LIRC and an IR remote can be used to control many more apps than Mythtv and Elisa. I use it for Mplayer, Xine, and Rhythmbox too. Instruction on setting up a IR remote can be found at the Ubuntu Wiki

I have not yet tried out the New Gui tool but I’m looking froward to an easier LIRC install in Gutsy!

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Audacity is a great (D.A.W.) Digital Audio Workstation! It’s simple to use and has lots of great tools and effects but, Audacity’s (UI) User Interface has always been a tad ruff on the eyes. It’s hard to believe such a great application could be so ugly. Fortunately the newest version of Audacity (1.3.3 Beta) now can be themed. I created this new theme using the KDE Oxygen icon theme. All of the this theme is completely GPL friendly!

To install this theme download this PNG image “click here” and save it in “/home/user-name/.audacity-data/Theme” Then open up Audacity and go to Edit> Preferences> Themes. Click the load theme Cache button and check the “load theme at start up” check mark box. Restart Audacity and enjoy the new look.

Audacity before and after

Edit (Aug. 7, 2007) : This how to should now work for any Linux distro that supports Firefox and the newest version of Skype.

Development for the Linux version of Skype has always been slow and one of the greatest addition to Skype, “The Skype Tool Bar” is not available for Linux. So I decided to implement my own version of it. What makes the The Skype Tool Bar so great is that it turn any 10 digit phone number on a web page into a Skype link. My own implantation looks for phone numbers in web pages and makes hyper links out of them. When clicking on the link, Skype will ring and will be dialing the number / link you clicked on.

No more copying and pasting phone numbers to Skype. SkypeOut directly from your online contact list (say
Gmail contacts) without any manual synchronization or addition to your Skype contact list.

My own implantation consists of a easy five step process and requires a Skype out account.

Step one:

Download and install the latest version of Skype 1.4*** for Linux you can get it here. http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/
Step two:

Install the GreaseMonkey FireFox extension.

GreaseMonkey allows you to customize the way a webpage displays using small bits of JavaScript. This ability to customize the way a webpage display allows us to create the Skype link but, we need a script to do this.
Step Three:

Install the skypelinkify for linux GreaseMonky script.

Step Four:

Install Philipp Kolmann’s action_handler_0.6.py script. In a terminal type

wget http://www.kolmann.at/philipp/linux/skype_action_handler/action_handler_0.6.py

sudo mv /home/yourusername/action_handler_0.6.py /usr/local/bin/

sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/action_handler_0.6.py

Step Five:

Configure FireFox to use Skype’s network.protocol-handler.app.skype.

* Open Mozilla (Firefox)
* Type about:config in the address-bar to open the configuration editor.
* Use the scroll bar to navigate to the network.protocol… section.
* Check if the network protocol section includes a network.protocol-handler.app.skype key.
* If a key exists, edit it. If no key exists, create a key by right-clicking on any key and selecting New -> String from the pull-down menu.
* Enter network.protocol-handler.app.skype as the key name.
* Enter /usr/local/bin/action_handler_0.6.py as the key value.

Restart FireFox and lets give it a try!

The phone number below should now be a hyper link that will use Skype to call the number.

1-800-466-4411 This is the number to Google’s FREE 411 phone service.

You will get a security warning in Firefox asking if its ok for Fire fox to allow Skype to dial out (this is normal).

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I’ve always been a fan of Rhythmbox but the new RB is a major improvement! The new RB has some new tango style icons which will be the first things users notice. Gap-less play back has been added for seamless playback of those mix tapes but Gap-less play back is not enabled by default and must be turned on in the preferences. Other improvements listed in the change log are

* handle lastfm:// URIs

* make Magnatune/Jamendo loading intro saner on small screens

* fix last.fm streaming

* allow the user of Magnatune gift cards

* do iPod DB saving in the background, not blocking the UI

* vastly reduce the Jamendo plugin’s memory usage

* add support for MTP audio players

* clean up the playback preferences UI

* update play count, rating and last played on iPods

* add support for multiple lyrics sites, and allow editing of lyrics

I still had some problems with the visualizations crashing but this bug is listed in the bug reports and is fixed in the SVN versions. One of the biggest improvements is added support for a slew will now be able to work with RB! The Compatible players are:

Apple:

• iPod
• iPod mini
• iPod nano
• iPod Shuffle

Creative:

• MuVo NX
• MuVo2
• MuVo TX
• Zen Micro
• Zen Nano
• NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra
• MuVo V200
• MuVo N200 (MuVo Micro)
• Zen Micro
• Zen Stone

Nokia:

• Nokia 770
• Nokia N800
• Nokia E60
• Nokia E70

SONICblue:

• Rio Forge
• Rio Karma
• Rio Carbon

Philips:

• Philips GoGear SA1330

Panasonic:

• Panasonic SV-MP31V

Samsung:

