omg! ubuntu

A blog (remember those?) tracking #Ubuntu and its place within the wider #Linux ecosystem. News, app spotlights, how-tos and snark. Est 2009 ✌️

Homepage: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk
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Last Notes

2026-03-13 19:03:29 UTC

- reply

I mention the local LLM in the article, but when I checked the box it showed a warning yo say it won't work, so it feels a bit "what's the point then".

2026-03-13 18:57:03 UTC

Firefox's new 'Smart Window' mode is taking shape in development builds, so I had a play around. The prompt-based browsing experience is powered by your choice of LLM from OpenAI, Alibaba or Google.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/03/firefox-smart-window-hands-on?v1
#firefox #opensource

2025-10-03 16:28:40 UTC

A story in two images.
Just running it up the flag pole because from time-to-time, people do like to share their opinion that I cover GNOME too much on the blog. People perceive it as "bias", having "drunk Red Hat kool-aid", and other colourful descriptions.
It's not quite that deep.
I write about Ubuntu, and Ubuntu uses the GNOME desktop by default.
That is why I cover GNOME-related stuff more prominently than, say, Xfce or Sway or YouTube-sired conspiracies over X11.
Just sayin'.
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/115/311/139/385/013/503/original/b3e4b701ec287f67.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/115/311/145/733/689/873/original/fe27845cc9bbcf15.png

2025-09-25 16:50:51 UTC

The premium Raspberry Pi 500+ is an RGB backlit mechanical keyboard with a 16GB RAM Pi 5 and 256GB SSD inside.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/raspberry-pi-500-mechanical-keyboard-pc?v1
#RaspberryPi #tech #linux

2025-09-24 01:33:33 UTC

GNOME Tetris clone 'Quadrapassel' dropped a big update recently. When you have 5 minutes that need filling, this game can fill the gap!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/gnome-tetris-clone-gets-major-update
#gnome #gaming #foss
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/115/256/686/500/679/882/original/17fda55c82533dbe.webp

2025-09-19 00:54:31 UTC

Google has announced Chrome is becoming an AI browser, powered by Gemini with agentic capabilities, with the aim of "fundamentally changing the nature of browsing"
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/google-chrome-ai-browser-announcement
#google #tech

2025-09-18 14:59:01 UTC

Vivaldi 7.6 has been released and – *rubs eyes, blinks* – not a single shoehorned "AI" gimmick in sight.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/vivaldi-7-6-released-with-editable-tab-bar-address-bar-actions-more
#vivaldi #linux #tech

2025-09-17 15:33:29 UTC

If you scrobble your music habits, or you just like want a desktop music controller, Turntable is ideal – and it just got a big update.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/turntable-offline-scrobbling-resizable-update?v1
#gnome #linux #lastfm

2025-09-03 01:05:04 UTC

US judge in antitrust case rules that Google can keep paying Mozilla (and other companies) for default search placement — it also won't be made to sell off Chrome or Android.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/google-antitrust-ruling-firefox-search-deal
#google #mozilla #tech

2025-08-22 15:07:20 UTC

Hyped for Thunderbird Pro? The team has shared an update on what's planned, including Thundermail e-mail address, appointment scheduling, file sharing, and maybe a bit more!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/new-details-on-thunderbird-pro-thundermail-ai-features
#opensource #Thunderbird #email

2025-08-21 01:00:21 UTC

I don't imagine many Linux users would trust a billy-no-name 'free' VPN extension, but friends and family might be less savvy to the dangers - dangers the researchers at Koi Security show are real for 100k users of this Chrome add-on.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/free-vpn-chrome-extension-spying-on-users
#privacy #vpn #security

2025-08-15 10:40:03 UTC

The Ghostty terminal has undergone a GTK rewrite, embracing the GObject type system. The result: new features for Linux, better memory management, and improved stability. Version 1.2 with the changes drops in a few weeks, so keep your lights on! 👻
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/ghostty-terminal-gtk-rewrite-linux
#gtk #ghostty #opensource

