Explore Ubuntu

Backup your music CDs with Asunder CD Ripper

2011-07-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

Asunder CD ripper is one of best, if not the best, CD ripper available on Ubuntu. Its very easy to use and the preferences menu is fairly simple.

You can change the settings from the Preferences menu. You can rip to OGG, FLAC, WAV as well as a host of other formats.

Ripping thereafter is as simple as clicking on "Rip".

You can download it from the Ubuntu Software Center by searching for "Asunder".

First Person Shooter Games

2011-03-28T03:01:00.000-07:00

It is often said that Ubuntu doesnt have proper first person shooter games. Tell you what, thats not quite the truth. Mentioned below is a list of the best FPS games on Ubuntu. These games are the ones which are included in the Ubuntu Software Center. (Therefore, it goes without saying that there are in all probability many more FPS games out there for Linux) Screenshots have been included below.

1. Open Arena - It is perhaps the most popular among all free, open source FPS games.

2. Alien Arena - Another popular game based on the source code of Quake II and III. This is a graphics intensive game and requires pretty hi end graphics card for a smooth performance.

3. Nexuiz - This is a multiplayer (online) FPS game which can be played in single player mode as well. The game boasts of realistic gaming.

4. Sauerbraten - This is an extremely fast FPS game with exquisite graphics. Package includes a map editor.

5. Assault Cube - Without a doubt the most "fun" game of the lot. Exhaustive multiplayer support lends an amazing depth to the gameplay. The file size of the game is also small, around 50MB which should leave you with no excuse whatsoever for not giving it a try. A small warning though, there are literally gaming freaks playing this game, so if you're starting out with FPS, this isnt the game for you.

6. Warsow - Last, but not the least. Warsow. This is seriously one of the more "beautiful" FPS games out there. Strangely beautiful graphics with amazing gameplay makes this a must play.

This was of course a small list. Other significant games include Adanaxis (a space based FPS. Does a game get cooler that that?), Tremulous, Enemy Lines, etc.

Every single game mentioned here is available in the Ubuntu Software Center. Simply search for it and install.

(Suggestion: Search for "Tilda" in the Ubuntu Software Center. You will be pleasantly surprised. Hint: Its a terminal emulator with FPS theme)

Install Firefox 4 on Ubuntu

2011-03-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

Firefox 4 is finally here guys! And yeah it literally romped home with the more downloads award, Internet Explorer 9 was boasting of few weeks back. With around 6 million downloads on the day of release, this is one big leap forward for the Firefox brand.

Unfortunately as you know, Ubuntu approves Firefox after quite some time adding its own bells and jingles. However the Firefox 4 without the Ubuntu add-ons works just as well. I would highly recommend going for it. From personal experience, I havent faced any issue with the release as yet.

Screenshot:

How to Install:

Go to the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) and type in the following:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install firefox-4.0

If you're having trouble using the Terminal, you can use the following method:

Go to Ubuntu Software Center, go to Edit and select Software Sources. In the Other Software tab add the following line:

ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable

Then add it and then search for Firefox in the Ubuntu software center to install (no need to search and install if you already have any version Firefox already installed)

Thats about it!

(If you're having trouble with adding repositories please check out this earlier post: http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/04/adding-repositories.html)

Get your Tron fix on Ubuntu

2011-03-18T00:34:00.000-07:00

Interested in Tron? Ubuntu has loads of Tron based games on offer. Simply search for them in the Ubuntu Software Center and install. Most of these games are really low sized ones, so downloading them wont take much of your time.

The best of the lot is of course, Armagetron Advanced, which is also listed in the featured section of Ubuntu Software Center. Here's a screenshot of the actual game:

The game is around 2.7MB, so you dont have to worry about downloading large files.

The gameplay is decent and is definitely worth a try. Its in the Ubuntu Software Center. Have a go!

A few tricks to maximize screen space

2011-01-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few short tricks for you to try out. These will help you maximize your screen space on Ubuntu.

Erm...what exactly do i mean? Well, how about you got rid of the bottom panel (if you're using some kind of dock you probably would have deleted it already but in case you havent then give it a try.

What else? You could try playing with the panel properties. Right click on the panel (top or bottom) and go to Properties. Select between Expand, Autohide and Show hide buttons (you can actually get the entire panel disappear, not deleted mind you, with that Show hide buttons option). Check out the following images to see the results:

Play around with these. The effects are breathtakingly cool!

Super Mario anyone?

2011-01-10T04:05:00.000-08:00

Tired of playing the same old games in Ubuntu? Its quite a myth that Ubuntu doesnt have interesting games. Take a look at these really interesting, albeit highly addictive games already there in the Ubuntu Software Center.

1. Super Tux - Remember Mario? Yea the one which required you to insert a cartridge on a really (then) classy looking video game "console". Super Tux is Super Mario with Tux replacing Mario as the protagonist. The nooks and crannies and the hidden secrets remain largely the same. Anyone familiar with the old game will feel completely at ease instantly.

2. Super Tux 2 - This is another instalment of Super Tux. Brilliantly created and immensely addictive this game quite. Best of all this game has the add ons feature which basically allows you to add various levels to the game which the developer releases.

3. Extreme Tux Racer - Extreme Tux racer is a racing game with Tux (you're on Linux, who else did you expect in the driver's seat?) in it.

The amazing gameplay of these games make them quite brilliant. It would be a huge miss if you didnt play these on Ubuntu. Every single game listed here is available in the Ubuntu Software Center. Simply search by using the name of the game and download!

Happy gaming!

Illumination Software Creator

2010-12-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

No sooner did Ubuntu allow paid apps to appear on the Ubuntu Software Center than apps started pouring in! The new really cool software which I'm going to mention here is called Illumination Software Creator.

Its a one of a kind application in that it allows users to "create" applications not just for Ubuntu (Python/GTK Desktop apps) but also for Maemo (Nokia N900), Android as well as Adobe Flash ones. And the clincher? Well, here's the thing, you dont need to write a single line of code to create the softwares!

Here's what the description of Illumination Software Creator reads on the Ubuntu Software Center:

The idea is simple: Arrange colorful building blocks of functionality however you like to create your own, unique, piece of software. No reading large computer programming books. No steep learning curve.

Installation:

As I mentioned earlier, its a paid app. Its $39.85 for he full version. If you want to try out the demo version, for free of course, you can get it from the official website here.

Paid Softwares start to appear on Ubuntu Software Center

2010-12-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

Its more of a taste of things to come. Paid softwares have started to appear on Ubuntu Software Center. The only one currently in the Ubuntu Software Center is World of Goo. This is one incredibly popular game and has quite taken the Linux world, which is mostly devoid of path breaking games, by storm.

Description:

The Wikipedia page of World of Goo reads:

World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle game by 2D Boy, an independent game developer consisting of Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, both former Electronic Arts employees, released for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and WiiWare. It was nominated for the Seumas McNally grand prize, Design Innovation Award, and Technical Excellence at the Independent Games Festival.

Installation:

The game costs $19.95 on the Ubuntu Software Center. Although this is not a free game, there is a demo of World of Goo which can be found here. The demo is, of course, free. So if want to make sure that you're spending money for the right game, do download the demo and try.

Upon clicking the "Buy" button (which has replaced the "Install" button for this game) on the Ubuntu Software Center, you'll led to your Ubuntu account page where after signing in, the payment gateway will be seen. Thereafter its pretty simple.

FocusWriter

2010-11-16T00:47:00.000-08:00

Remember the much loved text editor WriteMonkey? Well if you've grown tired of running it using Wine, here's a Linux version which is more or less similar to WriteMonkey.

Its called FocusWriter and its got the same distraction free screen as WriteMonkey. The same typewriter sounds and the same flawless architecture.

Here's a screenshot:

How to install:

First you need to add the official repository. To do that add the following line to the Software Sources (if you need help adding repositories please check out this page: http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/04/adding-repositories.html)

ppa:gottcode/gcppa

Finally go to the Terminal and type the following:

sudo apt-get install focuswriter

Thats all. It should be available from the Office menu of the Ubuntu menu bar.

HDR on Linux

2010-10-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Qtpfsgui is an awesome software which lets you do some pretty slick HDR tone mapping and editing. It has some pretty useful features which includes anti ghosting effects etc. For people into HDR and interested in a low cost (in this case, free) HDR editor, Qtpfsgui is a perfect option.

Check out the screenshot:

Installation:

Search for "Qtpfsgui" in the Ubuntu Software Center and install. Thats it.

Inkscape

2010-10-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

There is a really neat alternative to Corel Draw on Ubuntu. Its called Inkscape. I have been using it for quite some time now and have found it to be very useful. If you are into image editing/model creations/vector graphics you must have this application.

Screenshot:

Installation:

Its simple. Go to Ubuntu Software Center, search for Inkscape and install. Thats it!

Install Sun Java for Ubuntu

2010-09-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

Ubuntu 10.04, by default, installs the open source version of Java OpenJDK. However many users would want to switch to the standard version of Java from Sun. So, these are the following steps to install Sun Java for Ubuntu:

Go to System>Administration>Software Sources and add the following repository:

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ lucid partner

(If you're unsure about how to add repositories, take a look here for a detailed explanation with screenshots: http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2010/04/adding-repositories.html)

Finally go to Accessories>Terminal and type the following:

sudo apt-get update

And the following to finish the installation:

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

Torrent Search

2010-08-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

Searching Torrents just got a whole lot easier. Torrent Search is a new software available for both Windows and Linux which searches for torrents from all popular sites and then lists the results along with all important seeds and leach info.

