Ubuntu 10.04 ... afterthoughts

For a change this isnt a tutorial of some sort. This is what I think about Ubuntu 10.04.

So, after a long wait, 10.04 released yesterday. Great news for all Ubuntu users this, because frankly this is the best Ubuntu release as yet. Not only did it trend on twitter, it trended more than Steve Jobs! :P

Anyway, the thing is, this is a giant leap for Linux. Ubuntu has now entered a territory where its become a really user friendly OS, not to mention the fact that, its dispelling a myth about Linux distros, the myth that all Linux distros are about geeks and nerds. Some might find this not a pleasing trend, but frankly, this can only mean bigger and better things. To be honest, I dont see Linux becoming a common man's OS unless it manages to draw the required attention. Making Ubuntu (since its already the most popular Linux distro) reach the forefront is just the first step in achieving that titanic feat.

So what has changed in 10.04? Well for starters its a lot more user-friendly. Its more social networking friendly, with custom applets etc. It supports a greater number of hardware and provides updates and support for a greater number of apps. Its definitely faster, although how-fast would depend on the user. But in short, its definitely faster than 9.10 (the previous release). The interface has changed completely and in my opinion, its gotten really slick! After the 9.10 release, there was a general outcry among users to stablise the next release. That has been done and more!

Before I conclude I would like to mention a few things. There were a few changes made earlier (changing of default search engine from Google to Yahoo! which has been 'undone' now, and the moving buttons to the left fiasco) which made me question Ubuntu's originality. Especially since Ubuntu is increasingly resembling the OSX. I hope my doubts are found to be untrue in the future. Ubuntu should progress and become popular but it should have its own identity as well.

Ubuntu 10.04 Released

After a long long wait, Ubuntu 10.04 unveiled itself infront of us. This is the download link: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Personally though I would suggest and request that you download via a torrent. That way you would be downloading faster (as currently the seeds are exceptional), you wouldnt clog the servers and you would be helping other download Ubuntu.

Its the big day

Its indeed the big day. Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx LTS will be released today amidst much fanfare and hype. I am a self confessed Ubuntu fan and like everyone else, I'm very excited about this release. 10.04 marks a paradigm change for Ubuntu as a brand as well as for the user interface of this most popular Linux OS. Although some of the changes havent been welcome, the positives have far overridden them.

Okay, now for some real insight. Frankly speaking 9.10 was very buggy when it came out. And some of the bugs even persist to this day. I hope Ubuntu 10.04 doesnt tread that path and consolidates Ubuntu's name as a stable user friendly OS. A lot has already been said about the release hence it would be boring for you, the reader, to go through all that if I were to repeat those.

Finally, these are instructions about the download:

How to Download:

Go to www.ubuntu.com and download the appropriate file. It will be a .iso file. Then burn it to a CD.

How to Install:

A detailed step by step pictorial (with screenshots) illustration of the entire installation procedure has been provided in the following link:

http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/03/ubuntu-1004-beta1-closer-look.html

ImageShack Uploader

ImageShack Uploader is a software which helps you upload images to www.imageshack.us. Only that now you can do so, from the comfort of your desktop without having to even open your browser.

Its really a cool app. Unfortunately there's no 64 bit version of the app for Linux. Fortunately though, there is getlibs (see - http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/04/getlibs.html) and that will help you install imageshack uploader on your 64 bit version of Ubuntu. (For 32 bit users, its a simple click and install process)

How to install ImageShack Uploader:

Download the .deb file from the imageshack site: http://toolbar.imageshack.us/windows-uploader/imageshack-uploader-2.2.0.deb

Install it.

If you're using a 32 version of Ubuntu you need not proceed any further. You can run ImageShack Uploader from Internet menu.

If however you're using a 64 bit version, install getlibs (http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/04/getlibs.html).

After than go to the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) and type the following:

sudo getlibs /usr/bin/imageshack-uploader

Press "y" if you're asked to install packages. Thats it. You can now run ImageShack Uploader from the Internet menu.

getlibs

getlibs is a program which will help you install 32 bit and 64 bit applications on 64 bit OS as well as 32 bit applications on 32 bit OS.

Its practically a lifesaver of a project. Somehow I never managed to install imageshack uploader (Linux version) on my Ubuntu 9.10 64 bit (which works fine on a 32 bit OS). But now, thanks to getlibs, I have managed to install it.

How to install:

To install getlibs download the following file: http://frozenfox.freehostia.com/cappy/getlibs-all.deb

Then simply install it.