2025-08-12 13:23:50 UTC

Linux Mint 22.2 "Zara" beta brings fingerprint login, improved theming, more Wayland tweaks and updated apps – do you plan on testing it?
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/linux-mint-22-2-beta-whats-new
#linuxmint #linux #foss

2025-08-11 17:50:23 UTC

Ubuntu 25.10 could break new ground by becoming the first stable release to run on an 'unstable' kernel.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/ubuntu-25-10-unstable-kernel-possibility
#ubuntu #linux #foss

2025-08-09 19:23:17 UTC

It's here — Debian 13 "Trixie" released with RISC-V support, Linux 6.12 LTS, APT 3.0 and a bunch of other improvements.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/debian-13-trixie-released-with-2-years-worth-of-improvements
#debian #linux #opensource

2025-08-06 10:40:03 UTC

Audacity 3.7.5 delivers a fresh batch of bug fixes. With development effort on this popular open source editor focused on the Qt-based Audacity 4, these periodical patch drops keep existing users in check.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/audacity-3-7-5-release
#opensource #audacity #foss

2025-08-03 14:19:09 UTC

Ubuntu Server 25.10 removes wget from its default installation, in favour of wcurl, a wrapper included with curl.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/ubuntu-server-25-10-replaces-wget-with-wcurl
#ubuntu #linux #curl

2025-07-31 23:48:54 UTC

- reply

I said a brain, not a word calculator ;)

2025-07-28 10:40:04 UTC

Linux 6.16 improves OpenVPN speeds, expands 5-level paging to all, and delivers a 'stupendous' Ext4 performance boost - plus, a fair bit more.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/linux-6-16-released-openvpn-speed-boost-5-level-paging
#linux #opensource #openvpn
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/114/930/430/965/372/588/original/ae0e47f6327e49ca.jpeg

2025-07-25 10:40:04 UTC

Google's Gemini CLI is an open source tool that lets you access Gemini directly from your terminal, and use it to read, edit and create files locally. I walk through how to install it on Ubuntu - assuming you want to! https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/how-to-install-gemini-cli-on-ubuntu
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/114/913/443/965/126/796/original/266252ef6048628c.jpeg

2025-07-23 20:29:34 UTC

GitHub is calling on the EU to create a €350m tech fund to ensure critical open source projects are able to be properly maintained.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/github-eu-open-source-funding
#eu #github #opensource

2025-07-22 13:52:17 UTC

Skip running multiple commands to update packages on Ubuntu with TopGrade, a CLI tool able to upgrade everything, from apt to snap, vscode plugins to pip – all with just a single command.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/topgrade-ubuntu-one-command-updater?v1
#linux #ubuntu #opensource

2025-07-18 02:32:37 UTC

Want to compress a video to a specific file size? Constrict is a new Linux apps built in Python and GTK4, and powered by FFmpeg that can do it.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/constrict-linux-video-compressor-ffmpeg-gui-ubuntu
#python #ffmpeg #opensource

2025-06-07 10:40:15 UTC

My #Ubuntu desktop in October 2008. The desktop dock is AWN (Avant Window Navigator) - I still use Firefox, Rhythmbox, VLC and GNOME Terminal. Seeing Second Life and Picasa there takes me back! Can't recall what the Windows icon on the dock launched as I didn't use VMs. Wine, perhaps? But the most dated thing in that screenshot is the panel shortcut for xkill. Modern handling shows a 'wait or force quit' dialog when apps hang.
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/114/641/653/746/574/008/original/fbe650fcb61dc9b1.jpeg

2025-05-06 13:52:15 UTC

Mozilla stresses the importance of Google's search deal to its survival, and to the health of the web as a whole.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/05/mozilla-says-google-search-deal-vital-to-firefoxs-survival
#firefox #mozilla #google

