Recommended Ubuntu Software?

sastusbulbas

sastusbulbas

sastusbulbas

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Joined
26 May 2008
Posts
1,805
Hi all,

New to this Linux stuff, and have just loaded Ubuntu's latest download OS, so far disappointed does not play DVD, internet video streaming is poor,m the audio media player is poor, no sound with stuff from You Tube?

So what software is recommended? DVD replay? Media Players? Any way to run games?

What about anti Spyware and Virus protection? Any recommended sites full of Ubuntu free software?

Steve
 
Wekcome to Linux. The softwae management in Ubuntu is very different when compared to typical Windows software. For the most part you won't ever need to go to somebody's web site, download an installer, click through it, wait, and then use the program. Ubuntu uses a tool called apt to manage what are called packages, individual programs and backend libraries that make things work. Using this you tell it to install a program or a group of programs and it automatically downloads from the servers called repositories and installs it. It also uses this to manage upgrades. Upgrades will not just get the newest stuff for your OS, but also all the programs installed.

To get a load of useful stuff in one go, open a terminal (Applications -> Accessories) and paste the following
sudo apt-get update
It'll ask for your password then download lists of all the latest available software, to be sure you get the newest stuff. Next paste
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
This'll run and install a bunch of things restricted by legal issues like the libraries necessary for DVD playback, some other codecs, Java, Flash, and more.

There's a nifty graphical tool for this called Synaptic that you can also use. Open it up and select the above from the list and tell it to install.
 
Hi,

Still not getting DVD playback n stuff, the Synaptic list is huge! Quite what to select for sound from the web and to get DVD replay I am unsure of?

Still not sure if there is any region coding to adjust? But it seems unlikely as Totem DVD player won't play UK or US discs?

sigh
 
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you need to apt_get updated dvd utilites to enable the playback rather than the crippled versions that they ship with the os, bloody linux distro's getting worse than windows for crippled softwarez.


sample: 'apt_get "name of dvd payer u use"
 
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Hi,

How do I go about that? Complete simpleton with this Ubuntu?

Do I need to open a terminal and paste 'apt_get updated dvd utilites' or will this be in the huge list in Synaptics?

I have found and tried to install VLC from the Synaptic menu, it sits there but I cannot seem to get it reading the DVD or to play anything?

Not sure what choices I should tick within that hiuge Synaptic list, seems a bit complicated to get simple CD DVD and internet replay from such an acclaimed simple OS?

Still not getting sound from the internet such as You Tube?

Edit, apt_get updated dvd utilites, didn't work, apt_get command not found.
 
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Just install Linux Mint*. It seems your a "noob" like me and Linux Mint allows DVD playback, MP3, etc, "straight out of the box."

It really is user friendly and I highly recommend it to the first time Linux user.

*It is an offshoot of Ubuntu.
 
lol
I love it when Windows users see the list of software available in Synaptic.

Try googling something like... Dvd in ubuntu.. Find the name of a program and then SEARCH synaptic for that proggie. If you install it, it should install ancillaries
 
oap said:
you need to apt_get updated dvd utilites to enable the playback rather than the crippled versions that they ship with the os, bloody linux distro's getting worse than windows for crippled softwarez.
Click to expand...

It's a licensing/legal issue. you're not supposed to use dvdcss libraries in countries like the US IIRC. Any distro not based from those countries is fine to use it.

The various distros could purchase the licenses but they'd have to spend fortunes since they culdn't quantify the cost per copy used.

If you and everyone else are happy to foot the bill, let them know.

As a side note i find mplayer superior to VLC
 
Rhys said:
Just install Linux Mint*. It seems your a "noob" like me and Linux Mint allows DVD playback, MP3, etc, "straight out of the box."

It really is user friendly and I highly recommend it to the first time Linux user.

*It is an offshoot of Ubuntu.
Click to expand...

Latest version of Mint (based on latest Ubuntu) has just been released.

Mint is basically Ubuntu with all the stuff you reasonably need (DVD, flash, java etc) already installed :)
 
Yep, Mint rocks. I am currently downloading the latest version as I type. :)

PCLinuxOS is also worth a shot as that has a lot of stuff already bundled.
 
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