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

2026-05-28 15:21:07 UTC

Pining for a faster Raspberry Pi? You'll need a pinch of pi-tience (sorry/not sorry) as the next major revision won't arrive before early 2028 at the earliest.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/05/raspberry-pi-6-2028-no-npu
#RaspberryPi #OpenSource #linux

2026-04-06 01:16:38 UTC

I know, I know: what's available for one social media site isn't going to be popular with users on t'other, but it's cool, mmkay?
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/skyscraper-bluesky-terminal-client-linux
#BluEsKy #wHyWoUldUeVen #FOSS

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

2025-11-20 20:44:33 UTC

Mozilla has detailed it's pivot to AI, lazily framing its "people-first AI" vs "big tech AI" gambit as a rehash of 2000s browser wars.
Over the next three years all of Mozilla’s portfolio "will design their strategies" and "measure their success" with how much AI they're adding.
AI features in Firefox will be "opt-in", but no doubt it'll nag you to try them since Mozilla is making 20% yearly increases in non-search revenue part of its "bottom line" mission.
https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/rewiring-mozilla-ai-and-web/

2025-11-12 03:40:41 UTC

Mission Center, the (don't hate me) gorgeous GTK4/libadwaita system monitor for Linux, has a new version out with many appreciable improvements.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/11/mission-center-system-monitor-1-1-update
#Linux #FOSS #OpenSource

2025-11-07 03:57:32 UTC

Firefox has a new mascot, who Mozilla say will act as a "companion through an internet that’s private, open and actually yours".
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/11/firefox-new-mascot-brand-refresh?v2
#Mozilla #Firefox #Tech

2025-10-09 20:11:15 UTC

ICYMI: Ubuntu 25.10 'Questing Quokka' is available to download with GNOME 49, new apps, Rust-based security, and a whole heap more.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/10/ubuntu-25-10-released?v1
#ubuntu #Linux #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

2025-09-09 17:20:56 UTC

Cute: some automated bot /thing/ (from a single IP) has been hammering the on-site contact form today. The first 2 messages came through, but the other 5,000 went to spam. I disabled the contact form as several hundred messages were arriving every few minutes, which isn't ideal. ☮️
(Jetpack Forms don't provide captchas, alternative form plugins are $$, and things are fine usually).

2025-09-09 01:21:25 UTC

Ubuntu 25.10 development builds receive a Yaru theme update, adding new icons – including a rubbish pair!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/ubuntu-25-10-yaru-new-icons?v1
#Ubuntu #Design #Linux

2025-09-05 15:46:11 UTC

Mozilla adds CoPilot chatbot to Firefox in the latest nightly builds, plus previews new Task and Timer widgets for the New Tab page.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/firefox-adding-copilot-chatbot-features?v1
#CoPilot #firefox #opensource

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

2025-08-05 10:40:02 UTC

Flameshot 13.0 is out with a huge set of improvements, including better privacy tools, Hyprland, Sway and COSMIC support, and greater configurability.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/flameshot-13
#qt #linux #opensource

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 ;)

2025-07-30 10:40:01 UTC

Fish might be the Bash alternative you don't know you need thanks to features like colourful syntax highlighting, smart command suggestions, and genuinely helpful tab completion. Anyone here already using it?
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/07/fish-shell-ubuntu-terminal
#linux #opensource #rustlang

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

2025-06-03 10:40:15 UTC

Linux Format, the UK's best-selling Linux magazine, is ending publication after 25 years. https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/05/linux-format-magazine-closes
#linux #linuxformat #opensource

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

2025-03-27 15:11:32 UTC

Proton VPN is now included in Vivaldi web browser, with Vivaldi's CEO praising the companies 'shared values' in championing user privacy https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/vivaldi-browser-now-includes-built-in-proton-vpn
#vivaldi #vpn #proton

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

2025-03-19 21:37:26 UTC

Ever-evolving, the latest GNOME desktop release brings a host of new features, including digital wellbeing tools, battery charge limiting, and support for HDR https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/03/gnome-48-best-new-features
#linux #foss #opensource #gnome

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

2025-02-09 17:09:50 UTC

ONLYOFFICE 8.3 released with Apple iWork file support, shape merging, text document merging + more
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/02/onlyoffice-8-3-released-new-features
#ONLYOFFICE #opensource #foss

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

2025-01-21 22:27:18 UTC

Run Windows apps and games on Linux? The latest stable release of Wine uncorks a bunch of ace new features! https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/01/wine-10-0-new-features
#linux #opensource #wine

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

2024-12-12 20:58:52 UTC

- reply

The only way I can describe it is …letters and words have a rhythm, they're adaptable, malleable, they can be anything. In my head, words and letters and phrases "feel" like they float and dance and are graspable.
Numbers "feel" like they sink the minute I see them. Like trying to stick a can of beans to a fridge: just …donk, falls off.
For long numbers (like my phone number) I can only remember them by repeating them over and over – effectively remembering the SOUND of the sequence as words.

2024-12-12 20:51:59 UTC

I got the Cinnamon version number the wrong way around in the share text (but not the article) for the Linux Mint 22.1 beta (on all socials, least here I can edit).
Me mixing numbers up? Not uncommon. Read OMG! often enough and you will see I do it a lot.
I've *always* struggled with numbers. As a kid I was a straight A student in everything BUT maths and science. I'd tell teachers "numbers won't stay in my head. They disappear when I'm not looking at them".
So it ever was.

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

2024-09-11 22:39:49 UTC

Ubuntu tablets aren't common, but would you pay $699 for one with these specs? 🤔
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/09/juno-tab-3-ubuntu-tablet-is-expensive?1
#ubuntu #linux