This basically reduces many irritating minutes worth of searching and analysing the health of torrents. I have been using it these past few days and frankly, I've fallen in love with it! It has loads of customisation options and I would urge you to try out the settings and then decide what suits you best.

Given below is a screenshot of a search result in the software:

Download Links:

You can access the official Sourceforge page of the application here: http://torrent-search.sourceforge.net

To download the application, go here: http://torrent-search.sourceforge.net/download

How to use OpenDNS for Ubuntu

2010-08-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

OpenDNS is a free ad-supported DNS (Domain Name System) resolution service. An opt-in service, OpenDNS offers faster resolution and advanced features, such as misspelling correction, phishing protection, and optional content filtering. - Wikipedia

In short OpenDNS is an important tool for your internet security and to gain more control over your internet experience. Installing OpenDNS for Ubuntu is easy but the guides are scattered all over the place and the OpenDNS site doesnt have all the necessary info. So here's a concise and accurate procedure of activating it on your Ubuntu desktop.

Step 1: Sign up. Go to OpenDNS site and sign up for a free/paid account.

Step 2: Apply the settings. You will have to apply the OpenDNS settings to your network manager. A detailed and simplified guide for that is given here: www.store.opendns.com/setup/device/ubuntu

Step 3: Setting up DDClient. This is where users get stuck the most since there are no proper guides regarding this. However Ubuntuforums has a detailed solution for this. Although its a bit lengthy, I would strongly suggest that you go through it and configure your settings for ddclient. The link is here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1264710

Finally, enable the stats from your OpenDNS settings page and you're done. If you want to edit what you want/dont want to block, you can change it from the dashboard. Trust me, all this hard work is totally worth it.

Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat alpha 2 - A closer look

2010-07-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

The alpha 2 version of Maverick Meerkat 10.10 was released a few weeks back, so here's what seems to have changed and what doesnt:

1. Installation:

Pretty much remains the same (as in Ubuntu 10.04), except a few notable additions, including informations about the Ubuntu One Music Store. (Sequential screenshots from a virtual machine given below)

2. Booting Process - The booting process is now insanely fast. It took me about 7-8 secs to start Ubuntu 10.10 alpha 2 on a virtual machine. Although practical booting time may increase, I doubt if it will be any more than 15 seconds.

3. Changes :

Ubuntu Software Center

It now has a History tab and better management of repositories, and now an all new "Whats New" section.

Pulse Audio

The volume options are now looking better than ever.

Other than that its pretty much Ubuntu 10.04. This is of course expected as its just an alpha 2 release. So, fingers crossed for a great release a few months from now.

Opera Browser for Linux

2010-07-27T23:53:00.002-07:00

If you arent averse to using closed source softwares on Ubuntu, this is something to try out. Opera for Linux has taken gigantic steps since it was first launched and as of now it really is one of the better browsers out there.

Opera browsers arent open-source although they are free for downloads. Its the interface of the browser which has won it many fans over the years. The speed dial, Opera Turbo, Widgets etc. are all part of browser history now. The Linux version of it, although with a few modifications is more or less similar to its Windows counterpart. The installation is easy and hassle free and hence in my opinion, worth a try.

How to Install:

Go to the Download page and download the installation file. I would suggest using the Debian Package for easy installation.

After the download (in case of the Debian Package), its a matter of double clicking on the file and installing it.

Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat alpha 2 released

2010-07-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ubuntu 10.10 has been making all the right noises recently and they have launched their latest alpha offering of the 10.10 version.

Its still in alpha 2, so dont expect things to work out of the box and dont expect it to be overly stable. Its currently for testing purposes only so just be careful.

Regular users stick to the latest stable version, i.e. Ubuntu 10.04

Here's the download link: http://www.cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/10.10/alpha-2

To see what changes have been made, including now archived changes check out this link: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/maverick-changes

Programming in Ubuntu

2010-07-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

(Regular users can skip this)

I'm sure there are many developers here, wanting to create or develop Ubuntu applications. I'm also pretty sure that many of them want to create apps for other platforms as well.

Fortunately there are solutions for both. I will list here names of few IDEs that are available for both C++ and Java. And fortunately you can set them up and running in no time absolutely.

For C++, the preferred application is Code::Blocks. I have found this extremely user friendly and efficient. For Java, there are many good options. Most would say Eclipse as their preferred IDE, but I find Netbeans much easier to use. Both of them are available in the Ubuntu Software Center. There's of course a command line version, its called Pico. Its very easy to use and most of all will come in handy for people who are comfortable using the command line. Also note that the Ubuntu repositories may not have all the latest versions of these IDEs, so here are the links to their respective websites, in case you need to check out the latest version:

Netbeans, Code::Blocks, Eclipse

Good to be back

2010-07-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys for the delay in posting stuff here. I have been quite busy lately, I do have a life beyond the web as you understand. :) Thanks for sticking with me.

So, just wanted to discuss a few things I figured out. Recently I got myself a new N97 Mini. Its not an iPhone competitor so dont think along those lines. But fortunately I got it working fine with Ubuntu 10.04. Sure, the Ovi Suite doesnt work, even with Wine and I am having to resort to downloading stuff from the Ovi Store mobile app. But thats a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

In the meantime, a lot has happened in the Ubuntu sphere and I will be posting them here and discussing them to the best of my abilities.

Thanks for reading guys. Really appreciate all the support.

(Just a note, there is a Facebook page of Explore Ubuntu. You can also access Explore Ubuntu on Twitter and Identi.ca and stay up to date with everything Ubuntu.)

Join .vob files

2010-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

Joining .vob files is as easy as typing a single command. This is how you do it:

Say you have 2 files, file1.vob and file2.vob. To join these two files and create a new file, say file3.vob, you need to type the following in the Terminal:

cat file1.vob file2.vob > file3.vob

And thats pretty much it. Mind you this process can take some time depending upon the size of your files but usually it shouldnt take more than 10 mins for standard DVDs.

Histwi

2010-05-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

Okay I agree the name does seem odd. But the application isnt.

Histwi is a twitter management application allowing you to:

Download and save all your Tweets to Database.
View and export all saved tweets to html or txt file.
Compare your Following to Followers.
Follow/Unfollow any your friends.
Tracking new followers and unfollowers.
Advanced Twitter Search.
Managing multiple Twitter account

How to install:

Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic) and later:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nikolay-blohin/histwi sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install histwi

For older version Ubuntu your can make it manually by copying the lines below and adding them to your system's software sources:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nikolay-blohin/histwi/ubuntu karmic main

Thats it!

Source: http://originalcoding.com/histwi/ (Launchpad Link: https://launchpad.net/histwi/)

Extra Suggestions for 10.04

2010-05-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some extra suggestions for 10.04.

1. Adobe AIR - Yes, its closed-source, but frankly if you leave aside Gwibber (which never worked for me), Ubuntu has no other way of integrating facebook and twitter into a single app. Tweetdeck is your only option.

For that you will have to install Adobe AIR (detailed instructions have been given here: http://explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2009/12/adobe-air-64-bit-installation-guide.html), next go to the Tweetdeck site and download the .air file and simply double click and install.

You might also want to try Seesmic desktop, another useful Adobe AIR app.

Links: Tweetdeck (http://www.tweetdeck.com), Seesmic (http://seesmic.com)

2. Compiz Plugins - Remember the much loved Burn effect of Compiz? Well it seems like in this edition Compiz will need a little more work to run properly, so type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

This will install the Burn effect (Compiz fusion extra plugins). All you now need to do is go the Compiz Config Manager and enable Animation add ons andthen select your preferred animation from the Animations tab.

3. Remove Adobe AIR apps - Removing Adobe AIR apps is quite easy. You dont need to have the .air file with you anymore you can remove the app from the Ubuntu Software Center just as you would with any Ubuntu app.

4. Chromium - Chromium is the open source twist to Google Chrome. The default version of Chromium in 10.04 was something I didnt really like. So I installed the repository of Chromium. How do you do that? Simple. Go to System > Administration > Software Sources. Now go to the Other Software tab and simply Add the following line:

ppa:chromium-daily/ppa

Thats it. You will get the latest version of Chromium delivered right to your desktop.

So much for now, stay tuned for more tips and tricks.

Ubuntu 10.04 - Post installation tips

2010-05-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

Okay so you have installed 10.04 and you are ready to set it up and run your favourite softwares. But wait! Have you installed all the necessary plugins and extra stuff that you might need for a 'hassle-free' experience? After all who wants to see a "Plugins missing" message now and then?

So, here are a few post installation tips an suggestions.

1. Install Restricted Extras

Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a package which is the sort of one in all media solution for Ubuntu. You will be able to use media files of all types of formats (other than open source formats).

How do you install it? Well its simple. Type the following in the Terminal (it dwonloaded more than a 130 MB of data, so stick to that cup of coffee):

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

I would also recommend installing VLC Media Player as its frankly, the most 'comprehensive' media players I've come across.

2. Install Medibuntu repositories:

Sometimes there are formats or processes which require additional libraries. For these you need to install Medibuntu repository. Its as easy as copying and pasting a single line. Type (copy/paste) the following in the Terminal:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/`lsb_release -cs`.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list && sudo apt-get -q update && sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get -q update

3. GIMP

Remember in 10.04, GIMP's gone from the default installation, so make sure you install GIMP from the Ubuntu Software Center. Simply search for it in the Software Center and install. As simple as that.

