How to Try Google Chrome’s 2023 UI Refresh on Ubuntu
It seems Google Chrome is getting a bit of a makeover later this year and if you’re riding this browser’s development channel you can opt-in early and try it out now. I’ll show you how to do that in a moment, but first I ought to show a few screenshots of what you’ll be opting in to. Now, the UI changes aren’t (on Linux at least) overly radical — at least, not to my sensibilities. I believe Windows is getting Mica treatment, and macOS Here’s a screenshot showing you what the normal version of Google Chrome 115 (dev) looks like 
#HowTo #News #Design #GoogleChrome
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/try-chrome-design-fresh-2023-linux
Firefox’s Black Screen Bug in Ubuntu 23.04 is Now Fixed
Do you see a pitch black window when you open Firefox on Ubuntu 23.04? You’re not alone. Thing is, until today, I thought I was alone. I thought this issue, which I’ve only experienced when using Ubuntu’s default Wayland session and the preinstalled Firefox snap app — i.e. a config that should “just work” in theory — was a quirk of my system. Or worse: my fault (I do install/tweak my system a lot). Well I’m relieved to say I’m not to blame, and neither are you. Turns out, Firefox’s black screen of death in Lunar is a Mutter issue
#News #Firefox #Mutter #Ubuntu23_04
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/ubuntu-firefox-black-screen-bug-fix
Parallels Desktop Update Adds Support for Ubuntu 23.04 VMs
A clutch of Ubuntu fixes features in the latest update to Parallels Desktop, a popular proprietary and paid virtualization suite for macOS. If you’re now scratching your head wondering why you’re reading about Mac software on an Ubuntu blog I have to say …You do have a point. However, not everyone uses Ubuntu (or indeed other distros or OSes) on bare metal, or are limited to needing macOS because of their job, etc. Virtual machine software like Parallels Desktop makes it so easy to test, develop, debug etc – especially on Macs where native Linux hardware support is MIA. Parallels
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/parallels-desktop-update-ubuntu-23-04
DashBar is a Compact All-in-One Taskbar GNOME Extension
If you’re looking to trick your GNOME Shell desktop out with a classy new taskbar extension that’s low on system resources check out DashBar. Admittedly GNOME Shell is not short of taskbar, panel, and dock extensions. A wide range of alternatives are available, from household names1 like Dash to Panel and Dash to Dock through to niche, nuanced offerings like BaBar Lite, and now DashBar. DashBar has no preferences at all. That’s its USP; it works how the way it works, and if that way isn’t for you, use something else! Lots of options are exciting but they add overhead.
#News
How to Resize Images on Ubuntu Using Nautilus
Looking for a quick and easy way to resize multiple images on Ubuntu? You could use an image resizing app that handles batch conversions. Several terrific ones can be found in Ubuntu’s repos, many utilising the power of Imagemagick (which itself can be used standalone from the command line). Those methods are valid and in most cases preferable as they offer advanced configuration, cater to edge cases, and are able to perform additional actions at the same time. But you can also resize images straight from Nautilus, Ubuntu’s file manager. I find this especially efficient as I can do it
#HowTo #ImageEditors #Nautilus
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/resize-images-ubuntu-nautilus-right-click
Bodhi Linux 7.0 Beta is Available for Testing
A beta build of the upcoming Bodhi Linux 7.0 release is available to download. For those unfamiliar with it, Bodhi Linux is a lightweight Linux distro based on Ubuntu long-term support releases. It uses an Enlightenment-based desktop and the Moksha window manager by default. It’s famed for its resource efficiency and modularity, both of which equip it to run well on low-end hardware. Bodhi Linux 7.0 is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This foundation means users get access to better hardware support, security and performance improvements, and a repo stocked to the rafters with newer versions of apps, tools, and
#News #Bodhi #Distros #Enlightenment
Want to Hide the Top Bar in Ubuntu? Here’s How
Want to hide the top bar in Ubuntu when a window is placed near it? With a nifty GNOME extension you can! It works like this: Simple, huh? Ubuntu makes it easy to auto-hide the Ubuntu dock (the icon bar that sits on the left-hand side of the screen by default) out-of-the-box. You just open the Settings app, go to the Ubuntu Desktop section, and flick a switch. Alas, there’s not a similar option to hide the top bar (this is the panel stripped across the top of the screen). So if you want to the top bar to hide
#HowTo #Customization #GnomeExtensions
Lutris 0.5.13 Adds Proton Support, Itch.io Integration & More
A new version of Lutris, the open-source game launcher for Linux, is available to download. For those not acquainted with it, Lutris makes it easier to install, launch, and play games on Linux by integrating multiple gaming platforms, including Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle (amongst others), into a swish-looking, unified “interface”. Lutris supports native Linux games, Windows games run through compatibility layers like Wine and Proton, and games run using emulators. Through one UI, gamers can manage their libraries, install dependencies, configure graphics settings, and apply tweaks to improve gaming on Linux. Tl;dr think of Lutris like the Rhythmbox of
#News #Gaming #Lutris
‘Significant Changes’ to PPAs Coming in Ubuntu 23.10
The way PPAs are managed is changing in Ubuntu 23.10. A new version of the software-properties package is rolling out to Mantic Minotaur daily builds. The update makes brings a “significant change” to the way personal package archives (better known as PPAs) are managed on Ubuntu systems. What’s changing? Well, in current versions of Ubuntu when you add a PPA (via the command line — you can add them via Software & Updates but I’m not sure how key handling works there) a .list file for the PPA is created in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/, and the corresponding gpg keyring placed at /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d.
