Wallbox puts Facebook updates in your Ubuntu system tray, allowing you to: –
- Get notified of and read updates from your contacts
- Update your own status
- Read and respond to other peoples’ comments and links right from the desktop
Thoughts
It’s still very early days for Wallbox but a native Linux Facebook client is something I’m sure many people have been waiting for. I can’t say for sure whether Wallbox is that application, but it’s the most promising Facebook application I’ve come across for Linux so far.
Things i would change: –
Get a new tray icon – and fast. I’m not sure what the frak the red box (post box?) with eyes is supposed to be but it doesn’t scream ‘Facebook’ to me.
Turn the ‘drop down’ part of Wallbox into an actual standalone window that minimizes to the tray.
Download
To install Wallbox you need to do two things. First you need to install an updated version of python-facebook – a version only available in Lucid at present. It installs perfectly fine on Karmic, however so choose a server from the following to download. Double-click to install: –
- http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/all/python-facebook/download
Now you can add the Wallbox PPA: –
- sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ronmi/wallbox
- sudo apt-get update
- sudo apt-get install wallbox
You can now run it from the ‘Applications > Internet > Wallbox’ sub-menu.
Setting Up
The set up process is relatively simple. You will be asked to enter a ‘session’ code from the Facebook authentication page and whether to allow Wallbox access to your wall (so it can post updates, etc). Once this code is entered the “main” applet will run.