4. Twitter Client

Gwibber has been chosen as the default Twitter client in 10.04. Somehow I never got it to work, hence my personal favourite and recommendation would be Pino. Its a sleek, super light-weight and most importantly a functional twitter client. Here's how you install it. Type the following in the Terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vala-team/ppa

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:troorl/pino

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pino

Well other than that everything else's pretty much fine. More as I discover. Stay tuned.

Ubuntu alternatives to Windows Softwares

2010-05-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

Lucid Lynx 10.04 has attracted a lot of attention. And frankly, a large number of new users are now part of the Ubuntu fraternity. A hearty welcome to all of the new converts.

This particular post is especially for the new users who might struggle to find the Ubuntu counterparts of Windows softwares. The list is only indicative and not in any way all inclusive, since in the open source field, its virtually impossible to keep a tab on development of every single project out of the billions being currently worked on.

1. Media Player - Totem (installed by default) is pretty awesome and plays nearly all formats especially once the Ubuntu Restricted Extras package has been installed (do go through this post: www.explore-ubuntu.blogspot.com/2009/11/install-restricted-extras-for-ubuntu.html to find out more about how to install this essential package). Of course, if you need to play around a bit more, VLC Media Player, available in the Ubuntu Software Center is a safe bet.

2. Music Application - A dedicated music application is always better than an all inclusive media player. Rhythmbox (installed by default) is definitely my favourite. However if you're on the adventurous side, you might want to try out Amarok, Banshee and Kaffeine.

3. Burning Software - Although Brasero installed by default does a pretty good job and is very easy to use, its a fact that it lacks a lot of features (verification of discs being one of them). My personal recommendation would be K3b (available in the Ubuntu Software Center) which works like magic. It might not be that user-friendly but once you get the hang of it, you will find it very difficult to switch to another burning tool. Another application which is quite good is GNOME-Baker (available in the Ubuntu Software Center).

4. Video Converter - For this there are many options, I prefer to use DeVeDe (available in the Ubuntu Software Center). Other options include Avidemux, Handbrake, WinFF (all available in the Ubuntu Software Center). However when it comes to video conversion I would recommend a trial and error approach.

Do give these softwares a try and let me know what you like best.

Ubuntu 10.04 ... afterthoughts

2010-04-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-24T02:27:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-23T01:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

Adding repositories

2010-04-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is a very basic guideline for installing repositories. Repository is a place where a particular software is kept or maintained. Ubuntu Software Center has loads of softwares for nearly every imaginable use. However you might still need to install additional ones. For those softwares you need to install/add repositories. Repositories are also installed to stay up to date with the very latest versions of softwares.

There are two ways of adding repositories. The graphic (GUI) way and the terminal (CLI) way. I'll discuss both here one after the other.

GUI (Graphic user interface aka graphic method):

Go to System > Administration > Software Sources

Click on the Other Software tab and then click Add.

Then simply type or copy paste the repository you want to add and thats it.

CLI (Command line interface aka terminal method):

Open the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) and then type the following:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

A new window will open up and there simple copy paste the repository you want to add. Remember that you need to enter the repository name in a separate line or a new line. Hence press Enter from your keyboard before pasting/adding the repository.

Remember to save the file before you exit.

There's another CLI method as well, its a more direct approach.

Go to the Terminal and type out the direct command to add the repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:name of repository

eg. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pcf/miro-releases (installs the official repository for the software Miro)

Tip: Always make sure you update your repositories after adding them. To update your repositories, go to System > Administration > Update Manager and click on Check.

Alternatively, you can go to the Terminal and type sudo apt-get update

Thereafter you can install the software from the Ubuntu Software Center itself or from the Terminal as the case may be (read instructions for that particular software in its documentation or FAQ section).

Update: From Ubuntu 10.10, you can add/edit repositories from the Ubuntu Software Center as well. Go to Ubuntu Software Center, select Edit and Software Sources.

Thats was all about adding repositories in Ubuntu.

Equalizer for Pulse Audio

2010-04-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

There's a really cool equalizer for Pulse Audio which can be installed by adding a repository. Its a system wide equalizer hence no matter what media player you use, you will be able to utilise this setting.

The image below is a screenshot of the same:

How to install:

Open the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) and type in the following:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:psyke83/ppa

Next type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get update

Finally, type the following (in the Terminal of course)

sudo apt-get install pulseaudio-equalizer

Thats it. You can access the Pulse Audio Equalizer from the Sounds & Video menu.

Update: The creator of this Equalizer has added a new .deb file for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Ubuntu 10.10, simply click on the following link and install: Download Link

Flush Torrent Client

2010-04-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to OMG Ubuntu's article on Flush, I gave the torrent client a try.

Flush is a decent torrent client built in the likes of Deluge, and is very user friendly. It will remind Windows users of uTorrent, however the similarity with Deluge is far more evident. Its built for GNOME and runs pretty smoothly.

How to install:

Go to System > Administration > Software Sources > Other Software and Add the following line (repository):

ppa:konishchevdmitry/flush

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

sudo apt-get update

Next type the following:

sudo apt-get install flush

Now you will have Flush torrent client installed under the Internet menu.

Equalizer for Rhythmbox

2010-04-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ubuntuforums I came to know of a really cool plugin which enables a 10 band equalizer in Rhyhtmbox.

To add this equalizer, simply copy paste the following code in the terminal (Accessories > Terminal):

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/rhythmbox/plugins && wget http://www.lirmm.fr/~morandat/pub/upload/Main/rb-equalizer.tar.bz2 -O- | tar xvjf - -C ~/.local/share/rhythmbox/plugins

To activate this plugin, launch Rhythmbox, go to Edit > Plugins and the check Equalizer. The equalizer's 10 band setting is available from the Plugins menu.

Try it out. Its a really cool feature.

(Source : - http://www.lirmm.fr/~morandat/index.php/Main/Tools)

Install Bisigi themes

2010-04-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

The themes of the Bisigi project are generally rated as some of the best Ubuntu themes available. There are quite a few themes from the project available for installation.

To install these themes, you need to add the following repositories.

First up type the following in the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) :

gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371 --recv-key 881574DE && gpg -a --export 881574DE | sudo apt-key add -

Now type the following in the Terminal :

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

In the window which opens, add the following lines:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/bisigi/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/bisigi/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

Now save the file and type the following in the Terminal:

sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install bisigi-themes

Thats it. After the installation process go to the Appearance option (System > Preferences > Appearance) and check out the new themes. The following themes will be installed - AquaDreams, Ubuntu Sunrise, Bamboo-Zen, Step into Freedom, Tropical, Exotic, Balanzan, Wild Shine, Infinity, Showtime, Orange, Ellanna, AirLines.

Lucid Lynx 10.04 beta2 released

2010-04-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Beta 2 of the new Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04 is now available for testing and download. Its a beta release and may contain bugs.

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) :

Copy paste the link of your choice, based on your location, on your browser to download.

Africa:

* http://ubuntu.saix.net/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (South Africa)

Asia:

* http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Japan)
* http://ubuntu.qualitynet.net/releases/10.04 (Kuwait)
* http://releases.ubuntu.mnosi.org/10.04 (Mongolia)
* http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Russian Federation)
* http://tw.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Taiwan)

Europe:

* http://ubuntu.ipacct.com/releases/10.04 (Bulgaria)
* http://ftp.sh.cvut.cz/MIRRORS/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Czech Republic)
* http://ubuntu.trumpetti.atm.tut.fi/releases/10.04 (Finland)
* http://ubuntu.univ-nantes.fr/ubuntu-cd/10.04 (France)
* http://ubuntu.mirror.tudos.de/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Germany)
* http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Great Britain)
* http://speglar.simnet.is/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Iceland)
* http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Ireland)
* http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04 (Netherlands)
* http://no.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Norway)
* http://ftp.wcss.pl/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Poland)
* http://cesium.di.uminho.pt/pub/ubuntu/10.04 (Portugal)
* http://ubuntu.cica.es/releases/10.04 (Spain)
* http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Sweden)
* http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp/mirror/ubuntu-cdimage/10.04 (Switzerland)

North America:

* http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Canada)
* http://mirrors.ipinfodb.com/ubuntu/releases/10.04 (Canada)
* http://ubuntu-cd.mirror.iweb.ca/10.04 (Canada)
* http://mirrors.gigenet.com/ubuntu/10.04 (United States)
* http://mirrors.login.com/ubuntu-iso/10.04 (United States)
* http://ubuntu.media.mit.edu/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (United States)
* http://ubuntu.mirrors.tds.net/pub/releases/10.04 (United States)
* http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (United States)

Oceania/Australia:

* http://ftp.citylink.co.nz/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (New Zealand)

South America:

* http://ubuntu-cd.innova-red.net/10.04 (Argentina)
* http://ubuntu.c3sl.ufpr.br/releases/10.04 (Brazil)

Rest of the world:

*http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Great Britain)

Lock a version of a software

2010-04-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

This is a very important thing to know if you like a particular version of a software. I'll give you an example to clarify. The current version of Wine is 1.1.41. However most of the Windows programs I have dont run on it. I have found that another version 1.1.31 does the job pretty well. Now if you have installed Wine or have repositories of it enabled, you might unknowingly update your Wine to the latest version, and lose the functionality of it (which is true in my case). I gave the example with Wine, but this applies to any other application.

So, what do you do in such a situation? The answer is surprisingly simple. There is a function in Synaptic which allows you to 'lock' a particular version so that it doesnt update or stays 'as is'.

