AquaMail notifications with Voice Notify

[budain]

Hi

I use AquaMail with another app called Voice Notify. This "reads" the content of selected Android notifications. Great for running, riding, etc ...

But with AquaMail the first new e-mail subject is read fine, but the 2nd it just reads "AquaMail - 2 unread message in mail inbox", and so on.

Is there a setting so that the notification is the subject of the new message each time?

Thanks - Matt

[Kostya Vasilyev]

I'm only responsible for (and can only control) notifications in the status bar (and Android Wear).

If you can see multiple lines there (for multiple messages, it's going to be "Sender - Subject" on each line, up to 5), then Aqua has done its job, and the rest is up to this other app.

It can also be the case that Android is collapsing the notification, it can and will do that if "the system thinks" that there is not enough space in the notification drawer.

Don't know if this has an effect on what is visible via accessibility (which is what those apps that read other apps notifications use)... The developer(s) of the other app should know.

[budain]

HI Kostya

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I don't know how to check if the system is grouping the notifications.

I am running Android 4.4.4 on a Moto G 2nd gen.

I switched from K9 and much prefer AquaMail apart from this issue.

I just did a test an on K9, when receiving 3 new messages with the subject "test1", "test2" and "test3" I get the following ...

K9 mail 5.002

"K9 mail - Matt test1"
"K9 mail - Matt test2"
"K9 mail - Matt test3"

In notification tray -

3 new messages
Matt test1
Matt test2
Matt test3

In ither words the Voice Notifiy App reads the subject of each individual new e-mail.

But with AquaMail it is different, I get the following ...

AquaMail Pro 1.5.1.13

"AquaMail - Matt test1"
"AquaMail - 2 new messages in Matt inbox"
"AquaMail - 3 new messages in Matt inbox"

In notification tray -

Matt
3 new messages


In other words VoiceNotify reads the subject of the 1st e-mail but the just the number of new messages after that.

I've no idea if K9 or AquaMail is doing notifications the "right" way, but certainly for me it would be really useful if AquaMail had an option to behave the same as K9,

Many thanks, Matt

[Kostya Vasilyev]

My guess is that you're running into this:

>>
It can also be the case that Android is collapsing the notification, it can and will do that if "the system thinks" that there is not enough space in the notification drawer.
<<

To expand Aqua's notification (and reveal all three items) -- this varies by device brand / model -- try "pinch out", like "zooming out", on the notification, horizontally.... or try swiping down on the notification, just like scrolling.

If you see the notification expand and reveal all three items, then this will confirm that 1) Aqua did put all three items there and 2) Android decided to collapse the notification (without the app's involvement).

This "collapse" logic can happen to any app's notifications. I see it all the time with Gmail and Play. Screenshots attached.

[budain]

Hi Kostya

Thanks for the reply. It looks like you are correct. Android is choosing to collapse all notifications of new mail from AquaMail  (although not K9).

I've tried this on 3 devices now -

Moto G - KitKat
Oneplus One - KitKat
Nexus 5 - Lollipop

and the behavior is the same on all 3. The notifications are collapsed (even if there are no other notifications so the drawer is not "full"). I can pinch to zoom and see the full message list.

Voicenotify keeps a log of what it "sees" and it only sees the title after it is collapsed, meaning I only get the "you have 4 new messages ..."

I can't find any system settings to alter this behavior - on either KitKat or Lollipop.

If you ever find a way to encourage Android not to collapse the notifications, and can include it as an option in Aquamail, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks, Matt

[Kostya Vasilyev]

It's hardcoded in Android notifications UI.

Not sure if the K9 developers know any magic here... just checked there code, not seeing anything special.

I tend to believe it's random, although there may be meaningful patterns on a particular device...

Too bad really...