Buying a monitor with a webcam frees you up from the additional driver installations and messy wire entanglements. It also gives you a supplementary sense of security. That’s because integrated webcams are rather challenging to hack into. Hence your privacy wouldn’t be at greater risk.

Be it an important conference call or an intense gaming session on twitch; these monitors will never disappoint. Let’s dive into our brief reviews!

1. ACER CB242Y 23.8″ Full HD

The one that made the most impact is the 23.8″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen IPS monitor. It comes with AMD free sync technology and Zero-frame design.

The screen has a refresh rate of 75 Hz, Response time: 1ms VRB, and aspect ratio of 16:9, delivering 16.7 million colors for you to enjoy. Be it for an immersive gaming experience with dramatic transitions or general office work; this monitor will suffice your needs.

You also get an adjustable Full HD webcam monitor with an included microphone for seamless conference calls. A tilt of -5 degrees to 20 degrees and a height adjustment range of 4.7″ makes it possible for you to adjust the monitor to your viewing height.

The Ergo Stand comes with an ergonomically designed 360-degree swivel to allow you to attain an ideal viewing angle and position while working. That’s not all! The webcam has Windows Hello Configuration as well. It utilizes facial recognition to help you get to work in seconds. This also ensures high-end security to sign in to your PC without having to type in a password.

The Acer does have its limitations, though. Menu buttons being on the backside makes it slightly challenging to guess the functions of each control. It also has two power buttons. Both need to be switched on to power up the monitor.

Buy Here: Amazon

2. LG 27MD5KL-B Ultrafine 5K

The LG 27-inch monitor is a beast that delivers 5k video, audio, and data simultaneously. This monitor comes with powerful ports that are fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3-machines, USB Type-C enabled Mac or iPad Pro.

If you are looking for something powerful and big, then this monitor is the one to get your hands on. It can also charge various gadgets while they are in use. Appliances up to 94 W can be charged fully through a single connection.

The LG Ultrafine delivers clear-cut visuals and is the best pick for communications and entertainment. What’s more, it also has built-in speakers and a microphone, making it easy to set up for online chatting and calls.

The pixel quality is super bright and next to no glare. The webcam delivers the same picturesque details. You can freely change color temperatures to suit the lighting in your workspace.

The only limitation of this webcam monitor is its high price. That Exquisite picture quality sure costs a premium.

Buy Here: Amazon

3. Dell P2418HZm 24″ Monitor for Video Conferencing

Another monitor suited well for video conferencing is the chic 24″ model by Dell.

This ultra-thin monitor is so easy to set up and get it running. The slim borders enable you to enjoy a less obstructed view when working across multiple monitors. As for display quality, it delivers Ultra HD picture quality at very affordable rates.

The Dell P series monitors also come with a Built-in 2Mp Full HD Infrared sensor camera, which allows you to attend meetings without worrying about external connections. Sign in securely into your device with the facial recognition by Windows Hello. Extended privacy is promised further through the camera shutter.

The screen allows you to view from anywhere, with a 178-degree wide viewing angle. To further enhance your communication and connectivity, a noise-canceling mic and two 5W integrated speakers are ever ready to take charge of audio.

The Dell Monitor is adjustable to suit your needs. The stand pivots, swivels, and compatibility with multiple stands make it quite user-friendly. However, the quality of the webcam is relatively low in comparison with the ones mentioned above.

Buy Here: Amazon

4. HP Elite Display 34-Inch Screen Monitor

If you are a fan of large screens, then the HP Elite 34 inches monitor with a webcam will be a sure delight.

This LED-lit monitor is an ultra-slim, 34″ diagonal QHD curved display. Carrying a barely-there, three-sided micro-edge, it delivers crystal clear sound and video for meetings.

Not only do you get a competent webcam, but you also get a microphone, conferencing hotkeys, and expert audio by Band & Olufsen.

The integrated pop-up webcam allows you to log in through Windows Hello without having to type complex, easily forgettable passwords. This is a 60 Hz monitor that connects to desktop, notebook, or mobiles and simultaneously charges them.

