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CopyQ clipboard manager 3.7.0 was released a few hours ago with enhancements and many bug-fixes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.10.

CopyQ 3.7.0 release highlights:

  • New option to show notes beside item content
  • Removed option to show icon instead of notes
  • Only plain text is Copied/Pasted from menu if Shift key is pressed
  • Customizable shortcut for Item context menu
  • Remove unmaintained Data plugin (can be replaced with a script)
  • Allow to set icon to tab groups in tree view
  • Allow export even if a tab group or an unloaded tab is selected
  • Automatic commands are no longer run in clipboard monitor context
  • Omit aborting monitor by calling abort() from automatic commands
  • Omit aborting automatic commands by changing configuration
  • Updated icons (Font Awesome 5.4.2)
  • Various bug-fixes
  • X11: Faster and safer clipboard checking and synchronization
  • X11: Prioritize checking clipboard before selection

Install Copyq 3.7.0 in Ubuntu:

The official PPA repository has made the latest packages for all current Ubuntu releases and their derivatives.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hluk/copyq

Input your password (no asterisks feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After added the PPA repository, install CopyQ either via Synaptic package manager or by running commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install copyq

Once installed, start the clipboard manager from application launcher and you’ll see the icon in system tray area.

Uninstall:

To remove the software, either use Synaptic package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove copyq

To remove PPA repositories, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

PPSSPP Sony PSP emulator 1.7 was released a few days ago with a large number of compatibility and bugfixes. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 16.04, and Ubuntu 14.04.

PPSSPP 1.7 release highlights:

  • Fix for insta-crash on Galaxy Note 9, some Xiaomi devices, and the new nVidia Shield
  • Vertex range culling on most platforms, fixes DTM: Race Driver and similar
  • Major speed boost in some Gundam and Earth Defense Force games
  • Fix for issues with post processing shaders in GL 3+
  • Fixes to sound output switching on Windows (WASAPI)
  • Detects DirectInput devices when running
  • Simple Discord integration
  • New debugging APIs
  • Task switching made a lot more robust (fixes GPD XD problems)
  • Texture decoding optimizations
  • Tons and tons of miscellaneous bugfixes and compatibility fixes

How to Install PPSSPP 1.7 in Ubuntu:

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, do following steps one by one to install PPSSPP in all current Ubuntu releases.

1. Copy and paste the command and hit run to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ppsspp/stable

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

2. Then refresh system package cache and install the latest PPSSPP via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ppsspp

Replace ppsspp with ppsspp-sdl in the code for the SDL version.

Uninstall:

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

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ppsspp/stable

To remove PPSSPP, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove ppsspp ppsspp-sdl ppsspp-common

Vivaldi web browser 2.1 was released today with focus on Quick Commands improvements and various other changes.

Vivaldi 2.1 release highlights:

  • Enable support for AV1
  • Quick Commands improvements including:
    • Notes search
    • UI Zoom and support for command line parameters
    • Open items in a new tab via modifier keys
  • Numerous fixes, Updated translations, and Upgraded Chromium to 70.0.3538.77
  • For more, see the release note.
  • How to Install Vivaldi 2.1 in Ubuntu:

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

    Download Vivaldi (DEB)

    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_2.1*.deb; sudo apt -f install

    In addition, after installed the .deb package, you can enable Vivaldi apt repository (Softare & Updates -> Other Software) to receive future updates through Software Updater:

    Firefox 63 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu

    Last updated: October 24, 2018

    Firefox 55

    Mozilla Firefox 63.0 was released one day ago. All current Ubuntu releases can install it through security & updates repositories.

    Firefox 63.0 release highlights:

    • Performance and visual improvements for Windows users.
    • Faster tab switching, reactivity improvements for macOS users.
    • Opt to block third-party tracking cookies or block all trackers and create exceptions for trusted sites
    • WebExtensions now run in their own process on Linux
    • Added search shortcuts for Top Sites: Amazon and Google appear as Top Sites tiles on the Firefox Home (New Tab) page.
    • The Ctrl+Tab shortcut now displays thumbnail previews of your tabs

    Upgrade to Firefox 63 in Ubuntu:

    The Ubuntu Mozilla Team has published the new Firefox packages for Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, and their derivatives.

