[How to] Install Ubuntu TV via PPA

By , Published January 10, 2012

There’s a good chance that following all of the screenshots and videos of Ubuntu TV you’d like nothing more than to play with it yourself.

The good news is that you can – but there are drawbacks to caressing your curiosity; you will need to sacrifice the Unity-2D session.

Content with that? You crazy fool – use Virtualbox or an installation you’re content with borking.

How to Install Ubuntu TV in Ubuntu

This is development software. Do not install unless you are competent enough to revert any or all changes made.

The Ubuntu Wiki provides instructions for compiling the latest code manually. This is the recommended way to test Ubuntu TV.

But, for the lazy amongst you, the Ubuntu TV code has also been packaged up into a PPA by Alin Andrei.

The PPA provides Ubuntu TV packages for Ubuntu 11.10 32bit and 64bit only. If you’re using an earlier version of Ubuntu you can droop you head in disappointment anytime about now.

So, on to installing. Open a new Terminal window and run the following three commands. Be sure to let each one finish before trying to run the next.

  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/test3
  • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install unity-2d
  • sudo apt-get install unity-lens-video

As Ubuntu TV can’t be run from the Unity 2D session you will only be able to run the prototype in Ubuntu itself. Assuming you’re in Unity run the following command: -

  • unity-2d-shell –opengl
The Ubuntu TV interface will now open. To close it just Alt+Tab back to the Terminal you ran the command from and press CTRL+C.

Using Ubuntu TV

Ubuntu TV is by no means finished or – don’t hate me – fully functional.

But there are enough features present to play around with to enable you can to get the ‘feel’ of how it all works – just be sure to go in with your eyes open.

For your own videos to show up in the shell you will need to place them in the following folders: -

  • ~/Videos/unity/local/featured
  • ~/Videos/unity/local/rented
  • ~/Videos/unity/local/purchased
  • ~/Videos/unity/local/recorded
And for video thumbnails to be generated and displayed the following command run: -
  • /usr/lib/unity-lens-video/create_tmb.sh ~/Videos/

Related posts:

  1. Ubuntu Unity 2D gets a PPA for Maverick and Natty testers
  2. Install Compiz 0.9.2 in Ubuntu 10.10
  3. Ubuntu 10.04 Unity users with slow Nautilus/apps may wish to install this…
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  • http://twitter.com/Teh_Big_Boi André Viana

    ZOMG AWESOME
    i mean
    im quite amused.

  • http://twitter.com/Teh_Big_Boi André Viana

    ZOMG AWESOME
    i mean
    im quite amused.

  • http://profiles.google.com/pablo.lillia Pablo Lillia

    I use XMBC (with Android Remote Control). How UTV compares to XBMC?

    • https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ActionParsnip ActionParsnip

      I love the android XBMC remote, it’s the balls :)

    • http://twitter.com/torkevo Kevin

      It’d be kinda nice if Ubuntu TV could be integrated into Ubuntu OS in a similar way as XBMC is (i.e. can be run on top of an existing normal desktop).  Perhaps it would be able to easily integrate serving and sharing the files within UTV to the rest of the LAN in an easier and more seamless way than is currently possible with other programs.

    • Eymert Versteegt

      Looks like UTV will be an astounding lot more intuitive to control than XBMC! Up until now, I am a total fan of XBMC for it’s flashyness, codec support and, nicely integrated plugin framework. But in all it’s customize-ability, it is not always that intuitive to control for less tech-savvy users like my GF. I do hope, though, that UTV will also support acting as a frontend for existing TV recording backends like VDR and “tvheadend”. 

  • http://profiles.google.com/pablo.lillia Pablo Lillia

    I use XMBC (with Android Remote Control). How UTV compares to XBMC?

  • Gabriel Schrecker

    My question is, will this compile on ARM eventually, anyone have any technical knowledge? 

