Why are there 3 different packages? With very similar names.
The top result is the verified one from The GNOME Project - confusingly, this can update/config/remove extensions, but can't install a new one.
The second result is from Zorin's own APT - but this hasn't seen an update in over two years, and it looks like this is just an older version of Matthew Jakeman's app.
The third result is Matthew Jakeman's actual app, in it's latest version - I'm assuming this is what people actually install and use.
But man, what a journey. I feel like you could do a lot better here, guys - at least remove that Zorin OS branded package. Very confusing.
Or better still, include an emoji keyboard with Zorin? I can see this has been brought up in the past. People expect this when switching from Windows - and there are going to be a lot of us switching from Windows now, with Microsoft trying to kill Win 10, and with Win 11 completely falling apart.
I was really hoping I wouldn't need third-party extensions, but... I'm an emoji user
The first extension manager in the list is the package from Zorin, the second one the flatpak version. I prefer the first one because I don't use flatpaks as they need much more storage space. The flatpak version is more current.
In Zorin are no smileys preinstalled, but you can install apps or gnome extensions which offer it.
I wouldn't recommend to use the package "extensions" because it offers not the functionality of "extension manager".
Neither of those really "work" - having to manually copy and paste every individual emoji is totally unacceptable UX.
"Emoji Copy" (by felipeftn) is the only emoji picker I've seen that actually works - no other apps or extensions seem to have figured out how to actually insert an emoji after you pick it.
To explain that: Extensions ''the green one'' comes from Gnome directly. It is only for managing installed Gnome Extension.
The Extension Mangaer goes further. With that, you can not only manage installed Gnome Extension. You can on the ''Browse'' Tab search and install Extensions. Why there are 2 Entries? The one is the .deb Package and the other is the Flatpak. When You click on each and You are on the Program Site, You see in the upper right Corner under the ''Install'' Button what Version it is.
Gnomes own ''Extensions'' Program has 2 Versions, too. But they are summarized in one Entry. When You click on it and look at the Place what I described above and click on the Dropdown Menu, You can see that it has Flatpak and .deb/APT Package.
Here comes the LTS Distro Model to play. The native Packages are on one Version Stand - beside some Exceptions that is normal and intended. There come only Security Updates and Bugfixes. The up-to-date Version:
is a Flatpak - and that comes directly from the Developer. Updates for this run independently from System Packages. So, they are up-to-date.
Because of Your Emoji Search: There is a Program preinstalled. You should be able find it with gnome-characters when You search for it.
