The Microsoft LifeCam is a versatile USB Webcam family which is supported well in Ubuntu Linux. Unfortunately it records HD videos only at low fps, but there is a workaround to get high resolution with 30 fps. Install guvcviewOpen guvcview, switch to the Video Controls tab and pick the LifeCamSelect 30/1 fps in the Frame … Continue reading Higher frame rate with Microsoft LifeCam and Linux
Category: ubuntu
Fixing random sound drops with Ubuntu; only sound device is “Dummy Output”
The title says it all; at some point Ubuntu 18.04 stops playing sound and the only available sound device is "Dummy Output". Apart from rebooting (which fixes the issue) this command executed from the terminal fixes the issue: pulseaudio -k && sudo alsa force-reload Contributed by user Kim, source: https://superuser.com/questions/17312/restart-ubuntu-sound-processes-via-command-line
Ubuntu on the ASUS VivoBook 17
Following the proud tradition [1],[2],[3] of documenting Linux installations on all the hardware I break, I'm happy to report that Ubuntu 18.04 works fine on the ASUS VivoBook 17 (model number X705U). Things I tested and that work: OS boots from USB and from harddisk Secure boot WLAN USB On board and external (USB) camera … Continue reading Ubuntu on the ASUS VivoBook 17
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on the Acer Aspire E15
I have been moderately content [1] with Ubuntu 14.04 on the Acer Aspire E15 for about a year. Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, another long term support release, has recently been published and of course I had to try it out! Installing the live image on a USB stick: bring some patience The first obstacle is that … Continue reading Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on the Acer Aspire E15
Ubuntu on the Acer Aspire E15 (E5-571G-51TH)
Having failed the 3rd repair attempt at the Thinkpad E540 [1] I gave up and bought the next best laptop from the nearby store that somehow is usable for programming. Behold: the Acter Inspire E15. 8GB RAM, i5, matte screen (1920x1080). It worked out of the box with the SSD transplant from the old Lenovo, … Continue reading Ubuntu on the Acer Aspire E15 (E5-571G-51TH)
Ubuntu 14.04 on the Lenovo Thinkpad E540
Update 25.03.2015: I strongly recommend against the Thinkpad Edge 540. There seems to be a systematic manufacturing problem with keyboards in many Edge models. Mine broke down a week after ordering, I installed a replacement keyboard which broke within two weeks of installing. For details see: https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/11e-Windows-E-and-Edge-series/thinkpad-edge-15-keyboard-problem/td-p/406731/page/8 Original text: After not being so long … Continue reading Ubuntu 14.04 on the Lenovo Thinkpad E540
Linux picking the best access point in a WLAN with repeaters
In many larger WLAN setups you'll find repeaters or extenders which spread the WLAN to farther places on the floor. Often they are set up in such a way that they use the same WLAN name (SSID) and password. In that case the WLAN hardware on your laptop will pick the best access point and … Continue reading Linux picking the best access point in a WLAN with repeaters
Running windows games with steam on a hybrid graphics card
I don't play much, but when I do, it's Sid Meier's Civilization on a Windows installation boxed into a VM. Earlier this year I got tricked by a Humble-Bundle offer into buying Civilization V, which came with the "trojan horse" of a steam account. Had I known the prerequisite of a Steam account before hand, … Continue reading Running windows games with steam on a hybrid graphics card
VLC / Ubuntu out of sync sound
In ubuntu 12.04 VLC runs out of sync when pausing a video. First, when pausing the video, sound will continue playing for a couple of seconds. Then when resuming the video, it will lag behind but eventually resync after several seconds. Somehow I lived with this bug for a while, unnecessarily as it seems as … Continue reading VLC / Ubuntu out of sync sound
Ubuntu 12.04 (64bit) on the Asus N56VB
With quite some regret I had to decommission the trusty HP 4720s - readers of this blog will remember the love-hate relationship that grew to come between Ubuntu, it and I. Now it's time to try Ubuntu on the new laptop: Asus N56VB. Because I'm not much for experiments (those come to find me on … Continue reading Ubuntu 12.04 (64bit) on the Asus N56VB