GTK+ Twitter Client ‘Cawbird’ 1.3 Released with Uploading Video Support

Last updated: January 1, 2021

Cawbird, free and open-source GTK+ Twitter Client for Linux, released version 1.3 with many new features, improvements, bug-fixes.

Cawbird 1.3 comes with improved DM (Direct Messages). It adds ability to send media in DMs, delete DMs, load older DMs, and fixes DM load order issue.

The new release includes new Vala implementation API allows to upload videos and larger animated GIFs.

Other changes in Cawbird 1.3 include:

  • Apply filtering across all feeds (including search)
  • Apply changes to filtering, muting, blocking and hiding RTs across all feeds instantly
  • Allow the filtering of mentioned @-handles
  • Load media in DMs and linkify users and hashtags
  • Use HTTPS avatars throughout
  • Allow Compose view to shrink to narrower screens (e.g. for PinePhone)
  • Design changes, stability improvements, and bug-fixes.

How to Install Cawbird in Ubuntu:

The software developer maintains OBS repository with the packages for CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE. You can download the deb package directly from the link below:

To receive future updates via Software Updater, you can open terminal and run following commands one by one to add the OBS repository:

  • Run command to add the cawbird repository (you may replace xUbuntu_20.04 with xUbuntu_18.04 or xUbuntu_20.10 depends on your system edition): 
    echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/IBBoard:/cawbird/xUbuntu_20.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:IBBoard:cawbird.list
  • Then install the keyring via command (also replace xUbuntu_20.04 to your system edition): 
    curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:IBBoard:cawbird/xUbuntu_20.04/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_IBBoard_cawbird.gpg > /dev/null
  • You can finally refresh package cache and install the twitter app via commands: 
    sudo apt update; sudo apt install cawbird

Uninstall Cawbird:

To remove the Twitter client, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove cawbird

To remove the software repository, go to Software & Updates -> Other Software, and remove the relevant line.

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Planner – Stylish Task Manager with Todoist Support for Linux

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Planner is a free and open-source task manager with Todoist support. It’s designed for Linux with a stylish user interface.

The software is written in Vala programming language with GTK+ 3 framework. It can synchronize your Projects, Task and Sections thanks to Todoist. And it supports for offline mode, everything will be synchronized when reconnected.

The Planner UI is highly customizable. It supports light, night, and dark modes, allows to adjust font size, button layout, and toggles on / off system window decoration.

  • Drag and drop to sort your tasks wherever you want.
  • Progress indicator for each project.
  • Drag and Drop and create your tasks wherever you want.
  • Create reminders, keyboard shortcuts, export database, and more.

How to Install Planner in Ubuntu Linux:

For elementary OS, it’s available in the AppCenter. For other Linux, the task manager is available via Flatpak package.

1.) Open terminal and run command to install flatpak daemon if you don’t have it:

sudo apt install flatpak

2.) Then add the flathub repository, which hosts the software packages:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3.) Finally install the Planner flatpak package via command:

flatpak install flathub com.github.alainm23.planner

Uninstall Planner:

To remove the package, simply run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.github.alainm23.planner
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Parole Media Player 4.15.0 Released, How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: December 30, 2020

Parole, Xfce’s default media player, released version 4.15.0 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20, and Ubuntu 20.10.

Parole 4.15.0 features a in-window popover Playlist instead of a slide-out panel. The shuffle functionality now utilizes a sort filter instead of randomly selecting the next track, making it possible making the playback history more accurate.

The new release also features improved DVD support, including a menu option to activate the subpicture menu, DVD menu load automatically if playback does not start successfully.

Other changes include:

  • Each dialog ported to CSD with some cleanup and default buttons marked as “suggested”.
  • Add new icon.
  • Fix build and missing-prototypes errors.
  • Play control improvements and translation updates.

How to install Parole 4.15.0 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has made the new release package for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 20.10. Ubuntu 18.04 is not supported at the moment due to a compile issue.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key 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 either upgrade the media player via Software Updater utility:

or run following command to install / upgrade it:

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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qBittorrent 4.3.2 Adds Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) Support

Last updated: December 29, 2020

qBittorrent 4.3.2 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu via PPA.

The new release of the Bittorrent client features an option for Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) support, which enable people around the world to use domain names in local languages and scripts.

