KDE 4.9.3 Released! Run and Install it on Kubuntu

KDE 4.9.3 has been released and is also available from a few hours in the Kubuntu PPA . We begin first by new in this version: 4.9.3 KDE basically introduces no new features but focuses only on bug fixes and translation updates , a safe and pleasant update for everyone. The list of fixes 86 include improvements editor Kate and Kontact , so it is mostly a series of updates regarding the applications. The official announcement, for those interested, can be found at this address .

Installing KDE 4.9.3 on Kubuntu

First I want to clarify that the PPA is currently only updated for Kubuntu 12.10 even if, in the next few days, it could be updated to Kubuntu 12.04! All you have to do to install KDE 4.9.3 is to open the terminal and type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa: kubuntu-ppa/ppa
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get
dist-upgrade

And you will end, after the reboot, KDE updated to version 4.9.3

Alpine Linux 2.5.0

The Alpine Linux development team has announced the release of Alpine Linux 2.5.0, a community-developed operating system designed for x86 routers, firewalls, VPNs, VoIP boxes and servers: "We are pleased to announce Alpine Linux version 2.5. Since version 2.4, among the various bug fixes, several packages have been upgraded: Linux kernel upgraded to 3.6.6 with the grsecurity patch; Asterisk 11.0.1; Xen 4.2 Dom0 support; Freeswitch 1.2.0; PostgreSQL 9.2.1; Ruby 1.9.3; libvirt 1.0. Some of the updated packages available from the HTTP repositories are: X.Org Server 1.13, Mesa 9 and much more. The full lists of changes can be found in the git log and bug tracker." Here is the brief release announcement. Download the installation CD images from here: alpine-2.5.0-x86.iso (237MB, SHA256), alpine-2.5.0-x86_64.iso (246MB, SHA256).

Slax 7.0 RC1

Tomáš Matějíček has announced the availability of the first release candidate for Slax 7.0, a brand-new version of the project's minimalist Slackware-based live CD with KDE 4: "I'm releasing the newest Slax 7 build as a release candidate 1. It has KDE 4 with many applications from the KDE network, KDE multimedia, KDE games, Pidgin IM, Firefox, MPlayer and more. The entire system fits to 183 MB for the 32-bit and 188 MB for the 64-bit variant and runs perfectly fine on boxes with 256 MB of RAM and more. This is most likely the version which contains all the programs for the final Slax release. Development tools are still missing though. Before I show you the download links, I'd like to remind you about the opportunity to get Slax on a cool USB device when it is released." See the release announcement for more details, screenshot and a video. Download (MD5): slax-7.0-kde4-2012-11-06-i486.iso (183MB), slax-7.0-kde4-2012-11-06-x86_64.iso (188MB).

Mandriva Linux 2012 Alpha 2

Per Øyvind Karlsen has announced the availability of the second alpha release of the new "Moondrake GNU/Linux" which is a possible new name for the venerable Mandriva Linux distribution: "Yet again keeping up the tradition of delays, a new prerelease is out: Moondrake GNU/Linux 2012 Alpha 2. Some highlights of this release are: ISO image creation tool has been rewritten in Python, made several times faster and merged with DrakX; dual-architecture ISO image features a complete set of all LXDE packages; new, complete sound theme; initial work on rewriting installer and libraries in C++ has been started; installer stage 1 and rescue mode merged; much extended set of packages built for uClibc environment; GRUB 2 has replaced isolinux for the installer; KDE 4.9.2." See the full release announcement for further notes. Download: moondrake-2012-alpha2-dual-cd.iso (704MB, MD5), moondrake-2012-alpha2-x86_64-dvd.iso (3,838MB, MD5).

How To Boot An ISO File From Your Hard Drive Via Grub2 Under Ubuntu/Linux Mint

In this tutorial, we will see how to boot an iso file stored in your hard drive via the Grub2 boot menu. This tip is useful for users who don't have a live CD/DVD/USB, only the iso file of Ubuntu/Linux Mint. In this example, we will see how to boot from Ubuntu 12.10 iso file.

Getting Started

Create a directory named iso in your root folder using this command:

sudo mkdir /iso

Now move your iso file (ubuntu-12.10-desktop-i386.iso) to this folder. Cd to the folder containing your iso file and run this command:

sudo mv ubuntu-12.10-desktop-i386.iso /iso

Identify now your hard disk with this command from the terminal:

 sudo fdisk -l

For my system, the hard disk is mounted as /dev/sda1:

Edit now the grub.cfg file with this command:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/grub.cfg

At the end of the file, add these lines:

menuentry "Ubuntu 12.10 LiveCD" { 

    set root=(hd0,1) 

    loopback loop /iso/ubuntu-12.10-desktop-i386.iso 

    linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/iso/ubuntu-12.10-desktop-i386.iso noprompt noeject 

    initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz 

}

You can change "Ubuntu 12.10 LiveCD" to any name of your choice. For the "set root=(hd0,1)" option, I inserted the number "1" referring to my hard disk (dev/sda1). If your hard disk is mounted as /dev/sda2, then set "2", for /dev/sda5, set "5" and so on.

Save your file and exit. Then reboot your system and hold down the Shift key to bring up the Grub boot menu. As you can see, I can now boot into the Ubuntu 12.10 iso file stored in my hard drive from the Grub menu:

That's it!

Encrypt/Decrypt Files From Nautilus Context Menu Under Ubuntu 12.10/12.04

In this tutorial, we will see how to encrypt or decrypt your files using the Nautilus context menu (right-click
 menu) under Ubuntu. To do this, we will need to install the seahorse-nautilus plugin. But, before installing it, you need to add a PGP key so that you can encrypt with it your files.

Adding A PGP Key

Open the Unity Dash and search and open "Passwords and Keys":

Click the add button, select "PGP Key", then click Continue:

Enter now your details (full name, email address, etc.) and click Create:

Submit now a passphrase for this new key:

Wait now until the key is completely generated.

Installing Seahorse-Nautilus

Open the terminal and install the seahorse-nautilus plug-in under Ubuntu 12.10/12.04 or older with this command:

sudo apt-get install seahorse-nautilus

Reset nautilus with these commands:

nautilus -q 

nautilus

Encrypt/Decrypt Files

Right click now any file and select Encrypt:

In the window that will pop-up, select your key, set "Sign message as: Your key" and click OK:

Another window will pop-up which will allow you to save your encrypted file. You will be required now to enter the passphrase associated with your PGP key:

Your file is now encrypted. To decrypt it, double-click the file or right click it and select "Open With Decrypt File":

Enter your passphrase to unlock it.