    Simply open Software Updater (Update Manager), and install the updates after checking for updates:

    If you don’t see the Firefox updates, go to Software & Updates -> Update and make sure security & updates repositories are enabled.

    Linux Kernel

    Linux Kernel 4.19 LTS (Long Term Support) was released yesterday. Instead of Linus, Greg KH announced the new 4.19 release and wrote lots of words:

    While it was not the largest kernel release every by number of commits, it was larger than the last 3 releases, which is a non-trivial thing to do. After the original -rc1 bumps, things settled down on the code side and it looks like stuff came nicely together to make a solid kernel for everyone to use for a while. And given that this is going to be one of the “Long Term” kernels I end up maintaining for a few years, that’s good news for everyone.

    A small trickle of good bugfixes came in this week, showing that waiting an extra week was a wise choice. However odds are that linux-next is just bursting so the next -rc1 merge window is going to be bigger than “normal”, if there is such a thing as “normal” for our rate of development.

    And speaking of development, there’s that other thing that happened this release cycle, that ended up making it such that I’m the one writing this instead of Linus. Allow me the guilty pleasure of taking a few minutes to talk about that….

    What’s New in Kernel 4.19 (via omgubuntu.co.uk):

    • An alternate mode driver for USB Type-C/DisplayPort Type-C support
    • Better support for Intel’s Low Power Subsystem (LPSS)
    • Support for Qualcomm Adreno 600 series hardware
    • Initial support for Intel Icelake graphics
    • Armada atomic mode-setting
    • Ongoing DRM improvements
    • x86 KVM improvements
    • In-kernel GPS subsystem
    • General touchscreen improvements
    • Initial support for the 802.11ax WLAN
    • Various Filesystem improvements
    • Obligatory Linux power management tweaks
    • Continued Y2038 prep

    How to Install Linux Kernel 4.19 in Ubuntu:

    There are a few third-party tools, e.g., UKTools and Ukuu, make it easy to install the latest Kernel in Ubuntu.

    You can also manually download the Kernel 4.19 Ubuntu binary packages at:

    Download Kernel 4.19

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

    1. linux-headers-4.19.0-xxxxxx_all.deb
    2. linux-headers-4.19.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb
    3. linux-modules-4.19.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb
    4. linux-image-xxx-4.19.0-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.

    Also you can download and install the kernel binaries via terminal commands:

    For 64-bit OS:

    cd /tmp/
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-headers-4.19.0-041900_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_all.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-headers-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_amd64.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-image-unsigned-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_amd64.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-modules-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_amd64.deb
    
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb

    for 32-bit OS:

    cd /tmp/
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-headers-4.19.0-041900_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_all.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-headers-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_i386.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-image-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_i386.deb
    
    wget -c http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19/linux-modules-4.19.0-041900-generic_4.19.0-041900.201810221809_i386.deb
    
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb

    Once installed, restart your computer and enjoy!

    Uninstall Linux Kernel 4.19:

    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 4.19.0:

    sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-4.19.0-041900-generic linux-image-unsigned-4.19.0-041900-generic

    SMplayer

    SMPlayer media player 18.10 was released a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 16.04, and their derivatives.

    SMPlayer 18.10 optimised the internal code for YouTube, so it now supports resolutions up to 4K. In addition, support for age restricted videos has been fixed.

    SMPlayer with Mac skin

    How to Install SMPlayer 18.6 in Ubuntu:

    For all current Ubuntu releases and their derivatives, do following steps to install or upgrade SMPlayer via the PPA repository.

    1. Search for and launch “terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/smplayer

    Type your user password (no asterisks feedback while typing) when it asks and hit Enter.

    Smplayer PPA

    2. Then upgrade SMPlayer using Software Updater (or Update Manager):

    upgrade smplayer

    or run commands in terminal to install (or upgrade) the media player:

    sudo apt-get update
    
    sudo apt-get install smplayer smtube smplayer-themes

    Uninstall:

    To remove SMPlayer, run command in terminal:

    sudo apt-get remove --autoremove smplayer smtube smplayer-*

    And remove the PPA via “Software & Updates” utility under “Other Software” tab.

    Ubuntu 18.04

    Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish was finally released today. Here’s how to upgrade from Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 18.10.

