Use Message Indicators Should Be Off By Default

[Lonnie Lee Best]

Binary package hint: empathy

By default, in the upcoming release. I don't think empathy should rest in the indicator-applet. Therefore, under Edit > Preference > Notifications, I'm suggesting that "Use Message Indicators" be unchecked by default.

Most users are coming from pidgin, and they are accustom to seeing a applet specifically for IM in the top-right panel. I know this would confuse my Uncle, who I previously set up to use pidgin. He doesn't know he is even using pidgin, he just know click something green. Now his got to click the indicator-applet, and the click "Empathy"?

Having Empathy in the indicator-applet only adds an additional step to the process of viewing your Contact List. Given the abundance of space for the top-right panel, I like Empathy to have an applet all to itself. We must strive to reduce steps when possible. Plus, we must take into consideration the most painless path as Ubuntu migrates from Pidgin to Empathy.

I see no purpose for the indicator-applet at all. It is just like the drawer applet, and while being an unnecessary space-saver (on a clean install), it only adds a step to getting to what your looking for. Empathy is inconspicuous enough without hiding your chats in a drawer too!

Bubble notification are fine, if you are at your computer when they occur, but what if you are away when they come in? You come back to your computer and that chat is hidden in a drawer? My Uncle will shut down his computer without seeing them. I say make it be annoying apparent by default, and allow sophisticated users to change setting to more subtle preferences. That's my philosophy.

Thanks for Reading,

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[Lonnie Lee Best (launchpad-startport)]

Perhaps you can do both. Use the indicator-applet, and display your own applet?
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/indicator-applet/+bug/461726/comments/9

However, current Empathy preferences make this mutual exclusive as is, don't they?

There just don't seem to be settings that allow me make Empathy very (in your face). It should at least be an option to make incoming chat windows pop right in your face. I don't mind this at all, especially when I'm not working. It is easy to click away (because it require very inaccurate click or keystroke).

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report, that's a design choice and not a bug though, note that pidgin also use the indicator on ubuntu, such discussions would rather be appropriate for mailing lists though

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

Thanks, but this is part of the DX teams goal of cleaning up the notification area and providing functionality that used to be provided by interactive notifications (see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MessagingMenu). It is not possible to change the fundamental behaviour of a core application one day before release.

Most of your issues seem to be down to personal preference, and are therefore very subjective. Also remember that Pidgin used the messaging menu in Jaunty.

You say: "but what if you are away when they come in? You come back to your computer and that chat is hidden in a drawer? My Uncle will shut down his computer without seeing them." - I don't see how this is any different to them being hidden away in an obscure IM icon that would otherwise be displayed.

You're more than welcome to disable the messaging menu in your config if you prefer not to use it

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

Oops, comment clash ;)