Here's how you 'lock' a version of any particular software. The screenshots given below has been done with respect to a particular software (Wine in this case), but the same procedure applies to everything else as well.

First up, go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. There, search for your software (in this case its Wine1.2), and select it.

Next, go to the Package option and select/click on Lock version:

After you have done that you will find that a small Lock sign appears next to the software name:

Thats pretty much it! You will now not be updated to a later version of the software unless you un-select the Lock version option.

Facebook chat from Pidgin and Empathy

2010-04-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

This procedure doesnt require you to install any packages. This procedure works perfectly for Pidgin. However if you want to enable facebook chat on Empathy, you will need to install Pidgin first (and then import accounts from there).

Open Pidgin (after installing of course; you can install Pidgin from the Ubuntu Software Center), and go to the Add accounts option (Accounts > Manage Accounts > Add). Now, select the protocol as XMPP, enter your username (mind you this is the username and not the email address), enter the password and select the domain as chat.facebook.com

Next, select the Advanced tab and disable the Require SSL/TLS option. Click on Add to finally activate it.

Thats it, if you're using Pidgin and want to use it as your preferred application. You may not read the rest of the post.

If however you're using Empathy, then keep reading.

After configuring Pidgin, the next time you launch Empathy, you will get a notification similar to this:

Now, simply click on the first option, i.e. Import my accounts details from Pidgin. And then select the accounts you want to import (just follow the on-screen instructions). And thats it.

(Of course adding the other accounts like google talk etc. is very easy on both Pidgin and Empathy. Just a bit of info though, this Empathy configuring which you needed to do, isnt needed at all in 10.04. The version of Empathy in 10.04 already has an option of adding account specifically for facebook.)

(Tip: If you dont get the notification from Empathy about importing accounts, remove all existing accounts from Empathy. The quit and restart Emapthy)

Ubuntu 10.04 beta1 - a closer look (part 2)

2010-04-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

(For Part 1 of post, click on this link: Ubuntu 10.04 beta1 a closer look - part 1)

This discussion is based on Ubuntu 10.04 Desktop Edition (64 bit version). You can download the latest beta releases, instructions here: Lucid Lynx Beta Released

I was so far using Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala). Yesterday I tried to "upgrade" it to Ubuntu 10.04 beta1. I have since then come across lots and lots of obstacles, features, tweaks etc. I will try and discuss as many I can.

First things first, be very careful about upgrading. The upgrading process itself worked fine for me, however problems started when I restarted my PC after the upgrade (the upgrade manager had downloaded around 2GB of data from the Ubuntu servers). The Appearances panel stopped working due to a DBus error and unfortunately the network applet stopped working as well (aka it broke). I was left in the lurch because I couldnt connect to the internet and do an upgrade. And neither could I browse the web for solutions. The only way out was to use the spare live CDs I had (a lesson for all here, dont throw away your live CDs, they can come in very handy sometimes) and search for solutions. I found none across the web. Maybe people werent facing the problems I was facing, maybe they didnt care to post it. Anyway, I didnt find any solutions, thats the point.

So being left with absolutely no other option but to format and do a fresh install, I backed up my data and did that. (Frankly, this time around, I thought the upgrade would work for me, but clearly it was not to be. Its official now, I'm very unlucky when it comes to upgrading. I would also advise anyone running 9.10 to hold his horses. Dont upgrade right now, wait till the final stable release comes out. And even if you want to experience 10.04, try it from the live CD or do a fresh install.) It took a lot of time (backing up all the data and then installing) but I guess it was worth all that. The installation went ahead smoothly and it brought me straight to the Ubuntu 10.04 desktop. Tell you what, the Ambience theme looks better than it does in the pictures. I dont think I'll be changing themes very soon.

Packages:

All the packages in the repositories have been updated and currently more often than not its the latest version. Chromium (the open-source counterpart of Google Chrome) has been added to the repositories now, so you can now directly install it from the Ubuntu Software Center. (However if you want the very latest versions of Chromium you should add its repositories. A complete guide to do that is given here: Install Chromium Browser)

Now this latest version concept is really good when it comes to most softwares but not when it comes to Wine. The latest version of Wine is installed by default which is 1.1.41. However I have always found 1.1.31 to be the best version for playing games etc. Most of the games I have dont run well on the latest version of Wine. I still havent figured out a way to roll back to the previous release as the "Force version" option on synaptic isnt working for Wine. I will post a solution as soon as I find out.
(How do you install Wine? Its pretty easy: How to Install Wine)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOLUTION : A temporary solution has been found thanks to Ubuntuforums. You can download the relevant package from Launchpad. The previous 'stable' version of Wine was 1.1.31, you can download the 32 bit version from this page and the 64 bit version from this page. Tip: Remove the installed version of Wine before you install these versions to avoid complications.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saddest part? Compiz. Sorry, it just is the saddest part about 10.04. You will have to install Compiz as you usually would from the Ubuntu software center (See here for more info: Getting Compiz to work on Ubuntu). The burn effect isnt available anymore! (Is there an emoticon for crying out loud?)
And the cube isnt really that magnificent anymore. The 'jutting out' effect of windows while rotating the cube is absolutely gone, vanished. A small tip here, if you cant add 4 workspaces from compiz (in order to enable the cube), try right-clicking on the workspace and then Preferences and then select the number of columns as 4. But I hope the compiz developers will figure out a solution soon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOLUTION : If you have this problem where you cant see Compiz Animations Add-on, install this package - compiz-fusion-plugins-extra from the synaptic or from the terminal:

sudo apt-get install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other than these small glitches, everything works perfectly and I think Canonical has done a great job in aggregating all these softwares. Kudos.

Drivers:

Impressive is an understatement. Ubuntu 10.04 has the very very latest Nvidia drivers now (version 195.x.x) and thats just great. This version works perfectly and installing them is an absolute joy. Simply go to System > Administration > Hardware Drivers and select the recommended drivers. Activate it and it will download and install. Restart you computer and you're done.

Interface:

Stunning is the word. Please stop complaining. The interface is simply breathtaking, every since inch of space has been utilised to perfection. And although I dont quite like the buttons on the left (you can shift it back to the right: Moving buttons), I think I can forgive the developers and designers simply because the rest of the interface is really awesome. IMs, facebook, gmail chats etc. were never easier and this just is so breathtakingly refreshing.

So far so good. I will keep you posted on anything relevant I come across. Ciao!

Sysinfo

2010-03-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Sysinfo is a small light-weight software which will give you information about the hardware as well as the OS installed on your PC. Its a very useful tool if you're not sure about the exact configuration of your computer.

How to install:

Go to Ubuntu Software Center and search for Sysinfo. Simply install it from there.

OR

Go to the Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install sysinfo

CD/DVD Burning Software

2010-03-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is one topic which I should have discussed long back, but hey better late than never.

Okay, so when it comes to CD/DVD burning softwares, there are loads and loads of GNOME softwares out there, most notably, GNOME Baker and Brasero (which is installed by default on Ubuntu). However none of these softwares support verification of burned discs. That for me is a bit of a let down as I prefer to verify my discs after every burning process.

I have also tried quite a few other lesser known apps as well. But none of these softwares could rival the ultimate big daddy of all disc burning apps, Nero. Although Nero is generally considered to be a Windows software, there is actually a Linux counterpart. From what I have gathered, the Linux version is quite functional and useful. However, Nero is a closed source software and its not free. You can download the demo version but as you would expect, the swankier features of Nero Linux are reserved for people who actually buy the full version. (Link to the official Nero Linux site: www.nero.com/enu/linux4.html)

When I converted from Windows to Linux this absence of a proper burning tool for GNOME was a big problem for me. But fortunately, as with everything Linux, there is always a way out.

Are you averse to using KDE softwares on GNOME? Well, if you are I think its time you let go of that apprehension. K3B is a KDE burning tool which is at par with any burning software be it on Windows or Linux. Its free (of course!) and its open source. Hence, you have absolutely no reason not to give it a try. And fortunately, it works perfectly on GNOME. So, if you're using Ubuntu, you can definitely give K3B a go.

The interface isnt that great, but whats great is the innumerable options which you get. You can configure every aspect of the software and yes, it does support that verification of CD/DVDs. In my opinion, if you're on Linux, K3B should be your preferred burning tool.

Here's a screenshot of K3B (Version: 1.68.0)

How to install:

K3B can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Center.

OR

From the terminal you can type : sudo apt-get install k3b

Use K3B and I'm sure you'll have a new sense of respect for KDE softwares.

Ubuntu 10.04 Beta1 - A closer look

2010-03-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

The following images will explain the installation procedure of Ubuntu 10.04 Beta1. The images are in exact order of their appearance:

Changes and Additions:

The default theme (Ambience). Notice the maximize, minimize, close buttons which have been on the left hand side. Just a bit of info though, changing the theme WONT change the alignment of the buttons (to change the alignment you will have to edit it through gconf-editor. For more info and detailed instructions on how to do this, take a look at this post : Moving Buttons)

GNOME Menu:

No substantial change in Accessories.

Some useless boring games (sorry) have been removed, and gbrainy, a new game has been added.

GIMP removed (sadly).

Gwibber has been added here. Unfortunately I never got it to work, neither in 9.10 nor in this 10.04 beta1. Still needs some work Gwibber.

Expected list of applications here in the Office section.

Pitivi has been added. Its a very basic no-frills video editor. But works fine.

Universal Access menu now is included in the default install. The onBoard thing is an on-screen keyboard. Very cool.

Preferences menu. Messaging and VoIP has been added.

