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TimeSwitch Lets Uno Schedule Restart, Shutdowns, or Commands

Want to schedule a system restart on Ubuntu? There are plenty of ways to do it, with cron probably the most well-known method. But for a more intuitive way to schedule restarts on Ubuntu check out TimeSwitch. TimeSwitch is nimble desktop app built using Python and GTK4/libadwaita. It enables you to reboot, shutdown, or suspend Ubuntu at a set date/time of your choosing. You can also use TimeSwitch to run a command(s) to schedule, or display a desktop notification. Whether you need to reboot your computer for updates or make sure it shuts down after a task has run, this :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/schedu

The Future of ZFS on Ubuntu Desktop is Not Looking Good

Is Ubuntu on ZFS a dead effort? In 2019 Canonical seemed pretty upbeat about the contentious file system, hyping the release of Ubuntu 19.10 and its (experimental) option to install Ubuntu (kernel, system files, and user data) on a ZFS volume. It was a surprising move making Ubuntu the first major Linux distro to embrace ZFS in-spite of the issues surrounding its licensing. However, since then things have gone backwards. Last year Ubuntu developers pushed to remove Zsys, an integral tool they created to make it easier to manage and maintain ZFS-based installations, from Ubuntu’s Ubiquity installer. In the corresponding :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/ubuntu

Nala is a Neat Alternative to Apt on Ubuntu

If there’s one command-line tool I know most of you use it’s apt, or the Advanced Package Tool. Every Debian-based Linux distro (Ubuntu included) uses apt because, well, it’s good at what it does. To quote Wikipedia, apt takes the hassle out of managing software on Linux by “automating the retrieval, configuration and installation of software packages, either from precompiled files or by compiling source code.” Whether you want to check for updates, upgrade your system, or install software from your distro’s repo, apt lets you do it quickly, do it easily, and do it relatively safely. But I’m not here to talk :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/instal

How to Highlight the Mouse Cursor in Ubuntu

If you record screencasts, make online tutorials, or stream your Ubuntu desktop when gaming you may find it useful to highlight your mouse cursor. When screen recording it can be helpful to make the mouse cursor stand out on screen using a highlight effect. Users of macOS and Windows can access a wide range of apps and add-ons that offer all sorts of fancy mouse cursor effects, including screen recording software with flashy mouse effects built-in. On Ubuntu there’s no need. A mouse highlight effect is built-in to the GNOME desktop environment as part of its accessibility settings. Thought not :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/highli

Monitorets is a Cute System Monitor Widget for Linux

Sometimes things are just cute, y’know? Like, not everything made for Linux needs to plug an existential hole, break down boundaries, revolutionise computing as we know it™, etc. It’s fine for things to exist just because they’re nice to look at — and hey: if my site’s been a champion of anything these past 13 years, it’s of borderline useless tat to litter our desktops with). I’m saying all of this upfront — hi, btw 👋 — because I know that the thing I’m spotlighting below is going to leave a few of you reading this scratching your chins in :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/monito

Pinta 2.1 Released with WebP Support, Wayland Improvements + More

An updated version of open source graphics app Pinta is available to download.. Pinta 2.1 arrives roughly a year after the debut of the Pinta 2.0 series and sees the app upgraded to leverage .NET 7. Building against .NET 6 (LTS) is still supported, the devs say. Talking of .Net (meek link) the design and feature set of Pinta was inspired by the Windows programme Paint.NET. So what’s new in Pinta 2.1? A few things jump out. The big one? WebP support. This efficient image format is finally gaining a lot of traction (quite deservedly) and with Ubuntu recently adding :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/open-s

One Thing – Put a Single Task/Goal in the GNOME Panel

Keep that vital reminder, task, or goal in mind with this simple GNOME extension. It lets you enter text (including emoji) and see it on the GNOME panel.

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/one-th

‘Converter’ is a Slick Image Conversion Tool for Linux

Using this free, open source app you can convert an image into another image format on Linux, including converting an image to a PDF. Learn more inside.

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/gtk-im

Easily Monitor Stock Prices with these GNOME Extensions

Here are two GNOME extensions you can use to keep an eye on stock prices from your Linux desktop without needing to open a web browser or a dedicated app. In a fast-paced world folks want quick and easy access to real-time stock market data. While there are websites that let you view stock prices online, it’s often more convenient to get the information through the OS itself. Both of the GNOME extensions in this post will satisfy those who spend a lot of time at their computer and want to see the latest stock prices for specific companies/stocks. There’s :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/stock-

Ubuntu’s Education-Focused Flavour is Making a Comeback

Pop quiz: what is the name of the education-focused flavour of Ubuntu tailored towards students, teachers, and schools? Answer: Edubuntu — and it’s hoping to make a comeback. Edubuntu arrived on the scene in 2005 when it debuted as part of the Ubuntu 5.10 “Breezy Badger” series. The scholastic spin kept issuing new releases until Edubuntu 14.04 LTS which, due to a lack of contributors, wound up being the final release an official favour. Fast forward to 2023 and this forgotten flavour is looking to the future. Ubuntu Studio’s Erich Eickmeyer and his wife Amy, whose background is in education, :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/edubun

The 5 Best Linux Distros of 2022

I look back at the best Linux distro releases of 2022. Ubuntu is (obviously) included, but so are non-Ubuntu based Linux distros like Fedora and Manjaro.

