The new user interface makes it easier for users to find the voice message functionality of the client in the options dialog. Subscription status for calls to landlines and mobile phones can now be checked through a link from Skype’s main window. Also improved is the size of the Skype icon, so it better fits in different desktop environments – for what its worth. Screen sharing gets a tweak too; now when sharing the screen in a multiple monitor setup, you can share only the screen with the call window.

Skype 4.2 for Linux is available for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE and CentOS for 32- and 64-bit systems. The download page also includes easy to follow installation instructions. Users of 64-bit Debian and Ubuntu need to install the libasound2-plugins:i386 package to get the Skype client to work correctly.

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Linux Mint 15 is right around the corner. Today the Linux Mint team announced the release of Linux Mint 15 “Olivia” RC. Linux Mint 15 is considered by its creators as “the most ambitious release since the start of the Mint project”. “MATE 1.6 is greatly improved and Cinnamon 1.8 offers a ton of new features, including a screensaver and a unified control center”. Also making their debut in Linux Mint is the Software Sources and Driver Manager features.
For a complete overview of the following new features; MDM, Software Sources, Driver Manager, Cinnamon 1.8, MATE 1.6, Software Manager, System Improvements, Artwork Improvements and Upstream Components move to the Linux Mint blog. Screenshots are included in their overview.

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Forbes Carol Pinchefsky also reports that, popular Portal 2 is also available for Ubuntu’ers and Linux’ers if you’re running Valve’s Linux Steam client. I still have to run it, now I have a good reason to. “Although the Linux version doesn’t show up in the Steam Store yet, Linux gamers who already have Portal in their library will see Portal (Beta) appear”. Happy gaming.

The post Ubuntu: Portal and Left 4 Dead 2 are now Yours Too appeared first on Kabatology ~ Open Source, Linux.

CrunchBang Linux 11 has many of the same default apps like it’s lower-scale Ubuntu-based cousin Xubuntu. Major default applications include; Iceweasel web browser 20 with per-windows private browsing, Transmission, GIMP image editor, Catfish (search tool), Thunar, and the lightweight Openbox window manager, designed for low-end machines.

- Carefully woven into CrunchBang 11 is the VLC media player v.2.0.3.

- Package management is handled through the Synaptic tool familiar to any Ubuntu user.

- Openbox platform has its own configuration tool, obconf, that supports themes and tweaks lots of other stuff.

- Catfish search tool

Minimalistic CrunchBang is perfect for thumb drives and live CDs. The downloadable iso file is no larger than 730MB so it fits in traditional CDs. The Live boot is quick and fast and permits live installation of apps. Installing the Opera web browser in the LiveCD was blazing fast, and running it was even faster.

Other Screenshots

[View with PicLens]

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I did a how-to install L2TP over IPSec VPN in Ubuntu, but it was not fault free, due to the bugs in l2tp-ipsec-vpn and xl2tpd.
To connect VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Servers using OpenVPN, the project now offers downloadable OpenVPN configuration files. But you need to modify them before using in your Ubuntu, Mint, CrunchBang etc.

First go to VPN Servers List, select a OpenVPN server, download the config file, TCP or UDP, open it your favorite text editor, and cut out all the code in between the ca tag in The certificate file of the destination VPN Server section. Paste that code in a new file and name it ca.crt. Save both files; the xxx.ovpn and the new ca.crt. Your ca.crt file should look like this;

Presuming you’ve already installed OpenVPN, if not use this command

Click Network Connections icon -> VPN Connections -> Configure VPN, then Add -> Import a saved VPN connection (in the scroll down menu), then Create, now select your downloaded and chopped OpenVPN config file, xxx.ovpn. In the new Editing vpngate_xxx window with Connection name and Gateway already filled-in, change the Authentication mode from Certificates (TLS)
to Password. Fill-in as follows:

username: vpn
password: vpn
CA Certificate: ca.crt file
Now save and Close Network Connections.

To run the newly created anonymous VPN, Click again on Network Connections icon -> VPN Connections -> vpngate_xxx

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Ubuntu 13.04 “continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution. ”

Ubuntu 13.04 Round-Up presents the most interesting articles you can find on Ubuntu 13.04 and Ubuntu Server 13.04, on the web

Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail

• Behold Ubuntu Server 13.04: Focus on hypervisors and OpenStackThe Register focuses on Ubuntu Server’s tight integration with the newly released OpenStack Grizzly rev and what it means for the Clouds.[The Register]
• Ubuntu 13.04 boosts graphics performance to prepare for phones, tablets
  “Performance on lightweight systems was a core focus for this cycle, as a prelude to Ubuntu’s release on a range of mobile form factors”. [Arstechnica]
• Ubuntu 13.04 Review: Linux for the average Joe or Jane
  Linux die-hard Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, as usual takes 360 degrees look around Jane’s most probable Linux desktop, Ubuntu 13.04. Like in other Vaughan-Nichols Ubuntu-reviews Pros and Cons make it in this one. [ZDNET]
• To conclude, The Register questions the absence of privacy controls as promised. Ubuntu 13.04: No privacy controls as promised, but hey – photo search! [The Register]

So what did you find interesting out there on Ubuntu 13.04? Say it in the comments.

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The Computer Janitor pane in Ubuntu Tweak could be the CCleaner in your Ubuntu, it allows you to clean up your browser’s cache and old Linux kernels that are still installed on your system. Likewise, it can purge the Apt cache, by dumping already used downloaded package files.

Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.4 is a maintenance version, and has fixed many critical bugs that include:

Ubuntu 13.04 should upgrade the path of scripts, creating of a hard link to a directory crashes UT, Janitor only shows “System”
Window button tweak error in 13.04, Ubuntu Tweak crashes on updating software list, and a major issue that affected the installation of third party apps.

Install Ubuntu Tweak with the following lines of code

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