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I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

taigeair.com

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Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#181

Post by chflamplighter »

grownseed wrote: post #112

As far as I understand, these UI changes are there to empower "multitasking" and bring Gmail closer to the way social networks and chat work. Now, I loathe the new compose, I like writing my emails in a structured way, with proper formatting, which this new feature doesn't let me do easily (or comfortably); I often use them as reference for docs and whatnot. I'm not saying this doesn't work for some people, but when…

"I'm a bit tired of the "social networks way" becoming the end-all, be-all."

Hear, Hear!

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#182

Post by taigeair »

mixmax wrote: post #74

Here's another total usability fail: Tab sends the e-mail you're currently writing instead of indenting text. Everywhere else tab indents text, and when you write an e-mail in gmail you'd expect it to act consistently with how it's used everywhere else. Start writing in gmail, hit tab to indent some text. Congratulations you've now sent half an e-mail to you boss.... I can't fathom who thought this was a good idea.

I actually never tab in my emails. I use line breaks instead and have learned to do tab enter for sending emails.

For me, it's a big time saver to do that instead of having to move my cursor to the send button. I didn't realise it was causing problems for other people.

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#183

Post by crummy »

mongol wrote: post #167
pbreit wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The standard way that web forms have worked forever is that tab moves focus to the next element.

Yes that is true. But what is the standard way to insert a tab?

On the web, it's copying a tab from somewhere else and pasting it into your web field... or at least that's how I do it :|

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#184

Post by [deleted] »

tomkarlo wrote: post #70

Does anyone really think Photoshop is a good UX for mass consumption (which is obviously the target for Gmail)? I've been using it since version 2, and I think it's a great product, but for new users it's a miserably difficult product to learn, especially for any kind of casual use. There's a reason why users love apps like Draw Something or (more relevantly) Instagram or Paper. They're able to easily achieve the res…

[deleted]

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#185

Post by mcintyre1994 »

chetanahuja wrote: post #81
imjared wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably the same team that has usage data for hundreds of millions of users.

Please... Usage data is irrelevant. The UI design at google is now being run by dictat from the top. User studies and survey results are massaged until they can be contorted into conclusions that suite the already made design decisions.

You're obviously going to need to justify that, since Google are fairly well known for heavy A/B testing, collect a tonne of data and make probably the most popular analytics tool on the web.

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#186

Post by taigeair »

tomkarlo wrote: post #130
ebbv wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think despite the weak analogy, his point is obviously valid and solid. Gmail has gotten shittier for everyone .

That's a pretty broad statement. It seems like what he's written is that it's gotten worse for someone with his use cases, which I'm not arguing (and I fall in that camp.) But we're also not representative of the average email user, which we sometimes have a tendency to forget when judging product changes.

@tomkarlo

Photoshop is extremely customisable and full-featured which is what I was getting at. Draw Something is fun and light which works well as a mobile app.

I don't know about the average email user but after 10,000+ hours of using email, I feel like I'm pretty proficient at email :)

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#187

Post by imjared »

rayiner wrote: post #61
imjared wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably the same team that has usage data for hundreds of millions of users.

I'm gonna quote @kevingadd from down below because I can't say it better myself: "The new gmail is streamlined for particular purposes and not for others. You'd think that one of the biggest data companies in the universe would be able to gather actual data about how people use their software and ensure they aren't making it significantly worse to use for subsets of the customer base. Maybe this is what Google actual…

Glorified SMS? I get that the compose window is smaller but this is pretty unbelievably hyperbole. On my main screen, I get over 4000 characters before having to scroll and even on my 13" laptop screen, I can fit close to 1700 characters in the compose window before I get a scroll bar (http://cl.ly/image/0H1A2O3u251U). In contrast, the "old" version only gives me about 650 characters on my small screen (http://cl.ly/image/0h3O2H3g0P21). Perhaps I'm missing something but this seems to free up real estate.

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#188

Post by taigeair »

shrikant wrote: post #100
ebbv wrote: post #67

I can't remember the last Gmail change that was actually an improvement. In general Google's changes since the Google+ rollout have been 90% terrible. There's been a couple of changes to Youtube that are better (like the really big mode), but overall changes to all Google services have been bad. I feel like they've really lost the plot.

I may be in the minority here, but I actually think most changes to the Gmail interface have been improvements. My biggest gripe was when they did the overall visual refresh, which reduced the information density on my small laptop screen. Then they added a "Density" switcher, which made things alright again. I actually like it when interfaces change. Even when I was super busy I wouldn't mind learning and adapting t…

I love trying new things and I love learning new software but I've learned the new gmail UI and I don't like clicking 2-3X more for things I do pretty regularly. Like getting someone's email address.

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#189

Post by taigeair »

Fuzzwah wrote: post #41
taigeair wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry I meant #3. Either way, I like to format my links. If there's a shortcut to pop out the message to compose mode, I'd totally learn that. I wonder what the gmail team is thinking with this new UI...

shift + r Alas, you'd then still need to click the formatting and header to make the changes you're talking about.

@fuzzwah

I meant as you are replying inline. e.g. http://www.taigeair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Edit-Subj...

I tried hitting shift+r but it just looks like inline reply in a new window.

Obviously I use email a lot and care a lot about gmail.

Re: I feel like Gmail went from being Photoshop to Draw Something

#190

Post by taigeair »

rayiner wrote: post #51

Gmail is now a cluster fuck of terribleness. Who the hell decided it was a good idea to make you type your email in what is basically a slightly larger chat window? Who decided it would be a good idea to put the "reply" edit box at the end of a potentially very long email? Oh, and make it fit like six lines of text. I swear, this is what happens when you let a bunch of kids run the show. "My emails are rarely ever mo…

It'd be good to get the gmail team's thoughts on this.
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