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A new Gmail inbox

gmailblog.blogspot.com

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Re: A new Gmail inbox

#51

Post by ensmotko »

bbx wrote: post #38

The main difference I can see with labels (at least for power users) is that the mails get filtered automatically by Google in these categories. I believe that most of us here on HN won't see this feature as revolutionary but it might help the less tech-savvy ones. For quite some time, I've been happy with GMail because I set up a system through which each email is ultimately stored in one of my predefined labels. I…

I actually like the tabs idea, but at the moment I find it useless. If there was an option to show my custom labels (instead of the predefined ones) it would be an awesome addition.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#52

Post by moskie »

aiiane wrote: post #41
moskie wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It comes off as something being masked as a "feature," when in actuality it is just something that is trying to get me to spend money. It seems like it blurs the line between the "content" of my inbox and advertising.

I think you misunderstand what that tab is for. It's not a place for Google advertising; it's a place where promotional emails from any site are automatically sorted into - to keep them separate from other useful email. E.g. a clothing website that sends emails about weekly sales - that'll end up under Promotional.

Ok, I see what you're saying. I guess that pic just comes off as being in poor taste in this post then. Because, in reality, those are not the tabs normal people would set up. So I began to question what the point of the feature was. Is it really to help me organize my inbox? Or is it for Google to show me things they want me to spend money on?

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#53

Post by moskie »

bretthopper wrote: post #36

These comments are pretty sad. I know we feel the need to comment on everything right away these days, but honestly there isn't much to say about this feature until we've actually used it. HN almost universally believes in execution over the idea, yet here we are trashing an idea before seeing the execution. It's great that Gmail is trying to innovate and improve the email experience. Maybe this feature won't work ou…

Sure, but communications are also important. If this post is giving an incorrect impression of these new features, there might be something for all of us to learn about how to communicate things to our customers.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#54

Post by hnriot »

adventured wrote: post #48
aiiane wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not forced to use it. What would you rather they add?

Who said I want them to 'add' anything? They can make it possible for me to easily search a trillion pages online from one input box, with a great hit ratio for what I'm actually looking for. But they need to add comical layers of complexity - none of which is new or unique - just to sort my email? It's depressing if that's the best their Gmail team can do. These 'features' have been done before by other companies an…

the same old whining. If you don't like the new features, the blog clearly says you can choose not to use them, they provide backward compatibility.

You say this has been done before, what hasn't. You should live with the features for a while before jumping to immediately trashing them without even having used them.

Nothing is "new or unique" - and nobody wants that either. They want steady improvements without losing familiarity.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#55

Post by dannyr »

"If the new inbox isn't quite your style, you can simply switch off all optional tabs to go back to classic view, or switch to any of your other favorite inbox types."

If this new Gmail feature doesn't suit you, you can TURN IT OFF.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#56

Post by russgray »

typpo wrote: post #42
adventured wrote: post #14

So they're giving me sub folders ("tabs") for my inbox folder. How very 1999. What Gmail is really doing is adding more layers of complexity. Now they have hard wired folders (inbox, sent, etc), labels (aka custom folders), tabs in the inbox, and importance markers (starred / not). They're making the same mistake that consumed many of Microsoft's email efforts: adding complexity thinking that's how you add 'power con…

I would think this simplifies email organization for the average user. Normal people don't use labels extensively and don't customize their inbox. With sane presets for these tabs, Google can give most users an inbox that is organized by default.

I thought the point of gmail was that you didn't need to organize. Just search.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#57

Post by dannyr »

rayiner wrote: post #20

Wait, are these categories fixed? If so, more proof that gmail is now made for kids: "We get a lot of different types of email: messages from friends, social notifications, deals and offers, confirmations and receipts, and more." That doesn't remotely begin to describe my inbox, but then again I haven't been in high school for a long time now. Where is the tab for "bills"?

If you read the article, it says you can turn off this feature.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#58

Post by aiiane »

adventured wrote: post #48
aiiane wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not forced to use it. What would you rather they add?

Who said I want them to 'add' anything? They can make it possible for me to easily search a trillion pages online from one input box, with a great hit ratio for what I'm actually looking for. But they need to add comical layers of complexity - none of which is new or unique - just to sort my email? It's depressing if that's the best their Gmail team can do. These 'features' have been done before by other companies an…

So basically you have no real constructive suggestions and are just instinctively lashing out at anything that doesn't feel "new". Gotcha.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#59

Post by dannyr »

moskie wrote: post #53
bretthopper wrote: post #36

These comments are pretty sad. I know we feel the need to comment on everything right away these days, but honestly there isn't much to say about this feature until we've actually used it. HN almost universally believes in execution over the idea, yet here we are trashing an idea before seeing the execution. It's great that Gmail is trying to innovate and improve the email experience. Maybe this feature won't work ou…

Sure, but communications are also important. If this post is giving an incorrect impression of these new features, there might be something for all of us to learn about how to communicate things to our customers.

Including people NOT reading the post?

It says in the post that this feature can be turned off.

Re: A new Gmail inbox

#60

Post by ziko »

People who want their email under control already have something similar - for instance, I have filters and labels and folders for Newsletters and offers, one for Family and friends, University and so on. People who haven't taken control of their inbox yet won't be bothered to do that now. Loved the music in the video though.
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