It now allows to add root folder to torrent content. And “HTTPS tracker validation” option is available on all platforms with latest libtorrent.

Bug-fixes in qBittorrent 4.3.2 include:

  • Fix broken sorting on some columns
  • Fix availability per file value
  • Fix status of torrents without metadata
  • Don’t try to remove folders for a torrent without metadata
  • Lift upper limit of “Max concurrent HTTP announces” option
  • Add links to libtorrent documentation
  • Move “embedded tracker” options to qbt section
  • Properly handle “Append extension” option changing
  • Correctly save paused torrent state
  • Fix bug of “move storage job” can be performed multiple times

There are also a few WEB UI changes, including ability to use ‘shift+delete’ to delete torrents, allow to attach tags while adding torrents.

How to Install qBittorrent via PPA:

The official qBittorrent PPA has built the new release packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and derivatives.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command:

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

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

2. If an old version was installed on your system, upgrade it via Software Updater,

or run following commands to install /upgrade qBittorrent in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install qbittorrent

Uninstall:

To remove qBittorrent PPA, either 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
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TeXstudio 3.0.2 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04, 20.10

Last updated: December 28, 2020

TeXstudio, an open-source fully featured LaTeX editor, released version 3.0.2 a few hours ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu, Linux Mint.

Though it’s a bug-fix version, TeXstudio 3.0.2 was released after two beta test releases. It features:

  • Add large number of default dictionaries.
  • Handle \tabularnewline correctly
  • Fix text insertion on selected text
  • Change behavior for cut buffer and Ctrl+e (insert env).
  • Add texdoc as selectable command
  • Windows build now uses 64 bit and can handle larger documents

How to Install TeXstudio 3.0.2 in Ubuntu:

Non-install Appimage:

The editor offers official Appimage package, available to download at the link below:

Just grab the .appimage package, add “allow executing as program” in file’s Properties -> Permissions dialog, and finally run it to launch TeXstudio.

Install the LaTeX editor via PPA:

The official TeXstudio PPA maintains the software packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10.

While the PPA is not updated for the new release at the moment, you may grab the .deb binary from OBS repository (official).

Once the PPA is updated with the new release packages, you can do following steps one by one to install it:

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sunderme/texstudio

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to add the PPA.

2. If the stock version in Ubuntu main repository was installed, remove the texstudio-doc, texstudio-l10n (if any) package before upgrading the software:

sudo apt-get remove texstudio-doc texstudio-l10n

3. After adding the PPA, you can either upgrade it via Software Updater:

or run commands in terminal to install or upgrade the software:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install texstudio

Uninstall:

To remove the LaTeX editor, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove texstudio

And go to Software & Updates -> Other Software to remove PPA repositories.

In Howtos, News
 

GIMP 2.99.4 Released as New Development Version to GIMP 3.0

Last updated: December 27, 2020

GIMP image editor 2.99.4 was released a few days ago as the second development release for the next major GIMP 3.0.

Release highlights include:

  • Usability fixes across various parts of GIMP
  • New Paint Select tool in the playground
  • New generic dialog generation and metadata support API for export plug-ins
  • Multi-threaded JPEG2000 decoding
  • Initial documentation on porting plug-ins to 3.0

As Xmas present, there’s also a comic strip in the release note:

How to Install GIMP 2.99.4 in Ubuntu Linux

The new release has been made as Flatpak package available to install via flathub beta channel. Like the previous GIMP 2.99.2, you can follow this how to guide to install it in Ubuntu.

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Whisker Menu 2.5 Released with Updates for Xfce 4.16 [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: December 26, 2020

Whisker Menu, an alternate application launcher for Xfce, released version 2.5.0 with updated icons and refactor code for the new Xfce 4.16 desktop.

Whisker Menu 2.5.0 release highlights:

  • Add option to show all applications by default
  • Rearrange sidebar buttons to match default category
  • Show panel button title as tooltip in icon-only mode
  • Always sort top-level categories
  • Vertically center contents of header
  • Use new Xfce action icons
  • Use new desktop ids for default programs
  • Rewrite to hide menu on focus out
  • Refactor code to use new Xfce functions
  • Refactor building translations
  • Translation updates

How to Install Whisker Menu in Ubuntu:

If you use Xubuntu QA Staging PPA, you’ll find Whisker Menu is available for updating along with Xfce 4.16 packages.

