Ubuntu 24.04 Comes to the Nintendo Switch (Unofficially, Obvs)
There are plenty of fun things you can do on a Nintendo Switch: you can throw your hat at sentient creatures in Super Mario Odyssey; plaster people in colourful ink in Splatoon 2; and lose all grip on reality thanks to an ill-timed blue shell in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Oh, and you can also run Ubuntu. Switchroot is an open-source project that allows Android and Linux-based distros like Ubuntu to run on the Nintendo Switch —absolutely not something Nintendo approves of let alone supports, endorses, or encourages. I covered the loophole that permitted this back in 2018. Back then 
#News #Nintendo #Ubuntu24_04Lts
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-04-nintendo-switch
Ubuntu 24.10 Plans to Enable Wayland for NVIDIA Users
Ubuntu first switched to using Wayland as its default display server in 2017 before reverting the following year. It tried again in 2021 and has stuck with it since. But while Wayland is what most of login to after installing Ubuntu anyone doing so on a PC or laptop with a NVIDIA graphics card present are instead logged in to an Xorg/X11 session. This is because the NVIDIA’s proprietary graphics drivers (which provide the best performance, access to all hardware capabilities, etc) haven’t supported Wayland as well as they could’ve. Thankfully, things have changed. NVIDIA is now warming to Wayland
#News #Nvidia #Ubuntu24_10 #Wayland
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-10-wayland-nvidia
VMware Workstation Pro Now Free to Use on Linux & Windows
VMware has made its professional virtualisation software free to use on Windows, macOS, and Linux — for personal use only, though. For Windows and Linux users that means VMware Workstation Pro 17 is now readily available without cost, while macOS users get VMware Fusion Pro 13. Broadcom, who bought VMware in 2023, say in a blog post that it’s making these previously pricey tools free for personal use in an effort “to provide ongoing, lasting value to our customers and to the VMware community at large”. Everyday users who want a virtual lab on their Mac, Windows or Linux computer can
#News #Broadcom #Virtualmachines #Vmware
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/vmware-workstation-pro-is-now-free-to-use
Mozilla Firefox 126 is Now Available to Download
Mozilla Firefox 126 is now available download, and in-app updates beginning to roll out to existing users on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. As Firefox updates go the 126 release is rather light on user-facing goodies, especially versus last month’s release which intro’d clipboard paste suggestions in the address bar, colourful highlighting tools to the PDF editor, and activity indicators in Firefox View. The only real user-facing change in Firefox 126 is a toggle to turn-off the vertical split pane feature in the the web inspector. While a tap of the esc key can show/hide split-pane at will some folks
#News #AppUpdates #Firefox
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/mozilla-firefox-126-is-now-available-to-download
Linux Kernel 6.9 Released, This is What’s New
Linux kernel 6.9 has been released after several months of development. Linux founder Linus Torvalds says that while kernel contributors report “a few regression fixes that haven’t made it to me yet none of them look big or worrisome enough to delay the release for another week. We’ll have to backport them when they get resolved and hit upstream.” “So 6.9 is now out.” Nice, but what’s new? Linux 6.9: New Features Linux kernel 6.9 includes the usual glut of enablement work for upcoming hardware and hardware-related features that most of us aren’t currently able to take advantage of.
