A Recent Pop!_OS Update May Make Your System Faster
A small update rolling out to the Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS distro could make a big impact on system performance. Pop!_OS now enables zram support by default — and to quote Sytem76 themselves the feature “actively compresses memory in the background, increasing the amount of free memory your system has available. This results in increased FPS in games, or faster simulations and compiler runs.” Pretty nice, eh? Instead of moving infrequently used data to a separate swap partition on disk (which is slow), zram compresses data, and keeps it in RAM (which is faster). On systems with lower amounts of RAM available 
#News #PopOs #System76 #Zram
Xubuntu 23.04 Will Come in a CD-ROM Size ‘Minimal’ Image
As the Ubuntu 23.04 development cycle gets underway we’re learning more about what’s in store for Ubuntu and its growing family of flavours. Xubuntu, one of the more minimally-minded spins, has revealed its planning to release a new ‘Xubuntu Minimal’ image starting with Ubuntu 23.04. It’s an expansion of the Xubuntu Core effort started back in 2015 but with a big ol’ rubber-stamp of officialdom on it. In a post to the Ubuntu developer mailing list, Steve Langasek says Xubuntu Minimal “…parallels existing minimal install targets from the Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server images to provide a smaller install footprint
#Dev #News #LunarLobster #Minimal #Ubuntu23_04 #Xubuntu
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/xubuntu-23-04-will-come-in-a-cd-rom-size-minimal-image
How to Add Markdown Preview to Gedit Text Editor
Want to add Markdown preview to the Gedit text editor? With the Gedit Markdown Preview extension (catchy name, eh?) you can do so quickly. See how!
#HowTo #Gedit #Markdown #Texteditor
Help Test GNOME’s New ‘Window Focus’ Behaviour
A new ‘window focus’ animation for GNOME Shell is available to test. GNOME designers are currently exploring a different way to indicate ‘focus’ in GNOME Shell. One idea is to remove the app icon, name, and menu that appears in the Top Bar (next to Activities button – this was retained to indicate the app in focus) and replace it with a window animation As is, user testing shows the (what’s left of the) app menu confuses users. “They think that it’s a task switcher, a shortcut to a specific app, or don’t understand what it is at all. It
#Dev #News #Gnome44 #GnomeExtensions #GnomeShell
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/try-gnome-44-focus-indicator-animation
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
#Apps #GtkApps
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/schedule-restart-shutdown-ubuntu-timeswitch-app
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
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/ubuntu-zfs-support-status
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
#HowTo #Apt #Nala #PackageManagers #TerminalApps
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
#HowTo #Cursor #Gnome #Mouse #Screencasting
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/highlight-mouse-cursor-ubuntu
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
#Apps #GtkApps #Monitorets #Systemapps
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/monitorets-system-monitor-app-linux-desktop
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
#News #AppUpdates #ImageEditors #Pinta
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/open-source-graphics-app-pinta-adds-webp-support-in-new-release
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.
#HowTo #GnomeExtensions #OneThing
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/one-thing-gnome-extension
‘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.
#Apps #Converter #GtkApps #ImageEditors #MediaConverter
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/gtk-image-converter-app-for-linux
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
#HowTo #GnomeExtensions #Stocks
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/stock-tracker-linux-gnome-extensions
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,
#Community #News #Edubuntu #Flavors
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/01/edubuntu-flavour-revival
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.
#List #BestOf2022 #Distros #Fedora #KineticKudu #Manjaro #Ubuntu22_04Lts
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
#HowTo #News #Apt #Canonical
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/disable-ubuntu-apt-news-annoyance
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.
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/coverflow-alt-tab-update
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
#News
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/open-source-audio-tag-editor-ear-tag-gains-new-features
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
#News #BurnMyWindows #GnomeExtensions
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/12/rick-morty-portal-window-closing-effect
‘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)
#Download #Themes #EyeCandy #IconTheme #Kora