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/best-l

How to Disable Ubuntu’s (Rather Annoying) “Apt News” Feature

Are you a fan of Ubuntu’s (semi-controversial) apt “awareness” feature? You won’t have failed to notice it by now if you use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and you regularly use apt to check for and install system updates. For me, the awareness messages appears each time I run apt upgrade or apt dist-upgrade on my Jammy Jellyfish install (thankfully it no longer appears on Ubuntu 22.10, which makes sense: it’s not an LTS release). Canonical added the feature to enable it to ‘raise awareness’ of critical security issues, and to instruct users on how to mitigate the impact of them (most :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/disabl

CoverflowAltTab Extension for GNOME Shell Gets a Major Update

The latest CoverflowAltTab extension update intros a redesigned settings panel and improves multi-monitor support to deliver a slick way to switch apps.

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/coverf

Ear Tag, a GTK Audio Tag Editor, Gains New Features, Performance Boost

Significant performance improvements as well as more editing capabilities feature in the latest version of Ear Tag. Ear Tag is GTK4/libadwaita app designed for basic metadata editing of single audio files (though you can use it to edit fields of multiple audio files at the same time). A new version slipped out during the festive period that enhances the focused feature-set further. The Github description for the Ear Tag 0.3.0 release touts “greatly improved performance“, with faster loading times when working with and/or switching between audio files and, for the impatient, a loading indicator to reassure you the app is :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/open-s

There’s Now a Rick & Morty Window Closing Effect for Linux

A portal effect inspired by the terrifically over-the-top cartoon Ricky & Morty is the latest addition to the terrifically-over-the-top Burn My Windows extension. As with other animations available through this add-on, you can assign the new portal effect to play when closing app windows and/or opening windows too: You can also apply this (and any of the 17 other effects) to play when closing modal dialogs too. While a few of Burn My Windows’ animations are limited to more recent versions of GNOME Shell, the Rick & Morty portal effect supports GNOME 3.36 and above. This means the effect is :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/rick-m

‘Kora’ Icon Set Gives Your Linux Desktop a Classy New Look

Folks, I think Kora might be one of the best icon themes for Ubuntu (and other Linux distros) I’ve seen in a long, long time. Certainly this year. Now, Kora isn’t super new — I bet some of you reading this very post are already be using it (why didn’t you tell me about it?! 😭). I’m late to the love-in as I only discovered Kora today via Reddit. But no lie: I’m impressed. I particularly like that on a stock Ubuntu install nearly every (non-branded) icon gets a Kora revamp. This comprehensive coverage means that even on a (somewhat) :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/kora-i

Annotate Files & Folders in Nautilus with this New Extension

Ever wanted to annotate files and/or folders inside of Nautilus? There’s a third-party Nautilus extension that allows you to do exactly that. Nautilus (also known as GNOME Files these days) used to have a built-in “notes” feature. This allows you to attach short written annotations to files and directories on your system, and view/edit/access them at a later date. This (admittedly little-known) feature seems to have been removed in Nautilus 3.2 back in 2011. Well, this week I found a new Nautilus extension that brings this (admittedly niche) feature back, and it works with the latest versions of GNOME’s famed :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/nautil

‘Haruna’ is a Slick Qt-Based Video Player with YouTube Support

Are you a KDE Plasma user looking for a flashy yet featured video player? If so, check out Haruna. I tried it this week and was really impressed by its design, its feature-set, and its ease of use. I’ve written a fair bit about fancy GTK media players like Clapper and Celluloid in the past. But Qt apps? Those not so much. And yet Haruna, an open source video player built using Qt/QML and libmpv, is every inch a match for those (and other) players. And naturally it looks fab on the KDE Plasma desktop: Obviously I’m aware that caring :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/haruna

A Simple Desktop Clock GNOME Extension You Can Use on Ubuntu

Desktop Clock is a GNOME extension that …I'm sure you can guess! Ubuntu-friendly, the timepiece is highly customisable, and also displays the current date.
&TimerApps

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/deskto

Use ‘Corluma’ to Control Hue, LIFX & Nanoleaf Lights on Ubuntu

If you’re rocking some luscious LED smart lights in your home and you want to be able to control them from your Ubuntu desktop, check out Corluma. Corluma is a cross-platform light controller app available for macOS, iOS, Android, and — of interest to those of you reading this — Ubuntu-based Linux distributions. While the mobile and Mac versions of the app are paid software the Ubuntu version is free (as in beer). The aim of the app is to allow you to control all your lights from one app, without having to configure IFTT, smart assistant integrations, etc. For :sys_more_orange:

:sys_omgubuntu: omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/use-co

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小森林

每个人都有属于自己的一片森林,也许我们从来不曾走过,但它一直在那里,总会在那里。迷失的人迷失了,相逢的人会再相逢。愿这里,成为属于你的小森林。