Another week and another roundup of recent Linux apps updates, all neatly grouped together for your perusal.
From a small bump to a lesser-known web-browser to super high-definition support in a leading Linux video editor; let’s take a slightly closer look at some newly updated Linux software.
Lightworks 12.5
The “professional grade” Lightworks video editor arrived like an A-list celeb on the red carpet of a long-trailed movie …. and then failed to get photographed. Lightworks, for all its power, hasn’t had a big impact on Linux users.
Given the complexity of the application itself and its tiered licensing system it’s perhaps not a surprise that it’s not the first video editor recommend to fall from Linux user’s lips. The (supposedly) open-source app available to use for free but hides many of the really useful features behind monthly and yearly subscriptions.
It does have it’s fans though – and rightly so. Lightworks is a super powerful piece of software. Prosumer rather than consumer. And for those fans the most recent Lightworks 12.5 release should appeal greatly.
The headline billing is the newly introduce support for configurable H.264/MP4 4k exports – but this is only for Lightworks Pro customers. Also new is WebM, XML and YouTube 2k and 4K exporting – again, only for Lightworks Pro customers.
New Lightworks Pro customers buying either a yearly or outright Pro license also get visual effects software from Boris FX, including footage stabilisation, lens flare, wire removal and integrated 2D and 3D title animations.
Features and changes that regular users can take advantage of includes, err, support for importing/opening CinemaDNG files and LUTs effects.
Blender 2.7.6
On the subject of professional grade apps there’s a new update to the animation powerhouse that is Blender.
Among the ‘hundreds of bugs fixed and other improvements’ new shipping in v2.7.6 you’ll find:
- Pixar OpenSubdiv library integration
- Stability improvements for AMD GPUs on Linux and Windows
- Increase in view-port and file browser performance
- Arrow keys navigation support when file browsing
- Absolute grid snapping in the 3D view
- Animation/Movie player supports Space bar play/pause
- Text effect strips (sequencer)
- Subtitle export
- New Bone Selection Sets (animation)
Blender 2.7.6 is available to download from the Blender Project website.
QupZilla 1.8.7
Qt web browser QupZilla may be quiet on its choice of new logo but it hasn’t been shy in fixing bugs. Issuing the seventh bug fix release in the 1.8.x series the webkit-based browser adds a number of welcome improvements. Among them:
- Pinned tabs are now saved on a per-window basis
- Shift+left click on any URL to open it in a new window
- New button to create a userscript in GreaseMonkey
Bug fixes include:
- Select all and find actions in menu now work
- Issue where some cookies were incorrectly accepted is now resolved
- Center dials option in the ‘speed dial’ now works
A full list of changes can be found on the QupZilla website.
QupZilla 1.8.7 can be installed on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and above through the official QupZilla PPA.
Claws Mail 3.13.0
The arrival of N1, a stylish (albeit privacy headache making) open-source desktop email app might have renewed your own interest in other desktop mail manager.
Claws Mail is one of the best known. It’s nimble, open-source and cross platform. Helpfully for us it was also recently updated
Claws Mail 3.13.0 is small update. it adds, among other minor changes, better error messages when account auto-config goes belly up, ‘new preferences …for default sorting of message lists,‘ and support for navigating folder lists using the keyboard.
The ‘Delete Thread’ menu item has been relocated to the in-app message menu. The feature also actually deletes a thread in this release, as opposed to just moving it to the Trash folder as before.
For privacy fans the GnuPG plugins have been kitted out with new options, including a new hidden preference which limits the number of results returned when using your keyring for address auto-completion.
Claws Mail 3.13.x is available to install on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and 15.04 using the official Claws Mail PPA.