Return Update Notifier for Jaunty
Written by Baggers the 18 Apr 09 at 10:59.
Won't implement
While I have read some mumbles about why this isn't in the notification bar anymore, I can't agree that this was the best course to take.
My three main reasons for this are:
a) Without this notifier many users (especially beginners) will forget to update, I've been using Ubuntu for a couple of years and I find I am updating far less often than I should. Updates are our main security feature, retarding a persons ability to discover new updates is a risk to that security.
b) Getting to updates has moved from a one click process to a 2 click one. While this seems like nothing, any change that makes a useful function more difficult is a regression in my eyes.
c) 3 months down the line more bugs will have been fixed. If a new user comes to Ubuntu they are not going to instinctively know to update immediately after install. This means they may run into bugs fixed month before which will leave a bad impression on the user.
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Solution #3:
update-notifier as notify-osd bubble with action button&repeat reminder at x min
Written by
macvr the 20 Apr 09 at 16:45.
***as the devs are making a conscious effort to not have the notifications icon***
rather than a pop-under window,display the updates as larger notification bubbles[notify-osd bubbles]
and as devs already have the idea of action buttons in the fallback alerts[
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NotifyOSD#Fallback%20alert%20boxes ], it would be nice if there was only just have a single button for the user to choose "update now" from the fallback alerts which look like the notify-osd alerts,
and making the notify-osd stay longer for these update/restart notifications...
if the user doesnt wasnt to update the bubble disappears or could hover over the bubble to make it invisible as the notify-osd works now
and have an option for the repeat reminder ,at x mins , which users can choose from in the updates notification settings tab...
so they end up being less intrusive (as the devs hope to achieve) than the pop-under windows...
***as the devs are making a conscious effort to not have the notifications icon***
rather than a pop-under window,display the updates as larger notification bubbles[notify-osd bubbles]
and as devs already have the idea of action buttons in the fallback alerts[ https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NotifyOSD#Fallback%20alert%20boxes ], it would be nice if there was only just have a single button for the user to choose "update now" from the fallback alerts which look like the notify-osd alerts,
and making the notify-osd stay longer for these update/restart notifications...
if the user doesnt wasnt to update the bubble disappears or could hover over the bubble to make it invisible as the notify-osd works now
and have an option for the repeat reminder ,at x mins , which users can choose from in the updates notification settings tab...
so they end up being less intrusive (as the devs hope to achieve) than the pop-under windows...
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Solution #4:
Update by default, with easy opt-out
Whenever an application wants to inform the user of something, or get feedback on something, it should use bubbles... that much makes sense. But when it NEEDS something, when something is so urgent that you would go through all this trouble to make absolutely sure a user acts on its notification, then why is it not done automatically?
Of course, I know there is a major problem with this; specifically a large chunk of the user community (myself included!) don't want our system updating automatically, and hate things that change under our feet with a burning passion. But we are all "advanced users". The entire update process (waiting for a time when computer activity is low, clicking a button, watching it contact repositories, reviewing selected updates, watching the downloads and installations) are useless to those people who don't know what any of these things mean. They just want to do work, and have a secure system.
So how about this: under installation settings, there is an advanced button. Under there, add a new checkbox for "Automatically update this computer" that allows power users to easily control and monitor their setup, but keep it checked by default, so that normal users never have to worry about this.
Whenever an application wants to inform the user of something, or get feedback on something, it should use bubbles... that much makes sense. But when it NEEDS something, when something is so urgent that you would go through all this trouble to make absolutely sure a user acts on its notification, then why is it not done automatically?
Of course, I know there is a major problem with this; specifically a large chunk of the user community (myself included!) don't want our system updating automatically, and hate things that change under our feet with a burning passion. But we are all "advanced users". The entire update process (waiting for a time when computer activity is low, clicking a button, watching it contact repositories, reviewing selected updates, watching the downloads and installations) are useless to those people who don't know what any of these things mean. They just want to do work, and have a secure system.
So how about this: under installation settings, there is an advanced button. Under there, add a new checkbox for "Automatically update this computer" that allows power users to easily control and monitor their setup, but keep it checked by default, so that normal users never have to worry about this.
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Solution #5:
If the popunder is ignored, show a notification icon
Whether or not a notification icon should be displayed the moment updates are available is still under debate.
I think though that after the popunder window has been shown, a persistent notification icon should definitely be added if the window was ignored or closed after X amount of time.
Whether or not a notification icon should be displayed the moment updates are available is still under debate.
I think though that after the popunder window has been shown, a persistent notification icon should definitely be added if the window was ignored or closed after X amount of time.
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Solution #6:
Notify using the new system: bubble + envelope
When there are updates, notify the user with the new-style bubble ("You have N updates available, ..."). This should happen as often as set in Software Sources (every 1/2/7/14 days).
To allow the user to install updates, and to let the user be aware of updates in cases where they missed the bubble, use the envelope icon. It will show green light for some time, and clicking it will reveal a menu containing "Update manager" item. (Just like Pidgin's "user is online" notifications work, but timeout can be set somewhat longer.)
When there are updates, notify the user with the new-style bubble ("You have N updates available, ..."). This should happen as often as set in Software Sources (every 1/2/7/14 days).
To allow the user to install updates, and to let the user be aware of updates in cases where they missed the bubble, use the envelope icon. It will show green light for some time, and clicking it will reveal a menu containing "Update manager" item. (Just like Pidgin's "user is online" notifications work, but timeout can be set somewhat longer.)
