I have seen several posts on how to fix the programs that can’t display notifications.  Let me combine them and give you my solutions.

Here are the other solutions.  Their solutions are probably better anyway, but that doesn’t stop me!

• Web Upd8: SKYPE UBUNTU MESSAGING MENU / NOTIFYOSD INTEGRATION (learned about dconf-tools)
• Reformed Musings: Making Unity in Ubuntu 11.04 Natty somewhat useful using AWN (learned about All option)

Step 1: Installed “dconf Editor”

There are many different ways to change the configuration settings.  You can edit settings files, or you can use a command-line program.  I like the graphical option that dconf Editor supplies, so that is what I am installing.  You can use any number of methods.  I just used the Ubuntu Software Center:

Step 2: Opened the dconf Editor

I used Alt+F2 and typed dconf-editor to open it:

Step 3: Changed the systray-whitelist option

To get to the option, I opened the tree on the left to: desktop > unity > panel.  Then, I changed the option to [‘all’] to allow everything.  Otherwise, you have to enter all the specific applications that you expect.

And, now I have Shutter, Gnome-RDP, and Skype all showing in the notifications area!

If I could influence this at all, I would suggest having a blacklist option instead of whitelist.  I can’t think of very many indicators that I would like to hide.  If I don’t want to see the indicator, in most cases, I would kill the program behind it.

This weekend, I finally installed an Ubuntu release close to its release date.  This is probably the closest I have ever gotten it done!  So, here are my first thoughts after using it two work days.

The Install

The install went very well for me.  I have a Broadcom wireless card, which has given me problems in the past.  I was expecting to need to plug it into the wired network to get it to work.  I chose to install rather than use the try Ubuntu mode.  At first, the network indicator said that hardware drivers were not enabled and I could not connect.  I went ahead and told it to download updates as it installed knowing it would not be able to.  Then, I checked part way through copying the files and found that I could connect.  Once booted, I only had a couple of updates available in Update Manager so I am wondering if it actually did download them as it installed.  Also, the wireless was just working without me having to do anything after the install!

What I liked

First, it was new.  I like new features and new software — this definitely had the new feeling.  Unity is definitely different (in a good way).

I like the dash and the way the features comparable to gnome-do are built right into the interface.  The desktop interface is pretty light, yet I can quickly open the apps I want.

I like the way the launcher is on the left.  I have a wide screen laptop, and it probably makes more sense to use up the width rather than the height for the launcher.  Also, I like that it auto-hides when I have windows that use up the entire width of the screen, but otherwise, it always displays.

Notification Area

One issue I had was with a couple of applications that normally show icons in the notification area: Shutter and Gnome-RDP.  Shutter mentioned that it was waiting on a Perl interface to do the notifications, but I think I read about a fix that I will have to follow up with.

What surprised me is that I had a couple of other applications that were able to use the notification area.  Skype worked just fine.  Also, I have an application I wrote myself that worked with no problems: Project Sarah.

RDesktop

I usually use RDesktop not in full screen mode, but in a window that fills up the screen.  This makes it easy to switch between the remote desktop and the local.  I can also drag the window around if I need to see part of the remote and my desktop at the same time.

Unfortunately, Unity takes all the decorations off RDesktop now, and I can’t reposition the window.  That was a little frustrating.

Dual Screen Issues

I liked the fact that Ubuntu seemed to autodetect when I unplugged my external monitor.  It automatically switched back to single screen mode.

The problem is that I couldn’t see anything on the external screen.  The clock displayed with everything on the top, but below that was black.  I could drag windows across to the screen, and they would just disappear.  When I set it to mirror, both screens looked fine and everything worked as planned.

I also had trouble with my Java application crashing with a bizarre error.  When I didn’t have the external monitor connected, it worked fine.  I have typically been able to solve that problem by installing the Sun JDK as opposed to the OpenJDK.  I need to work through installing the Sun JDK, and that might do the trick.

Various Usability Issues

For the most part, I liked the launcher and the new interface, but there were a few things I have to get used to.  For example, in the old Gnome interface, I could minimize a window from the task bar by clicking on it after it is already active.  That doesn’t seem to work in Unity.

Also, I had trouble installing new custom menus.  I wanted to create a menu item for my Java programs that I wrote.  I also usually create a menu item for the different Eclipse profiles.  Before, I would right click on the Applications Menu and choose Edit Menu.  Now, it took me a bit to learn that I had to open the “Main Menu” application from the Dash.

Then, once I added the menus, they didn’t show up when I searched from the Dash until after I rebooted.  There’s got to be an easier way to add applications to the list or at least a way to reindex without rebooting.  I’ll follow up when I find it.

One more thing I noticed.  Most of the time I use the keyboard to launch applications (before Unity with Gnome-Do).  But, every once in a while my hand is already on the mouse, and I would rather use that.  Or, maybe I can’t quite remember the name of the program I want to open (hey, I am getting older).  Maybe I just need to get used to the new interface, but the Applications menu seemed a little easier for the mouse.

Settings

Previously, I could go to the Applications Menu to find all the different programs to change settings.  At first, I had trouble figuring out where I could go.  I wanted to see if there where any new settings.

Well, I found the Gnome-Control-Center in the power menu.  Instead of rebooting, you can go to “System Settings”.

Review

All in all, I am really excited about my new Ubuntu and Unity.  I will have to blog some more as I get past the issues in case you are going through them too.

Resources

• Ubuntu 11.04 Released
• OMG Ubuntu — nice quick overview
• The Power User’s Guide to Unity — many nice links to great info
• Unity keyboard/mouse shortcuts
• Ubuntu 11.04: Installation stumbling block and post-install impressions — had install issues

I just saw that Engadget announced that Ubuntu has chosen the next name for their 11.04 version: Oneiric Ocelot.  Or, if you would rather, you can read it straight from Mark Shuttleworth’s mouth.

If you want a different look, you can check out the Elizabeth Krumbach’s view with the stuffed animals.  Or, InfoWorld’s view.