How to Install VLC on ubuntu

a) Just type sudo aptitude install vlc
- Disadvantage is you will not get the latest vlc (while the latest is 1.0.0, you may get 0.9.2-1)

b) Google for vlc, go to VLC download page for ubuntu and follow the instructions for your release.
- Couple of extra steps, but you get the latest.

How to install the latest firefox on (any) linux

The latest firefox is (as of this writing) is firefox-3.5.2. But most of the distro's are still with firefox 3.0.x or some with 3.1.x.

The following procedure may be used to update the firefox on your linux box (any distro) to the latest version.

Google for download firefox

Click on the download firefox links - this link will take you to 3.5.2.
The firefox-x.y.z.tar.bz2 (in this case firefox-3.5.2.tar.bz2) will be saved on the desktop

Open a terminal and type the following

cd /home/<usrname>/Desktop
tar jxvf firefox-3.5.2.tar.bz2

A directory will be created on the desktop.

Go to /usr/bin/

cd /usr/bin
rm firefox
ln -s /home/<usrname>/Desktop/firefox/firefox firefox

Restart firefox if open.

You can now delete the bz2 file on your desktop if you wish.

Happy browsing with your brand new firefox !!