Ubuntu TV: Whats all the hype about ?

Ubuntu TV was recently launched at CES 2012, and it created quite some noise among Linux users especially the Ubuntu fan boys like me but Canonical did not release any executable version of the app since it's still in the development phase. So I tried to compile it from source as many other users might have tried out of curiosity. I first checked out http://www.webupd8.org/2012/01/how-to-install-ubuntu-tv-from-ppa.html to build the app but instead referred to the Ubuntu wiki and successfully compiled it. But the downside was that I couldn't run any of the channels. If anyone is still interested in looking at the tutorial of the failed Ubuntu tv.


Install the Ubuntu Tv code and it's dependencies

$ sudo apt-get build-dep unity-2d
$ sudo apt-get install bzr dconf-tools ffmpeg gnome-common libdeclarative-multimedia
$ bzr branch lp:~s-team/ubuntutv/trunk ubuntu-tv
$ cd ubuntu-tv
$ cmake .
$ make
$ cd ..

The bzr code requires you to register at
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu and set up a ssh key. You can read more about it on http://doc.bazaar.canonical.com/bzr.dev/en/tutorials/tutorial.html


       Download and compile the prototype for the Unity video lens system:

$ bzr branch lp:~s-team/ubuntutv/unity-lens-video
$ cd unity-lens-video
$ ./autogen.sh --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc
$ sudo make install
$ cd ..
$ GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR=ubuntu-tv/data gsettings set com.canonical.Unity2d form-factor tv

If you are on Gnome3, then you do not to use the next step ( it's meant to kill unity2D )

$ killall unity-2d-{panel,places,launcher,spread} && killall unity-2d-{panel,places,launcher,spread}


$ metacity --replace &

Try running the app( may not work, just like in my case)

$ cd ubuntu-tv
$ ./shell/app/unity-2d-shell -opengl

        Here is a screenshot 



        Waiting for some one to find a solution for me at the moment. 

PPAs and Repositories

           There are time many new users to Linux will find that a certain software is not available to them when they try to download it through the terminal.  The only other way to install the app would be to download the .tar files and compile them which in turn is quite a tedious job sometimes.
          Using PPAs and and repositories of other unknown or upcoming software that are not listed on the Software centre. There are many ways to add repositories but the simplest and easiest way is to use the Terminal.
 Suppose you want to add a repository for the FuseEXFAT drivers that are not available in the installation disc of ubuntu due to some patent issues with Microsoft, you will need to add the repository for the drivers manually before you can download and install them.
    To add a repository through the terminal, type the code below on your terminal and type your password when asked.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:relan/exfat

    Whatever software repository that you are adding from, the lines below would remain the same.

sudo add-apt-repository

    The lines below would vary depending on the developer and it is not difficult to find the ppa codes, all you need to do is a little bit of googling. 

ppa:relan/exfat

 After this step, you only need to update the repository by typing

sudo apt-get update

Finally, install the app or in this case the driver using the normal sudo apt-get install command as usual. In case you want to install the drivers for EXFAT file system on windows the codes are below.

sudo apt-get install fuse-exfat

Running a Virtual Windows Machine

            Everyone who is on Linux knows that at one point or another we always have to revert to Windows to get things done. There are usually two ways of running Windows on a Linux box; either dual boot  or run it in a Virtual machine. This post will teach you how to run Windows on a Virtual Machine using VirutalBox and a copy of Windows,Mac, or any other device( There are other apps available as well).

           The First step would be to install VirtualBox, you can do this using several ways; the easiest way is to install it from the software centre but for those who want to make use of the command line, type the following on your terminal.

sudo apt-get install virtualbox

          Now start VirtualBox and select the 'New' option available on the upper left side. Select the type of OS that you want to install and name the OS; I managed to install both Mac and Windows on my machine but had to remove the Mac since it hogged a lot of system resources.