#News #Development #ManticMinotaur #Ppas #Ubuntu23_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/significant-changes-to-ppas-coming-in-ubuntu-23-10
System76’s COSMIC Desktop Already Looks Out of this World
When System76 announced plans to create its own desktop environment I’ll admit I did wonder if they could pull it off. It’s not that I doubt the company’s software development prowess or engineering nous (the stellar success of Pop!_OS with its homegrown embellishments prove they’re capable). It’s more that desktop environments are beastly, sprawling, labyrinthine affairs. But judging by the progress they’re making thus far, it seems there’s little for me to worry about! In a spring update on their blog, System76 share a set of screenshots that show the Rust-based roots of their wannabe workspace are already blooming nicely.
#News #Cosmic #PopOs #Rust #System76
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/system76-cosmic-desktop-may-update
Microsoft Wants Firefox to Ditch Google, Switch to Bing
Here’s a (hopefully toy) cat to toss amongst the pigeons – Microsoft is rumoured to be eyeing up a deal to make Bing the default search engine in Mozilla Firefox. The rumour, by way of The Information, claims senior Microsoft execs are hoping to seal a deal with Mozilla to make Bing the default search engine this year, just as the browser’s existing big-bucks deal with Google is due for renewal. Now, this browser making a search engine switch isn’t new news; Mozilla tested Microsoft’s Bing as Firefox’s default search engine back back in 2021; and those with longer memories
#News #Firefox #Microsoft #Mozilla #WebBrowsers
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/microsoft-wants-firefox-to-ditch-google-switch-to-bing
Ubuntu 23.04 Now Supports StarFive’s Powerful RISC-V Computer
Ubuntu 23.04 is now officially available for StarFive’s VisionFive 2, a powerful RISC-V single-board computer. Canonical worked with StarFive’s engineering team to create an optimised version of the latest Ubuntu release for use on the VisionFive 2. This single-board computer (SBC) boasts greater performance than the first-generation model (which Ubuntu also supported) thanks in part to its inclusion of an integrated GPU – the first RISC-V board to offer one. RISC-V is a burgeoning and exciting area of open computing. StarFive’s boards provide developers interested in furthering that work, be it on software or hardware engineering sides, with an accessible
#News #Canonical #Hardware #Risc-V #Starfive
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/ubuntu-23-04-risc-v-support
Chromium Fan? Canonical and Intel Team Up for Hardware Accelerated Build
If you run Ubuntu on a laptop or PC with 7th-generation Intel chips or later and you’re a fan of the Chromium browser, Canonical has something for you. It has partnered with Intel to create a Chromium snap that boasts hardware accelerated video decoding and encoding. Thus, the bespoke build offers better performance and extends battery life for Kaby Lake (7th Gen) and newer platforms when using VP8, VP9, and H.264 codecs. And those codecs are pretty ubiquitous in online content. So what’s the “catch? Well, for the moment this souped-up snap is a “beta” and not 100% ready for
#News #Chromium #HardwareAcceleration #Intel #SnapApps #Snaps
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/chromium-snap-hardware-acceleration-beta
New Firefox Update Makes Picture-in-Picture Mode WAY More Useful
A new version of Mozilla Firefox is rolling out across Windows, macOS and, more importantly to us, Linux. Firefox 113 is an interesting update that enhances the browser’s capabilities in a number of areas. While none are the kind of singular upsells that might convince someone to switch browser, they nonetheless add further finesse for fans of this famous FOSS browser to enjoy. So what’s got me most excited? You know how Firefox has a very useful picture-in-picture mode (PIP) that lets you “pop out” videos on select streaming sites (like YouTube) so you can watch content while you’re doing
#News #AppUpdates #Firefox
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/firefox-113-released-etc
We’re Off – Ubuntu 23.10 Daily Builds Available to Download