But, the large size takes up much space on your desktop. The camera also lacks an automatic up and down mechanism. You have to be manually the camera operation, which can be annoying.

Buy Here: Amazon

5. ASUS Store 27 Inch Monitor

A monitor that is budget-friendly and isn’t the size of the whole desk is the 27-inch ASUS? Yes, please!

This LED webcam monitor comes with 16.7 million display colors for a vibrant and vivid display. The high-end contrast and brightness paired with a wides 170-degree viewing angle is what makes this monitor worthwhile.

An integrated 2MP rotatable webcam allows you to change it to your optimum viewing angle. Moreover, to fulfill the communication curve, two 3W speakers are on both sides for an immersive experience.

That said, for the features that it delivers, the Asus monitor is expensive. Another disappointment is the absence of a microphone. This makes it less suited for the conference calls.

Buy Here: Amazon

Buying Guide

Although this article will mainly focus on monitors carrying built-in webcams, we have also mentioned other viable factors that shouldn’t be ignored.

The following factors must be investigated before buying a monitor with a webcam for your desk.

Budget

If you plan on grabbing all the essential features, then expanding your budget is a must. A few features must be let go for a tighter budget. So, look for the features that you absolutely cannot live without and then move onto the additional perks if your wallet allows. As it’s a long-term investment, be wise with your decision.

Durability

Quality and durability go hand in hand. Ensure your product of choice is durable, and it can bear the brunt of your day-to-day use.

Size

A webcam monitor with a tiny screen is of no use. Choose a decent size screen, at least 24 inches. It will give you the benefit of opening multiple screens at once. Some monitors come with the ability to power two computers simultaneously in split screens. But they can be expensive.

A decent-sized screen will also let you be at ease during essential conference calls—no need to squint your eyes to see the other participants. View them clearly to carry out a regular conversation.

Moreover, a monitor shouldn’t have significant bulk either. Thin monitors deliver a sleek and stylish look and take up less space on your desk. A wider display with thin bezels is also indicative of a worthwhile monitor.

Resolution

High resolution with clear, crisp images and vivid details is something you should aim for. Monitors with FHD, QHD,/WQHD have taken the market by storm. They make HD seem like history. If you plan to use this monitor for gaming, then make sure to look for response rate times.

Webcam

A monitor’s camera imagery should not only deliver clear images, but it should also befittingly placed. Look for a high-quality camera; otherwise, investing in such a monitor won’t be of any use.

Furthermore, it must be easy to use, setup, and most of all, not make you seem blurry. If you want added privacy, some monitors have a pop-up camera on the top center-head. Meaning, you can manually lift the camera when its use is required—no need to worry about someone continually watching you when you’re working and not conducting conference calls.

Audio

Do you want to invest in a pricey monitor with a webcam but no built-in microphones? Let me stop you right there! You should be getting the most out of what you pay! What is a camera without a speaker? Sure, you wish to de-clutter your desk from unwanted external devices. However, you most certainly do not want an additional investment into a speaker setup.

Closing Remarks

A monitor with a built-in webcam (or webcam monitor) is a great way to de-clutter your desk. In addition to it, you get many added features in a single investment. However, try to get integrated microphones and speakers, too. This will add to your communication ease when working from home. External webcams can sometimes be very expensive. Believe it or not, some external webcams cost the same as some of the monitors mentioned on the list. Therefore, a monitor with a webcam proves to be a breath of fresh air.

Creating a Custom Application Launcher with Quicklist

Application launchers that you see in the main menu of your desktop environment are configured using .desktop files. These .desktop files contains code adhering to standards specified by freedesktop specifications.

To create a custom application launcher with quicklist, it is important to understand the structure of a .desktop file first. This article will list only those options that are essential for creating a simple custom application launcher. However, .desktop files are really powerful and it is possible to create advanced launchers with hundreds of options that includes language specific strings, desktop environment restrictions, keyword tags and so on.