• Samsung Yepp YP-35
• Samsung Yepp YP-ST5
• Samsung YP-MT6V
• Samsung YP-F1
• Samsung YP-U1
• Samsung YP-Z5
• Samsung YP-U2Z

Sony:

• Sony Network Walkman
• Jetflash MP3 Player, AKA NAPA LCD-HD, AKA Medion, AKA Tevion
• MSCNMMC MP3 Player / Tevion MD80946
• EXATEL i-BEAD100 Player
• Traxdata Digital Audio Player
• TrekStor i.Beat 115
• Medion MD41512 / Tevion 41512
• Transcend (T.Sonic ??? White)
• Jens of Sweeden (JoS) MP-120
• Transcend (T.Sonic 610)
• TrekStor i.Beat jump MP3 Player
• Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable)

RCA:

• Lyra RD1072
• Lyra RD2212
• Lyra MC2021C

SanDisk:

• Sansa e100 series
• Sansa m200 series
• Sansa e200 series
• Sansa e200R series
• Sansa c200 series
• Feiya Technology Corp Memory Bar
• Peak Digital Audio Player

Danger Research:

• Hiptop/Sidekick 3

Cowon:

• iAudio M3
• iAudio X5
• iAudio M5
• iAudio U2
• iAudio G3
• iAudio 5
• iAudio G2
• iAudio U3
• iAudio F2

Archos:

• Archos GMini 400
• Archos XS 100
• Archos A404

Sony Ericsson:

• K750i mobile phone
• W800 Walkman Phone
• W950i mobile phone
• Sony Ericsson W810i
• Sony Ericsson W300i

LG:

• LG Fusic Phone
• iGP 100
• iHP-100,115
• HP-120,140
• H320, H340

TouchStone/WaveX:

• TS-300

Foston, MPMan:

• Foston 128/256MB / MPMan MP-Ki 128 Player

Jens of Sweden:

• MP-130

MSI:

• MegaStick-1 Flash Stick
• Nexia NX58XX (including Super*Talent MegaScreen)

Motorola:

• Motorola iTunes enabled phone
• ROKR e2 Memory Card mode

iRiver:

• T20 UMS
• T30 UMS
• T10 UMS
• iFP 100 UMS (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 300 UMS (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 500 UMS (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 700 UMS
• iFP 800 UMS
• iFP 900 UMS
• iFP 1000 UMS
• N10 UMS
• H10 20GB UMS
• H10 5GB UMS

USB devices that are music players but uses a user-space library: Archos:

• GMini 120
• GMini XS202
• iDP 100 UMS
• iFP 100 IMM (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 300 IMM (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 500 IMM (supports application/ogg only after firmware upgrade)
• iFP 700 IMM
• iFP 800 IMM
• iFP 900 IMM
• iFP 1000 IMM
• N10 IMM
• H10 20GB MTP
• H10 5GB MTP
• H10 5,6GB MT

Rhythmbox 0.11.1 will be included in the next release of Ubuntu 7.10 Gusty Gibbon but if you would like to give it a try on Ubuntu 7.04 a Repo has be set up.

You can get it by adding

deb http://blog.blackdown.de/static/debian/rhythmbox/ feisty main
deb-src http://blog.blackdown.de/static/debian/rhythmbox/ feisty main

to /etc/apt/sources.list

Then upgrade/install rhythmbox:

aptitude update
aptitude install rhythmbox

The repository is signed with my GPG key. The key can be imported into your apt keyring with

wget http://blog.blackdown.de/static/gpg.asc -O – | \
sudo apt-key add -

If you are going to use the Last.fm integration of Rhythmbox, make sure you only enable one of the two plug-ins! If you want to use the new-style plug-in, you need the lastfm client. The latest beta package for Ubuntu is available on the Last.fm beta forum.

Ok, so I know that I am a little late on this but I know a good thing when I see it. Divx. Divx is a video format that I feel has always been shunned because it always been used by the porn industry and is the format of choice for pirating moves. But could the format be used to power the next You Tube? Well the folks over at Stage6 think so.

According to Wikipedia “Stage6 is a video sharing website first launched by DivX in 2006 and currently in beta. It is similar to sites like YouTube in allowing streaming video to be uploaded freely by anyone who is willing to register. Significant differences between Stage6 and other sites include better quality video through use of higher resolutions up to 1080p, very small upload limitations, and the option to download media directly through the website or the DivX Web Player without the need to install browser extensions.”

Check out the video quality betweent Youtube and Stage6

You will need to install the browser extensions to use Divx & Stage6  don’t worry it’s quick and painless. You’ll be glad you did!

Stage6

http://stage6.divx.com/Diva-Channel/video/1169515/%5BPV%5D-Michael-Gray—The-Weekend

YouTube

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VWXafDZn0CQ

This plug-in works with http://stage6.divx.com

Stage6′s video quality smokes Youtube!!!

