Ubuntica - The ultimate Ubuntu guides, resources and tutorials

Ubuntu Dragon Wallpaper

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:20:02 +0000

Keepass and Firefox Integration

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:33:37 +0000

Now you can easily and effortlessly use Firefox and Keepass in perfect harmony. Keepass, one of the most trusted password management application available on Linux. Keepass is a powerful and feature packed password management utility. Up until now Firefox and Keepass integration has been a simply auto fill that Keepass performs, which in most cases reduces the brilliant application’s easy of use!

Introducing the KeeFox Firefox plugin which enable a user to seamlessly use their Keepass password database right inside Firefox. This nifty plugin makes a world of difference as it makes it that much easier to auto login, fill forms and much more without using the usual auto fill feature of Keepass, which as at times clumsy

Some highlighted features of this plugin according to the developers

Free and open source (why is this good?)

Automatic form filling

Unobtrusive – KeeFox’s default settings are designed to ensure that you notice it when you need to but it won’t get in your way when you don’t want it to. There are options that will allow you to push KeeFox even further into the background (or make it grab your attention more forcefully if you are a little bit unobservant!)

Instant log-in to your KeePass password entries straight from Firefox

One-click save button to add new logins to KeePass automatically

Supports multiple KeePass users (databases)

Automatically filled forms can contain more than just a username and password field or even span across more than one page!

“HTTP/protocol authentication” login support (* requires manual configuration in the KeePass entry)

Automatically saves the “favicon” for websites to help you identify them next time you log in

Automatically saves the “favicon” for websites to help you identify them next time you log in

Keepass is not installed by default on Ubuntu, however installing it is simply a few clicks away as it is already in the default Ubuntu repositories. Simply navigate to the Ubuntu Software centre or the Synaptic Package Manager and install it from there.

Note: Keefox is still under development so there may be slight bugs here and there.

Share/Save

10.04’s New Look Software Centre

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:34:23 +0000

Along with many many other changes and improvements due in the upcoming 10.04 release of Ubuntu, the software centre will also receive a substantial make over. The software centre which made it’s first appearance in Karmic Koala was heralded as an extremely user friendly application which contributed to dispelling the rumour that software installation on Linux is hard.

The improved version of the software centre includes various interface improvements aimed at making the software centre that much more intuitive and an easy to use, one stop application for the various software possibilities available for Linux

Application listing seems to have been simplified but at the same time it has been designed in such a manner that software package identification is much clearer.

The package description page has been dressed up with alot more useful information such as a full application description and an application screenshot.

The categories seems to have remained largely the same.

The next release of Ubuntu will surely be a hit as the developers have gone to great lengths in sculpting an operating system that is going beyond that of what a modern operating system should be!

Share/Save

Quick tip: How to check a files MD5 sum on Ubuntu

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:09:04 +0000

Share/Save

Ubuntu Bokeh Wallpaper

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:22:48 +0000

Download

Share/Save

Lucidity GTK Theme

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:52:10 +0000

Download

Share/Save

Installing Your PIXMA MP250 Printer/Scanner on Ubuntu

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:46:47 +0000

The Canon PIXMA MP250 is a wonderful scanner and printer combination, a printer that is compact, elegant and produces high quality prints. Unfortunately printing and scanning is not natively supported by Ubuntu. Fortunately the drivers for printing and scanning are available in deb format. With a few installations and configurations, full functionality of the printer/scanner can be achieved in Ubuntu

Installing the PIXMA MP250 Printer

1. Head over to the Canon driver page and download the printer driver (MP250 series IJ Printer Driver Ver. 3.20 for Linux (debian Packagearchive)) for the MP250 printer series

2. The download will be a tar.gz file, extract the contents of that file, and install the two packages (cnijfilter-common_3.20-1_i386.deb and cnijfilter-mp250series_3.20-1_i386.deb) contained in the extracted folder by double clicking them and following the on screen prompts.

3. Once installed, connect and turn the printer on, Ubuntu should recognize it and suggest the correct driver.

Installing the PIXMA MP250 Scanner

This part is slightly tricky as it involves installing the Sane backends, which is the system responsibly for scanning on Ubuntu.

1. Head over to the Canon driver page and download the scanner driver (MP250 series ScanGear MP Ver. 1.40 for Linux (debian Packagearchive)) for the MP250 printer series

2. Install the two .deb packages (scangearmp-common_1.40-1_i386.deb and scangearmp-mp250series_1.40-1_i386.deb) contained with in the tar.gz downloaded package by double clicking them and following the on screen prompts.