Administration menu. There's now a Startup Disk Creator.

These are completely new elements which have been added. Very sleek and more importantly integrates perfectly with the interface.

The volume bar is now really user-friendly.

The new look Ubuntu Software Center.

Firefox with its new Yahoo! homepage for Ubuntu 10.04.

Rhythmbox (hold you breath, I'm getting to Ubuntu One Music Store):

And finally tadaaaa! Ubuntu One Music Store!

WARNING though, its very buggy right now. Many of the stuff dont work, but you should file bug reports or post your comments on existing ones to help the developers come up with a solution before the final stable version releases.

Generally the orange-aubergine looks quite charming. (Stop saying it looks gay! lol) The interface now looks really smooth and elegant.

There has been a lot of changes in this edition. Some of them good, some of them...well, you get it. But overall, this is a very important release which firmly establishes Ubuntu as not just the leading Linux OS, but also a growing mainstream OS.

A few more Google Chrome extensions

2010-03-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Google Chrome extensions list keeps getting longer and more extensive with each passing day. I will list here some of the really cool add ons I have recently discovered.

1. Chromepad - This is a very useful extension which helps you take notes right from the comfort of your browser. So, if you find some interesting text on the web or maybe you just want to jot down a few words which came to your mind, Chromepad is the tool for you! The local storage box available from the Options menu of Chromepad lets you retrieve/view your older notes as well. Very useful.

2. Wikipedia - You may have probably guessed it. Wikipedia extension allows you to browse the mobile version of Wikipedia from its extension window. You dont need to visit the massive wikipedia page to access the articles anymore.

3. Aviary Screen Capture - This is more like a screenshot tool only with loads and loads of editing and uploading options. You can take screenshots of a particular webpage and edit it right from the comfort of your browser.

(Read another post about Google Chrome extensions : Useful Google Chrome extensions)

[Note : All extensions mentioned above also work with Chromium (the open source counterpart of Google Chrome). If you want to install Chromium, go through : Install Chromium Browser]

Moving buttons

2010-03-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

A lot has been said about the Maximize, Minimize and Close buttons being on the left hand side of the title bar in Lucid Lynx, Ubuntu 10.04. The change has already been made in the beta1 which was released a few days back (For more info: Lucid Lynx beta released and Ubuntu becomes stunningly beautiful) See the pic below:

Now if you are uncomfortable with this, you can easily change it back to the right hand side. (Even if you arent using Lucid Lynx beta maybe you can move the buttons to the left and see how you like it! If you dont you can obviously change it back.) Here's how you do it:

1. Press Alt + F2 on you keyboard. In the window which opens up, type gconf-editor and press enter.

2. In the Configuration Editor window, go to apps>metacity>general

3. As you can see, it has a button_layout option. This is where you will do all your tweaks. To edit the button layout you will have to double click on the "maximize,minimize,close:" option.

Now before you change anything, let me just explain the basics, so that it becomes comfy to tweak with ease. Okay, so the default button layout if you are using Ubuntu 10.04 is "maximize,minimize,close:". (If you're using 9.10, the button layout will be ":maximize,minimize,close".) Now here's the thing. Maximize, Minimize and Close stand for each of the respective buttons and the ":" after that stands for the rest of the space on the title bar.

So basically, if you type ":maximize,minimize,close" the space will shift to the left and hence the buttons will be on the right.

My favorite pattern is ":minimize,maximize,close". You can now tweak it to suit your needs. As you see, it couldnt be any easier.

Now, when you are done editing, simply press enter and you can notice the changes.

World Of Goo

2010-03-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

: Image via Wikipedia

Not a very enticing name for a game dont you think? Anyway, World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game. The millions of Goo Balls who live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious.

Although the game can get extremely challenging at times, its surprisingly fresh both in terms of graphics and gameplay. It has a Windows, Mac as well as a Linux (yeah!) version. Mind you though, this is a closed-source game (albeit it uses many open source elements). Also, its not a free game, the full version of the game costs $20. However there's a demo version available on their website which is completely free to download. Hence, you could give it a try before you decide to buy.

Official Site of World of Goo : www.worldofgoo.com
Download links : www.worldofgoo.com/dl2.php?lk=demo

Ubuntu One Music Store is now open

2010-03-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated Ubuntu One Music Store has now been released for beta testing to the public. You can now test the Ubuntu One Music Store if you're using the latest beta release of Ubuntu. (To download the latest build check a previous post: http://exploreubuntu.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/lucid-lynx-beta-released/)

Mind you though that this is a beta release, so things might break.

How to provide feedback:

* Search Launchpad for your issue (https://bugs.launchpad.net/rhythmbox-ubuntuone-music-store)

* Report new bugs against the Rhythmbox Ubuntu One Music Store project (In order for the team to capture the most information about your issue, please file a bug by opening a terminal and typing: ubuntu-bug rhythmbox-ubuntuone-music-store)

* Chat with all beta testers on IRC: #u1msbeta on freenode

Mind you though that this is a beta release and is only for testing purposes right now.

(Source: http://voices.canonical.com/ubuntuone/?p=263)

NOTE - For more info on the Ubuntu One Music Store: http://exploreubuntu.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/ubuntu-one-music-store

Wine Application Database

2010-03-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you know of this, but WINE (the Windows emulator for Linux) has an application database which lists how each and every software will work on it. It has Platinum, Gold and Silver categories which is representative of the functionality/responsiveness of the program. So before you buy a Windows game or a software, you might want to check out if the game/software is included in the list.

Link : Wine Application Database

Recovering files from a corrupt memory card

2010-03-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a busy and frustrating day. Well, most of it.

The memory card of my mobile phone suddenly decided to go bust. I searched the entire web for programs which would allow me to recover data from my memory card. Unfortunately most of them were Windows ones and none of them worked with wine (the demo versions that is, because the full versions of those softwares cost a bomb!).

So there I was stuck with my corrupt memory card. I had loads of important data on it so losing all those meant losing quite a lot of data. Fortunately help was right at hand! I came across some very useful posts (www.goinggnu.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/recover-deleted-files-from-memory-card and https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery) which made things easy.

What I did was as follows:

1. I made an image of the memory card on my PC. How? By typing the following in the Terminal:

dd if=/dev/sdb1 of=memory_card.img bs=512

"memory_card.img" was saved under my /home folder. sda is the device name of the memory card, it might not be the same for you. To check what the assigned name of the memory card is, I opened System Monitor (available under System > Administration > System Monitor) and then clicked on the tab called File Systems. Also, please note, this 'creating image' process can take some time. It took the program around 20 mins to scan a 1GB RS-MMC memory card.

2. Next, I installed Testdisk

sudo apt-get install testdisk

3. Next I used Photorec, a free data recovery tool to scan the image of the memory card

sudo photorec memory_card.img

memory_card is of course the name you have used to save the image on your hard drive.

I simply followed the instructions of Photorec and the lost files were back, saved under the /home folder. Phew! I cannot explain how relieved i was! Open source saved the day!

Lucid Lynx Beta Released

2010-03-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx beta1 has been released by Canonical and is available for download. Mind you though its still a beta release, so dont expect it to be glitch/bug free.

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) :

These links have ISO and torrent files. You need to burn the download file to a CD.

http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04/ (Ubuntu Desktop and Server)
http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04/beta-1/ (Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)
http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/10.04/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook Remix)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/lucid/beta-1/ (Xubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/lucid/beta-1/ (Edubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/mythbuntu/releases/lucid/beta-1/ (Mythbuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/lucid/beta-1/ (Ubuntu Studio)

Additional mirrors for download and source: http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/beta1

WARNING - @ubuntustatus is reporting people having broken nautilus and gnome panel after upgrading. Please be careful about upgrading. This doesnt affect the ISO downloads.

The Ubuntu developers have noted this and action is being taken.

Hide/Add desktop icons

2010-03-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

The default Ubuntu installation might add a few icons on your desktop. If you're a proponent of the "clean desktop" look (like me!) or if you want to add some extra stuff to your desktop, then you need to do some tiny tweaks to change the look. Here's how:

You need to access gconf-editor. There are two ways of doing this.

1. Type gconf-editor in the Terminal and hit Enter

OR

2. Press Alt + F2 from the keyboard and type gconf-editor and hit Enter

Now a new window will be visible which should look something like this:

You now need to navigate to :

apps > nautilus > desktop

Well its pretty simple now, select/unselect the items of your choice:

Pino twitter client

2010-03-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Tired of all those Adobe AIR twitter apps? Well its high time we Linux users had our very own twitter client. Gwibber has been floated as the next big thing, but frankly I'm not convinced. I hope the Gwibber developers come up with something stable and usable by the next month when Ubuntu 10.04 releases.

In the meantime, I suggest you guys take a look at Pino. Its an ultra-lightweight Twitter client which does a fantastic job at what its meant to do. Of course, it has identi.ca integration, and if you need to use any other service you can add that as well.

Personally, I'm very impressed with Pino. I havent faced any difficulty in using any of its functions. Although Pino as of now, doesnt have the follow/unfollow features, I'm sure in time these will be integrated. But the bottomline is, if you need a proper, usable, GNOME friendly twitter client, Pino is your best bet.

How To Install:

To install it via the repositories in order to have the very latest version, type the following lines in the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vala-team/ppa

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:troorl/pino

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pino

Explore Ubuntu is now on facebook

2010-03-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

Explore Ubuntu is now on facebook ready with all the latest updates and info about everything Ubuntu.