#News #LinuxKernel
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/linux-kernel-6-9-features
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Runs Brilliantly on the Raspberry Pi 5
The recent Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release has garnered plenty of praise for its great performance on Intel/AMD hardware, both does the latest version runs as well on the ARM-based Raspberry Pi? I’m pleased to say it does. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS for Raspberry Pi is available in both server and desktop builds. Both offer the majority of what’s found in the equivalent 64-bit Intel/AMD version. For desktop users that means GNOME 46, the latest Linux kernel 6.8, and Mesa 24.0.5 graphics. But because Ubuntu’s Raspberry Pi builds are ‘preinstalled images’ they don’t include the Flutter-based installer. Instead, user account set-up and configuration
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-04-raspberry-pi-5
First Ubuntu 24.10 Daily Build Available to Download
Let’s go, folks — Ubuntu 24.10 daily builds are available for download. Ubuntu 24.10 ‘Oracular Oriole’ officially opened for development earlier this week following the announcement of the release codename (more than window dressing; it’s a critical part in infrastructure setup) and a draft release schedule. As development has only just started there’s no need to download an Ubuntu 24.10 daily build just yet. The beginning of each Ubuntu development cycle is primarily package churn, thus there’s little “new” to see or use. While there’s sure to be plenty of new Ubuntu 24.10 features to enjoy they’ll only start to
#News #Ubuntu24_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-10-daily-build-downloads-live
Disqus Comments Not Loading? It’s Not Me Bro, It’s Firefox
Over the last 12 months I’ve received a trickle of messages from readers (through the tip form) asking why the Disqus comments section doesn’t load, or comes and goes. Comments are auto-enabled all articles I publish. And if comments are intentionally disabled for an article (which does happen, albeit rarely) you won’t see a comment count (functions as an anchor link to the comments section) in the ‘meta’ area beneath the headline on the article page. So what’s the cause of comments not loading? Mozilla Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) mode set to ‘Strict’. The feature —I won’t be
#News #Disqus #SiteStuff
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/disqus-comments-not-loading-its-not-me-bro-its-firefox
Gemini AI GNOME Shell Extension
If you use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later and want to access the Google Gemini AI chatbot straight from your desktop outside of a web browser, you’re in luck! The Gemini AI ChatBot GNOME Shell extension (unaffiliated with Google; it’s not an official thing) gives you immediate access to Gemini at any time from the applet it adds to the top panel — no need to open a web browser tab or fire up a standalone app. Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is an AI language model developed by Google. Like ChatGPT, CoPilot et al it will generate human-like replies
#News #Ai/Ml #Gemini #GnomeExtensions #Google
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/gemini-ai-gnome-shell-extension
Google’s Flutter Team Layoffs Leave Ubuntu Devs in a Flap
Google’s recent ‘structural simplification’ led to 200 people across many of its core development teams, including Python, Dart, and Flutter, losing their roles. With Canonical committed to using Flutter for its own desktop apps that news has left some in the Ubuntu community worried. The new Ubuntu Installer, Firmware Updater, App Center, and the (currently MIA) Desktop Security Center are all built in Flutter, which is Google’s cross-platform Web-based UI framework underpinned by the Dart programming language. And within the wider Ubuntu Flutter community a handful of devs are creating third-party apps using it, with music/radio/podcast/video player MusicPod the best
#News #Flutter #Google
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/googles-flutter-team-layoffs-leave-ubuntu-devs-in-a-flap
Ubuntu 24.10 Release Date Set for October 10
Canonical has published a draft release schedule for Ubuntu 24.10 ‘Oracular Oriole’. According to the timetable we should expect the final stable release of Ubuntu 24.10 to arrive on Thursday October 10, 2024. Six months of development lay ahead, with a beta release of the ‘Oracular Oriole’ set to take flight on September 19, and a release candidate on October 3. As a short-term ‘interim’ release Ubuntu 24.10 is supported for just 9 months from release, dovetailing into the release of Ubuntu 25.04 in April of next year. Key milestones in the Ubuntu 24.10 release schedule (subject to change): With :sys_more_orange:
#News #Ubuntu24_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-10-release-date
Ubuntu 24.04 Support for Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Snapdragon) Laptop a WIP
Canonical kernel engineer Juerg Haefliger has shared an update on Ubuntu support for the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Gen 1) laptop. The 13-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is an ARM laptop powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx (gen3) processor with Adreno 690 GPU, 16 GB RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and claimed ~28 battery life. It comes preloaded with Windows 11 (ARM) by default. Last year a quasi-official (albeit experimental) Ubuntu 23.10 install image was released for the device spearheaded by Juerg, and made available to download from the Ubuntu CD image server. But an installer image for the latest Ubuntu 24.04
#News #Arm
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/ubuntu-24-04-lenovo-thinkpad-x13s-snapdragon
SuperTuxKart 1.5 Gears Up For Summer Release