3. Open a terminal and roll up your sleeves, this is where it gets slightly messy. In you terminal copy the following command:

sudo apt-get install libusb-dev build-essential

This will install some required packages for the scanner

4. Now we need to get the sane backend, we will do this via git. If you don’t already have git installed on your pc, run the following command in your terminal

sudo apt-get install git-core

5. Now we will need to fetch the sane backend by running the following command:

git clone git://git.debian.org/sane/sane-backends.git

This will download the sane backend into the sane-backend folder within your home folder.

6. Once the download is finished you will notice that it is an uncompiled package, meaning that it will have to be compiled manually. Don’t worry, as it is quite a simple process to compile and install a package. Firstly move into the downloaded folder:

cd sane-backends

7. No we can run the configuration of the package with the following command:

./configure –prefix=/usr –sysconfdir=/etc –localstatedir=/var

8. Once the configuration is complete we are now ready to compile the package by entering the following command into the terminal:

make

This process may take a while

9. Last step now is to install the package that was compiled in the previous step, note this last step requires the sudo (super user) command :

sudo make install

10. The scanner is now installed, however the permissions still need to be set. To set the permissions we will create a new file that will allow usage of the scanner. In the terminal, open Gedit:

sudo gedit

Onne Gedit is opened, copy and paste the following text into the empty gedit file

SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ENV{DEVTYPE}==”usb_device”, MODE:=”0666″

SUBSYSTEM==”usb_device”,MODE:=”0666″

Save the file in the /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory, titled 40-scanner-permissions.rules

Your PIXMA MP250 scanner is now installed. You may now fire up the Xsane scanning utility and scan away.

Share/Save

Rhythmbox Interface Proposal

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:32:38 +0000

Rhythmbox, the well respected default music player included in Gnome, is a great audio player that includes many handy features. A talented DeviantArt member, fibermarupok, has posted his re imagined proposal for a Rhythmbox interface upgrade. It is interesting to see how the artist as kept with the proposed light theme for Ubuntu 10.04 and how this mockup also suggests an interface that is similar in look and function to that of the Nautilus revamp suggestions in yesterdays post.

Alas this is only a proposal, and no actual version of Rhythmbox with this interface exists. However with attention this proposal is receiving it wont be surprising if we find this pre installed on our Ubuntu systems a few releases from now.

Share/Save

Nautilus Make Over

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:29:46 +0000

Nautilus, the default file manager for the Ubuntu Gnome desktop, it is undoubtedly a simple looking yet powerful file manager. The nautilus interface however is lagging behind the brilliant progress that Linux interfaces are making. Ian “ Izo” Cylkowski has taken the initiative to re imagine an updated Nautilus interface. The result is an even more powerful yet highly user friendly file manager that just looks great!

The Current Nautilus analysis

Ian explains in his article the various redundant user controls employed by Nautilus that hinder an intuitive user experience.

His proposal

A revamped Nautilus interface that employs the principals outlined in his analysis. He further goes on to suggest Zeitgeist integration right into nautilus. For those unfamiliar with Zeitgeist, it is a file activity monitor that tracks you file usage, which is great for tracking productivity and activity.

These updates all look mighty mouth watering, they could very well make their way into mainstream nautilus very soon, which will raise the bar once again on the quality and originality Linux has to offer

Share/Save

Ubuntu Identity Overhaul

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:48:07 +0000

A new logo, a new identity. The upcoming release of Ubuntu 10.04 and Ubuntu is set to receive a major identity upgrade, from it’s logo through to its design. “We’re drawn to Light because it denotes both warmth and clarity, and intrigued by the idea that “light” is a good value in software. Good software is “light” in the sense that it uses your resources efficiently, runs quickly, and can easily be reshaped as needed.” explains Mark Shuttle worth who along with a small team of designers who are behind the recent Ubuntu re branding.

The Brand

Beginning with the logo the Ubuntu brand identity receives a remarkable upgrade, along with a brand new typeface.

Along with the Ubuntu community websites following the new look

Desktop

The new Ubuntu identity will also be carried into the upcoming release of 10.04’s desktop aesthetic. The lynx it set to receive a brand new default theme in both light and dark variations

Along with a brand new and fantastically stylish boot screen.

The Website

And last but not the least, the new Ubuntu website will also take on the new branding in a highly good looking manner.

Share/Save