The link to Explore Ubuntu's facebook page is here: Explore-Ubuntu

Thank you all for your continued support.

Ubuntu UK podcast

2010-03-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Ubuntu UK podcast is a podcast from the Ubuntu community in the UK. The podcast is presented by Alan Pope, Dave Walker, Tony Whitmore and Ciemon Dunville with new guests, additional hosts in each new episode.

The podcast is quite interesting and since its headed by a sort of "all star" cast, this is pretty much the most informative and authentic Ubuntu podcast around.

Downloads of the files are offered in various formats, including .ogg and .mp3 in low and high qualities.

The official website of the podcast is here: www.podcast.ubuntu-uk.org

Subscription links: (use these links on your podcast client)

High Quality:
Audio OGG - http://feeds.feedburner.com/UbuntuUkPodcastOgg-high?format=xml
Audio MP3 - http://feeds.feedburner.com/UbuntuUkPodcastMp3-high?format=xml
iTunes - http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=276154136

Low Quality:
Audio OGG - http://feeds.feedburner.com/UbuntuUkPodcastOgg-low?format=xml
Audio MP3 - http://feeds.feedburner.com/UbuntuUkPodcastMp3-low?format=xml
iTunes - http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=276534698

The image which has been used is the Ubuntu UK podcast wallpaper/logo which can be downloaded from here: http://podcast.ubuntu-uk.org/wallpapers/

Beautify the Terminal

2010-03-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

The terminal is the most boring looking thing on Linux systems. Isnt it? Well yes, if you decide to stick to the default look which is this:

But what if you could spice things up a bit? Sounds cool? Well, dig in!

Steps to change the look of the Terminal :

First up open the Terminal. How do you do that? Well you must have known this by now, but anyway, go to Accessories > Terminal.

Now go to Edit and then Profiles.

Click on the New tab and enter the name of your new profile and hit "Create". I have entered a pretty crappy name "New Profile"!

A new window will open with a lot of settings:

Now select the Colors tab and select whatever settings you want. Try it to see how it looks.

This is the setting which I particularly like:

It will make your Terminal look like this:

(I suggest you stick to this color setting which you have just changed, as transparency works best with it.)

But of course, my favourite is Transparency, so I'll get to it right away. Click on the Background tab. Select Transparent Background and then change the Transparency bar to suit you needs.

End result, you get a terminal which looks like this against the background:

Extra Tips :

As suggested here, make sure you create a new profile before you change any settings. I wouldnt recommend changing the Default profile at all, as you would always have it as a backup incase something went wrong, or you wanted back the original Terminal look.

If you want to retain the new look of the Terminal, then you must select it as the Profile used when launching the Terminal, so that the you get the desired look everytime you open the Terminal. You can change this by going to Edit > Profiles and then changing the option of Profile used when launching the Terminal to your new profile:

For Independent Artists and Musicians

2010-03-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

If you are an independent artist and your music/album is on Jamendo, then you can have your album/music featured across all Explore Ubuntu sites and Twitter blogs absolutely free. The album will be featured on all sites of Explore Ubuntu:

www.exploreubuntu.wordpress.com
www.exploreubuntu.weebly.com
www.twitter.com/exploreubuntu
www.identi.ca/exploreubuntu
www.exploreubuntu.posterous.com

Albums will be featured for 1 (ONE) week after which the next album in the queue will be featured. To have your album featured, email me at :

arnab_das(at)aol.in

[Replace (at) with @]

In the email you must provide the link to the album (ON JAMENDO), any links on any other site (other than Jamendo will NOT be accepted).

PLEASE NOTE: Explore Ubuntu us NOT a commercial venture. Please DO NOT PAY anyone claiming money to have your album featured on Explore Ubuntu. Also, you need to send me an email with the details of your album. Comments to this post for featuring an album will NOT be entertained.

Finally, why am I doing this free service you might ask. Well, I have found that there are many (infact many is an understatement) really talented musicians who have their music on Jamendo, and not may take notice. So, this is just my way of repaying those awesome people who dare to distribute their music for free.

For the time being, I will be featuring my favourite albums from Jamendo. These will be featured in the side panel on the right hand side.

*This is simply a small gesture of thanks. I am NOT connected/involved with Jamendo in any way.*

Miro

2010-03-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

Miro is a HD video player, cum podcast manager cum torrent client. It can play every kind of podcast, videos, HD shows, etc. Its very easy to use and the interface is simple gorgeous! Plus to top it all, it has all your favourtie shows, be it The Simpsons, TED Talk, Earth Touch HD, HBO Films, etc. etc. To take a look at whats on offer in Miro, click here: www.miroguide.com

Given below is a screenshot of Miro in use:

The version of Miro in the repositories of Ubuntu is a dated one. But its very much functional and bug free. So if you want you can install it from the Ubuntu Software Center.

But if you want the very latest version, you will have to install the software repo for Miro. Its very easy to do so.

How to install :

Go to System > Administration > Software Sources

Now click on the "Other Software" tab and then "Add" the following line (whichever is applicable):

Karmic (Ubuntu 9.10)

deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu karmic/

Mind you this is for Ubuntu 9.10. If you're using some other version of Ubuntu, see below:

Jaunty (9.04):

deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu jaunty/

Intrepid (8.10): (amd64 or i386)

Note: Miro 2.5.4 is the last release supported on Intrepid.

deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu intrepid/

Hardy LTS (8.04): (amd64 or i386)

Note: Miro 2.5.4 is the last release supported on Hardy.

deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu hardy/

After that, simply close and reload the repositories. Now that the repositories are updated, you can install Miro from the Ubuntu software CEnter itself and get the very latest version.

Or you can use the terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install miro

Activate Jamendo and Magnatune on Rhythmbox

2010-03-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Rhythmbox has a pretty neat feature inbuilt into it. It has plugins for Jamendo and Magnatune. These sites offer free legal downloads of music from independent artists. And trust me, some of the music is breathtaking!

So how do you activate Jamendo and Magnatune on your Rhythmbox?

Go to Edit and then Plugins option on your Rhythmbox. Then simply activate Jamendo and Magnatune:

Thats it. Now simply click on the Jamendo and Magnatune options on the side panel of your Rhythmbox and the playlists will start loading. Simply double click on the track to listen to it. And right click on it to download the track/album, get artist info, donate etc.

Jamendo loading:

Songs playing from the Jamendo playlist:

Explore Ubuntu now has an extended version

2010-03-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Explore Ubuntu now has a new extended and a snazzier version. You can find Explore Ubuntu on www.exploreubuntu.weebly.com.

However kindly note, that tutorials, tips and tricks will continue to be added here. So, you have absolutely no reason to stop visiting this blog. Infact, this being the place where it all started, will always get the attention. Also, please be a bit patient with new articles being added as the new site is still under construction.

Why this new extension? Well unfortunately wordpress.com, although a great blogging platform, has its limitations. Hence to provide you with a better interface and features, Explore Ubuntu can be found in the new location. Again, let me reiterate the fact that new tips and tricks will continue to be added here. The new site will mainly be dedicated to News, Media and other interesting informations about Ubuntu.

Do post your comments on how you like the new extension as well as your thoughts on this Explore Ubuntu blog. Looking forward to your continued support and cooperation.

Explore Ubuntu can be found on Twitter as well: @ExploreUbuntu.

Mounting iso images

2010-03-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Unless you are familiar with the terminal (fstab etc.), mounting .iso images can be a bit of a problem. This sort of image mounting is necessary if you have a multi CD game/you need to mount more partitions or drives than the default ones to meet your requirements. Fortunately for us, there are some very useful softwares on the Ubuntu repositories itself for this purpose. I would like to mention my favourite one here - AcetoneISO. (The closest Windows counterpart of this sort of a software is the very famous Daemon Tools, so now you know what I'm talking about)

Given below is a screenshot of AcetoneISO:

As you can see, mounting images is as simple as locating the file and then mounting it. And it creates a separate virtual-drives folder where you can view all its virtual drives and partitions.

How to install:

AcetoneISO is available in the Ubuntu Software Center. Search for it and then install. Couldnt be any easier!

Creating Image Slideshow

2010-03-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we have loads of images which we want to convert to videos with background music and stuff. Create an image slideshow that is. Ubuntu offers quite a few programs in its default repositories itself for this sort of projects. However there is one which I particularly like.

Its called imagination (what an appropriate name!). Its a very user friendly piece of software which will help you create those all important slideshows. It has loads of settings which you can tweak or leave as is, which works just as well. The output formats are .VOB, .OGV, .FLV and .3GP. For any help you can consult the Help file which is quite extensive and is actually helpful.

To install Imagination, go to the Ubuntu Software Center and search for 'Imagination' (obviously!) and Install. Its that simple.

Here's a screenshot of Imagination:

The slideshow creation process is as simple as Add Images and Create Slideshow. You can obviously add music etc. But for that to happen (to add MP3 support etc.) there is one package you need to install. Its called: libsox-fmt-all

So go to the terminal and type :

sudo apt-get install libsox-fmt-all

Thereafter its pretty simple.

'Real-time' earth wallpaper

2010-03-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

These are steps to install a 'real-time earth wallpaper which looks like this:

As you can see, this really cool wallpaper will show you the entire map of the world alongwith real-time (yes! real time!) data on which parts of the planet are having sunlight/daylight etc.

I'm currently using it, and personally this is one of my fav wallpapers. I would suggest you to give this a try.

How to install:

Download the file from here: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1115768/changer.sh

Next, right click on the file which you have just downloaded, go to Properties and the Permissions. Now select the Allow executing file as program option.