Fans of open-source racing game SuperTuxKart will be stoked to hear devs are busy in the pit lanes pepping the next major update — and it’ll launch this summer. SuperTuxKart 1.4 was released back in 2022 with a ton of improvements. Successive updates in that series have fine-tuned, fixed-up, and finessed performance and stability, but not put any new features in the tank (so to speak). But things shift up a gear in SuperTuxKart 1.5. This summer, SuperTuxKart 1.5 gets off the starting line with a welcome clutch —no, I’m sorry about these puns— of improvements and buffs across desktop
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/supertuxkart-1-5-gears-up-for-summer-release
This Extension Adds a Progress Bar to GNOME Shell Media Controls
Media Progress is a new GNOME Shell extension that adds a real-time progress bar to the MPRIS notification/sound control doohickey that shows in the notification area. This extension doesn’t do else bar (heh) that, but as simple enhancements go it’s a nifty one. More than a mere indicator, the progress bar the extension adds is interactive and seekable. Click anywhere in the progress bar to jump to that position (which is handy if listening to something long, like a podcast or audiobook). As of writing the Media Progress extension supports GNOME 46. So to use it you will need to
#News #GnomeExtensions #Ubuntu24_04Lts
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/05/progress-bar-gnome-shell-music-control
Linux Mint 22 Will Include Web App for Matrix
Linux Mint 22 will include a Matrix web client preinstalled when released later this year. The IRC-based desktop chat app Linux Mint has been building, Jargonaut, to replace Hexchat and provide real-time communication for its users, will no longer be included (the status of any future development uncertain). Why the change? “Jargonaut works. It works well and does exactly what we want. Its implementation was relatively easy and I’d say it’s now 75% complete,” Linux Mint project lead Clément Lefèbvre says. But nots that “feedback about Matrix” led to the team testing it, liking it, and deciding to adopt it
#News #Irc #LinuxMint #Matrix
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/04/linux-mint-swaps-irc-for-matrix
NeoFetch Development Ends as GitHub Project Archived
It seems that the popular command-line system info tool Neofetch is dead, Jim. The Github repo for the project was archived by its main developer last week and is now read-only, a sure sign that development has well and truly ceased to be. Not that this is a shock given that development on Neofetch had stalled a few years back, bug reports went unanswered, merge and pull requests ignored, and the last stable update issued back in 2020. I’ve been a long-time fan of Neofetch using it on all my installs since discovering it in 2015, showcasing it in scores
#News #CliTools #Graveyard #Hyfetch #Neofetch
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/04/neofetch-system-info-tool-is-dead
Amarok 3.0 Released, Ported to Qt5/KDE Frameworks 5
A new version of the open-source music player Amarok has been released, the first major update to the Qt-based media app since 2018. Amarok 3.0 is the first stable release to use Qt 5 and KDE Frameworks 5, and work to port the music player to the the newest Qt 6 and KDE Frameworks 6 is, its devs say, soon to get underway. “Common usecases should work quite well, and in addition to fixing KF5 port related regressions reported in pre-releases, 3.0 features many bugfixes and implemented features for longstanding issues, the oldest such documented being from 2009,” devs say.
#News #Amarok #AppUpdates #KdeApps #MusicPlayers
Mozilla Devs Adding ‘New Tab Wallpapers’ to Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is working on new customisation options, including the ability to set a background image on the new tab page. A number of modern web browsers including Google Chrome, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge allows users to set a custom image as the backdrop for the new tab page. As the new tab page is (by default) set to show when the browser is launched and every time a new tab is opened it’s a highly visible (if often fleeting) part of users’ web browser experience thus customisation is popular. But while Mozilla Firefox has an array of features and
#News #Firefox
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/04/firefox-new-tab-background-images
Ubuntu 24.10 Codename Revealed as Development Begins
The official codename for Ubuntu 24.10 has been revealed. Although Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has have only just been released the pace of development marches on. Ubuntu developers have already begun bootstrapping the base on which the next short-term release, which is scheduled for release in October, will be built. And since every new Ubuntu release needs its own unique codename, they’ve chosen one! Ubuntu 24.10 is “Oracular Oriole”. ‘Oracular’ is a word meaning relating of/from an oracle, acting as a more arcane-sounding synonym to words like prophetic, divinatory, sibylline, augural. ‘Oriole’ is a genus of bird — you don’t need
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/04/ubuntu-24-10-codename-oracular-oriole
Don’t Upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 Yet — It May Bork Your System
With Ubuntu 24.04 LTS out and the weekend upon us you may be planning to upgrade a previous Ubuntu install to the newest version. But you shouldn’t. For one, “officially” you can’t since Ubuntu 24.04 LTS upgrades are not enabled yet (for reasons I’ll get in to in a second) from either Ubuntu 23.10 or 22.04 LTS. But that doesn’t stop us folks from upgrading manually. They hear that a new version of Ubuntu is out and stable, they don’t fancy the faff of a fresh install, and they don’t want to wait for the ‘new version available’ upgrade prompt’
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/04/dont-upgrade-to-ubuntu-24-04-yet