    Ubuntu 18.10 is a short-term release with 9 months support. It features Linux 4.18 kernel, X.Org Server 1.20.1, Mesa 18.2.2, and new default desktop theme ‘Yaru’.

    Preparation:

    Before getting started, you need to do some preparations:

    1. Backup your bookmarks, documents, and other important data.
    2. It’s recommended to remove proprietary drivers and use the open-source drivers instead.
    3. Purge or remove third-party PPA repositories (Software & Updates -> Other Software)

    To upgrade to Ubuntu 18.10:

    1. Open Software & Updates and navigate to Updates tab.

    Then select “For any version” from the drop-down menu of ‘Notify me of a new Ubuntu version’

    2. Install all available system updates by running commands in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

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

    3. Start Update Manager and you’ll see Ubuntu 18.10 available for upgrade (Restart first if required):

    sudo update-manager -c

    4. Click the Upgrade button and confirm in the next release note dialog:

    The upgrading process starts and it may take a few hours depends on your device and internet speed.

    Grub Customizer, the graphical tool for configuring Grub boot-loader, got a new release a few days ago. The PPA adds support for Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish.

    Grub Customizer is a simple tool that features:

    • add, remove, edit boot-loader menu entries.
    • Set default OS entry, kernel parameters, etc.
    • Change background image, text font, resolution, etc.
    • Reinstallation of the bootloader to Windows MBR

    The most recent 5.1.0 release features:

    • New app icon
    • command option -v to display version info.
    • Traslation updates and some internal changes

    How to Install Grub Customizer 5.1.0 in Ubuntu:

    For Ubuntu 18.10, and current 3 Ubuntu LTS releases (14.04, 16.04, 18.04), install the new release packages via following steps:

    1. Open terminal either from App Launcher or via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut. When it opens, paste below command and run to add the official PPA:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer

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

    2. Then update package lists and install the software:

    sudo apt-get update
    
    sudo apt-get install grub-customizer

    You can skip sudo apt-get update in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, since step 1 adding PPA do it automatically.

    Once installed, launch it from application menu and enjoy!

    Uninstall:

    To remove the software, run command in terminal:

    sudo apt-get remove --autoremove grub-customizer

    And open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab to remove third party PPA repositories.

    The latest Mesa graphics driver 18.2.2 is finally available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 via Ubuntu-X PPA.

    Mesa 18.2.2 was released a week ago with following changes:

    • Better GTA V support with the RADV Vulkan driver.
    • RADV fix to address a GPU hang encountered by Radeon RX Vega hardware with SteamVR.
    • vkAcquireNextImage2 support within the ANV and RADV Vulkan drivers.
    • ANV now has support for protected memory properties via GetPhysicalDeviceProperties2().
    • The Gallium3D Nine “D3D9” state tracker has increased the number of temp registers as well as other improvements.
    • A new PCI ID added for a Polaris part: 0x6FDF.
    • And various bug-fixes.

    How to Install Mesa 18.2.2 in Ubuntu 18.04:

    To install the latest Mesa driver, e.g., for gaming, open terminal and do following steps one by one

    1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for ‘Terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

    Type your password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

    2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

    apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.

    3. Finally check your driver version via command:

    glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

    Uninstall:

    To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

    sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

    Guvcview (GTK UVC Viewer), a simple tool for capturing & viewing video from webcams and other v4l2 devices, reached 2.0.6 release earlier today.

    Guvcview 2.0.6 is a small release with following changes:

    • Add support for resizing the render window from the command line
    • Update to new libavcodec API
    • And some bug fixes.

    How to Install Guvcview 2.0.6 in Ubuntu 18.04:

    The developer’s PPA so far contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Linux Mint 19.

    1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for ‘terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pj-assis/ppa

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

    2. If you’ve installed an old version from Ubuntu Software, remove it via command:

    sudo apt-get remove --autoremove guvcview

    3. Finally install the 2.0.6 packages from the PPA repository via command:

    sudo apt-get install guvcview

    Once installed, launch the UVC viewer from application menu. To check the software version, run guvcview -v command in terminal.

    Uninstall:

    To remove the software, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

    sudo apt-get remove --autoremove guvcview

    To remove the PPA, open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.