How to use:

• Use getlibs to install a 32-bit library using the library name:

Code:

getlibs -l libogg.so.0 libSDL-1.2.so.0

• Use getlibs to install a 32-bit library using the package name:

Code:

getlibs -p libqt4-core libqt4-gui

• Install a 32-bit library file (.deb):

Code:

getlibs -i ~/i386_library_1.deb

• Download and install a 32-bit library file (.deb):

Code:

getlibs -w http://mirrors.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/main/s/sdl-image1.2/libsdl-image1.2_1.2.5-3_i386.deb

For more information take a look at this thread on Ubuntuforums: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=474790

Gourmet Recipe Manager

Yup its exactly what it sounds like. Its a shopping list generator and recipe organizer. It can import mealmaster files and export recipes in a variety of formats. Pretty cool app if you're into cooking.

Screenshot:

How to install

Its available in the Ubuntu Software Center and can be installed from there itself. Simply search for it and install.

Talika

This is a really cool app which will help you manage your open windows with the help of icons.

Here's a screenshot of the panel. Notice the small icons indicating open windows.

How to install

To install download the .deb file: www.sourceforge.net/projects/talika

Now simply open the file and install it.

To activate Talika, you need to add it to the panel. Right click on your panel (top or bottom one, whichever may be your preference), and simply search for and add Talika.

Thats it. Its a pretty nifty thing, and frankly, very smart way to manage a large number of open windows. However its currently available only for 32 bit versions.

Terminator

There are times when one needs to open multiple Terminal windows to avoid complications and thats when one wishes there were a software to help one out. Terminator is a application which allows you to arrange and add multiple terminals in a single terminal window. Its unbelievably useful and honestly, in my opinion, this is one software you should try out.

Take a look at this screenshot. This is a Terminator window which has been split horizontally and vertically in order to enable multiple tasks separately in a single terminal window under different tabs:

The process of splitting windows is as simple as right clicking and then selecting horizontal or vertical split:

How to install:

Terminator is available in the Ubuntu Software Center and you can install it from there.

Alternate method:

If you want to stay updated to the very latest version of Terminator, you need to add its repository. Go to Accessories > Terminal and type the following:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome-terminator

Next type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get update

And finally, type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install terminator

Ubuntu 10.04 Release Candidate

The final pre release version of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, the Release Candidate is now available for download.

How to download:

Upgrading (if you already have Ubuntu installed):

If you want to upgrade from your current installation to Ubuntu 9.10 beta1, press Alt+F2 and type the following:

update-manager -d

Update Manager will show you the following: New distribution release ‘10.04′ is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

Downloading (if you want a fresh install or want to use the beta release as a Live CD) :

http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04/ (Ubuntu Desktop, Netbook and Server)
http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04/rc/(Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)
http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/10.04/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook Remix)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/lucid/rc/(Xubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/lucid/rc/ (Edubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/mythbuntu/releases/lucid/rc/ (Mythbuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/lucid/rc/ (Ubuntu Studio)

Local mirrors are also available:

Africa

• http://bw.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Botswana)
• http://ls.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Lesotho)
• http://mz.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Mozambique)
• http://na.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Namibia)
• http://sz.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Swaziland)
• http://ubuntu.mirror.ac.za/ubuntu-release/ (South Africa)

Asia

• http://ftp.mtu.ru/pub/ubuntu/releases/ (Russian Federation)
• http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu-releases/ (Russian Federation)
• http://ubuntu.mirrors.isu.net.sa/releases/ (Saudi Arabia)
• http://ubuntutym2.u-toyama.ac.jp/ubuntu/ (Japan)
• http://ftp.linux.org.tr/ubuntu-releases/ (Turkey)
• http://ftp.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp/pub/linux/ubuntu/releases/ (Japan)

Europe

• http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/ubuntu-releases/ (Ireland)
• http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp/mirror/ubuntu-cdimage/ (Switzerland)
• http://ubuntu.mirror.tudos.de/ubuntu-releases/ (Germany)
• http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/ (Sweden)
• http://ubuntu.ipacct.com/releases/ (Bulgaria)
• http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/ (Netherlands)

North America

• http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs/ (United States)
• http://archaea.its.sfu.ca/mirror/ubuntu-releases/ (Canada)
• http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/ubuntu-releases/ (Canada)
• http://ubuntu.cs.utah.edu/releases/ (United States)
• http://ubuntu-releases.cs.umn.edu/ (United States)
• http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/ubuntu-releases/ (United States)

Oceania/Australia

• http://ftp.citylink.co.nz/ubuntu-releases/ (New Zealand)
• http://mirror.ihug.co.nz/ubuntu-releases/ (New Zealand)
• http://ubuntu-releases.optus.net/ (Australia)

South America

• http://ubuntu.c3sl.ufpr.br/releases/ (Brazil)
• http://espelhos.edugraf.ufsc.br/ubuntu-releases/ (Brazil)
• http://www.las.ic.unicamp.br/pub/ubuntu-releases/ (Brazil)

The official stable release of Ubuntu 10.04 will be available from 29th April, 2010.

Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor

Inkscape is a popular software for creating and editing scalable vector graphics, SVG (which is used as a standard by the WWW consortium).

Its pretty similar to CorelDraw and supports multiple opened files and multiple views per file.

Here's a screenshot of Inkscape:

How to install:

Inkscape can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Center itself. Simply search for "inkscape" in the Ubuntu Software Center and install.

Alternate method of installation (Terminal method):

Simply go to Applications > Terminal and type the following:

sudo apt-get install inkscape

Scribes Text Editor

Tired of gedit? Although gedit is one of the most powerful text editors available, there are other sleerker ones as well. Scribes is one of them.

Its pretty much a really simple text editor. Its quite powerful though but the interface is what wins it for me. Simple and easy to use.

Here's a screenshot:

How to install:

Scribes can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Center itself. Simple search for "Scribes" in the Ubuntu Software Center.

Alternate method: Go to Accessories > Terminal. Now type

sudo apt-get install scribes

Thats it. Pretty cool app. Worth a look.

Tribler file sharing client

Tribler is an application which helps you find, share, download, search for pictures, music, videos and so on. In other words its more like a media player integrated within a torrent client. I have tried it out, and frankly, the search and download function is pretty good. The integrated search is quite exhaustive, eg. take a look at the results Tribler came up with when I searched for "Ubuntu" (pic in the screenshots below).

It has Windows, Mac and Linux versions of its software. Here are a few screenshots of the application:







How to install:


Go to System > Administration > Software Sources. From there go the Other Software tab and then Add the following line:

deb http://ubuntu.tribler.org/ karmic main

(If you need more and simpler information alongwith screenshots about how to add a repository, you should go through the details given here : http://exploreubuntu.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/adding-repositories/)

Now go to the Terminal (Applications > Terminal) and type the following:

sudo apt-get update

Next type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install tribler

Thats it. Tribler will be available in the Internet menu.






For experienced users seeking more information about Tribler:
Official page of Tribler: www.tribler.org
Launchpad page of Tribler: https://launchpad.net/tribler

BeeSeek

Very often there are seriously awesome projects being undertaken which we know nothing of. BeeSeek is one such gem of a project.

BeeSeek is a project intended to build a free open-source search engine based on peer to peer (P2P) technology.

It intends to create an effective search engine which doesnt compromise on user's privacy. At the moment none of the popular search engines are open source ones, BeeSeek intends to change that by creating a source code which will be accessible to everyone.

The developers are working on the project and the community seeks more of them, web editors, marketing experts etc. As of now there isnt a stable release of BeeSeek. But you can try out their beta search engine : www.beta.beeseek.org

To be frank, such a project deserves attention and all the help it can get.

To know more about BeeSeek and help the BeeSeek community, check out the links below:

Wiki: http://wiki.beeseek.org/
Home Page: http://www.beeseek.org/
Launchpad: https://launchpad.net/beeseek

VLMC - VideoLAN Movie Creator

VLMC or VideoLAN Movie Creator comes from the same good folks who gave us the awesome VLC Media Player. VideoLAN Movie Creator is basically a video editor and creator running on Windows and Linux. Without a doubt this is one project which has caught the attention of many users of VLC softwares. Personally, I'm pretty excited as well. I know Ubuntu has loads of video editors in its repositories but when VLC makes one, well, it definitely catches the attention.

However, the project is very much in its infancy and VLMC is in testing phase as of now. They havent announced any specific installation guides/instructions for Ubuntu users. But fret not my friends, for you can use VLMC via Wine (yes, the all purpose Windows emulator). So, for Ubuntu users, download the Windows version and run it under Wine. It works perfectly.

Screenshot:



How to Download:

To download VLMC (testing) you need to go to their official site (and download the Windows version of the software): www.trac.videolan.org/vlmc/wiki/Downloads