UbuntuHandbook | News, Tutorials, Howtos for Ubuntu Linux

Enable Top Panel for Multiple Monitors in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: July 28, 2024 — 6 Comments

Have Ubuntu computer connected with multiple monitors? Here’s how to make the top panel show in all displays!

GNOME, the default desktop in Ubuntu, so far only shows the top-panel in the primary display. There is a multi-monitors-add-on extension, allowing to make it work in all displays. However, it’s no longer in development and supports end at GNOME 3.38.

Thankfully, there’s open-source fork of that extension with GNOME from version 42 to 46 support, meaning for Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, Fedora Workstation, RHEL 9 , and other Linux with recent GNOME.

In Howtos Gnome

6 Sticky Notes App for Linux Desktop in 2024

Last updated: July 11, 2024 — 1 Comment

Looking for Microsoft Sticky Notes alternative app for Linux Desktop? Here I’m going to introduce some for you.

Sticky Notes is useful to write your sudden idea, to-do lists, and important messages on computer screen. There are quite a few free open-source sticky notes apps for Linux Desktop. And, here are some of them still work in 2024.

In App Review note-taking app, sticky notes

Firefox 128.0 Adds Translation support for Selected Text

Last updated: July 10, 2024 — Leave a comment

Firefox web browser announced new 128.0 release one day ago on Tuesday.

This is a new monthly release that introduces some handy new features. They include context menu option to translate a selection of text. Rather than translate full web page, user can now highlight single or a selection of text, then use right-click and select to translate the text.

In News Firefox, web

How to Easily Setup Home Media Server in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: July 10, 2024 — 1 Comment

This simple tutorial shows how to easily turn your Ubuntu or Debian into home media server, so that you can listen to the music, watch photos and videos that are stored in Linux PC remotely using your mobile phones and/or smart TVs.

GNOME, the default desktop in Ubuntu and Fedora Workstation, has built-in option to enable this feature. It uses Rygel home media solution as backend.

It automatically transcode media to a format compatible with the client device. And, client machines that supports DLNA/UPnP, such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, smart TV, Android, iOS, can access them through the local network.
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In Howtos multimedia, network

How to Install Dolphin Emulator 2509 in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: September 18, 2025 — 1 Comment

This tutorial shows how to install the latest dolphin emulator (2509 updated) through either Flatpak or PPA repository in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04.

Dolphin, the free open-source emulator for Nintendo GameCube and Wii, released version 2503 few days ago. The release added visual interface to edit graphics settings on per-game basis from game properties dialog.

It also added track playtime support, improved Qt input mapping, and introduced cheat code whitelist for Hardcore RetroAchievements, allowing to add widescreen aspect ratio codes, and patch unfortunate game behaviors. See the release note for more about Dolphin Emulator 2503.

In Howtos Dolphin Emulator, game

LocalSend – AirDrop Alternative to Transfer files over Local Network

Last updated: July 5, 2024 — Leave a comment

Looking for an app to transfer files and send messages over local network? LocalSend is good choice that works for most devices.

LocalSend is a free and open source application which promotes itself as alternative to Apple’s AirDrop. It’s a cross-platform app that allows to securely send files and messages over local network without an internet connection.

It works in Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Fire OS. Meaning you can use the file transfer app in most PC and mobile devices. And, the app doesn’t require an internet connection or external servers. It uses REST API for secure communication. All data is sent securely over HTTPS, and the TLS/SSL certificate is generated on the fly on each device.

In App Review network

Linux Mint 22 Beta is Available for Testing

Last updated: July 3, 2024 — Leave a comment

Linux Mint, the popular Linux Distribution, announced version 22 Beta release this Monday!

The new release is based on Ubuntu 24.04, features Cinnamon Desktop 6.2, and supports until 2029.

Thanks to the upstream changes, the release now is powered by Linux Kernel 6.8 with updated drivers and modern hardware support. The default PulseAudio is replaced by the low latency Pipewire sound server. JPEG-XL (.jxl) is supported out-of-the-box with the default Pix image viewer. The boot splash and login screen have better HiDPI support.

In News Linux Mint

Show Spotify Playback Info in Top-bar in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: July 2, 2024 — Leave a comment

Spotify users? Here’s an extension that can display the current track information in Ubuntu top-bar.

It’s spotify-tray, a free open-source tool available as GNOME Shell Extension, that can show title, artist, and/or album of current playing song or podcast in top-panel.

The extension is very simple and customizable. You can control:

Where (left, center, or right) to display the playback info in top-bar.
What to display, including track, artist, album, custom text, emoji (via built-in selector).
Display in static mode, or horizontally scrolling marquee.

In Howtos spotify

Krita 5.2.3 Released with Numerous Bug-Fixes (Ubuntu PPA)

Last updated: June 30, 2024 — Leave a comment

The popular free open-source digital painting software, Krita, released version 5.2.3 a few days ago.

The release rework the build system, so the CI can be built in all 4 platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android).

Besides that, Krita 5.2.3 fixed various bugs, including crash on saving webp images, crashes when inserting keyframe columns when there’s a transform mask, animation playback freezes when pausing past the end of audio, batch exporter python plugin does not respect trimming flag, and various fixes to tool canvas input shortcut behavior.
Continue Reading…

In News image editor, Krita

NVIDIA 555.58 Stable Released! GSP Firmware Enabled by Default

Last updated: June 29, 2024 — Leave a comment

NVIDIA announced the first stable release of the 555 series driver for Linux few days ago.

It’s NVIDIA 555.58, the latest new feature branch version. The release now uses GSP firmware by default on all GPUs that support it (e.g., Tesla T4, T10, A100 series).

GSP, stands for GPU System Processor, acts like a CPU embedded into the GPU, it can be used to offload GPU initialization and management tasks. To disable this feature, user can just add NVreg_EnableGpuFirmware=0 kernel parameter to /etc/default/grub config file if boot with Grub2.