The next Long Term Support release of Ubuntu is just days away now. Version 10.04 "Lucid Lynx", will include the very latest GNOME desktop, Linux kernel 2.6.32, brand new themes and new default open source driver for nVidia hardware - to just mention a few.

If you just can't WAIT 12 days, and would like to try out the beta release (not recommended on production machines!), here's how.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 on a desktop system, press Alt+F2 and type in "update-manager -d" (without the quotes) into the command box. Update Manager should open up and tell you: New distribution release '10.04' is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 on a server system: install the update-manager-core package if it is not already installed; edit /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and set Prompt=normal; launch the upgrade tool with the command sudo do-release-upgrade -d; and follow the on-screen instructions.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04 LTS on a server system: follow the same instructions as for Ubuntu 9.10, but set Prompt=lts instead of Prompt=normal.

Ever have a page you need to append to an existing PDF? Want to join 2 documents into one? Here's how. Use pdftk - an "electronic staple-remover, hole-punch, binder, secret-decoder-ring, and X-Ray-glasses" all in one!

sudo apt-get install pdftk
pdftk old.pdf new.pdf cat output combined.pdf

Really, it's that simple

It can also split pages, rotate, encrypt, decrypt etc. Here's some examples:

Merge Two or More PDFs into a New Document

pdftk 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf cat output 123.pdf

or (Using Handles):

pdftk A=1.pdf B=2.pdf cat A B output 12.pdf

or (Using Wildcards):

pdftk *.pdf cat output combined.pdf

Split Select Pages from Multiple PDFs into a New Document

pdftk A=one.pdf B=two.pdf cat A1-7 B1-5 A8 output combined.pdf

Rotate the First Page of a PDF to 90 Degrees Clockwise

pdftk in.pdf cat 1E 2-end output out.pdf

Rotate an Entire PDF Document's Pages to 180 Degrees

pdftk in.pdf cat 1-endS output out.pdf

Encrypt a PDF using 128-Bit Strength (the Default) and Withhold All Permissions (the Default)

pdftk mydoc.pdf output mydoc.128.pdf owner_pw foopass

Same as Above, Except a Password is Required to Open the PDF

pdftk mydoc.pdf output mydoc.128.pdf owner_pw foo user_pw baz

Same as Above, Except Printing is Allowed (after the PDF is Open)

pdftk mydoc.pdf output mydoc.128.pdf owner_pw foo user_pw baz allow printing

Decrypt a PDF

pdftk secured.pdf input_pw foopass output unsecured.pdf

Join Two Files, One of Which is Encrypted (the Output is Not Encrypted)

pdftk A=secured.pdf mydoc.pdf input_pw A=foopass cat output combined.pdf

Uncompress PDF Page Streams for Editing the PDF Code in a Text Editor

pdftk mydoc.pdf output mydoc.clear.pdf uncompress

Repair a PDF's Corrupted XREF Table and Stream Lengths (If Possible)

pdftk broken.pdf output fixed.pdf

F*cking sweet little tool

Making sure your system is up to date is a key attribute to it's security. Furthermore Ubuntu releases updates pretty often and you probably don't want to miss out on added stability and features.

You could run updated manually, but why not schedule the updates in the background using cron to make sure you are always running the latest stable versions, without ever having to worry about it?

Here's how you would do this.

Open your crontab editor:

sudo crontab -e

And to execute our upgrade every night at 2AM type:

0 2 * * * (/usr/bin/aptitude -y update && /usr/bin/aptitude -y safe-upgrade) 2>&1 >> /var/log/auto_update.log

That's it! "-y" answers yes to all questions so that takes care of the user confirmation and changing dist-upgrade to safe-upgrade will skip kernel updates, something you want to be around for.

Note that there are always some security risks involved in running software upgrades without supervision, but there are also benefits. If you wanted a server to do automatic updates, it is recommended you just download security fixes. This tutorial will teach you how.

Steve Langasek has announced the availability of the first alpha release of Ubuntu 10.04, code name Lucid Lynx.

