE encoding to enable placing key frames at chapter markers
- Improved calculation of final frame duration
- Improved support for BT.2020 color space
- Fixed channel mapping for AAC 5.1 encoding
- Fixed display of special characters in preset names
- Fixed exporting presets to sanitize system reserved characters
- Miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements
How to Install Handbrake in Ubuntu:
The official HandBrake PPA offers the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, and Linux Mint 19.x.
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases
Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it asks for sudo command and hit Enter to add PPA.
2. Then install the video transcoder via command:
sudo apt install handbrake-gtk handbrake-cli
Linux Mint needs to run command sudo apt update first to refresh system package cache.
Uninstall:
To remove the software, open terminal and run command:
sudo apt remove --autoremove handbrake-gtk handbrke-cli
To remove the PPA, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.
Sigil ebook editor released version 0.9.11 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 16.04, and Linux Mint 19.x.
Sigil 0.9.11 release highlights:
- Sigil’s ini preference files will be utf-8 encoded (Make backups before upgrading).
- Restore ability to click in the Preview window to reposition to the same point in Code View.
- Update Sigil’s gumbo parser to fix all known bugs and greatly speedup parsing
- Add support for internal but unmanifested opf metadata link resources under epub3
- Extend “Open With” context menu to allow up to 5 external editors per resource type
- And various bug-fixes.
How to Install Sigil 0.9.11 in Ubuntu:
The new release can be easily installed in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19 via PPA (unofficial) repository.
1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for “Terminal” from software launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/sigil
Type your user password (no asterisks feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter.
2. Then you can upgrade Sigil editor from an existing release via Software Updater:
Or install /upgrade Sigil via commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt install sigil
Uninstall:
To remove the PPA repository, launch ‘Software & Updates’ utility and navigate to ‘Other Software’ tab.
To remove Sigil epub editor, either use system package manager or run command in terminal:
sudo apt-get remove --autoremove sigil sigil-data
Qmmp, Qt-based multimedia player, released version 1.3.0 with many new features, improvements, and bug-fixes.
Qmmp 1.3.0 release highlights:
- Add history plugin.
- Add mono to stereo converter
- Add mpg123-based decoder
- Add PulseAudio volume control
- Add cover edition feature
- Add playlist reading/writing optimization
- Add TAK support
- Add feature to send listened tracks to ListenBrainz
- Improvements to skinned plugin, qsui plugin, http plugin, stream browser.
- Removed mpris1 support, and various other changes.
How to Install Qmmp 1.3.0 in Ubuntu:
Qmmp 1.3.0 is available to install via its official PPA, for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Linux Mint 18.x and 19.x.
1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or from app launcher, and then run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:forkotov02/ppa
Input your password (no asterisks feedback while typing) and hit Enter to continue.
2. If a previous version exists, upgrade Qmmp using Software Updater:
Or run commands to install or upgrade Qmmp and its plugins:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack
For qt4 version, use qmmp-qt4 and qmmp-plugin-pack-qt4 instead in the last command.
Uninstall:
You can manage the PPA repository via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.
To remove Qmmp music player, either use your system package manager or run command:
sudo apt-get remove --autoremove qmmp qmmp-*
Visual Studio Code IDE 1.31 was released recently with new features, tree UI improvements, menu updates, and more.
Visual Studio Code 1.31 release highlights:
- No longer required to reload VS Code when you install or enable an extension.
- New tree widget
- Improved keyboard navigation
- Added cut command in Explorer context menu.
- More navigation actions added to Go menu.
- Added keyboard navigation in Linux with custom menus
- Full multiline issue details in the Problems panel.
- References: Show History command for the References view.
- Semantic selection for HTML, CSS, and JSON.
- Terminal text automatically reflows as panel width changes.
- Custom user input for task and debug configuration.
How to Install VS Code 1.31 in Ubuntu:
The easiest way is to install the community maintained Snap package, containerized software package, which available in Ubuntu Software:
The 1.31 snap package is not available at the moment, though it auto-updates itself once you installed it.