 

Select the type of OS and the version

        You can choose whatever amount of RAM, you want your Machine but I recommend at least 1GB if you want to get something productive done like Photoshop.

         Next, Choose the new hard disk option and select the hard type of hard drive you want your virtual drive to function as. I suggest using VMDK or VDI since I have had better experience with them. If you are interested in finding out more about what the various types of hard drive options check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualBox.

         THe next few steps are self explanatory and very easy to manouver around. To start installing your Guest OS on the virtual machine start it and select the iso or the drive that you want to install through and start installing your OS as you would on a normal machine.

Select your iso

Gnome 3 Shell: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

      Many people have learned to embrace Unity after Canonical has forced it upon them without pre-installing the usual gnome shell. But lets face the truth that Unity is a failure, at least in the desktop world. Gnome 3 looks and feels very much the same as Unity and is still a headache to many new comers to the Linux world.  But there are many themes out there that can enhance the look and feel of the Gnome3 look, you can head to http://www.webupd8.org for some of the latest themes available on gnome3 as well as news on the ubuntu world.
       For some reason the people from webupd8.org, who in my opinion provide some of the best tips and tricks for linux users forgot to add instructions on how to set the themes in their post. Anyway here is my tutorial on how to set themes on your Gnome3 shell.

1)  The first tool that you need is the Gnome Tweak Tool available on the Software Center or through sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool on your terminal.

2)  Now you can do a google search for gnome3 themes ( most of them will lead you to a deviantart page where the files are stored) or you can install them via the terminal.  First type or paste sudo add-apt-repository ppa:satyajit-happy/themes
sudo apt-get update on the terminal.
    You can them install themes using the command line from the link. All you need to do is to type sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-theme- and the name of the theme.


3) Now to set the them search for the gnome tweak tool from activities.( which will either show up as Advanced settings) and open the shell extensions tab and select "on" for User Theme Extension.

4) Now you can select the theme that you installed from the Shell Theme option on the 'Theme' tab.

                 

Must have apps and tools on Ubuntu 11.10

               Its been a few weeks since Ubuntu 11.10 has been presented to the world and the reception has been quite mixed. I for one am liking it and this distro has so far been my most favourite ( the only distro i have not crashed so far).
       The standard install came with Unity; the worst desktop environment in my opinion and Libre Office which was not at all required by me since I love Google docs. It took me about 4 -5 hours of messing around here and there for me to finally be happy with my installation. Here are a few things that I feel every new user to Ubuntu or any other distribution needs.

1. Fuse exFat : This is one thing you should not be missing if you have an exFat partition from your old windows system. It took me many many long hours to find the drivers ( I don't know why Microsoft never wanted to release the drivers) but I finally found an easy tutorial here.
  If you still have trouble with it, just leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as possible.



2. Avidemux : Everyone who is into video encoding on the Linux platform would argue that Ffmpeg is the best video encoder around but for the migrating windows user Avidemux is the best conversion tool that you can find. You can just install it using the Ubuntu software center. Just search for avidemux and install it from the options.

3. XchatIRC : One of the most handiest tool that you will find when you need help regarding anything related to the operating system ( I learned a lot of commands by asking around from the community). The irc chatroom for ubuntu is open 24/7 and there will always be some one from somewhere to help out anyone in need. This is the ultimate support tool guys, Microsoft can never compete with Linux when it comes to help and support.

4. Vuze: If you are a fan of utorrent on windows , then Vuze is the closest that you will get to windows on Linux since utorrent doesnt really run the way it runs on windows with all the nifty features that you are so used to and other clients can't compare to Vuze at all. It has the best GUI among all the torrent clients on Linux.

Welcome to my World

I have been a big fan of the open source community for a while and particularly Linux and am pretty much a n00b when it comes to everyday Linux but am attracted to it by the fact that it is customisable in every sense.  So this is my diary of the things I learn daily in my Ubuntu life ( Ubuntu being my fav distro and the most user friendly). So keep reading, you never know what help you may find here.