Backup your music CDs with Asunder CD Ripper

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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