Now simply double click on it and select the open in terminal option.

To select the wallpaper go to System > Preference > Appearance and select the Background tab. Now the location of the wallpaper is at /home/username/.gnome2/world_sunlight_Wallpaper.jpg (username being your own username). The .gnome2 folder is a hidden one. To view it, select Ctrl + H keys while browsing for the wallpaper.

To make sure that the 'real-time' mechanism works 24x7, you need to add it as a startup app. To do that, go to System > Preference > Startup Applications. Click on Add and then type in/browse the location of the file that you had downloaded (not the wallpaper mind you, the downloaded file).

Thats it.

(Source - http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/search/label/quirkywallpaper)

Install Chromium Browser

2010-03-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

Chromium browser is the open source counterpart of Google Chrome. Most of the development/features in Chromium end up in Google Chrome. So, if you are uncomfortable with Google's privacy policy or with the use of a closed source software, you should give Chromium a go. It has absolutely the same interface as Google Chrome, hence you need not worry about getting used to it.

Here's a screenshot of Chromium browser:

How to install Chomium :

Go to System > Administration > Software Sources and click on the Other Software. Now click on the Add button and add the following lines ONE BY ONE (copy paste the first line, click on Add Source and then copy paste the second line and then add it):

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main

Next, type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 0xfbef0d696de1c72ba5a835fe5a9bf3bb4e5e17b5

Next type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

Thats it. Chromium browser can be accessed from Applications > Internet > Chromium Browser

Solution To The Flash Problem In Flock Browser

2010-03-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Flock, the 'social browser' has a peculiar bug. Inspite of Ubuntu having flash plugins installed, it doesnt play any flash stuff. Hence for most of us, watching YouTube videos on Flock is an impossibility.

Here's the solution:

First up, you need to make sure you have flash actually installed. For that, type the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

Next, type the following in the Terminal:

sudo ln /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so /usr/share/flock/plugins/libflashplayer.so

Thats it. Restart the Flock browser and enjoy watching those flash videos.

(Also consult these posts on Explore Ubuntu: Flash for 64 bit and Ultimate Flash Fix for Ubuntu)

gPodder - podcast client

2010-03-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

Thanks to popey's blog, I checked out gPodder today. Its basically a podcast client, much like Miro.

The interface is user friendly and fairly simple. You should have absolutely no difficulty in figuring out the functions etc. the most interesting bit is that gPodder allows you to sync your feeds to your account which you can create on the mygpodder.org and sync feeds to any other device as well. The list of available podcast streams/feeds is fairly exhaustive. However I would be lying if I said the feeds work perfectly. I couldnt get the Ubuntu UK Podcast feed to work although the same worked perfectly on Miro.

Here's a screenshot of gPodder:

I am pretty impressed with this piece of software. But if there's a choice between Miro and gPodder, I would obviously choose the former.

How to install gPodder :

Its available in the Ubuntu repos and you can install it from the Ubuntu Software Center.

Alternatively you can add the repository for gPodder by typing the following in the Terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:thp/gpodder

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gpodder

To launch gPodder go to Sound and Video > gPodder Podcast Client.

Rename Them All

2010-03-06T03:56:00.000-08:00

Rename Them All is a batch renamer, in lay man's terms that means it allows you to rename the file names of multiple files at once. The app was part of The Grand App Writing Challenge.

Although I dont usually try beta/untested softwares, I couldnt resist giving this app a try. After all, it does promise to make life really really easy. Imagine having the pleasure of renaming hundreds of files at one go with the click of a button!

Given below is a screenshot of the app where I am renaming files named 1, 2, 3, 4... to Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4...

How to Install for Ubuntu 9.10 (Recommended)

Go to the Terminal (Accessories > Terminal) and type the following:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:loneowais/ppa

Next update your repositories by typing the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get update

Now install the software by typing the following in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install renamethemall

Installing the app by this method allows you to constantly stay updated to the latest version of the app.

Alternate method of installation: (Not Recommended)

You can download the .deb file from the launchpad page here. Direct link to the .deb file is here.

Thereafter just double click on the file and install the software. Do note that although this method of installation is easier, it wont allow you to stay up to date with latest versions of the software which might include bug fixes, added features etc.

Cartman's Authoritah

2010-03-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Thats Cartman from South Park in case you havent guessed it already. Cartman's Authoritah is a really cool, light weight game which in my opinion every South Park fan should have a go at (and yes, it includes the choicest of Cartman quotes). By the way, its a Windows game. Worry not though, because it works perfectly (yes, absolutely perfectly) under WINE. (If you havent installed WINE yet, you should check out this link here: How To Install WINE)

The screenshot of the game is given below (Cartman and Kenny):

I dont usually recommend using Windows games on Ubuntu simply because they can sometime be very buggy, but I'll make an exception in this case though. The game is absolutely free and the best part is its only 1.43 MB!

So, you have absolutely no reason not to download it and give the game a try.

You can download the game from Download.CNET.com, the link is here: Cartman's Authoritah

Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.2 released

2010-03-05T04:54:00.000-08:00

The latest version of Ubuntu Tweak, 0.5.2 has been released. It doesnt include any new features but apparently fixes a lot of bugs. There's a new highlight support for the new items in Application Center and Source Center.

After synching one may find new apps marked as unread/new. You can download Ubuntu Tweak from the official site.

Also take a look at a previous post on Ubuntu Tweak:
www.exploreubuntu.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/ubuntu-tweak/

Ubuntu becomes stunningly beautiful

2010-03-04T04:07:00.000-08:00

Our dear old Ubuntu is undergoing a landmark metamorphosis. The new style of Ubuntu is driven by the theme "Light", which will come into effect from 10.04 onwards.

So how does this new and rejuvenated Ubuntu look? Here's a sample.

The New Ubuntu Logos:

The New Ubuntu Community Logos:

New GtkThemes :

Boot Splash :

Finally, Ubuntu comes out of the 'brown'! Personally, I really like this new concept of a fresh 'light' Ubuntu. Ubuntu has made giant strides in making Linux popular for the masses and having an attractive new look and feel to it can only work wonders for its popularity.

This is what was said in the official wiki:

We've developed a comprehensive set of visual guidelines and treatments that reflect that style, and are updating key assets like the logo accordingly. The new theme takes effect in 10.04 LTS and will define our look and feel for several years. The new Ubuntu mantra is 'Light'.

We're drawn to Light because it denotes both warmth and clarity, and intrigued by the idea that "light" is a good value in software. Good software is "light" in the sense that it uses your resources efficiently, runs quickly, and can easily be reshaped as needed. Ubuntu represents a break with the bloatware of proprietary operating systems and an opportunity to delight to those who use computers for work and play. More and more of our communications are powered by light, and in future, our processing power will depend on our ability to work with light, too.

True indeed. Hats off to the designers of these new logos for a job well done.

Explore Ubuntu is now on twitter

2010-03-03T05:50:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you know that Explore Ubuntu is now on Twitter as well.

Twitter.com/ExploreUbuntu

It will have all the updates whenever a new post is made here. Also, as an added bonus, it will have links to anything interesting on the web about Ubuntu (something which is not exactly possible to do here on this blog).

If you have any suggestions, constructive criticism, tips and tricks you would like to share, kindly let me know. The best way of doing that is to leave a comment.

Ubuntu One Music Store

2010-03-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

Ubuntu One Music Store, the much awaited commercial initiative of Canonical is well under way.

popey.com blog has given us a sneak peek into Ubuntu One Music Store. The following image (of Ubuntu One Music Store) was posted on his blog (popey.com/blog):

It will hopefully be available in Lucid Lynx 10.04 alpha 3. They have also integrated Ubuntu One Music Store into Rhythmbox, the default music player for Ubuntu.

Also because of DRM concerns, Canonical is using 7digital instead of Amazon. The downloaded songs will be synched with your Ubuntu One account and hence you will always have a backup copy.

Listed below is the FAQ of Ubuntu One Music Store

Q: What will be the store's name?
The store is called the Ubuntu One Music Store.

Q: How is Ubuntu getting access to popular music?
For the Ubuntu One Music Store, our primary goals are to 1) provide a wide selection of popular songs to users and 2) enable Ubuntu users around the world to have access to these songs. Among the partners evaluated, we chose 7digital because they had the largest selection of songs available without digital rights management (DRM) for the most regions around the world.

Q: What desktop application will include the Ubuntu One Music Store?
The standard Ubuntu music player, Rhythmbox, will be used for the music store. We know that people still want choice in their music player application so The Ubuntu One Music Store was developed as a plug-in that can be re-used in some other music applications. We have received approval from the music labels for the Ubuntu One Music Store to be embedded within Banshee, Amarok, and a few other applications. Please contact the Ubuntu One Music Store team for information about this process and implementation support.

Q: How is this different than Jamendo and Magnatune?
Jamendo and Magnature will remain in the Rhythmbox music player. These are both great sources for creative commons and open licensed songs. The Ubuntu One Music Store extends the catalog of music available to Ubuntu users and will include mostly songs from minor and major label artists. These are songs that you typically find on the shelves of your favorite record shop...except in a downloadable format.

Q: What are the details about the music in the Ubuntu One Music Store?
Songs purchased through the Ubuntu One Music Store are available in high quality 256 kbps (sometimes higher) MP3 audio encoding and without digital rights management (DRM). MP3 purchases can be:

burned to a CD any number of times
played through any software on any type of computer that you own that supports MP3
synced to any MP3-enabled device such as a portable music player
You may occasionally find songs in WMA format. We're working with our partner to remove these songs from the Ubuntu One Music Store. Until this is resolved, we don't recommend purchasing these songs in this format. An MP3 version can typically be found by using the store's search feature.

