Message for lack of Internet connection is unhelpful

[Matthew Paul Thomas]

update-manager 1:0.156.14.5, Ubuntu 12.04

1. Launch Update Manager.
2. Disconnect from the Internet.

What you see: "You may not be able to check for updates or download new updates."

What you should see: Something that gives you more of a hint how to fix the problem.

It's great that the message appears only when you lose your Internet connection, and disappears when you regain it. But it could give you more advice.

<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates#check-interactive>: "If the check fails because of an error, the progress window should morph into an error alert, with the title “Software Updater” and primary text depending on the exact situation ... 'This computer can’t check for updates because there is no Internet connection.'"

<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates#alert>: "Whenever there is no Internet connection and at least one of the updates has not yet been downloaded, there should be an item with exactly the same icon as the networking menu is currently using for its title, and the text: 'You need an Internet connection to download updates.'"

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

Specification updated. <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates?action=diff&rev2=95&rev1=94>

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

Still present in Ubuntu Cosmic (daily 20180822).

The second part of the problem is probably a simple string fix.