The example below shows a custom application launcher called “Text Editors” having two actions in a quicklist:

Where:

• Name is the name of your custom application launcher that will be shown in the main menu
• Comment is the searchable short description for the custom launcher
• Version is the user specified version for the custom app launcher
• Exec is the default command to run when you left click on the icon of the custom app launcher
• Terminal defines whether to run the command in a terminal or not
• Type specifies the type of application
• StartupNotify, if set to true, allows the system to track launcher events and actions (example: cursor changes to an hourglass figure when doing some background work)
• Icon refers to the name of the icon to be used for the custom application launcher (read note below)
• Actions specify the order items in a quicklist
• [Desktop Action XXXX] creates a new quick list entry that uses some of the options explained above

So to create a valid .desktop launcher with quicklist, you must have a broad [Desktop Entry] category first, followed by [Desktop Action XXXX] entries that define the behavior of individual actions in a quicklist. It is necessary that you use all the variables explained above, as they are the bare minimum ones required for a functional .desktop file.

Note that you have to correctly specify the icon name so that the system can automatically pick an icon for your custom launcher. It is possible to use your own icon file, but for the sake of consistency and reducing dependencies for the custom launcher, it is recommended to use icons already included in you distributions.

To see all valid icon names, run the command below in a terminal:

To save all valid icon names in a text file, run the command below in a terminal:

To activate a .desktop application launcher with quicklist, you need to save it at appropriate location. Run the commands below to create the required .desktop file:

Replace “subl” with the command of your favorite text editor. Paste the code from above or use your own code, make the file executable using the command below:

All quicklists can now be accessed by right clicking on the custom application launcher icon. Here is what the end result looks like with an application launcher created from the code above:

Creating a Screenshot Application Using Custom Launcher and Quicklists Only

As you can define left click and right click actions of any custom launcher, it is possible to create minimal apps without much code and GUI interface. Check out an example of a screenshot app made using quicklists only.

To begin with, you have to install some dependencies for the screenshot app to work:

Create a new .desktop file:

Paste the code below in screenshot-app.desktop file:

Save the file and make it executable:

Now whenever you click on “The Screenshot App”, it will capture a full screen screenshot and store it in ~/Pictures directory. More options are available when you right click on the app icon.

Conclusion

Creating custom launchers with quicklists is a great way to access commonly used apps and commands. As these app launchers work like any other desktop application, it is possible to pin them on taskbar or panel available in your desktop environment. If you keep dependencies minimal, these launchers are quite portable and can be shared between different systems.

Desktop Dimmer was once a popular Ubuntu application used to control screen brightness. However, at the time of posting this article, the Desktop Dimmer application is now outdated and no longer works in Ubuntu 20.04. The best possible alternative to the Desktop Dimmer application is Brightness Controller, a graphical user interface (GUI) based application that works like Desktop Dimmer to help users to adjust brightness levels.

This article shows you how to install the Brightness Controller application in Ubuntu 20.04. Follow the steps provided below to install Brightness Controller onto your Ubuntu 20.04 system.

Step 1: Add Brightness Controller PPA Repository

The Brightness Controller application is not included in the standard package repository of Ubuntu 20.04. Instead, Brightness Controller can easily be installed in Ubuntu 20.04 through the Personal Package Archive (PPA) repository.

Execute the following command to add the Brightness Controller PPA repository:

Step 2: Update Package Listing

Once the Brightness Controller PPA repository has been added successfully, update the apt cache using the following command:

Step 3: Install Brightness Controller

Execute the command below to install the Brightness Controller application in Ubuntu 20.04:

The Brightness Controller application requires 27.5 MB of additional disk space. Press y in the terminal to continue the installation process.

Launch Brightness Controller Application

After the successful installation, open the Brightness Controller application from the Application Menu. To do so, click the Application Menu, search for ‘Brightness Controller,’ and click the Brightness Controller application icon to open it.

After clicking on the Brightness Controller icon, the application dashboard screen will appear.

At the dashboard screen, you can set the brightness level to values between 1 and 100 % by adjusting the brightness level.

In the ‘Advanced’ section, the Color Temperature can be changed according to your preferences and eye comfort level.

The screen color and hue can also be adjusted by changing the RGB values.

