Gnome 3 Notification area and media control buttons.

[theprisoner2]

Wondering if anyone can help. I'm running Ubuntu Gnome 16.04 and a recent version of the Gnome environment added media player controls to the Notification area, so that the user doesn't have to go back to the app. to play/pause etc. I'm running Gnome 3.18.5 at present (from the standard repos), which doesn't have these controls:


Is there any way to install the latest gnome package, responsible for the Notification area, into my current Gnome desktop, without adding extra repositories and upgrading the whole Gnome desktop to the latest version? I don't really fancy risking a full upgrade, only to find it doesn't work properly.


Any ideas, anyone?

[tea for one]

The media player controls are probably one of the Gnome Shell extension packages.

Are you familiar with Gnome Shell extensions?

https://extensions.gnome.org/

You do not have to upgrade the whole Gnome desktop to use extensions - you simply pick and choose which extension suits your personality/workflow.

Even if an extension is installed, it can be disabled and/or removed very easily.

You use Gnome Tweak Tool to manipulate the extensions.

[theprisoner2]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I'm familiar with the extensions; I used one for media buttons previously, but an update to Gnome meant that it stopped working.:(

[tea for one]

Do you still have the extension installed?

Perhaps the update disabled it temporarily?

I am using Gnome shell 3.18.4 and the media player extension is https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/55/media-player-indicator/

[theprisoner2]

I was using a different extension from that one; good news, though, as the one you suggested works! Thanks for your help.