There is an extensive PPA here - which is very similar to the lucid bleeding edge ppa (and with the same author) - will uplift maverick to the latest versions of various applications including v1.1.10 of VLC.
However, I would use this PPA with care since it will uplift approx. 69 packages.
I would add the PPA, followed by
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install vlc
This should upgrade vlc to the latest version.
Then I would untick the PPA from software sources and re-run
sudo apt-get update
This will stop any further packages from the PPA being installed.
Note - I cannot vouch for the stability/safety or otherwise of any packages from this PPA. As for the majority of PPA's - use at your own risk.
You don't have to download anything, VLC works well with album art 'out of the box'.
Since it is unclear to me whether you are asking how to
(1) manually add, or
(2) automatically download, album art, I will answer both:
- Manually Adding Album Art, or Downloading One Album Art
Tools > Media Information (CTRL+I) > "General" Tab >
Right-click on the proxy (default) orange cone picture (1" x 1", on the bottom right)
> Select "Add cover art from file" or "Download cover art".
> Change any value (e.g.: the Artist), only then the 'Save Metadata' button will appear, after it does - press it.
Performed on v2.1.4.
- Automatically Downloading All Album Art
Just go to "Tools"->"Preferences" menu. Under the "Interface" tab there is a "Privacy/Network Interaction" section. Under "Album art download policy" choose "As soon as track is added". See screenshot below.
This will download the album art for any song you play.
See screenshot below:
Best Answer
The one titled "vlc" is a snap package. You can verify that checking its source, it should say something like "Snap Store".
You can use any of them.