The software is also available in the developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, and Linux Mint 19.x, 20.

1. Open terminal from system application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then either run commands one by one to install the application menu:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

or upgrade the package via system package manager.

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:gottcode/gcppa

It’s not recommended to remove Whisker Menu on Xfce desktop unless you use another application menu. You can however purge the PPA, which will downgrade the app menu to the stock version:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:gottcode/gcppa
In Howtos
 

Kdenlive 20.12 Released with New Subtitling Tool, Same Track Transitions

Last updated: December 22, 2020

Kdenlive video editor 20.12 was finally announced. Here’s what’s new and how to install it in Ubuntu.

The new release features the long requested same track transition function. It can be activated by selecting a clip and pressing “u” on keyboard or via the icon in the timeline toolbar.

Kdenlive 20.12 also features new subtitling tool allows to add and edit subtitles directly in the timeline or by using the new subtitle widget.

Other changes include:

  • Import (SRT/ASS) and export (SRT) subtitles.
  • An overhauled effects layout
  • Ability to rename and add/edit the description of custom effects
  • New Pillar Echo effect for vertical videos.
  • Crop by padding effect can now be keyframed.
  • New VR 360 and 3D effects
  • New Video Equalizer for adjusting image brightness, contrast, saturation and gamma.
  • Ability to enable/disable normalization of audio thumbnails from track header
  • Ability to delete multiple tracks at once
  • Online Resources tool was ported to qtwebengine

How to Install Kdenlive 20.12 in Ubuntu:

As KDE announced Kdenlive 20.12 as one of the December 2020 apps update more than a week ago, the Kdenlive stable PPA has made the packages for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, Linux Mint 20. And I’ve written the how to install guide in this page.

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Remove Top Bar, Left Dock, Other UI Elements in Ubuntu 22.04/20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Want to disable the top panel, left dock launcher, search box, and other Gnome UI elements in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS? You can now do it via a Gnome Shell extension.

Just Perfection is an extension allows you to get a super minimal GNOME desktop. It offers a list of options to toggle on / off the visibility of Gnome top bar, Dash (dock launcher), Search (search box in both Activities view and ‘Show Applications’), Hot Corner, OSD (notification pop-up), Workspace popup and workspace switcher, Background Menu, App Gesture.

It also overrides the current GNOME shell theme while user themes extension is not required.

To install the extension in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04., do following steps one by one:

1. Open terminal and run command to install chrome-gnome-shell package if you don’t have it.

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

2. Then go to the extension web page, turn on the toggle icon to install it.

Don’t see the toggle icon? Click the link which says “Click here to install browser extension” to install browser extension and refresh the web page.

NOTE 1: the extension by default disable all the available options. If you want to re-enable any of them, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal and run command:

gnome-tweaks

to bring up Gnome Tweak tool (install it via sudo apt install gnome-tweaks command) and change the settings in Extensions tab.

NOTE 2: At the moment of writing, the extension supports for Gnome from 3.36 to 46. Check the ‘Shell version…’ drop-down box before installing it on your system.

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How to Install Alacritty Terminal Emulator via PPA in Ubuntu 20.04/22.04

Last updated: December 30, 2023

This simple tutorial shows how to install the fastest terminal emulator, Alacritty, in Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20 via PPA. UPDATED: Ubuntu 22.04 & Linux Mint 21 also supported.

Alacritty is a cross-platform, GPU-accelerated terminal emulator works on macOS, Linux, BSD, and Windows. It’s free and open-source software that strongly focus on simplicity and performance. And it features Vi mode, search, Vi search etc.

To install the software, there’s a PPA repository contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 22.04. Also an old version is available for Ubuntu 18.04.

1. Open terminal from your system application launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:aslatter/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. While adding the PPA will also automatically refresh system package cache, run apt command to install the terminal emulator:

sudo apt install alacritty

Once installed, either open it either from system application launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard.

Uninstall Alacritty:

To remove the terminal emulator, run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove alacritty

To remove the Ubuntu PPA, either run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:aslatter/ppa

or open Software & Updates and remove the repository line under Other Software tab.

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