Update 27 Feb, 2010: There will be no embedded 'watermarks' of any kind on the MP3s in the Ubuntu One Music Store.

Some have asked for songs in other formats such as Ogg Vorbis or FLAC. Acquiring popular songs in this format was not possible at this time, but Canonical will continue to look for future opportunities to improve the quality of the songs found in the Ubuntu One Music Store.

Q: What are the 'system requirements'?
If your computer can run Ubuntu 10.04, has Rhythmbox installed, can play sounds and connect to the Internet, then you are ready to use the Ubuntu One Music Store.

Q: Will these downloads play on my iPod or portable media player?
The MP3 format is widely supported on portable media players such as the iPod. Rhythmbox works with most portable media players without additional configuration and a Rhythmbox plug-in (libgpod) is available that provides support for most iPods.

Q: What are the features of the Ubuntu One Music Store?
The Ubuntu One Music Store has features that users expect from an online store.

Search by artist, album, or track
Browse recommendations and genres
Discover new releases or just released songs each week
A convenient shopping basket
Support for a variety of payment options

Q: How is the store related to Ubuntu One?
An Ubuntu One account is required to purchase songs from the Ubuntu One Music Store. Ubuntu One accounts are free and come with 2 GB of personal cloud storage. Purchased songs are automatically transferred to your cloud storage, synchronized to all of your computers, and added to Rhythmbox. Customers will find a new library that contains purchases from the Ubuntu One Music Store. You can also fetch your music from your personal cloud storage through a web browser, just like all your other files.

Integrating the Ubuntu One Music Store with Ubuntu One gives consumers the security of online backup as well as convenience of auto-synchronization.

Please note that Ubuntu One synchronization does not support users who connect to the Internet through a proxy server. These users will need to download their purchases from the Ubuntu One website and manually add songs to their Rhythmbox library.

Q: What does it mean by x downloads remaining?
The Ubuntu One Music Store's partnership with the music labels limits the number of times customers can download a purchased song from the music store to three (3). While this gives people some security in case of catastrophe, additional downloads should not be necessary as purchases are backed-up in the customers's Ubuntu One personal cloud. The initial transfer from the music store to a customer's Ubuntu One personal cloud will count as one (1) download. Any synchronization of purchased songs stored in your Ubuntu One personal cloud to any number of your computers does not count against the music store's download limit. Clicking to download again will transfer songs to your Ubuntu One personal cloud again and will deduct from the downloads remaining. Customers shouldn't need to do this though unless they delete the song from their cloud storage.

Q: What regions of the world will be able to purchase songs?
Most popular songs are licensed by territory (basically by country). Our starting territories will be the UK, US, Germany, the rest of the EU (EU countries outside of the UK and Germany), and the rest of the world (countries outside the EU and US). Customers who use the EU store will have access to purchase songs from two of the four major labels. Customers who use the World store will have access to purchase songs from independent labels.

Update 27 Feb, 2010: Perhaps we could have been a bit more clear about this. Customers who use the UK, US, and Germany stores will have access to purchase songs from all major and independent music labels.

Canonical will analyze usage of the EU and World stores after the 10.04 launch to decide which territories would be best for expansion. Watch the Ubuntu One blog in the months following the launch of Ubuntu 10.04 for more information.

Q: How do independent artists from the Ubuntu community get their songs into the store?
The Ubuntu One Music Store has great potential for the Ubuntu community and we want members to be able to contribute their own works (especially if it was produced on Ubuntu) to the store. Our partner, 7digital, works with various digital distribution companies that represent artists. Here are a few that you can contact to get your songs added to the 7digital catalog and the Ubuntu One Music Store.

ioda
The Orchard
FUGA
CI
D23

Q: I've found a bug. I have a great feature. What do I do?
Please submit bugs and feature requests to the Ubuntu One Music Store project in Launchpad. The development team monitors this area and reads all messages.

Q: Where do I get help?
Customer support is available by clicking on the Help button in the Ubuntu One Music Store.

Q: Ubuntu can't play MP3s out of the box so how will we play purchased songs?
Canonical has put effort into making the customer experience as effortless as possible. When you visit the Ubuntu One Music Store, it will detect if you have MP3 support installed. If you don't, the store will install the Fluendo MP3 plugin for GStreamer. The MP3 plugin is distributed worldwide at no charge under a license from Fluendo. An Internet connection is required.

Q: How can I install and test the store?
The store isn't quite ready for wider testing. Watch this area or the Ubuntu One blog for more details coming soon.

Full Circle Magazine Podcast

2010-03-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

The guys at Full Circle Magazine have started an Ubuntu podcast. At the moment its a fortnightly audio podcast with episode 1 already being released.

It has various sections about News, Tech stuff, Gaming and loads of quintessential British humour! :P

I gave it a listen and its hilariously awesome. Seriously!

You can download the podcast or listen to it live aka streaming. The runtime for the first episode is about 37 minutes.

This is the link to the page: Full Circle Podcast #1: Stop Wine-ing and Go Native!

Useful Google Chrome extensions

2010-02-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

Now that Google Chrome is available for Linux, there is an enormous misconception about Chrome extensions (or rather the lack of it). I will list here some of the very useful extensions, which are exceptional and perhaps indispensable when it comes to a proper Chrome experience.

1. Ad Block - "AdBlock for Chrome! Blocks ads all over the web." And very rightly so. It even blocks facebook ads! Personally, this is my favourite extension.

2. RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) - Adds one-click subscription to your toolbar. Does exactly that. Brilliant extension, cant live without this.

3. Shareaholic for Google Chrome - This is the same old famous shareaholic that we all fell in love with back in the Firefox days. Except, shareaholic for Chrome is only better! It has all the standard options, plus it also has a 'live' bit.ly URL shortener. So basically, you dont have to visit bit.ly everytime you need a shorter URL. Saves time. Efficient. Superb extension.

4. SmoothScroll - Scrolls the websites smoothly when scrolling with the mouse wheel or the keyboard. This will change your experience of browsing the web. If you havent used SmoothScroll earlier, try it out. Its beautiful.

5. Stop Autoplay for YouTube - Autoplay can sometimes get very annoying. This extension stops autoplay on YouTube and lets the video buffer before you press the play button. Great extension.

(If you havent installed Google Chrome for Linux, this is an earlier post explaining in very simple words the entire process of installation: How to Install Google Chrome)

Edit your AWN theme to get the perfect dock

2010-02-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

I admit, people have varied tastes and choices. But I guess this is a setting which most users will like.

I had recently come across this thread on Ubuntuforums, and it featured a really beautiful dock designed by Tipped OuT. The thing which I loved about the dock was it had the perfect colour combination. It was grey-ish without being too grey or white-ish without being too white. Hence, even if you have a completely white/very bright coloured wallpaper, the dock will still stay, lets say 'in focus'.

But the problem with the dock is that it has sharp edges to it, which I'm not really a fan of. I like the classy rounded edges to a dock. Take a look at how the theme looks on my desktop.

And this is how the default AWN theme looks (with the 3D effect):

If you look closely, you'll find that the second image has a better polish to the dock, but the colour isnt exactly what I'd call breathtaking.

Since I cant force the developer into producing a theme of my choice, what I did was replicate the exact colours and effects to resemble this new dock theme which is near-perfect, the default AWN theme.

(Of course you'll need AWN installed. If you dont have it installed, you should click here for a guided installation procedure for AWN)

I have for your benefit, made an AWN theme package (with a few tweaks of course) which resembles this dock but has rounded edges.

The modified AWN theme can be downloaded from here :

Modified_Theme.tgz

After downloading the file, open the AWN Manager and install the theme (click on Add and simply locate the file you have just downloaded and Apply the theme):

After applying the theme, it should look like this:

Do let me know how you like it.

(Wallpaper used is from www.hdwallpapers.net)

djl Game Manager

2010-02-21T05:17:00.000-08:00

I found this awesome piece of software yesterday. It basically is an installation wizard/manager for all popular Linux games, and has a great interface. It has single click installation and removal options, hence even a complete novice can use it with ease.

"Djl makes it possible (via a repository) to download, install and remove a reasonable number of games placed into a distrobution independent subdirectory (but without dealing with any dependencies). It can also execute .desktop shortcuts located in another directory (this way, it's possible to launch games which were installed before djl)." [Description given on their website]

To download this manager, visit this site: www.en.djl-linux.org and download it from the links given on that page.

Say goodbye to compiling and building games packages.

Ubuntu Pocket Guide And Reference

2010-02-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference is a book written by Keir Thomas. Its available for free download on this page: www.ubuntupocketguide.com
(Alternatively you can also buy the book from Amazon.com)

Its written in a very lucid way, clarifies everything a beginner needs to know about Unix, GNU and Ubuntu, and there's absolutely no technical jargon which is beyond the grasp of a beginner. And best of all, its a fun read! Although it is primarily aimed at beginners, I would highly recommend it to everyone using Ubuntu. There's something for everyone in this book. And the best part is the author has (and let me put it this way, out of pure goodwill) decided to release the book as a free downloadable one.

The size of the download is around 2MB, so it really wont take long to download. I am currently going through the book and I love it! Hence I would highly recommend it to everyone using Ubuntu (or any other version of Linux for that matter), beginner or not.