Anyhow, follow this:

Pre-setup steps:

sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer mplayer

1. Download the file on the following download site, and save it to your desktop (click on the link that says “Download file”):

http://www.4shared.com/file/17647095/47518ec7/pluginstar.html

2. Uncompress the file you’ve just downloaded. Right-click, and “extract.” In this newly created directory, copy all the Firefox extensions from this folder. Right-click and select “copy.”

2. Press ALT-F2, and type gksudo nautilus (no quote marks). This will give you administrative privileges when handling the file manager after you enter your password.

3. Browse to /usr/lib/firefox/plugins. In this directory, copy all the Firefox extensions from the folder you earlier uncompressed. You should paste in this directory all the extensions you have downloaded earlier. If Ubuntu warns you that you are overriding a certain extension, skip that particular extension, because you already have it! Just paste the ones you don’t already have.

It shouldn’t matter if Firefox is open or not, but just in case you’re having any problems, restart Firefox (don’t restart your computer, just Firefox, if necessary).

You will need mplayer-plugin for this to work correctly, as far as I know, you will not be able to use mplayer-plugin along with other similar plugins (e.g. mozilla-vlc-plugin, totem-mozilla, etc.). Once you’ve completed this guide, Epiphany should be able to play embedded DIVX video too.

original post @ http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=491592&highlight=divx

Click the Image to see a larger scale 

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Everyone is familiar with Open Office’s office suite or Firefox/Mozzilla’s internet suite of Firefox and Thunderbird. Both suites have found homes in Linux and are a staple in many Linux distros. (IMHO) These two application suites have made Linux a viable OS in desktop computing. Yes, I do know other alternatives to OOO and FF are available and, competition is a good thing.

The time has now come for another Application Suite for the OSS community. Lets face it, Linux lacks many of the creative and multi-media tools that needs to be a real desktop OS. Many new users to Linux just need a simple way to edit video, audio and pics. I know that many apps already exist for these needs but, most of these apps fall short (IMHO). Is there a really solid OSS video editor for the home video enthusiast? This is what I see with many OSS video editors: Cinelerra is overkill and it lacks the ability to capture DV video. Kino and Diva are just to basic. Pitivi just combines clips, Kdenlive is still very buggy (in beta) also, getting firewire to work is also a real pain for video editing applications too.

A simple to use video editor is much needed in the home user Linux desktop. While were talking about video Apps how about integrating a video editor with a DVD Video creation app? Is this starting to sound like iMovie and iDVD?

Audio Editing is in much better shape for Linux than video editing but it too still lacks the polish and simplicity that many home users need for audio editing. Audacity is a great app but it lacks looping, midi, music notation tools and RSS feed generation for podcasting. Ardour on the other hand is just over kill for new Linux user and is to advanced for an easy to use audio editor. Does what I’ve just describe sound like Soundtrack? It might also be nice if the Audio editor worked with the video editing and DVD apps as well, so that files could be transfered back and forth between the apps.

Image editing in Linux needs work too, Gimp is OK for simple editing but should combine a photo manager and needs some work with some of the core tools and its UI to make it easer for the home user. Once more, the Image app should be able to work with the video editing and DVD creation software.

If these apps were created and worked well, a natural side effect could be a push in the use of free or Open source formats for media such as ogg. Having a multimedia application suite for creation that pushes ODF for multimedia would be huge in the multimedia world.

So the BIG question is how do you make money off developing this Application suite? Easy, all of these apps create multimedia files that either have hard copy equivalents or can be uploaded to sharing sites like youtube or flicker.

The video that the video editor app makes could have an option to upload the video to youtube, break, metacfe, or any other video sharing site. This option would be put out to bid for the sharing sites to bid on for the upload option to be the defalut with their site.

Firefox did this with the default home page set to Google. Google pays Fire fox almost 40 million dollars a year for its spot as the home page default in Fire fox. By setting a default upload to a sharing site this will drive visitors to that site. Which is why companies like youtube, break, metacfe, or other video sharing sites would bid for the spot to be the default upload.

This same feature could be done with the audio editor with any podcast hosting service for audio files. Once more, this could be done with pictures and picture sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa. From the picture sharing sites prints could be ordered too.

I see this type of application suite be critical for Linux. Most of the code for a suite like this already exist in current Linux apps and the code could be used if it’s licensed under the GPL. It would be great if an organization or foundation would form to create this application suite. I would hope that this organization or foundation would focus on keeping the application suite licensed GPL, using free non- proprietary formats, giving a continuous look and feel between all of the apps, organize development for the suite and making the foundation financial self sustaining.

Who knows, after an easy to use home suite was developed maybe a professional suite could be developed too.

Linux has conquered the server market, the key to the home desktop market is Multimedia.

Who’s with me on this?

“In the true spirit of liberty, Voltaire once said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” If we are to be effective in convincing others of the benefits of a tolerant world, we must take the moral high ground by saying, “We may disapprove of what you do, but we will defend to the death your right to do it.”

 Mark Skousen, Persuasion Vs. Force