Ubuntu 21.10 is Now Available to Download
It’s here, folks — Ubuntu 21.10 downloads are now live. Ubuntu 21.10 comes crammed with six months worth of changes including the GNOME 40 desktop, a new GTK theme, a Firefox Snap app by default, PulseAudio 15, and Linux 5.13 to name but a few. This release — the 35th Ubuntu release for those keeping count — is backed by 9 months of security updates, critical fixes, and select software updates. If you install 21.10 (or upgrade to it from Ubuntu 21.04) you can upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS next April — a release supported for at least five years. 
#Download #News #ImpishIndri #Ubuntu21_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/ubuntu-21-10-is-now-available-to-download
Ubuntu 21.10: What’s New? [Video]
What's new in Ubuntu 21.10 'Impish Indri'? We've handcrafted a short video to showcase the release's biggest changes and major features. Take a look!
#News #Video #ImpishIndri #ReleaseVideo #Ubuntu21_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/ubuntu-21-10-whats-new-video
Slimbook Battery 4 Released with Improved Power-Saving Features
We spotlighted Slimbook Battery optimiser a couple of years ago, describing it as an essential tool for those looking to get longer battery life on Linux. Today, a major update to the app was released. It said to extend compatibility with a ‘greater number of laptop brands’ and Ubuntu-based distros, and offer improved power-saving prowess! Slimbook Battery 4 can work with the Spanish hardware company’s custom AMD and Intel controller apps. Paired together they unlock even more performance enhancing (or curtailing, depending on your needs) possibilities through a myriad of configuration options. Slimbook Battery 4 boasts a new dark interface
#Apps #News #AppUpdates #Battery #BatteryOptimizer #Slimbook
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/slimbook-battery-4-released
Annotator is a Slick Annotation Tool for Linux Desktops
Sometimes I want to annotate an image quickly, but without loading up a full-blown image editing app like The GIMP. Today I found an amazing app that lets me do just that. Annotator by Trevor Williams is something of a cross between the macOS Preview app (which has powerful markup tools built-in) and FOSS-fave Shutter. Indeed, until now, my go-to tool for annotating images on Linux is Shutter (or Flameshot, though it can only annotate screenshots you take using it), though its UI is a little dated and a few features are missing. So when I saw Annotator on the
#Apps #Annotator #Appcenter #Elementary #FlatpakApps #ImageEditors
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/best-annotation-tool-for-linux-desktop
GNOME 42 Will Include New System-Wide ‘Dark Mode’ Preference
GNOME 42 is on course to ship with support for a proper ‘dark mode’ toggle. Right now the GNOME desktop lacks a standardised, system-level way for users to indicate to the system, their apps, and even websites they visit that they’d prefer them to use a dark appearance. Now, you’re probably thinking: “Joey, Ubuntu already has a dark mode: I use it” — and you’re not mistaken. Major desktop Linux distros, including Ubuntu and Pop!_OS, do include a dark theme option — but is changing theme the best way to approach this? No. First off, GTK themes aren’t strictly a
#Dev #News #Adwaita #DarkMode #Gnome #Gnome42
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/gnome-42-dark-style-preference
Firefox 93 Released with AVIF Support, Insecure Download Protection
Firefox 93 adds support for the AVIF image format, makes form filling more widely accessible in the PDF viewer, and helps protects against insecure downloads by blocking downloads which rely on insecure connections. The AVIF image support is particularly notable as it was supposed to feature in the previous release. For those unaware AVIF is a royalty-free image format that boasts comparable quality to JPEG but at a much reduced file size. Eagle-eyed users may notice that the Firefox download progress bar now respects system colour scheme on Linux desktops. The browser had been applying its own CSS to the
#News #AppUpdates #Avif #Firefox
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/10/firefox-93-now-available-to-download
Microsoft Office 2021 Includes Better Support for LibreOffice Files
We’re used to hearing that the latest versions of out favourite open-source office suites come with better support for Microsoft Office files, but the other way around? That’s a little less common, but it’s happening. Microsoft Office 2021 is due for release on October 5 for Windows and macOS systems. Among the (many) new features Microsoft is talking about is Office 2021’s support for the OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.3. “The ODF 1.3 format (using the file extensions .odt, .ods, and .odp) is supported in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alongside the Office Open XML (OOXML) format (which uses file extensions .docx,
#News #Libreoffice #Microsoft #OdfFiles #Office&ProductivityApps
A Quick Look at Ubuntu 21.10’s Yaru Theme Changes