"Welcome to Lucid Lynx Alpha 1, which will in time become Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. New features: updated packages, Linux kernel 2.6.32, KDE 4.4 beta 1, HAL removal. Known issues: the nv driver used by default for NVIDIA video chipsets on the live CD is reported to lead to X server crashes; the firmware for the bnx2 driver is not available on the alternate and server installer images at install time; manual partitioning in the graphical installer is reported to cause the installer to crash; clicking on the installer icon on the Kubuntu desktop CD fails to launch Ubiquity; the Kubuntu alpha 1 desktop ISOs are too large to fit on a CD."

See the release announcement and release notes for more details. Download from here.

Linux+ is going to release FREE online editon of their magazine. There will be 6 monthly issues with 60 pages each available for free download. They are looking for your support!

Email ewa.swierczewska@lpmagazine.org for more details if interested.

There is a really weird bug in OpenOffice.org that has been annoying me for some time now. No matter what language packs you have installed, and what options you have enabled, it just won't spellcheck. I've encountered this issue on OOo 2.4 on Ubuntu 8.04, and also on OOo 3.0 on Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10.

Today I finally installed this very annoying issue (I think it already cost me some points on a paper I submitted at college recently!).

To fix the problem, you need to go to File > Wizards > Install New Dictionaries and install the various dictionaries for your chosen language using the "DicOOo wizard". Once done, restart OpenOffice.org and navigate to the dialog box in the menu Tools > Options > Language Settings > Writing Aids. Select your new dictionaries and configure.

Problem solved. Enjoy real-time spellchecking again.

With Ubuntu 9.10 now out the door it is time to name and share the direction and focus for the next step in the Ubuntu evolution that follows Karmic.

Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of the Ubuntu project has announced the next version of Ubuntu:

Two years ago we announced the second LTS release, and what we hoped would become a standard practice of making LTS releases on a predictable two-year schedule, overlayed on our existing six-month schedule of desktop and server releases.

We are now giving a name to the next Ubuntu LTS: The Lucid Lynx.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS will ship in April 2010 and is the culmination of significant work in Ubuntu, in Debian and across the free software ecosystem. LTS releases are maintained for five years on the server and three years on the desktop, so they are designed for those who are making larger deployments or who otherwise prefer to have a common platform for an extended period.

Lucid will continue our tradition of focusing an LTS on a quality, stable and consistent experience and will require a number of adjustments to the usual plan. Those are documented at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/LucidLynxSchedule, the Lucid Lynx release schedule. In summary, we will be more conservative in the new code we bring into Ubuntu during the development cycle, and we will run a longer test period. Our focus will be stabilisation and bug-fixing across the platform with additional refinements in quality in key areas such as user interface improvements, boot experience, browsing and installing the incredible catalogue of software available for Ubuntu, and continuing our tradition of best-of-breed hardware support. We will maintain the health and security of our lynx with point releases.

The Lynx is a predator that depends on very considered tactical positioning for success. It�s a small cat, which fits nicely with the lean nature of Ubuntu on both the desktop and the server. It�s stylish and sleek, the bow-tie-adorned James Bond of the feline set, so you can bet we�ll make sure it�s dressed for the occasion. The lynx likes to keep things in perspective, sticking to high ground. So do we. And it�s the national animal of Macedonia, a country that has deployed tens of thousands of Ubuntu desktops in schools.

Speed is an essential ingredient in the attack of a lynx, and speed remains our goal. We have improved the boot time in each of the releases during this era of Ubuntu, and expect to complete some of the major improvements required for 10 second booting with Lucid. Fully harnessing Upstart, in collaboration with Debian, will get us even closer to the goal.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS will be a round dozen Ubuntu releases. 12 great cycles, from a great community that continues to devote itself to the goal of bringing the best stable free software to an audience of people who don�t think of themselves as computer specialists - and shouldn�t have to, either. It�s a wonderful privilege to be part of making it happen. That should put a tuft on your ears.