  • Gabriel Schrecker

    My question is, will this compile on ARM eventually, anyone have any technical knowledge? 

    • Anonymous

      We have compiled it on ARM, yes.

    • Anonymous

      We have compiled it on ARM, yes.

  • Marco Ceppi
    • Anonymous

      It’s already in the article (unless he just added it)

  • Marco Ceppi
  • John Rüdén

    Excuse the silly questions, but what really is this? An official Media center version for TV screens? Does it replace XBMC? What sources for VIDEO does it handle? And so on… :-)

    • https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ActionParsnip ActionParsnip

      It will play anything you have codecs for. I suggest you watch the video for what it can do with respect to XBMC.

  • John Rüdén

    Excuse the silly questions, but what really is this? An official Media center version for TV screens? Does it replace XBMC? What sources for VIDEO does it handle? And so on… :-)

  • http://twitter.com/ubuntuxx_de Philipp Murmann

    I’ve got en error: failed to load unity-2d

    • Arturas Valneris

      Me, too.  and found how to login:

      so press alt+F1, write you login and passwrd, then simply install unity shell: 
      sudo apt-get install unity-2d
      and reboot

      • Luigi Carbone

        don’t work… i have same problem “Failed to open ubuntu 2d”… 

  • http://twitter.com/ubuntuxx_de Philipp Murmann

    I’ve got en error: failed to load unity-2d

  • http://www.twm-kd.com/ BigWhale

    I have to code, can’t play! Damn it!

  • http://www.twm-kd.com/ BigWhale

    I have to code, can’t play! Damn it!

  • Gabriel Rousseau

    How can you say that is not fully functional?!?! I HATE YOU!!!

  • http://twitter.com/strycore Mathieu Comandon

    It’s not unity-shell-2d but unity-2d-shell, otherwise it runs fine, I’ll continue my testing :)

  • http://twitter.com/strycore Mathieu Comandon

    It’s not unity-shell-2d but unity-2d-shell, otherwise it runs fine, I’ll continue my testing :)

  • Victor Matheus

    I have the exact same question of John Rüdén. Is Ubuntu TV going to be a device like Apple TV ?
    Is this UTV a beta test ?
    Is this meant to be installed as a normal program ?
    Is this safe ?
    In a noob-friendly way, is this some kind of OS made especially for Media Player ?
    (since you need to give up Unity 2D to have Ubuntu TV).
    Thanks anyway.

  • Victor Matheus

    I have the exact same question of John Rüdén. Is Ubuntu TV going to be a device like Apple TV ?
    Is this UTV a beta test ?
    Is this meant to be installed as a normal program ?
    Is this safe ?
    In a noob-friendly way, is this some kind of OS made especially for Media Player ?
    (since you need to give up Unity 2D to have Ubuntu TV).
    Thanks anyway.

    • Patrick Gillespie

      Same question as yours and John’s. What is this?

    • Patrick Gillespie

      Same question as yours and John’s. What is this?

    • Tim Ziemba

      Ubuntu TV is an OS that will end up directly on TVs.  So it will be built in to your LG or your Toshiba or Samsung or whatever vendors they get…

      • Victor Matheus

        So it will be a device but for now we can have it as an OS alongside Unity e Gnome Shell ?

    • Tim Ziemba

      Ubuntu TV is an OS that will end up directly on TVs.  So it will be built in to your LG or your Toshiba or Samsung or whatever vendors they get…

  • http://twitter.com/strycore Mathieu Comandon

    Ok, I have finished testing it. There are a few things worth noting:
    It does not run if Unity 3D is running (complans about an existing instance of the dash)
    ffmpeg needs to be installed to generate the thumbnails, this should be a dependency in the package
    even when I moved all my videos in ~/Videos/purchased/ and after generating the thumbs, I didn’t see anything in UbunuTV so I couldn’t really test the video playback

    Beside these problems it looks really good for an early prototype !

