Ubuntu Apps Directory

Email me a link text is poorly worded

Bug #960430 reported by Dave Morley on 2012-03-20

This bug affects 1 person

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	Ubuntu Apps Directory	Confirmed	Low	Unassigned

Bug Description

This is the Current layout for emails that are sent to people.

Plain Text version

Hello,

Here is the download link you requested to receive via email. Please copy =
and paste it into a browser to return to the download page for Transmission.
http://catalog.razorgirl.info/cat/applications/oneiric/transmission-gtk/

Regards,

Ubuntu Application Directory

HTML Version

<html>
 <body>
 Hello, 
 Here is the download link you requested to receive via email: 
 <a href=3D'http://catalog.razorgirl.info/cat/applications/oneiric/t=
ransmission-gtk/'>Transmission</a> 
 Regards, 
Ubuntu Application Directory
 </body>
</html>

Issues:
1. both say that you requested it, I might send it to a friend cause they don't know how to search in USC in which case I didn't ask to receive it.
2. The html and plain text should both be identically worded bar the copy and paste section
3. We can make the whole think sound more generic and personal at the same time it would be good

Possible Solution:

Plain text:

Hello,

A link to a great application in Ubuntu has been asked to be sent to you. <app_name> is availble here <app_link> just copy and paste it into your chosen Ubuntu web browsers address bar.

Thanks for using the Ubuntu Application Directory

<html>
 <body>
 Hello, 
 
 A link to a great application in Ubuntu has been asked to be sent to you. <app_name> is availble <a href=3D'App_link'>here</a> 
Thanks for using the Ubuntu Application Directory
 </body>
</html>

Revision history for this message

Dave Morley (davmor2) wrote on 2012-03-20:

Also the Site is call in big letters Ubuntu Apps Directory yet the email says Ubuntu Application Directory we need to settle on one.

Revision history for this message

Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt) wrote on 2012-03-21:

I was asked to make suggestions for this text, but I don't understand the function at all at the moment. What is the use case?

Why are we e-mailing the link in the first place, instead of just presenting it for copying and pasting?

Why does the link go to a different place from the "Copy Web Link" function that's been in Ubuntu Software Center for the past two and a half years?

Is "copy =" a MIME encoding thing, or is it a typo in the message?

Why are we suggesting that people copy and paste the link into a browser, instead of clicking it?

As for "Regards, Ubuntu Application Directory", I don't think we should anthropomorphize the directory. It doesn't like it when we do that. ;-)

Anthony Lenton (elachuni) on 2012-04-10

affects:	application-web-catalog → ubuntu-webcatalog
Changed in ubuntu-webcatalog:
status:	New → Confirmed
importance:	Undecided → Low

Revision history for this message

Anthony Lenton (elachuni) wrote on 2012-04-10:

@mpt,

Thanks for these questions!

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, this bug was filed under a completely different project, I've fixed that now.

The use case is explained here: http://www.wheresitworking.com/2012/02/12/want-me-to-download-your-app-please-do-this/

That is: The user sees an app but isn't currently at the machine that the app wants to be installed on. As ubuntu-webcatalog doesn't provide a way to "queue up installations on this machine" which would be ideal, with this link the user can email a link that can then be opened on the appropriate machine so that the app can be installed there by just clicking on the "Install" button.

The link in USC goes to apt.ubuntu.com, which will bring up the page in the desktop client. The current link is pretty much the same thing, but it'll bring the app up in the web directory. I agree a link to apt.u.c is probably better (as you'll need to bring up USC to install the app anyway), although you'll still need to pass through a web browser.

Yes, "copy =" is an encoding thing, same as "oneiric/t=" and all the "=3D"

Yep, sending the user to click on the link would be better if that's an option. Maybe "Follow the following link to return..."? Is it safe to assume that the link will always be clickable in whatever $DEITY-forsaken mua the user has?

Re: anthropomorphizing the directory, heh, would "Regards, the Ubuntu Apps Directory Team" sound better? :)

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