Category Archives: Ubuntu

Set-up Ubuntu to edit Android APK’s (Apps) using Apk Manager

Posted on by
Reply

Adding the ability to edit Android apps (apk’s) in Ubuntu is fairly easy, but lacks documentation. The following steps are what worked for me on my system, but please continue at your own risk. Since every system is different, I can’t guarantee that this will work for you, but it should serve as a good basis.

Things you will need:

Setting up the Android SDK:

To start with we will set up the Android SDK as APK manager relies on it.

First download the Android-SDK for linux from here. Once downloaded extract it somewhere to your system (I chose my user folder for ease of access).

If you don’t have Java JDK installed you will need to do so by running the following:

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jdk

Once this is done you will need to install the Andoid SDK addon “Platform-tools” as APK manager relies on it to function.

To do so navigate to the following path (be sure and replace with the actually path you extracted to):

/path-to-extracted-android-sdk/tools/

Once here, locate the file called “android.” Double click it and select run.

After the graphical interface is loaded, select “Available Packages” in the right hand column. This will open up a list of package Repos in the center column. Expand the “Android Repository” and place a check by “platform-tools.” Now click install selected and let it do it’s magic.

The SDK (with platform tools) is now set-up and ready to use.

Adding the Android SDK to your path

At this point you have the Android SDK and Platform-Tools installed. This means that you can use them, but only within the directory where they exist. This is very inconvenient, so we are going to make them accessible anywhere by running the following commands (be sure and replace with the actually path you extracted to):

export PATH=$PATH{}:/home/user/android-sdk-linux_x86/tools
export PATH=$PATH{}:/home/user/android-sdk-linux_x86/platform-tools

Installing APK Manager dependencies:

APK manager requires a few packages to run. Every system will be different, but my system was lacking optiping and 7zip. To install them run the following:

sudo apt-get install optiping p7zip-full

If you are on a 64bit system you may also need the following:

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

Installing APK Manager

Finally, after all the prep work we are ready to install APK Manager.

First download the package from here.

Next, extract it somewhere on your system. (again, I chose my user folder)

Now open the terminal and navigate to the extracted APK manager and set the permissions of all the files in the folders to 755.

Example (in terminal):

chmod -R /home/user/apkmanager

To finish up the installation you will want to run APK Manager. This first run will create the necessary folders to place your APK to be edited ect.

Run APK Manager by executing Script.sh inside the APK manager directory.

cd /home/user/apkmanager
./Script.sh

All finished

Assuming all went well you should now be all set-up, and ready to start using APK Manager to edit your APKs.

Install Ubuntu Netbook Remix on Ubuntu Karmic

Posted on by
Reply

Please Note: This is experimental. It may have bugs, flaws and may not work for every configuration. Continue at your own risk.

Have you heard about Ubuntu Netbook Remix? If not there is some good information on it, and installation instructions here.

But if you are like me, already have Ubuntu installed, and want to try out UNR, then what? At first the only options I really saw were to start fresh with UNR, not something I was really pleased about doing since I wasn’t sure if I would keep it, and I wasn’t sure if I even liked it. But I knew I wanted to give it a shot, because it looks to me to really have potential in the mobile computing world (can you say carputer?).

So anyways, after some looking through the guides on the Wiki, and what-not I was able to determine what packages I needed to install.

Here are the steps I took to install Ubuntu Netbook Remix on Ubuntu Karmic:

First off, you will need to add the extra repositories to your sources list. Most likely if you are reading this you have already done it, but if not then read here: How to install extra repositories.

Now run the following command to install the necessary packages.

sudo apt-get install go-home-applet human-netbook-theme maximus netbook-launcher window-picker-applet

Now reboot and you should be running Ubuntu Netbook Remix. I personally love the added features, very pleasing on the eyes, and very handy. I have it running on my desktop, and laptop.

I really see potential for using it to build a carputer system or home automation system. I know there is already the Ubuntu Mobile Edition, but it is just too dumbed down for my tastes. This seems to be the perfect mix between computer, and mobile system. Next up, skinning, and perhaps some custom software interfaces of some sort.

Adding extra repositories to Ubuntu Karmic

Posted on by
Reply

This guide is probably one of the first, most essential things to do to any Ubuntu install. This is specifically for Ubuntu Karmic, but can be used as a reference point for other versions.

The Graphical Way:

  1. Go to System => Administration => Synaptic Package Manager => Settings => Reposotories
  2. Here you can select which sources are to be used. You can also manually add sources here.

The Command Line Way (Easier IMO):

  1. First off, open a console, and make a backup of your current sources file

    2. sudo cp -i /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup

  2. Then you can open the sources file to be edited

    3. sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

  3. Now you can add new sources in the editor that pop’s up. Below is a copy of my sources file.

    4. #deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 9.10 _Karmic_Koala - Release i386 (20081029.1)]/ karmic main restricted
    # See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
    # newer versions of the distribution.
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic main restricted
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic main restricted
    ## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
    ## distribution.
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates main restricted
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates main restricted
    ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    ## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
    ## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic universe
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic universe
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates universe
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates universe
    ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
    ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
    ## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
    ## security team.
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic multiverse
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic multiverse
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates multiverse
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates multiverse
    ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the ‘backports’
    ## repository.
    ## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
    ## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
    ## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
    ## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
    ## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical’s
    ## ‘partner’ repository. This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is
    ## offered by Canonical and the respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu
    ## users.
    deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu karmic partner
    deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu karmic partner
    deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security main restricted
    deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security main restricted
    deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security universe
    deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security universe
    deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security multiverse
    deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security multiverse
    ## Medibuntu – Ubuntu 9.10 “karmic koala”
    ## Please report any bug on https://bugs.launchpad.net/medibuntu/
    deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ karmic free non-free
    deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ karmic free non-free
    # Google software repository
    deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ stable non-free

    Be sure to save the file and return to the console.

    *Note: My sources file contains sources that require keys to work correctly. Read below to learn how to Add Reposotory Keys.

  4. Finally in a console perform

    5. sudo apt-get update

    And you now should have successfully added new software sources.

Adding Repository Keys:

If you copied my sources list, or are planning to use the mediabuntu, or google repo’s you will need to add keys to your sources list.

To add mediabuntu key

wget –quiet http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O – | sudo apt-key add -

To add Google Key:

wget –quiet http://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub -O – | sudo apt-key add -