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Hide application icons in system tray by default

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bFr-33
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I noticed that during the last few months the kde system tray became more like the windows 7 one.
Now, a few icons are accessible, just like in windows 7, through that kind of triangle, and the rest of them, volume etc., are all white, again, like in windows 7.

But since I like a lot how the system tray of windows 7 is, I would say: "Why don't we copy it all the way?"
By this, I am refering to something in particular that is how icons get hidden once the applications are launched.

I like only very clean desktop experiences, and I'd love to see applications like amarok, vlc etc not on the system tray but in the menu accessible by the little triangle.

How many times did you use a very useful app, which could have been hidden, that didn't have a very beautiful icon?
If app that are not written properly would always be hidden our desktops would look even better!
In this way, app will be visible only if their developers think it's NECESSARY.

Look at these pictures:








I think the second arrangement of the icons is much better than the first one.

I think that what I said should be done by default with all the applications like Amarok, Vlc etc.
I don't like the Idea to modify the settings for every application.
Then, if you don't want amarok or something else to be hidden, you just set it.
Programs like kmail should be written in order to appear if there's something new.

I think it's better if everything is hidden by default rather than visible.
In this way most of the app will be developed sooner with the feature of appearing (only if there's something to notify) and disappearing. (most of the time).

I don't think the developers would be quick in devoloping something that can be hidden when there's nothing to notify, but I think they would be quick in developing something that can appear when there's something to notify.



Thank you! :)

Last edited by bFr-33 on Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:39 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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Hans
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:38 pm
Not sure I understand what you want. If you want to hide icons you can right click on the system tray -> System Tray Settings -> Entries -> Visibility: Hidden for the icons you want to hide.


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bFr-33
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:42 pm
Yes, but I think that should be done by default with ALL the applications like amarok, vlc etc.
I don't like the Idea to modify the settings for every application.

PS:Edited original post.
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Hans
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:54 pm
You mean, set all new icons in system tray as hidden by default? In that case, please edit your idea to clarify this.

At the moment the icons are set to "Auto", which (as far as I know) means that they will hide when they're inactive. However, again to my understanding, only the applications/widgets that use the new system tray protocol (e.g. Device Notifier) can take advantage of this.


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bFr-33
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:07 pm
Hans wrote:You mean, set all new icons in system tray as hidden by default? In that case, please edit your idea to clarify this.

At the moment the icons are set to "Auto", which (as far as I know) means that they will hide when they're inactive. However, again to my understanding, only the applications/widgets that use the new system tray protocol (e.g. Device Notifier) can take advantage of this.


Sorry, I don't have a lot of experience with the kde forum yet.
I added two pictures to clarify what I mean.
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Hans
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:54 pm
bFr-33 wrote:
Sorry, I don't have a lot of experience with the kde forum yet.
I added two pictures to clarify what I mean.


No problems. :) I'm trying to help you make the idea clearer - to specify exactly what you're proposing.
It's much better now, if you change the title (the current one is very vague; something like "Hide application icons in system tray by default" would be better in my opinion) and I'll approve the idea.


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bFr-33
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System tray like the windows7 one.

Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:11 pm
I am sorry, I don't know how to do that.
May you do that for me sir?

I think the title could be this:"Hide application icons in system tray by default like in windows7"
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Hans
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bFr-33 wrote:I am sorry, I don't know how to do that.
May you do that for me sir?

I think the title could be this:"Hide application icons in system tray by default like in windows7"


You should be able to do it with the Edit button, but maybe normal users can't do it. Anyway, the title is now changed. Unfortunately "Hide application icons in system tray by default like in windows7" was too long (it cut the title at "... like in win"), so I left out the last part - just tell me if you want to change it to something else. Additionally the picture seems to have disappeared - sorry about that, not sure how it happened - could you please add it back again?


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bFr-33
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Hans wrote:
bFr-33 wrote:I am sorry, I don't know how to do that.
May you do that for me sir?

I think the title could be this:"Hide application icons in system tray by default like in windows7"


You should be able to do it with the Edit button, but maybe normal users can't do it. Anyway, the title is now changed. Unfortunately "Hide application icons in system tray by default like in windows7" was too long (it cut the title at "... like in win"), so I left out the last part - just tell me if you want to change it to something else. Additionally the picture seems to have disappeared - sorry about that, not sure how it happened - could you please add it back again?