The Help section is available to show the user more about how to use the Brightness Controller application. You can check the installed version of the application in the Help section by clicking the ‘About’ option.

As you can see, Brightness Controller version 2.3.4 is installed on my Ubuntu 20.04 system.

Conclusion

The Desktop Dimmer application is outdated and not available for Ubuntu 20.04. However, you can still install the Brightness Controller application in Ubuntu 20.04 to control the brightness level and display colors of your system. Brightness Controller performs essentially the same functionality as Desktop Dimmer and can be installed through the PPA repository. This article showed you how to install Brightness Controller as a substitute for the outdated Desktop Dimmer application in Ubuntu 20.04. We hope you found this article useful for your computing needs.

Transforming a Linux desktop into something catchy is always a pleasant experience. This guide is about installing the Numix Circle Icon theme on Ubuntu. Numix Circle changes folder icons, symbols, indicator icons, etc. Let’s check how to install Numix on Ubuntu:

Installing Numix Circle Icon Set on Ubuntu 20.04 (LTS) & 20.10:

Firstly, we need a tool that helps apply this theme to the desktop environment, and for that, we will use the Gnome Tweak Tool. To download and install it, type the below-mentioned command in the terminal:

It can be viewed in applications:

Now, to install the Numix Circle icon theme, we need to add a repository using the command:

Use the below-mentioned command to update the packages lists:

To complete the installation process, use the command shown below:

Applying Numix Circle Icon Set on Ubuntu 20.04 (LTS) & 20.10:

To apply the theme, open “Gnome Tweak Tool,” click on appearance, and then “Icons” drop-down menu:

The Numix Circle theme can be viewed, select; the theme will be applied immediately:

ScreenShots:

This is how application icons look after applying the theme:

And folders:

Conclusion:

Numix Circle icon theme gives a stunning look to your desktop. In this guide, we learned how to install the Numix icon theme on Ubuntu 20.04 and 20.10, and then we understand the process of applying this theme using the Gnome Tweak Tool.

Key Features

Currently it implements all standard web browser features. In addition to this, it provides a lot of interesting features like

• Very fast startup – It is ready to use at lightning speed
• Very fast browsing – with QWebKit core, hence rendering pages in a moment
• SSL Certificate Manager – never lets you visit pages with bad certificates without notification
• Search Engines Manager – with OpenSearch support and suggestions
• Browser Themes – with themes support, you can easily make your browser look unique!
• Speed Dial – access your favourite pages easily
• Windows 7 API – It is using Windows 7 TaskBar JumpLists and background blur
• Cross Platform – supports for all major platforms and allows to use it everywhere
• Extensions – AdBlock, GreaseMonkey, Mouse Gesture, Access Keys Navigation and more …

QupZilla 2.1.2 Changelog

• updated translations
• disable native scrollbars by default due to performance issues
• Few Fixes
  • middle click on links sometimes not opening new tab
  • scrolling to anchors when opening tab in background
  • possible crash in AdBlock when editing subscribptions
  • clicking on go icon in locationbar
  • possible crash with native scrollbars

How to install QupZilla 2.1.2 on Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Debian Flavors

Note that it appear github version number had not been updated yet

• First install qt 5.8 framework if you not already done that

wget https://download.qt.io/archive/online_installers/2.0/qt-unified-linux-x64-2.0.3-online.run
chmod +x qt-unified-linux-x64-2.0.3-online.run
sudo ./qt-unified-linux-x64-2.0.3-online.run
echo "export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/Qt/5.8/gcc_64/lib" >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

• Lets begin installation

sudo apt-get install git qt5-qmake libqt5positioning5 qtpositioning5-dev libqt5x11extras5 libqt5x11extras5-dev libx11-xcb-dev libx11-xcb1 libxcb-util-dev libxcb1 libxcb1-dev xcb-proto libssl-dev

git clone git://github.com/QupZilla/qupzilla.git

cd qupzilla

SLKCFLAGS="-O2 -fPIC"

qmake DEFINES+=NO_SYSTEM_DATAPATH QMAKE_CXXFLAGS="$SLKCFLAGS"

make

./bin/qupzilla

How to uninstall QupZilla from Ubuntu

sudo apt-get remove qupzilla

Vimix is one such theme that changes the look of your desktop into an aesthetically pleasing, flat design. Vimix themes come with different light and dark variants, so you may customize this theme according to your preferences.

