Play Flash and QuickTime files in Ubuntu

I'm starting to wonder if anything about Linux is going to be easy. But I remain undaunted in my efforts to use Ubuntu 7.10, or Gutsy Gibbon, to accomplish the same computing tasks for which I use Windows. Now that I've got Flash and QuickTime working in Ubuntu, I feel like I'm nearly there.

I say "nearly" because I'm still running into some glitches, this week relating to getting the full suite of updates available for Gutsy installed. The update failure is a minor inconvenience compared to the crashes I experienced last week whenever I tried to run a Flash or QuickTime video.

After poking around the Linux forums, I found out that Ubuntu installs a la carte: only the truly free supporting software is included in the default installation, which excludes proprietary media players such as Adobe's Flash and Apple's QuickTime. To get these restricted formats to play, you have to install a set of files called ubuntu-restricted-extras.

Once I got them loaded, I checked the Synaptic Package Manager and found their listing. I still had to find, download, and install the Flash Player for Linux. I'm not going to complain about the multiple steps required, though. Compared to Windows' kitchen sink approach to software installation and updating, I'm coming to appreciate Ubuntu's download-as-needed philosophy.

To get Flash, QuickTime, and other proprietary media players to work in Ubuntu, you have to install a set of files manually.

After I reopened Firefox, the Flash and QuickTime files that previously sent Ubuntu into a tailspin ran without a hitch. Even though the process took me about three hours of searching, downloading, installing, downloading some more, and installing some more, I'm becoming familiar with the operating system.

Using Ubuntu's Terminal applet for system maintenance is similar to the old DOS days of living on the command line. You won't save much time initially when you switch from Windows to Ubuntu, but once you get used to the Linux style of computing, I bet you'll spend more time working and less time futzing with your "tools".

That's not to say everything's peachy for me on Linux Street: right now, the update notification icon keeps telling me that there's an update available, but when I run the Update Manager, the file xserver-xorg-core won't download. It's a minor annoyance, I know, but when I close the error dialog box, the updater keeps prompting me to download the update. I have no idea how important the file is--or whether I really need it. All I know is that I can't get it.

Ubuntu's Update Manager can't download a file the Notification alert recommends that you install.

Apart from this minor annoyance, I'm pretty happy about the progress I've made as a Linux neophyte. I'm a long way from wiping Windows off the drives of my other PCs, but it's a heck of a start.

Tomorrow: Five super Office add-ons.

[kingargyle1]

If you run into additional media that you can't play, follow the instructions here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Most of the time you can find the answer on the Ubuntu help site.

[punlman]

Dennis,

I've been following your Ubuntu experiences, and I can relate totally...

Here's the BEST step-by-step How To I've seen so far. It's called "Complete Streaming, Multimedia & Video How-to" (see http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=661833 ) It does involve copy & paste of commands into the Terminal window, but if you can get over that fear... It works, and it's complete.

The Medibuntu directions are very good too, but apparently, the above How To is more complete... especially when it comes to streaming multimedia, and some other proprietary formats. ( see http://medibuntu.org )

Also, there is the QuickStart utility --- which follows the Medibuntu method --- but it is AUTOMATED and super simple to use. (see http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=613462 )

And finally, this is Ubuntu's "Restricted Formats" page --- probably the same one where you learned about ubuntu-restricted-extras (see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats ).

NOTE: If anyone is running the 64-bit version of Ubuntu, the directions may vary slightly. Pay close attention to look for that.

ANOTHER NOTE: It took me a while to figure out that... Even though I have an AMD 64-bit computer, I DO NOT NEED TO RUN the 64-bit version of Ubuntu. I can simply install and run the 32-bit version of Ubuntu, and it works just like everyone else's.

The advantage to running the 32-bit version of Ubuntu (even if you are on a 64-bit machine) is that so many more people use it, the fixes are faster in coming. And little compatibility bugs rearing their ugly heads are far far fewer. The speed difference is totally negligible.

Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com/blog
[e-mail]

[digitizemd]

Unless you're playing a flash video independent of the web (i.e. not at a website), Ubuntu 7.10 added a firefox plugin addon that once a dependency like Flash is detected, firefox will show a menu with the option to install adobe flash player with a click. As for quicktime, I'm wouldn't be surprised that if while one tried to play the video -- without the codec installed -- ubuntu will prompt the user if they want to search for it in the repos -- as it does for mp3, xvid, divx, etc. -- and automatically start add/remove programs with the search string entered. Or, if you're trying to play a quicktime video with firefox, a similar prompt would appear like it does for flash.

[argraff]

The X stuff is pretty important (not getting an update isn't deadly, but...) so I would go to the forums for answers on that - It sounds like it's not on your end though. My update for that just came through fine. *scratching head*

[Motyoj]

I love Ubuntu. For me it was liberation from Windows, which required re-installing too much for my taste. There was more fooling around trying to keep Windows running smoothly, so I tossed it went to Linux for about a year. I bought a new iMac, which I really like but am thinking about installing Hardy Heron in April on my Mac. One simply has more control over what you and the computer are doing using Linux. It's here to stay in my opinion. The price is right as well!