2025-03-27 19:02:08 UTC

Ubuntu 25.04 beta is out with GNOME 48, Linux kernel 6.14, NVIDIA Dynamic Boost and a whole lot more https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/ubuntu-25-04-beta-download
#ubuntu #linux #foss #opensource

2025-03-26 17:17:58 UTC

Zorin OS 17.3 ditches Firefox, expands Windows app handling and adds a quirky new way to control the mouse https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/zorin-os-17-3-released-with-new-default-browser
#linux #zorinos #opensource #firefox

2025-03-12 22:41:36 UTC

Ubuntu 25.04 Default Wallpaper & Mascot Unveiled https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/ubuntu-25-04-wallpaper-mascot-art-unveiled
#ubuntu #linux #design

2025-03-08 14:48:17 UTC

Kagi is Bringing its Orion Web Browser to Linux https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/kag-orion-web-browser-coming-to-linux
#linux #orion #kagi

2025-01-30 19:00:10 UTC

TIDAL music streaming service doesn't provide an official Linux app, but this native GTK client is a promising new alternative https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/01/high-tide-native-tidal-client-linux
#tidal #foss #linux

2025-01-22 02:44:22 UTC

VirtualBox sees another batch of bug fixes to its latest stable series release https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/01/virtualbox-7-1-6-update-changes
#opensource #linux #VirtualBox

2025-01-10 16:55:38 UTC

Is this Linux Foundation-led funding effort a win for open-source? Or could it accelerate the creeping Chromium homogeny in tech?
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/01/supporters-of-chromium-based-browsers-linux-foundation
#opensource #google #linux

2024-12-31 04:06:19 UTC

Orbit is Mozilla's new AI assistant add-on for Firefox. It can summarise pages or video let you ask questions about the content.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/12/orbit-by-mozilla-ai-assistant-firefox-extension
#firefox #mozilla #ai

2024-11-26 20:33:35 UTC

elementary OS 8 released with new dock, Quick Settings menu, visual changes + more
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/11/elementary-os-8-released-this-is-whats-new
#linux #OpenSource #elementaryOS

2024-11-25 16:15:57 UTC

- reply

Not leaving or reducing Mastodon fwiw, it's too vibey 🤙.
I don't plan to cross-post or bridge as I find it a bit impersonal (not a critique on others doing that, just a me thing).
Posting updates manually to each site is slower but it does mean I visit them, see replies there, read the timeline, etc.

2024-11-25 16:11:01 UTC

OMG! is on 🦋 (and has been for a while) so if you're checking it out, and fancy giving us a follow (I share every new article there once live, but only select ones shared here), that'd be ace!
Link in bio (as the cool kids say).

2024-11-22 00:39:36 UTC

Flatpak is an integral part of the #Linux software ecosystem these days, but managing them on Ubuntu (which prefers snap) isn't easy – but this nifty desktop app helps.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/11/warehouse-flatpak-manager-ubuntu
#opensource #flatpak #ubuntu

2024-11-20 19:07:48 UTC

A (lighthearted) bug affecting Ubuntu 24.10 has been discovered in the default wallpaper set – the wrong bird!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/11/ubuntu-bullfinch-oriole-wallpaper-bug
#ubuntu #birds #ornithology
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/113/516/848/574/481/851/original/28db30c9cfce2f44.jpg

2024-10-29 21:14:02 UTC

A new version of ONLYOFFICE, a free, open-source office suite for Windows, macOS, and Linux is out. Plenty of productivity-minded changes on offer, plus a new theme.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/10/onlyoffice-8-2-brings-faster-file-opening-new-grey-theme
#ONLYOFFICE #FOSS #software
https://cdn.masto.host/floss/media_attachments/files/113/392/773/839/788/699/original/f1c895b5ea575130.jpg

2024-09-13 12:59:19 UTC

As someone who uploads a lot of screenshots, this workaround is much welcome - no more missing thumbnails in the file picker!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/09/ubuntu-24-10-fixes-missing-thumbnails-file-picker
#gnome #ubuntu #linux