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new mail notification on Linux

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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When TB receives new mail there is a standard notification pop-up for a short time. However this is not persistent (and not intended to be) so doesn't help if you are looking elsewhere at the time.

In previous versions of TB the minimised window icon changed when you had new mail. This was removed and replaced by plugins (eg. I was using FireTray for a while but it is no longer supported). I cannot find any current plugin to do this. I think at least TB should set the window urgent hint so the window manager can indicate there is something new in the standard way. This is really core functionality and unless Mozilla are going to maintain a plugin themselves, I think it should be part of the main program?

When TB receives new mail there is a standard notification pop-up for a short time. However this is not persistent (and not intended to be) so doesn't help if you are looking elsewhere at the time. In previous versions of TB the minimised window icon changed when you had new mail. This was removed and replaced by plugins (eg. I was using FireTray for a while but it is no longer supported). I cannot find any current plugin to do this. I think at least TB should set the window urgent hint so the window manager can indicate there is something new in the standard way. This is really core functionality and unless Mozilla are going to maintain a plugin themselves, I think it should be part of the main program?

All Replies (8)

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There is a version of FireTray for TB 60:

https://github.com/Ximi1970/FireTray/releases

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Thanks, but that is hard to find and not in the official add-ons site at thunderbird.net.

I really think this should be part of the core functionality and not up to third party developers to follow Thunderbird releases. Setting the urgent hint is probably just a single line of code.

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You can try the New Mail Attention add-on, following the comment posted here. It works in W10, but may look different in Linux. The Windows Taskbar Unread Badge add-on is quite useful, but I know of no equivalent for non-Windows OS.

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Hello there Muttly..

I have read your email.


RBtray. http://www.moitah.net/download/latest/RBTray.zip

Changes:

4.3 (2011-Oct-30): Hide windows instead of minimizing and hiding. Hide windows even if they're already in the tray. Fix "Close Window" for Explorer windows. 4.2 (2011-Jun-24): Improve ability to minimize certain programs. 4.1 (2010-May-08): Unified mouse hook procedure improves reliability and fixes small minimize target with XP theming. Fixed tooltip overflow for long window captions. 4.0 (2010-May-06): Alternative mouse hook procedure for Windows Vista/7 Aero compatibility. Fixed 64-bit compatibility and created 64-bit compiles. Removed window menu additions (e.g. Minimize in tray, Always on top), hotkey, and keyboard indicator. Dropped Windows 9x support. Tray icon tooltip can display Unicode characters. Removes tray icon automatically if a program shows itself or exits. Fixed problem when minimizing Office 2007 windows. Won't minimize MDI child windows. Other small fixes and reorganized code.



-note-

Hello there this is the most similar thing that is being asked for at the moment. we do not know for sure if everything is included that you are looking for. Firetray has indeed disappeared from the assortment for some time around 2016. There are still rumors that it will be reintroduced in 2019. But there is no real evidence.

It s also for Windows.

regards Firefox Volunteer.

Modified by День сумо

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День сумо said

RBtray. http://www.moitah.net/download/latest/RBTray.zip

The user is looking for a method that works in Linux, not Windows.

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Thanks, New Mail Attention also looks useful. However looking at the reviews, it seems to suffer the same issue as other add-ons ie. unless the developer actively maintains it, it soon becomes difficult or impossible to use.

You wouldn't expect to need an add-on to read your mail, so why one to know when you have new mail? I am really questioning the policy of moving key functionality out of TB and relying on others to do the work. Perhaps this isn't the correct forum for that.

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The standard notification area icon can be made to be persistent in Windows, but I can't speak for Linux.

Maybe a tool like Birdtray is worth a try.

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Bugzilla report - if you want to follow or add your vote (located in the 'Details' section). https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1482674

Info for anyone using: Ubuntu Comment 2: The Ubuntu version of Thunderbird comes with an extension called, "Messaging Menu and Unity Launcher integration", which provides a visual indicator of new mail. Not using Linux so cannot confirm if this is still the case.