Ubuntu 23.10 daily builds are now available to download. Having given the next release a magnificent mythical codename and opened the archives for development, developers have now spun up the first daily builds of Ubuntu 23.10 and made them available to download. As I said in my post when Ubuntu 23.10 development kicked off, it’s still too early in the development cycle for any substantive changes (beyond initial sync) to show. So if you’re sat salivating at the prospect of sampling a swathe of new and exciting stuff — sorry, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that 😉. Daily
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/ubuntu-23-10-daily-builds-available
How to Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Ubuntu
In this guide I show you how to create a wifi hotspot on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and the recent Ubuntu 23.04 release. Why would you want to do this? Well, before able to share your internet connection with other people (though more commonly, other devices) is a basic feature that most operating systems (desktop and mobile) offer. Ubuntu is no different. The most common use case for this is sharing a wired internet connection from a PC or laptop as a wireless connection that other devices (e.g., mobiles, tablets, etc) can connect to wirelessly. You need to have some kind
#HowTo #UbuntuBasics #Wifi
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/create-wifi-hotspot-on-ubuntu
Want More Wallpapers in Ubuntu? Install GNOME Backgrounds
Wallpapers – you know I love ’em. Ubuntu 23.04 comes with a small selection of (largely lobster themed) wallpapers out of the box. The choice is neither vast nor varied so you may find yourself looking for some additional ones to liven up your desktop. Well, one fast and easy way to quickly add more high-quality wallpapers to Ubuntu is to install the gnome-backgrounds package. This is available in the Ubuntu repos, though you’ll need to install it using the command line as Ubuntu Software doesn’t show a result for it). This package contains the “official” GNOME wallpaper which you’ll
#HowTo #EyeCandy #Gnome #Wallpapers
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/install-gnome-backgrounds-on-ubuntu
Development Opens on Ubuntu 23.10 ‘Mantic Minotaur’
We’re ago — development has opened on Ubuntu 23.10 “Mantic Minotaur”. “We’re pleased to announce that kinetic is now open for development. auto-sync has been enabled and will run soon”, Ubuntu’s Graham Inggs’ writes in a post on Ubuntu’s main development mailing list. “As usual, we expect a large influx of builds and autopkgtests in this initial period, which will cause delays. Please help with fixing any breakage that occurs,” they add. Excited? Haha, don’t be — not yet! At this stage in development there isn’t anything “new” to mention, much less screenshot for your ocular enjoyment. If you’re big
#News #Development #ManticMinotaur #Ubuntu23_10
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/ubuntu-23-04-development-opens
Spotify’s ‘Controversial’ New Design Arrives on Linux
Spotify for Linux user? You’ll notice that the desktop app looks a bit different the next time you open it. The music streaming service, which recently passed 515 million monthly active users, rolled out a redesign of its desktop app on Windows and macOS last week. That revamp is now hitting the official Spotify for Linux client too (it appears to be a server-side change rather than a specific client update). Don’t panic unnecessarily because, as redesigns go, this one isn’t that bad — though (naturally) not everyone is a fan… The “big ticket” item is the revamped sidebar, which
#News #Spotify
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/spotify-desktop-app-redesign-2023
Bavarder is a ChatGPT App for Linux Desktops
Fancy talking to ChatGPT from your Linux desktop without needing a web browser? Well, using Bavarder (if I’ve spelt it right) you can. This new app is written in Python and GTK4/libadwaita and its premise is simple: ask ChatGPT something, receive a reply, then quickly copy the answer (or your question) to the clipboard to paste elsewhere. As the user interface is delightfully straightforward you won’t need an AI (or a half-rate blogger) to understand it. You type your query in the top box, hit the blue send button, then wait for a reply in the bottom. You can edit
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/05/bavarder-chatgpt-linux-app