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Solution #7:
new notification server should support interactions
so we can click on it when we have new updates
so we can click on it when we have new updates
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Solution #8:
Provide an update notifier as a panel object
Those who want to be notified about updates straight away could activate the applet through "Add to Panel", those who don't want it could remove it easily and as it wouldn't sit in the notification area, it wouldn't clash with the new notification system.
It could use the same icons as the old notifier and when there are no updates, the applet could either appear blank (a bit like the Disk Mounter Applet) or display an icon which indicates that the system is up to date.
Those who want to be notified about updates straight away could activate the applet through "Add to Panel", those who don't want it could remove it easily and as it wouldn't sit in the notification area, it wouldn't clash with the new notification system.
It could use the same icons as the old notifier and when there are no updates, the applet could either appear blank (a bit like the Disk Mounter Applet) or display an icon which indicates that the system is up to date.
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Solution #9:
Add an option in "Software Sources"->"Updates" Tab
in the "Updates" tab of "Software Sources" there should be an option that says: "Show notification icon if updates available" (opt-in) and another option that says: "Automatically open update-manager if updates available" (opt-out).
Optional:
The update-manager it self should also contain a checkbox that reads: "Automatically open this window if updates are available." And an "Advanced"-Button that opens the "Updates" tab in "Software Sources" to configure behaviour.
in the "Updates" tab of "Software Sources" there should be an option that says: "Show notification icon if updates available" (opt-in) and another option that says: "Automatically open update-manager if updates available" (opt-out).
Optional:
The update-manager it self should also contain a checkbox that reads: "Automatically open this window if updates are available." And an "Advanced"-Button that opens the "Updates" tab in "Software Sources" to configure behaviour.
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Solution #10:
Display a notify-osd bubble every hour
Written by
jonasfa the 9 May 09 at 03:56.
Display a notify-osd bubble every 1 hour to remind the user about the updates
Display a notify-osd bubble every 1 hour to remind the user about the updates
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Solution #12:
Keep current auto launch behavior, show icon if security updates are pending
Written by
vexorian the 12 May 09 at 15:52.
The current behaviour is better at forcing users to update (launching minimized update manager) however, if SECURITY updates are skipped, the old icon should go to the tray notification are as it did before.
The current behaviour is better at forcing users to update (launching minimized update manager) however, if SECURITY updates are skipped, the old icon should go to the tray notification are as it did before.
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Solution #13:
Propose Update on logout
Written by
derLars the 16 May 09 at 18:39.
PROPOSAL:
Logging out of the system (which also includes shutdown and reboots) should propose to update the system, if the user is entitled to do so. This could be easily implemented in the current "you'll be logged off in NN seconds"-message by adding a warning icon, the message
"There are pending updates - should they be installed before [logging off|shutting down|rebooting]? The computer will be [shut down|rebooted] afterwards."
and adding a third button "update before [logout|shutdown|reboot]".
PRO:
Although I highly dislike too nervy messages, the casual user does not care much about updates and risks having his computer hacked. Through this solution, the user impact would be minimal and needed reboots of the system wouldn't stress the user, since he did not want use the system anymore for now anyway.
PROBLEMS:
Of course, this proposal doesn't work for users that never log off, so another solution would have to be found for that case.
PROPOSAL:
Logging out of the system (which also includes shutdown and reboots) should propose to update the system, if the user is entitled to do so. This could be easily implemented in the current "you'll be logged off in NN seconds"-message by adding a warning icon, the message
"There are pending updates - should they be installed before [logging off|shutting down|rebooting]? The computer will be [shut down|rebooted] afterwards."
and adding a third button "update before [logout|shutdown|reboot]".
PRO:
Although I highly dislike too nervy messages, the casual user does not care much about updates and risks having his computer hacked. Through this solution, the user impact would be minimal and needed reboots of the system wouldn't stress the user, since he did not want use the system anymore for now anyway.
PROBLEMS:
Of course, this proposal doesn't work for users that never log off, so another solution would have to be found for that case.
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Solution #14:
Highlight the "System" menu, with ocasional blinking.
The idea is that for important and persistent notifications, the "System" menu should be highlighted, and show some ocasional blinking. The user would notice that and click on it. A new menu item would be present there, in which a more clear notification is provided. For other interfaces, the "root" menu could be highlighted and blink. For example, the K of the main KDE menu could blink and change color if updates (or other important notifications) are available. When the user clicks on it, a new menu item would be present, in first plane and highlighted, providing the important user information and waiting for feedback. This behaviour seems to be more informative than the notification icon and less intrusive than the popup.
This is mockup for the default gnome interface:
The idea is that for important and persistent notifications, the "System" menu should be highlighted, and show some ocasional blinking. The user would notice that and click on it. A new menu item would be present there, in which a more clear notification is provided. For other interfaces, the "root" menu could be highlighted and blink. For example, the K of the main KDE menu could blink and change color if updates (or other important notifications) are available. When the user clicks on it, a new menu item would be present, in first plane and highlighted, providing the important user information and waiting for feedback. This behaviour seems to be more informative than the notification icon and less intrusive than the popup.
This is mockup for the default gnome interface:
<img src="http://launchpadlibrarian.net/27499653/notification_idea.png" width=50%>