The upcoming Ubuntu 21.10 release features a number of visual changes big and small, and in this post I run through the most notable ones. First up, the one you probably already know about: Ubuntu 21.10 uses the Yaru light theme by default. The ‘mixed’ version of the Yaru theme (dark headers but light control) has been jettisoned and is no longer available. Ubuntu’s Appearance settings pane is updated to reflect the change accordingly: Notice anything else different about the screenshot above? I won’t be surprised if you don’t as it’s a very subtle change. But, the selected row styling
#News #GtkThemes #ImpishIndri #Ubuntu21_10 #Yaru
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-21-10-yaru-theme-changes
Bangle.js 2 is a Hackable, Open Source Smartwatch that Runs JavaScript
Looking for an open source smartwatch you’re in total control of? If so, check out the Bangle.js 2 which is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter. This hacker-friendly piece of horological hardware is the brainchild of Espruino developer Gordon Williams. Much like Williams’ earlier efforts in this area, the Bangle.js 2 runs on JavaScript. Yup, JavaScript; it seems JS really can run everywhere! 😉 Specifically the Bangle.js uses the open source Espruino JavaScript interpreter. This is custom designed software for devices with extremely low hardware resources, like microcontrollers. New apps can be written in JavaScript without an SDK, or compiling, or additional software. They
#Hardware #News #Crowdfunding #Javascript #OpenSource #Smartwatch
Ubuntu 21.10 Beta Released, This is What’s New
We’re just a few short weeks away from the final Ubuntu 21.10 release, but first things first: a beta. Yes, Ubuntu 21.10 beta is now available to download. Developers and non-developers alike can go hands on with the “Impish Indri” to try it out ahead of a stable release on October 14, 2021. Those who install the Ubuntu 21.10 beta can upgrade to the final version (when it arrives) just by installing all updates — and I do mean all — as they arrive down the chute. Intro out of the way, let’s take a look at what’s new! Ubuntu
#Download #News #Beta #Gnome40 #ImpishIndri #Ubuntu21_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-21-10-beta-ready-to-download
GNOME 41 Released with New Multitasking Settings, Revamped Software, and More
The GNOME project today released GNOME 41, the latest version of its open source desktop environment. And it brings some interesting additions to the table. As with most GNOME desktop updates, GNOME 41 is packed with an assortment of new features, user interface tweaks, and performance improvements. GNOME says that “ with these changes, GNOME is smarter, more flexible, and offers a richer and more engaging experience than ever before.” Source code for the latest release is available to download from the GNOME website from today. However, most Linux users will want to wait for their distro maintainers to package it
#News #DesktopEnvironments #Gnome #Gnome41
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/gnome-41-released-see-whats-new
Canonical Extends Support of Ubuntu 14.04 and 16.04 to 10 Years
Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 16.04 just got a major support boost from Canonical. Announced today, Canonical says both releases will now get an extended 10 years of support from their original release date, up from the 5 originally provided. This commitment brings these older LTS releases in line with the 10 year commitment already in place for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and 20.04 LTS. As a result, Ubuntu 14.04 is supported until April 2024, and Ubuntu 16.04 is supported until April 2026. The announcement is sure to be welcomed by enterprise, business, and other service customers who run orders versions of
#News #Canonical #Esm #Lts #TrustyTahr #XenialXerus
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/canonical-extends-support-of-ubuntu-14-04-and-16-04-to-10-years
gThumb 3.12 Released with HEIF/HEIC & AVIF Image Support
AVIF and HEIF images can now be opened and edited in gThumb, the open source photo manager for Linux desktops. The gThumb 3.12 release ships with the ability to load .avif, .heif (including Apple’s .heic) and .jxl images, as well as the ability to save images in the .avif format. What is AVIF and HEIF? They’re both new image file formats that offer a smaller file size than traditional JPEG images but with negligible loss in quality. The AVIF image format is particularly interesting as it’s an open-source and royalty free optimised image format that’s said to provide “significant file
#Apps #News #AppUpdates #Gthumb #Photoapps
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/thumb-3-12-avif-heif-image-support
Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS Released with Critical Security Fixes
