What you need

First, you will need a working Firefox browser. That is simple as nearly every distribution ships with Firefox. Next you will need to install the application apturl. To install this you can either find it from within Synaptic (NOTE: You will not find this within the Ubuntu Software Center) or you can install it from the command line. Let’s install from the command line:

1. Open up a terminal window.
2. Issue the command sudo apt-get install apturl.
3. Type your sudo password and hit Enter.
4. Accept any necessary dependencies.
5. Let the installation complete.

Now you are ready for a little Firefox configuration magic.

Configuring Firefox

Figure 1

If you’ve never worked with the about:config piece in Firefox, you are about to. The about:config page is a way to configure numerous hidden options in Firefox. This also allows you to create new configuration options. To get to this page open up Firefox and enter about:config in the address bar. You will be warned about the dangers of messing with this configuration and you will have to accept by clicking a button to continue on. Once within about:config you will see numerous strings that can be edited (see Figure 1).

Figure 2

What you have to do is create a new string. To do this right click anywhere on the page and select New > String. In the resulting window (see Figure 2) enter the following string:

network.protocol-handler.app.apt

Click OK and a new window will appear pre-filled with the string:

/usr/bin/apturl

OK that string to complete the new configuration. Now you have to add one more string. Right-click the about:config page, select New > String, and enter the following:

network.protocol-handler.app.apt+http

OK that and then OK the pre-filled in string for the value.

You are now ready to give it a try.

Installing

From Firefox, go to the site http://appnr.com and locate an application to install. You will notice, when you mouse over an application, an Install button will appear. Click on that application’s Install button and you will prompted for your sudo password. Once you authenticate to sudo the application will install without having to open an external application. Although the same things are going on in the background, it is just one step quicker than the standard GDebi install from within Firefox. And anything to make Linux easier is a plus.

But can this tool take the place of the original tools? Can the Ubuntu Software Center usurp both Add/Remove Software and Synaptic? Let’s examine the tool and draw our conclusions.

The ultimate goal for the Ubuntu Software Center is to become a single point of focus for software management in Ubuntu. Effectively, the Software Center is going to become the Ubuntu version of the iPhone App Store. Here are the current and planned features:

• Install open source/free software (Version 1).
• Install commercial/non-free software (Version 3).
• Rate and review software (Version 2).
• Replace Synaptic and Gdebi (Version 2).

So by Version 3 the Ubuntu Software Center will be a total one-stop shop for Linux software installation in Ubuntu. Exciting times indeed. But right now we’re at Version 1 and the big question is, does it stand up to previous tools. Let’s take a look.

The interface

Figure 1

When you fire up the Ubuntu Software Center (done by clicking on the entry in the Applications menu) the main window is laid out very clearly (see Figure 1) will be the Banshee (since it has been referenced a number of times on Ghacks.)

To locate Banshee either click on the Sound & Video category (from the main page) or enter “banshee” (no quotes) in the search field and hit Enter.

Figure 2

When the listing appears, select the entry, and click on the right-pointing arrow that appears (see Figure 2). When you click that arrow you will be presented with an information window that allows you to either install the software or visit the software’s web page.

Figure 3

In order to install the selected software, click on the Install button (see Figure 3) which will require you to enter your sudo password. Upon entering your password a new pane will open up showing the progress of the installation. Depending upon the size of the application, this progress could take a while. The speed of the download will also be directly effected by the newness of the 9.10 release and how busy the repositories are.

Once the software is installed you will be returned to the information window that will look a bit different. Where the “Install” button was is now a “Remove” button and, if available, a screenshot will appear.

Adding repositories

Where adding new software sources in Synaptic could be somewhat confusing to new users, adding these same sources in the Software Center has become incredibly easy. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Click on the Edit menu.
2. Click the Software Sources entry.
3. Enter your password if you haven’t already authenticated.
4. Click on the Other Software tab in the Sources window.
5. Click the Add button.
6. Enter the entire line (the same line you would add to the /etc/apt/sources.list file in the text area).
7. Click the Add Source button.

You’re done. You no longer have to enter multiple pieces of information for a repository to be added.

Final thoughts

At first I was skeptical about the new Software Center. But after using the tool, and seeing where the tool is heading, I like what I am seeing (and using). I think Ubuntu is going to have a major hit on their hands with the Software Center.