How To Install Ubuntu TV From A PPA

Ubuntu TV can already be compiled - instructions available on the Ubuntu wiki, and using those instructions, you can run it without installing it, which is actually the best way to do it (since it doesn't replace Unity 2D), but if you don't like to compile stuff, you can use a test PPA I've created for Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot.

Using the PPA, Ubuntu TV will replace Unity 2D so Unity 2D will stop working (I've added instructions on reverting the changes though) so only use this for testing purposes! Things may break! Many features are currently missing from Ubuntu TV anyway, so it's not exactly usable yet.

I've tested Ubuntu TV on my computer and in VirtualBox: on my computer, Ubuntu TV works just fine, but in VirtualBox it segfaults so it may or may not work for you.

Install Ubuntu TV in Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

1. Remove the Video Lens that comes with the YouTube scope or else there will be conflicts:

sudo apt-get remove lens-video

2. Install Ubuntu TV using our test PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/test3
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install unity-lens-video

3. To generate previews for your videos (which should be placed under ~/Videos/unity/local/featured ), use:

/usr/lib/unity-lens-video/create_tmb.sh ~/Videos/

4. Logging in to Unity 2D won't work and you must run Ubuntu TV from the session you're currently logged in so open a terminal and copy/paste the following commands:

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity2d form-factor tv

- if you were running Unity 2D already:

killall unity-2d-{panel,places,launcher,spread} && killall unity-2d-{panel,places,launcher,spread}

- if you were running Unity 3D / GNOME Shell:

metacity --replace &

And finally, run Ubuntu TV:

unity-2d-shell -opengl

To close Ubuntu TV and go back to Unity 3D, press ALT + TAB, select the terminal which you've used to run it, press CTRL + C and then type:

unity --replace

or:

gnome-shell --replace

(depending on which Shell you were using)

Reverting the changes

To get an usable Unity 2D again and remove Ubuntu TV, use the commands below:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge
sudo ppa-purge ppa:nilarimogard/test3
sudo apt-get remove unity-lens-video

Now log out and you should be able to login to Unity 2D (Ubuntu 2D) again.