    Edit: I also noticed that some thumbnails are empty files, from a video in ogv format, another video (a screencast) has most of its thumbs corrupted (grey images)

  • http://twitter.com/strycore Mathieu Comandon

    Ok, I have finished testing it. There are a few things worth noting:
    It does not run if Unity 3D is running (complans about an existing instance of the dash)
    ffmpeg needs to be installed to generate the thumbnails, this should be a dependency in the package
    even when I moved all my videos in ~/Videos/purchased/ and after generating the thumbs, I didn’t see anything in UbunuTV so I couldn’t really test the video playback

    Beside these problems it looks really good for an early prototype !

    Edit: I also noticed that some thumbnails are empty files, from a video in ogv format, another video (a screencast) has most of its thumbs corrupted (grey images)

  • http://www.tavisonline.com Tavis

    What? No “~/Videos/unity/local/illegally-downloaded” folder?

  • http://www.tavisonline.com Tavis

    What? No “~/Videos/unity/local/illegally-downloaded” folder?

    • Ian Santopietro

      Just use Recorded. I don’t think anyone will mind.

    • Ian Santopietro

      Just use Recorded. I don’t think anyone will mind.

    • Anonymous

      */.illegally-downloaded/

  • https://openid.sawicz.net/michal Saviq

    You don’t need the GSETTINGS_… env var either, it was only required when running uninstalled.

    We invite everyone to come to #ubuntu-tv on freenode.

  • https://openid.sawicz.net/michal Saviq

    You don’t need the GSETTINGS_… env var either, it was only required when running uninstalled.

    We invite everyone to come to #ubuntu-tv on freenode.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LWFVQKTRQAI5Y3VNCQSWYDYGSQ Bruno

    Do not quite understand, you can put your downloaded movieson the Internet with captions of your tongue, okay, I thought itwas a system equal to the FIX-NET where you can watch movies paying?? I think it is premature to be testing, I preferwatching movies on my LG 42

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LWFVQKTRQAI5Y3VNCQSWYDYGSQ Bruno

    Do not quite understand, you can put your downloaded movieson the Internet with captions of your tongue, okay, I thought itwas a system equal to the FIX-NET where you can watch movies paying?? I think it is premature to be testing, I preferwatching movies on my LG 42

  • Georgi Karavasilev

    Just a quick tip :P
    To change the wallpaper replace the file “wallpaper.png” with a wallpaper of your choice with resolution1920x1080 (and obviously use the name “wallpaper.png”). The file is located in /usr/share/unity-2d/shell/artwork/

  • Georgi Karavasilev

    Just a quick tip :P
    To change the wallpaper replace the file “wallpaper.png” with a wallpaper of your choice with resolution1920x1080 (and obviously use the name “wallpaper.png”). The file is located in /usr/share/unity-2d/shell/artwork/

  • https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ActionParsnip ActionParsnip

    Can someone make a video of the after effect of installing the PPA goodness, or is that what was in the previous video regarding UbuntuTV?
    Thanks

  • http://twitter.com/davbren David Gross

    Ok I *really* want this now. I can’t wait to move to my new flat and get playing!

    Edit: Does anyone know of any good remotes with keyboards that are Linux compatible?

  • http://twitter.com/davbren David Gross

    Ok I *really* want this now. I can’t wait to move to my new flat and get playing!

    Edit: Does anyone know of any good remotes with keyboards that are Linux compatible?

  • Glaasje

    One day you read something, The next day you can try it! =4

    Go Ubuntu! :P

  • http://shadowfirebird.tumblr.com shadowfirebird

    Why the hell would anyone want this when we already have XMBC, MythTV, et al?

    Not a rhetorical question.  What makes this better?  If it’s not better, why is anyone doing it?

    • Anonymous

      It’s an additional choice. And extra choice is an improvement.