I can still see the pictures. The title is fine. Don't worry!
Thank you! :)
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sredna
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I think application developers should do the work. Examples:
Kmail, Akregator, choqok: Hidden unless there is unread messages. Media players: Hidden when not playing. Etc.

The idea of the systray is kinda lost if applications can not be visible in some condition decided by themselves!
DaSheep
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sredna wrote:I think application developers should do the work.

That is what the 'auto' configuration is for. But to use this the app must be ported to the new implementation.

I don't think this is a good idea, at least not as the default option. Not sure about other people but if I use the systemtray icons to keep my taskbar clean or for quick access to certain programs.

Examples:
- a new song begins playing in amarok, I right click to play the next song or click to select an other one
- kmail indicates that I have a new mail ( icon should be hidden otherwise) I can quickly open kmail and close it again if it's not important.
- feed updates in akregator

Actually if you never use the systemtray icon of an app, it shouldn't have one at all. (configurable)
bFr-33
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montfras wrote:
sredna wrote:I think application developers should do the work.

That is what the 'auto' configuration is for. But to use this the app must be ported to the new implementation.

I don't think this is a good idea, at least not as the default option. Not sure about other people but if I use the systemtray icons to keep my taskbar clean or for quick access to certain programs.

Examples:
- a new song begins playing in amarok, I right click to play the next song or click to select an other one
- kmail indicates that I have a new mail ( icon should be hidden otherwise) I can quickly open kmail and close it again if it's not important.
- feed updates in akregator

Actually if you never use the systemtray icon of an app, it shouldn't have one at all. (configurable)


Well, I think that by default all the app should be hidden.
Then, if you don't want amarok to be hidden, you just set it.
Programs like kmail should be written in order to appear if there's something new.

I think it's better if everything is hidden by default rather than visible.
In this way most of the app will be developed sooner with the feature of appearing (only if there's something to notify) and disappearing. (most of the time).

I don't think the developers would devolop something that can be hidden when there's nothing to notify, but I think they would develop something that can appear when there's something to notify.

Thank you, edited the original post.
xpete
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i think what you mean is sth like this:
brainstorm.php#idea93026_page1
airdrik
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bFr-33 wrote:
montfras wrote:
sredna wrote:I think application developers should do the work.

That is what the 'auto' configuration is for. But to use this the app must be ported to the new implementation.

I don't think this is a good idea, at least not as the default option. Not sure about other people but if I use the systemtray icons to keep my taskbar clean or for quick access to certain programs.

Examples:
- a new song begins playing in amarok, I right click to play the next song or click to select an other one
- kmail indicates that I have a new mail ( icon should be hidden otherwise) I can quickly open kmail and close it again if it's not important.
- feed updates in akregator

Actually if you never use the systemtray icon of an app, it shouldn't have one at all. (configurable)


Well, I think that by default all the app should be hidden.
Then, if you don't want amarok to be hidden, you just set it.
Programs like kmail should be written in order to appear if there's something new.

I think it's better if everything is hidden by default rather than visible.
In this way most of the app will be developed sooner with the feature of appearing (only if there's something to notify) and disappearing. (most of the time).

I don't think the developers would devolop something that can be hidden when there's nothing to notify, but I think they would develop something that can appear when there's something to notify.

Thank you, edited the original post.


It seems that you are missing that there are 3 states that an icon can be set: (always) visible, (always) hidden and auto (hidden until application notifies of some action). If you sent the default to hidden then applications' icons will never be visible - even if they notify. If you set the default to auto then the icons will be hidden until they notify. It seems that you really want auto instead of hidden.


airdrik, proud to be a member of KDE forums since 2008-Dec.
bFr-33
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airdrik wrote:It seems that you are missing that there are 3 states that an icon can be set: (always) visible, (always) hidden and auto (hidden until application notifies of some action). If you sent the default to hidden then applications' icons will never be visible - even if they notify. If you set the default to auto then the icons will be hidden until they notify. It seems that you really want auto instead of hidden.


Well, my applications (amarok, vlc etc) are set to auto and are ALWAYS visible.
They are never hidden, although there's nothing to notify...

I like the auto mode, but since most of the programs are visible without notifing anything I think it's better if all the app are hidden.
In this way only what is developed with the purpose of notifing will have the feature to get visible.


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