There are two primary methods to get Vimix in Ubuntu and Mint distributions:

1. Installing Vimix Using GUI (Ubuntu 20.10/Mint)
2. Installing Vimix Using CLI (Ubuntu 20.10/Mint)

The same process can also be followed in Mint distributions.

Method 1: Installing Vimix using GUI (Ubuntu 20.10/Mint)

The first method for installing a Vimix theme is to simply download the theme from an online source, then place it in the .themes folder.

An additional tool, called the Gnome Tweak Tool, is required to set the Vimix theme as your desktop theme. You can get the Gnome Tweak Tool by running the following command:

Now, download the “Vimix” theme from any online source. There are multiple sources for this theme; the first source is found by visiting the following URL:

https://vinceliuice.github.io/theme-vimix.html

Once you reach the site, scroll to and click the Get Vimix Now button:

After clicking the button, another site will open in a new window. Click the Download menu button, and select and download the desired theme.

Extract the zipped folder, open it, and you will see that there are multiple theme variants available.

Copy any theme folder that you would like, then open the Home directory and press Ctrl+H to reveal the hidden folders.

Paste the copied theme variant in the .themes folder. If you cannot find the folder, right-click, and create a new folder by the name of “.themes.”

It is now time to open the Gnome Tweak Tool. In the Appearance tab, change the theme under the Applications selection, as shown in the image below:

Method 2: Installing Vimix Using CLI (Ubuntu 20.10/Mint):

The second approach downloads the Vimix theme onto your system using the terminal.

Issue the following command in the terminal:

The tar.gz file can be seen in the Home directory. Issue the following command to extract the tar file:

Now, change the directory to the extracted folder using the following command:

To install the Vimix theme, issue the following command, which will run the installer script:

You will receive a prompt asking whether you want to install the Vimix themes or remove them. Type “I” for ”Install’ and “R” for “Remove.”

Another text prompt will appear, showing you the directory for the theme installation. Press “Y” and then “Enter” to continue the process.

Shortly thereafter, you will be notified with an “Installation Complete” message. It can be set in the terminal if you press “Y,” or you can set it using the Gnome Tweak Tool. See the image below for more details:

When you press “Y,” all variants will be browsed to choose from. Select whichever theme you would like, and press the “Enter” key.

I picked the “g” theme, and the entire interface of the terminal window has changed. Now, the “Vimix” theme has been set, as shown in the image below:

The theme can also be set using the Gnome Tweak Tool. Open the tool and select the desired theme to customize your desktop:

Uninstalling Vimix Themes

To remove or uninstall the Vimix theme(s) from your Linux device, use the following command:

We love to give users multiple ways of accessing all of our features, rather than trying to force a workflow on you. So in addition to the camera icon for our mouse/touchpad favouring users, we have also added the possibility to map keyboard shortcuts or use quick commands for those of you who prefer to use the keyboard. You can map now these via “Settings → Keyboard → Capture Area to disk/Capure Area to Clipboard/Capture Page to disk/Capure Page to Clipboard” or call up Quick Commands (F2/⌘E) and type “Capture”.

