An operating system stands or falls on the quality of its programs, and Linux is no exception. Thankfully, you’ll find a rich seam of applications spanning all your needs, and we’ve dug out 10 of the absolute best to help you get started.
Unless stated, all programs can be installed through the Ubuntu Software store app, but where multiple versions exist, choose the Snap version, which will ensure you’ll always have access to the latest version.
VLC Media Player
Ubuntu’s built-in Videos tool is good, but it will struggle with more demanding movies – for example, it can struggle with 4K video encoded using the h.265 codec. That’s where VLC Media Player (www.videolan.org/ vlc) steps in. This configurable video player can handle just about anything you throw at it, making it a reliable choice for anything you care to watch through your PC.
VLC can even do a great job of playing HDR content through non-HDR displays without making the image appear dull and washed out, but you’ll need to set things up first. Choose Tools>Preferences>Video tab. Select All under Show settings to reveal all available options, then expand Video>Output modules to select OpenGL. Change the Tone-mapping algorithm dropdown to Mobious (linear + knee) and click Save to produce more vibrant images.
Converseen
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Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av Linux Format.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Create your first WebSocket service
Mihalis Tsoukalos explains how to use the Go programming language to work with the WebSocket protocol.
Fantastic Mr Firefox
Nick Peers takes a trip down memory lane to reveal the story behind the rise - and slight fall - of Mozilla's popular web browser.
Set up your terminal and email like it's 1983
Jump in the hot terminal time machine with Mats Tage Axelsson who emails from the command line using the latest technology.
Universal layer text effects with GIMP
Posters use them, films and presentations are hard to imagine without them: text effects. Attract attention with Karsten Günther and GIMP.
Jump to a federated social network
Nick Peers reveals how you can get up and running with this free, decentralised and non-profit alternative to Twitter.
Free our SOFTWARE!
Taking anything for granted is dangerous, so Jonni Bidwell and Mike Saunders revisit how the free software movement got started to help free us from proprietary tyranny!
Master RPI.GPIO
Les Pounder goes back to the early days of the Raspberry Pi - and his career with this classic library! -
Waveshare Zero to Pi3
Transform your Pi Zero into a Pi 3, they promised Les Pounder, but it's more like adding on go-faster stripes.
The Best OPEN SOURCE Software Ever!
In an attempt to trigger controversy, Michael Reed and Neil Mohr unequivocally state these are the greatest free software apps ever. Probably. We’re just trying to be helpful.
Linux-Mandrake 7
Simplicity and a wide range of applications make this a great distribution for all Linux users.
