The repository system is a
great strength of open-source operating systems,
but some people want the latest-and-greatest of a particular
application while keeping the core system unchanged. There is also the
situation where non-free applications aren't available from within the
standard repositories. In these two cases, adding outside repos can
help you get the functionality you want. I've done some homework for
you and here are the "
Extra Repositories for Ubuntu 8.10 You Might Want." Simply open up
System > Administration > Software Sources
and add the repository lines listed below as a third-party repository.
Here are your repositories!
Medibuntu
Medibuntu
is the best way to get some video and audio playback capability that
isn't included in Ubuntu 8.10 for patent reasons. If you live in a
regioon which doesn't support these patents, you can go ahead and get
them. Popular packages include:
- Acrobat Reader
- Firmware for the ALSA sound system
- Google Earth
- DVD decryption
- MPlayer / MEncoder
- Non-free codecs and
- Skype
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
medibuntu-keyring and
app-install-data-medibuntu packages.
Wine
Ubuntu
8.10 ships with Wine 1.0, but the development version is able to run
many more Windows programs. You can get the latest version from the
Wine repository.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
wine package.
OO.o3
OpenOffice.org 3.0 just missed the cut-off for Intrepid.
If you want the additional functionality of 3.0, you'll need to add the
PPA for the OO.o team.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, upgrade and everything should be fine.
Opera
While Firefox is a great browser, some people just prefer Opera. Opera makes it easy for Debian-based OSes.
Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-freeWhen you are finished, install the
opera package.
Banshee
Banshee is an audio and video manager which is seeinging extremely rapid development. New features are added every month.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
banshee package.
VideoLAN Client (VLC)
While I prefer Totem, many people,
especially those recently from Windows, prefer the media player they've
known and loved for years. VLC is in the repositories, but keeping up
with recent versions means adding this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, just install the
vlc package. You can also get
apt-cache-ng from this repo.
Boxee
Boxee
is an amazing media center (derived from XMBC) that runs on OS X and
Linux, and it does just about everything you could imagine. Right now,
it's alpha, and you'll have to sign up on the
Boxee registration page in order to use the software.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, just install the
boxee package.
Elisa
If
you don't need all the craziness of Boxee and just want a simple media
center, take a look at Fluendo's Elisa. It uses GStreamer, already the
default A/V decoder on Ubuntu, so it won't add a lot of weight to your
installation.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
elisa package and update your computer.
Netbook Remix
One of the most innovative things to come out of the Ubuntu camp is the neetbook remix interface. Want to try it out?
Add this line to Software Sources:
Then follow the detailed instructions on how to get it running.
Gnome Do
This
launcher amazes everyone who tries it. These days, it even comes with
an optional dock. Although I don't use it daily, I think everyone
should give it a shot.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
gnome-do package.
Deluge
Intrepid
comes with the Transmission BitTorrent client installed, and
Tranmission is fine, but Deluge is a full-featured client which rivals
and may now beat the Azureus cum Vuze client that so many people swore
by for years. As a bonus, Deluge is a GTK2 application, so it doesn't
use up 50% of your CPU while running several torrents.
Deluge has a wide-array of features, including:
- Web UI
- BitTorrent Protocol Encryption
- Mainline DHT
- Local Peer Discovery (aka LSD)
- FAST protocol extension
- µTorrent Peer Exchange
- UPnP and NAT-PMP
- Proxy support
- Private Torrents
- Global and per-torrent speed limits
- Password protection
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
deluge package.
Google Gadget
Google
used to host a repo itself, but that went away and we are just left
with a PPA for Google Gadgets. It's for Hardy (8.04), but there doesn't
appear to be a problem with running it on Intrepid. Caveat emptor.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
google-gadgets package.
Mythbuntu
If you installed Mythbuntu and want to keep up with the latest release of MythTV, including all kinds of extra plug-ins:
- mytharchive create and burn DVD's from MythTV - binary file
- mytharchive-data create and burn DVD's from MythTV - data files
- mythcontrols External controls for MythTV
- mythflix netflix module for MythTV
- mythgallery Image gallery/slideshow add-on module for MythTV
- mythgame Emulator & PC Game frontend module for MythTV
- mythmovies Find nearby movies and cinema listings
- mythmusic Music add-on module for MythTV
- mythnews An RSS feed news reader module for MythTV
- mythphone a phone and videophone module for MythTV
- mythplugins Metapackage for MythTV plugins
- mythvideo A generic video player frontend module for MythTV
- mythweather Weather add-on module for MythTV
- mythweb Web interface add-on module for MythTV
- mythzoneminder view status and display footage recorded with zoneminder
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, update your installation.
Compiz
Compiz
Fusion comes standard on Ubuntu, but you might want to keep up with the
mosst current version to have all that extra BLING.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, update your installation.
Miro
"Miro is a free HD video player." Somehow, the website's
description falls so short that I don't know how Miro is as successful
as it is. They must be going understated. It aggregates a browser, an
RSS reader, a bittorent client, and a video player. Want TV on your
computer? Get miro.
Add this line to Software Sources:
When you are finished, install the
miro package.
Shutter
Vadi recommends Shutter (recently renamed from GScrot), an extremely capable screenshot tool. Features include:
- take a screenshot of your complete desktop, a rectangular area or capture a website
- take screenshot directly or with a specified delay time
- save the screenshots to a specified directory and name them in a convenient way
(using special wild-cards) - Shutter is fully integrated into the Gnome Desktop (TrayIcon etc.)
- generate thumbnails directly when you are taking a screenshot and set a size level in %
- Shutter session collection
- keep track of all screenshots during session
- copy screeners to clipboard
- print screenshots
- delete screenshots
- rename your file
- upload your files directly to Image-Hosters (e.g. http://ubuntu-pics.de), retrieve all the needed links and share them with others
- edit your screenshots directly using the embedded drawing tool.
Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the
shutter package.
Other Possibilities
Commenters recommend
AppSpot and the
Ubuntu PPA search to find repositories for applications you may need. AppSpot even has a grouping of recent searches to spur your imagination.
Keys
You'll have some package manager complaints about keys if you're not careful. Import these keys to get rid of the warnings.
Allaun recommends using the NO_PUBKEY value (e.g. C5E6A5ED249AD24C) to add the key with the following command.
OpenOffice -
http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x60D11217247D1CFF
Gnome-DO -
http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x28A8205077558DD0
Deluge -
http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xC5E6A5ED249AD24C
Google -
https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub
WineHQ -
http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/Scott%20Ritchie.gpg
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