Vivaldi Browser Snapshot 1.7.725.3 Changelog

• [Regression][Mac][Address field] Progress bar causes Tab bar flicker on HiDPI screens: for Olli with love (VB-23933)
• [Regression] When I click the bookmark ribbon icon the address bar I can’t save a bookmark to the root “Bookmarks” (VB-24819)
• [Address field] Top level domain removal with Ctrl clicking the URL (VB-23937)
• [Address field] Don’t expand qualified URLs with top level domain using Ctrl+Enter (VB-24692)
• [Address field] Google Maps URL not recognized and search opened (VB-24678)
• [Notes] Add support for displaying tree structure while searching (VB-24823)
• [Screenshots] Missing quick actions and menu for capture: also allows shortcuts to be mapped (VB-24829)
• [Screenshots] Capture of area didn’t capture in full HiDPI resolution, but a scaled version (VB-24827)
• [Search Field] Search “Always open in new tab” does not work when choosing a different search (VB-24813)
• [Sessions] Excessive usage of resources when opening session through File -> Open Saved Session: now uses lazy load settings (VB-18923)
• [Sessions] Allow to save only tabs from current window when saving Session (VB-14104)
• [Spatial navigation] Doesn’t work correctly with overflow:scroll (VB-6087)
• Notification closes Vivaldi if in other full screen program (VB-24712)
• Let Ctrl+PageUp/Down select prev/next visible tab by default (VB-24877)
• Update Chromium to 56.0.2924.59

How to Install Vivaldi Browser Snapshot 1.7.725.3 on Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04

32bit OS

sudo apt-get install gdebi

wget https://downloads.vivaldi.com/snapshot/vivaldi-snapshot_1.7.725.3-1_i386.deb

sudo gdebi vivaldi-snapshot_1.7.725.3-1_i386.deb

64bit OS

sudo apt-get install gdebi

wget https://downloads.vivaldi.com/snapshot/vivaldi-snapshot_1.7.725.3-1_amd64.deb

sudo gdebi vivaldi-snapshot_1.7.725.3-1_amd64.deb

How to Install Vivaldi Browser Snapshot 1.7.725.3 on Fedora, CentOS, RHEL

32bit OS

rpm -Uvh https://downloads.vivaldi.com/snapshot/vivaldi-snapshot-1.7.725.3-1.i386.rpm

64bit OS

rpm -Uvh https://downloads.vivaldi.com/snapshot/vivaldi-snapshot-1.7.725.3-1.x86_64.rpm

Ubuntu 20.04 has a very attractive and stylish status bar. However, if it is not appealing to you and you want a status bar with more customization options, then try polybar. The polybar is a fast and efficient tool for creating magnificent status bars on Linux distors.

The polybar enables users to create beautiful status bars for their desktop environments. Moreover, it includes systray icons, playback controls, battery display, etc. This guide explains how to install the polybar and create beautiful customizable status bars with polybar on Ubuntu 20.04.

Install polybar on Ubuntu 20.04

The polybar can be easily installed on Ubuntu 20.04 through the git command. But before installing polybar on Ubuntu 20.04, we need to install the required dependencies. Follow the below-given steps to install polybar on Ubuntu 20.04:

Step 1: Update apt repository cache

Before installing any new package or applications, it is always recommended to update your system’s apt repository cache using the following command:

Step 2: Install required dependencies

After successfully updating the apt repository cache, now you are ready to install the required dependencies using following command:

During the installation of the required dependencies, the command line will display a prompt. You are supposed to press “y” to continue the installation process. However, if you want to cancel the installation process, press ‘n’ and hit enter.

On Ubuntu 20.04, after installing all these required dependencies, we also need to install some additional dependencies to prevent errors during installation. Run the following command to install the required dependencies:

Step 3: Clone polybar repository

The next step is to clone the polybar repository using the git command. The git command is pre-installed on Ubuntu 20.04. Run the following command to clone the polybar repository:

Step4: Build polybar repository

After successfully cloning the polybar repository, navigate to the polybar directory and build it using the following command:

During the build process, you will be asked to download the example configuration. You need to hit ‘Y’, which stands for yes, and it’d take it as a positive signal to install the example configuration.

Step 5: Launch polybar

Now, we are ready to launch the polybar status bar. Run the below-given command to do so:

Conclusion

Polybar is a beautiful and attractive status bar. It allows you to customize the icon, status bar, etc. It can be easily installed on Ubuntu 20.04 using the above given simple procedure.

Enlightenment DR 0.21.5 changelog:

Download

• DR 0.21.5 GZIP
• DR 0.21.5 XZ

Install Enlightenment DR 0.21.5 on Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:niko2040/e19

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install enlightenment