Mail Notification is a desktop application that presents a notification icon in the system tray that indicates the presence of new mail messages.
Some of the critical features of this program include multiple mailbox support, mbox, MH, Maildir, Sylpheed, POP3, IMAP, and Gmail support. The program also has SASL authentication support, APOP authentication support, SSL/TLS support, and automatic detection of mailbox format. The software can provide immediate notification when the status icon is updated within seconds after a mailbox changes. Additionally, there is a mail summary and HIG 2.0 compliance.
The program also has specific requirements to function correctly, such as GMime version 2.1.0 or higher, OpenSSL version 0.9.5b or higher, Cyrus SASL version 2.0 or higher, and ICU version 2.6 or higher. It is worth noting that in GNOME 2.10, Mail Notification entry may not show up in the Desktop -> Preferences menu; however, users can still access preferences from the main window (Applications -> Internet -> Mail Notification).
It is essential to deactivate idle mode when it is in use because some IMAP servers terminate the connection after a certain period of inactivity. If the server closes the connection without sending a bye, Mail Notification will not automatically reconnect and will display an error in the status icon. Users can disable "Use idle mode if possible" in the mailbox properties to prevent this problem.
Another issue with Mail Notification is that it may crash when checking a Gmail mailbox because of recent changes in the Gmail website coupled with a programming error in the Gmail backend. If users need to remove the mailbox and cannot access the program, they can use the gconf-editor to edit the /apps/mail-notification/mailboxes key.
Finally, users should note that if their FAM or Gamin package uses a fast kernel notifier such as imon/inotify/dnotify/kqueue, Mail Notification might not correctly detect the unread mails of mbox, MH, Maildir, and Sylpheed mailboxes. If this happens, users should apply the patch disabling immediate notification for these mailbox types.
In conclusion, Mail Notification is a highly functional software program that keeps users informed of their e-mail status. Its multiple mailbox support, SASL and APOP authentication support, SSL/TLS, and automatic detection of mailbox format make it a versatile program for e-mail management. Its compatibility with GNOME Panel Notification Area, the Xfce Notification Area, and the KDE System Tray, make it a highly accessible program for different users.
Version 5.4: N/A