You can also install the official .deb package which is available for download at the link below:
Grab the deb and install it via either Gdebi package manager or command in terminal(Ctrl+Alt+T):
sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/code_*.deb; sudo apt -f install
For those who want to receive updates for VS Code via Software Updater utility, add the Microsoft repository via following steps (64bit only):
1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the repository:
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'
2. Download and install the repository key via commands:
curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > microsoft.gpg sudo mv microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/microsoft.gpg
3. Finally install the IDE via command:
sudo apt-get install code
Uninstall Visual Studio Code:
To remove the code editor, either use Synaptic Package Manager or run command:
sudo apt-get remove --autoremove code
And remove the Microsoft repository by launching Software & Updates utility and navigating to Other Software tab.
Vivaldi web browser released version 2.3 today with great new features, performance improvements, numerous bug-fixes.
Vivaldi 2.3 release highlights:
- Option to automatically create a tab stack: ‘Settings → New Tab Position → As Tab Stack with Related Tab’
- Add an option to show frequently visited pages in the URL Drop-Down: “Settings → Address bar → Address Field Drop-Down Menu → Include Frequently Visited Pages”
- Custom screenshot file name
- Save webpage as MHTML is enabled
- Spinner favicon when a tab is loading
- Passwords should be viewable in Settings
- Add confirmation dialog on exit
- Middle-click on tab Trash pastes buffered text into History search field
- See the release note for more details.
How to Install Vivaldi 2.3 in Ubuntu:
The official Ubuntu .DEB packages are available for download at the link below:
Grab the deb matches your OS, then install it via Ubuntu Software or Gdebi package manager. Or run command in terminal:
sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/vivaldi-stable_2.3*.deb
In addition, after installed the .deb package, you can enable Vivaldi apt repository (Softare & Updates -> Other Software) to receive future updates through Software Updater:
Flowblade video editor 2.0 was released a day ago with the largest changes to workflow and UX.
Flowblade release highlights:
- Select between 1 – 9 tools to be available via tool menu and shortcut keys 1-9
- Configurable timeline behaviours: drag’n’drop, composiors autofollow
- Option to choose between two Workflow Preset options:
Standard workflow,file style workflow. - New tools: Keyframe tool, Multitrim tool combines Trim, Roll and Slip tool into one, Cut tool, and Ripple Trim tool.
- Overwrite tool’s name was changed to Move
- New custom theme requires GTK+ > = 3.22
- Keyframe editing updates, Edit Action updates, and more.
How to Install Flowblade 2.0 in Ubuntu 18.04:
Flowblade offers official .deb package available for download at:
After downloaded the deb package, click install it via Gdebi (available in Ubuntu Software) package manager and enjoy!
Kodi media center, formerly known as XBMC, released the new stable 18.0 “Leia” a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 18.x, 19.x, and higher.
Kodi 18.0 is a big release with almost 10,000 commits, 3000 pull-requests. The key features include:
- Retroplayer gaming and associated game control support
- Digital Rights Management (DRM) decryption support
- Music Library – new ways to explore and enjoy your music collection
- Live TV improvements, support for Zattoo, Teleboy, and Sledovanitv.cz.
- Full voice functionality on the main Android TV.
- Improvements to audio and video playback, and Blu-ray support.
- Mir/Wayland support for Linux
How to Install Kodi 18.0 in Ubuntu:
The Kodi stable PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, and their derivatives.
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from application menu. When it opens, paste below command and hit run:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa
Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
2. Remove old Kodi package as it may prevent the new installation:
sudo apt remove --autoremove kodi kodi-data kodi-bin
3. Finally check updates and install Kodi 18.0:
sudo apt update sudo apt install kodi
For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can skip the apt update command.
Uninstall:
To remove the Kodi PPA repository, simply open Software & Updates -> Other Software.
To remove Kodi, run command in step 2.
HPLIP 3.19.1, HP developed Linux drivers for HP inkjet and laser based printers, was released one day ago with new devices and Linux Distros support.
According to the release note, HPLIP 3.19.1 adds following new devices support:
- HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82540du
- HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82550du
- HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82560du
- HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87640 du
- HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87650du
- HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87660du
- HP Scanjet Pro 2500 f1
Also 64-bit of Fedora 29, Open Suse 15, Manjaro 18.0, and RHEL 7.2 are now supported.
Download / Install HPLIP 3.19.1 in Ubuntu:
1. To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.19.1.run” from the link below:
2. Then make the downloaded file executable from its Properties dialog:
3. Finally open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or search for “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to start installing it:
./Downloads/hplip-3.19.1.run
Type your user password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter.
4. Then follow the terminal prompts, answer some questions to build and install HPLIP on your system. When everything is done, plug/re-plug your printers and enjoy!
