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Incoming Email Audio Notifications Inconsistent

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by sfhowes

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I am new to Thunderbird and WANT to like it, but TB is making it difficult. I am a Mac user and have to stay at Mavericks (10.9). Installed TB (52.4.0). Configured 22 email accounts for various businesses and needs. So far it looks to be working fine after I spent a LOT of time configuring, tweaking, etc... as I am sure many long-time TB users have done. Using a unified account view so all messages are on one screen.

What is frustrating is that it looks like there is only one global setting for notifications. Not at the account level. I have noticed that since installation that the sounds for audio alerts is not consistently triggering for new incoming emails. Sometimes I get the sound for an account then the next email, no sound. Now, the visual indicator looks to be firing all the time consistently but it disappears quickly. But on the Mac it only animates the TB icon in the dock once. Not until you access the application. So the animation is pretty pointless like this.

Being on a Mac I know that the badge notifications can be turned on/off at the OS level under the system settings for the notifications bar. To show the number of new messages on the TB icon on the dock. Also, I can turn on the default audio for notifications using the same process but as Mac users know that is the goofy "farting frog" basso sound for ALL system notificaitons. So I do not have that set for TB in the notifications settings. Just the badge count option and let TB control audio notifications.

If TB has the setting to control the incoming audio then why is it not firing all the time? Again, it is not for a specific account. Might not work then 30 minutes later it does....then the next incoming notice doesn't work. Very frustrating.

I am new to Thunderbird and WANT to like it, but TB is making it difficult. I am a Mac user and have to stay at Mavericks (10.9). Installed TB (52.4.0). Configured 22 email accounts for various businesses and needs. So far it looks to be working fine after I spent a LOT of time configuring, tweaking, etc... as I am sure many long-time TB users have done. Using a unified account view so all messages are on one screen. What is frustrating is that it looks like there is only one global setting for notifications. Not at the account level. I have noticed that since installation that the sounds for audio alerts is not consistently triggering for new incoming emails. Sometimes I get the sound for an account then the next email, no sound. Now, the visual indicator looks to be firing all the time consistently but it disappears quickly. But on the Mac it only animates the TB icon in the dock once. Not until you access the application. So the animation is pretty pointless like this. Being on a Mac I know that the badge notifications can be turned on/off at the OS level under the system settings for the notifications bar. To show the number of new messages on the TB icon on the dock. Also, I can turn on the default audio for notifications using the same process but as Mac users know that is the goofy "farting frog" basso sound for ALL system notificaitons. So I do not have that set for TB in the notifications settings. Just the badge count option and let TB control audio notifications. If TB has the setting to control the incoming audio then why is it not firing all the time? Again, it is not for a specific account. Might not work then 30 minutes later it does....then the next incoming notice doesn't work. Very frustrating.
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Chosen solution

The best approach may be to create a filter(s) that plays a sound according to the To: header (i.e. recipient account) of received messages. This requires the ToneQuilla add-on that appears to work in TB 52 (to install, drag the green Download Now button and drop it onto the Preferences/Add-ons window in TB).

I have also noticed the notification sound is sporadic.

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Chosen Solution

The best approach may be to create a filter(s) that plays a sound according to the To: header (i.e. recipient account) of received messages. This requires the ToneQuilla add-on that appears to work in TB 52 (to install, drag the green Download Now button and drop it onto the Preferences/Add-ons window in TB).

I have also noticed the notification sound is sporadic.

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Unless a recent Mac bug that just cropped up, seems like a bit of a hack fix for a simple audio notification!

However, according to their page: Works with Thunderbird 3.0b1 - 24.*. Not my version (52) and the notice: Please note this add-on uses legacy technology, which gives it access to all browser functions and data without requesting your permission. is not something I like to see. So staying away from this even though others state it works for their newer version. Oh well.

Thank you anyway!

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In that case, I'd look for an OSX email notification program that includes sounds on a per account basis. It wouldn't be necessary to download full message bodies - headers are sufficient.

Personally, I have all my accounts set up on my phone, and sound notifications are reliable and fully configurable.