      Why is it better, it’s different. It’s designed to be a tv os, rather than a media centre app. An app for Ubuntu TV is just a linux program, compiled for arm. An app for xbmc is some kind of fancy plugin, (if it’s even possible).

      It should also be less work, since many of the compnents of Ubuntu TV are shares with Ubuntu desktop, so they efforts on one will be shared with the other.
      Finally it’s more choice. Maybe XBMC doesn’t work for someone, or someone simply doesn’t like it. Why would anyone want LXDE, KDE, Gnome Shell when we have Unity. Clearly people do, it’s not that they are better, (or worse,) just that they simply provide more choice to the user.

      • http://shadowfirebird.tumblr.com shadowfirebird

        I’m not anti-diversity, but if you create another program that’s the same, that’s not diversity. It has to be different. I repeat: what is different about this one?

        Currently my ‘TV’ is a monitor hooked up to my hifi and a machine running MythTV. Why is this different?

        • Anonymous

          This shall spare you the machine running MithTV. Just the TV with an OS.

          • http://shadowfirebird.tumblr.com shadowfirebird

            Um, no. Software needs a computer to run on. If it’s built into the TV, fine. But, this is a software project.

          • Steve Severson

            It is expected to be run on the TV, not a computer; no extra boxes, no cables, etc…  This is just an opportunity to try it without the TV (that isn’t available yet).

          • http://shadowfirebird.tumblr.com shadowfirebird

            I repeat: software needs a computer to run on. It can no more run on a TV than a barn door — unless the TV or barn door have a computer inside them…

          • Anonymous

            @shadowfirebird:disqus TV’s are already computers. Many even run Linux already. Just because a TV is not a smart TV, does not mean it’s not a computer.

            A smart TV will come with better hardware than a classic tv, and as such can run a more complex os. But that is the entirety of the difference.

          • Anonymous

            Um…. I installed it on my TV

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZGROHXCGXIPQGT2FQOZO52X3PM Hooter footie

    Looks like Unity has got a new lifeline..hope it will work on Gnome 3 as well.

  • Josh Leverette

    I’m getting a segmentation fault in a virtualbox virtual machine with 3D acceleration enabled and vbox guest additions installed. I’ve followed this guide..

  • Anonymous

    WebUpd8 also did an article on how to install Ubuntu TV via the PPA. Probably a bit better than this article because it comes with instructions on how to remove it if you’re done playing.

    http://www.webupd8.org/2012/01/how-to-install-ubuntu-tv-from-ppa.html

  • Anonymous

    BEST. POST. EVER.

  • Anonymous

    Ciao Marco, complimenti per la guida, volevo una tua opinione, secondo te e’ possibile installare Ubuntu Tv du Apple Tv 2? Grazie.

  • James Gardiner

    Can the current UTV br used to watch TV with a TV card, or act as a PVR?

  • Anonymous

    Ubuntu TV is going to be the thorn in Apple TV/Google TV’s big toe.  Go Canonical

  • Andy Mac

    damn i really wanna get this running, i have my beagleboard on its way!

    i made a new virtualbox, installed 11.1 and followed the 3 steps, all was well except the last command which gave a whole sheet of errors, heres a few…

    ~$ unity-2d-shell –opengl

    unity-2d-shell: [DEBUG] bool KeyMonitor::registerEvents(): Could not open device:  Virtual core pointer
    unity-2d-shell: [DEBUG] bool KeyMonitor::registerEvents(): Could not open device:  Virtual core keyboard
    unity-2d-shell: [DEBUG] virtual void Hotkey::connectNotify(const char*): Grabbing hotkey “Alt+F1″
    unity-2d-shell: [WARNING] int _x_grabkey_errhandler(Display*, XErrorEvent*): Call to XGrabKey failed, this usually means some other client already reserved the hotkey.

    any clues / help ?

  • Anonymous

    Um…. I tested it. But not the way you think I did. I installed it on my TV but now I cant get it off. But, it works fine. :-)

 
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