Update manager flashes on screen before being minimized

[Luc-Ace]

Binary package hint: update-manager

When there are updates in Jaunty (904) and the update manager starts, it shows the update-manager window and shows the window minimizing (with animation). This can be seen when all other windows have been minimized or when there are no windows in the way of the update-manager window. This behavior is very distracting and grabs the users attention as it flashes on the screen, the exact thing the "new" notification system is supposed to prevent.

This is just my opinion but maybe a better solution is that when the update manager starts it is in the background but doesn't have its task listed in the panel. Just like the dialog box that is popped up when downloading/installing things in synaptic (I'm not sure if this is even possible). Thus making in unable to be minimized only closed, this would also remove it from the ALT-TAB list. Another alternative might be that the update manager doesn't show up in the task panel until it is minimized, essentially popping open in the background but not visible until you change and/or minimize the window you are working in.

Notes:
1. This is seen when not using a composite desktop, I'm not sure of the behavior when you do run one.
2. The attached video was captured with Xvidcap, I apologize for it not being in Theora but it is viewable with VLC

[Stefan Pappalardo (sjuk)]

In combination with mythtv (mythbuntu) the top-panel persists after "flashing" the update-manager window.
This way it is disturbing me and my family in watching tv. I don't think I'm alone with the bidding to raise the priority to a higher level.

thx

[MarcRandolph (mrand)]

Since people treat Mythbuntu more like an appliance than a desktop, I agree that at least the Mythbuntu distribution should prevent pop-ups while watching t.v. Maybe someday a way should be found to integrate the update manager into the MythTV user interface!

I've actually recall seeing this from time to time on 8.04, at least when in setting on the menu.

[Ross Vandegrift (vandegrift)]

This bug is even more annoying than anyone has yet posted. Under certain conditions (of which I am not sure), Update Manager automatically loads to ask the user to update.

You close it, it goes away, and in about five minutes, it's back.

Constantly. It never shuts up. It doesn't care that you're doing something else. It doesn't care that you might really not want to update right now. It just keeps on going.

I've seen the behavior on mythtv above, but at least that just flashes a minimizing window across the screen. If you're actually using the computer as a computer, it's 100x worse.

[Gregory McLean (gregm-gxsnmp)]

gconftool-2 -s /apps/update-notifier/auto_launch -t boolean false

Which according to the description:

The default action (update-manager) will be started automatically.

That should stop it and on mythbuntu probably be the default as they are typically run keyboard/mouseless so one can't click on anything.

[Nick Fox (nickj-fox)]

I have added a default setting to Mythbuntu to keep this from happening on a Mythbuntu system. See the linked branch and related commit.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

mythbuntu-default-settings (0.81-0ubuntu1) karmic; urgency=low

  * Add default setting to disable update-notifier auto launch
    (LP: #366968)

 -- Nick Fox <email address hidden> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:12:27 -0500

[Stefan Pappalardo (sjuk)]

You can turn off these notify-osd notifications by typing this single command in your terminal:

sudo mv /usr/share/dbus-1/services/org.freedesktop.Notifications.service
  /usr/share/dbus-1/services/org.freedesktop.Notifications.service.disabled

After that restart your computer and the issue is solved.

Hint: In Relation to my mythbuntu-box this problem is solved.

[Stefan Pappalardo (sjuk)]

Since lucid has changed the default behavior for the update-manager there is no Problem anymore with this issue. Please correct me when I was wrong ;-)