Get Evolution To Minimize To The Messaging Menu Instead Of Closing [Patched Evolution Indicator]

I've seen numerous requests for making Evolution minimize to the Messaging Menu when closing the main window but for whatever reason, this wasn't implemented in Ubuntu.

But I've recently discovered a PPA for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat (I've only tested it in Ubuntu 10.10 and Evolution 2.30.3!) that provides a patched Evolution Indicator which allows you to close the main Evolution window yet still get new email notifications - basically the Evolution window is minimized to the Messaging Menu (Evolution Indicator) instead of closing.

Install the patched Evolution Indicator in Ubuntu 10.10 using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:goehle/goehle-ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install evolution-indicator

There is one bug though: when you click "Compose New Message" or "Contacts" in the Messaging Menu, both the main Evolution Window and the contacts / new mail windows open. But that's nothing major so if you're among those who were waiting for this feature ever since Ubuntu got the Messaging Menu / Indicators, I'm sure this won't stay in your way of using this patched Evolution Indicator.

Bote: Unfortunately there is no patched Evolution Indicator for Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal yet.

Thunderbird Indicator Adds Folders Support

Thunderbird Indicator is an add-on for Mozilla Thunderbird which notifies you of new mail messages via Ubuntu's standard notification system and the Messaging menu. Once a new mail is received, the Messaging menu's icon turns green and a notification pops up. The Indicator Applet also provides quick access to your contacts and allows you to compose a new message.

A while ago we were telling you about a PPA that provides a package called "xul-ext-indicator" that integrates Thunderbird in the Ubuntu Messaging Menu. This is actually a Thunderbird extension packaged in a .deb so you can easily get updates.

Until now, "xul-ext-indicator" (Thunderbird Indicator extension) displayed a notification (using the Messaging Menu and NotifyOSD) for emails that arrived in your inbox so if you used filters for your emails, the extension failed to work. But a recent update fixes this so Thunderbird Indicator can now display notifications for emails received in any folder. If you want the old behavior (to only display notifications for emails arriving in your inbox), there is an option in the Thunderbird Indicator preferences:

To install Thunderbird Indicator in Ubuntu (the "fixed" version is only available for Ubuntu 11.04 for now), use the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ruben-verweij/thunderbird-indicator
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xul-ext-indicator libnotify-bin

The latest version is only avilable for Ubuntu 11.04. In Ubuntu 10.10, you can try to install the 11.04 package or download this .deb I've created for Ubuntu 10.10 last week (this is the one I'm using - ignore the version number, it's actually 1.4).

Thanks to Radu for the screenshot!

Integrate Thunderbird In The Ubuntu Messaging Menu [PPA]

So you're looking for a really easy way to integrate Thunderbird in the Ubuntu Messaging Menu? You can try a package I've recently came across (called "xul-ext-indicator") that is available in a PPA, which adds Thunderbird to the Messaging Menu and provides quick access to your contacts, compose a new mail and unread emails. Using this package, you'll also get NotifyOSD notifications when new mail arrives.

To add the PPA and install xul-ext-indicator in Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat, use the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ruben-verweij/thunderbird-indicator
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xul-ext-indicator

For NotifyOSD notifications, also install the following package:

sudo apt-get install libnotify-bin

Note: I've tested it with Thunderbird 3.1.x and it worked great on all 3 computers I've used (as opposed to some other solutions for adding Thunderbird to the Messaging Menu I've tried out).

CloudSN (Cloud Services Notifications) Update Finally Brings Twitter OAuth Support

CloudSN (Cloud Services Notifications) is an application you can use to display notifications when you have new emails (POP3 and IMAP), new Identi.ca messages, Google Reader unread items or it can watch any RSS feed for changes (which means you can use it for Facebook too). For a complete review, see our previous post on CloudSN.

Back when Twitter introduced OAuth for all applications, CloudSN stopped working with Twitter but an update finally brings Twitter OAuth support for CloudSN.

The new version is available in the CloudSN PPA for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat (only!) - add the PPA and install CloudSN using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chuchiperriman/cloudsn
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cloudsn

Once installed, run it from Applications > Internet > Cloud Services Notifications.

Unified Me Menu And Messaging Menu Mockups; Ubuntu May Get A "Silent" Mode

There is a discussion going on @ Ayatana mailing list regarding the merge of Me Menu (the applet that displays your name, used to set your status) and Messaging Menu (Chat, Email, etc.) and mockups have already started to be posted:

1. Unified Me Menu and Messaging Menu indicator by mockups by Saleel Velankar:

2. Unified Me Menu and Messaging Menu indicator by mockup by Frederik Nnaji:

In both mockups, besides the unified Me Menu and Messaging Menu you can also notice a "Do not disturb" mode which has also generated a lot of discussion on the Ayatana mailing list: the plan is to include this mode sometime around Ubuntu 11.10 and it won't only set your IM status, but set your whole computer in a "Do not disturb" (aka "silent") mode:

When busy, occupied or in a "Do Not Disturb" state of mind or activity, we need a way of silencing incoming calls and other in that moment trivial notifications: Silent Mode.

Silent Mode
* mute notification sounds
* mute NotifyOSD bubbles
* mute ringtone for incoming calls
* don't popup update-manager automatically

What is the current implementation of this on the desktop?
Mute all notification sounds:
* "mute all" via Sound Menu
Mute NotifyOSD bubbles:
* uninstall NotifyOSD manually
* disable bubble notifications in Empathy
* disable Empathy
* use a different DE
Mute ringtones:
* go offline
* disable Empathy/Skype
* "mute all" via Sound Menu

Mark Shuttleworth:

[Has anyone started speccing this out already?]

I don't believe so. If you would like to do a spec, either work with MPT or I'll review it with you until it gets approval and then it can be queued for 11.10. This is LOOOONG overdue, and I appreciate your offer of help.

What do you think about the mockups? How about the "silent" mode?