No, you’re not misreading the title, Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS is available to download. This (unplanned) point release arrives with one key — pun intended — purpose: to make Ubuntu 18.04 LTS bootable again on Secure Boot-enabled systems. Why did it stop booting? “Unlike previous point releases, 18.04.6 is a refresh of the amd64 and arm64 installer media after the key revocation related to the BootHole vulnerability, re-enabling their usage on Secure Boot enabled systems,” writes Canonical’s Łukasz Zemczak explains in the release announcement. The BootHole vulnerability is explained in more detail on the Ubuntu blog as well on the Ubuntu
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-18-04-6-lts-released-with-critical-security-fixes
Spotify Linux Client (Finally) Fixes Missing Artwork Bug, Improves Speed
An update to the official Spotify Linux client is rolling out. Spotify doesn’t publish change-logs for Linux client updates but a couple of very noticeable improvements come bundled up in the latest build. Such as? For quite a while now Spotify’s MPRIS integration hasn’t been able to show album/track artwork due to a malformed URL on Spotify’s end (which no-one was in a hurry to fix). Although this was purely a cosmetic issue — music played fine and player controls still worked — the absence of album art did irritate enough folks for a slog of third-party workarounds, extensions, and
#News
Linux Mint’s New Website is Live (And Yes, It Looks Fresh)
A brand-new Linux Mint website has gone live. Mint devs said that a revamped homepage was in the work, even inviting the community to get involved in shaping the form and function of it. All of that hardwork has paid off as the new Linux Mint website is online. And it’s looking great: As well as making an attractive first impression to potential new users, the new Linux Mint website cleanly conveys the core reasons why people find this particular Linux distro a solid alternative to other operating systems, like Microsoft Windows. From Mint’s famed “out of the box” experience
#Community #News #LinuxMint
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/linux-mints-new-website-goes-live-and-yes-it-looks-fresh
Ubuntu Wants to Make Firefox Snap the Default in 21.10
Ubuntu is making the Firefox Snap package the default for new installations of Ubuntu 21.10, as well as those upgrading from Ubuntu 21.04. A feature freeze exception request opened to get the Firefox deb package in the Ubuntu ‘seed’ replaced with the Snap version states: “Per Canonical’s distribution agreement with Mozilla, we’re making the snap the default installation of firefox on desktop ISOs starting with Ubuntu 21.10”. Firefox is currently distributed via the Ubuntu repo as a deb package. But users who install Ubuntu 21.10 will, once the feature freeze request is granted, find the official Snap version of Firefox
#News #Canonical #Firefox #SnapApps #Snapcraft #Snaps #Ubuntu21_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-makes-firefox-snap-default
Ubuntu 21.10 Default Wallpaper Revealed
Ubuntu 21.10’s new default wallpaper has been revealed. As expected, the new background doesn’t deviate from the recent trend of sporting a large animal mascot atop a purple and orange backdrop. But unlike unlike most of the recent mascot wallpapers produced this one is not designed using an angular origami style, nor is it composed entirely of circles (Bionic Beaver, Cosmic Cuttlefish, Hirsute Hippo). As well as a new default wallpaper, Ubuntu 21.10 will include the two winners from the recent Ubuntu 21.10 wallpaper contest. Ubuntu 21.10 is due for release in mid October. A beta release is expected next
#News #Wallpaper #Defaultwallpaper #ImpishIndri #Ubuntu21_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-21-10-default-wallpaper-revealed
Bored of Flat UIs? Check Out the Skeuos GTK Theme
Ever find yourself wishing your GTK theme had a bit more depth to it? If so, check out the Skeuos GTK theme by Daniel Ruiz de Alegría. His sumptuous skin skewers modern expectations by embracing the bevels, drop-shadows, and gradients most modern themes actively avoid. The result is a confident look with visible visual hierarchy to it. Buttons look like buttons, toggles look like toggles, and focused elements have clear presence. You won’t mistake a label for an action here. In this era of ever-flatter UIs it’s surprising how refreshing a splash of “ornamentation” can feel. Not wanting to leave
#Themes #Adwaita #EyeCandy #GtkThemes
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/skeuos-gtk-theme-for-linux-is-like-adwaita-with-depth
You Can Still Get Ubuntu 16.04 Security Updates, Here’s How
Did you know it’s possible to get security updates for Ubuntu 16.04 until 2024 without paying for an enterprise Ubuntu support package? ESM is not a reason to never upgrade, it is simply a stop gap I didn’t, not until today when a reader mailed in to tell me that Canonical offers free Ubuntu Advantage for Infrastructure accounts for personal use on up-to 3 machines (active Ubuntu members can use it on up to 50 machines). A gratis Ubuntu Advantage for Infrastructure account includes a couple of things but the most notable is …Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) for EOL releases.
#HowTo #XenialXerus
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/ubuntu-16-04-security-updates-esm-for-free
