How Gmail Happened (2014) • Hacker News Board

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#21

Post by estebank » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 7:43 PM UTC

jayalpha wrote: post #18

sandworm101 wrote: post #4

I was just reading something about all the defunct and abandoned google projects. So now "How Gmail Happened" reads to me like gmail too is done and gone, something that happened in the past but is no longer happening. I guess that day will come eventually. Maybe tomorrow? I never know what google is thinking when it comes to cancellations.

Gmail is likely there to stay. Nevertheless you should always use your own domain (is this still possible for free with Gmail?). I made the move and left Gmail for most things, except an Android account. Missing the most: Decent search What is bad about Webmail in general: Webmail is not email. Public Wifi Spots, even Internet providers are more and more blocking ports.

I do not know if it is still the case, but I believe that you can still create a new GCE or GAE account in a custom domain which will create a new Google Apps organization for you. You will have one free email account (and can set up all other addresses to be redirected to it).

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#22

Post by projectileboy » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 7:46 PM UTC

tomcam wrote: post #16

johnchristopher wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wondered. What happened to the team behind start.com ? At the time I thought it could have been a golden brand and the realization was slick, I remember reading they had a lot of freedom to experiment.

Like Sidewalk, Mungo Park, and any number of initiatives it was managed into extinction by political ineptness.

I still miss Sidewalk. For a lovely couple of years, you could rely on quality reviews of everything in your hometown.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#23

Post by bluedino » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 7:47 PM UTC

smnrchrds wrote: post #5

dang wrote: post #2

Discussed at the time: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7506270

The top comments on that thread discuss the importance of owning your email address by way of using a custom domain, so you can move to a new providers and not worry about losing contacts or missing emails. I fully agree with that. Back in 2014, both Outlook and Gmail had free family plans with custom domain capability, but have since removed those options. Is there a good low-cost option for custom domain email in 2…

Just about all of the big hosting companies will do email hosting. Everywhere from $2/month to $15/monht (including office 365)

you don't even need to buy your domain from them.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#24

Post by hc8bn1 » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 8:07 PM UTC

smnrchrds wrote: post #5

dang wrote: post #2

Discussed at the time: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7506270

The top comments on that thread discuss the importance of owning your email address by way of using a custom domain, so you can move to a new providers and not worry about losing contacts or missing emails. I fully agree with that. Back in 2014, both Outlook and Gmail had free family plans with custom domain capability, but have since removed those options. Is there a good low-cost option for custom domain email in 2…

Yandex is free for your own domain. Not sure how many mailboxes it supports.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#25

Post by davchana » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 8:21 PM UTC

estebank wrote: post #21

jayalpha wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gmail is likely there to stay. Nevertheless you should always use your own domain (is this still possible for free with Gmail?). I made the move and left Gmail for most things, except an Android account. Missing the most: Decent search What is bad about Webmail in general: Webmail is not email. Public Wifi Spots, even Internet providers are more and more blocking ports.

I do not know if it is still the case, but I believe that you can still create a new GCE or GAE account in a custom domain which will create a new Google Apps organization for you. You will have one free email account (and can set up all other addresses to be redirected to it).

That Google Cloud thing for custom domain email is also closed.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#26

Post by soperj » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 8:29 PM UTC

jayalpha wrote: post #18

sandworm101 wrote: post #4

I was just reading something about all the defunct and abandoned google projects. So now "How Gmail Happened" reads to me like gmail too is done and gone, something that happened in the past but is no longer happening. I guess that day will come eventually. Maybe tomorrow? I never know what google is thinking when it comes to cancellations.

Gmail is likely there to stay. Nevertheless you should always use your own domain (is this still possible for free with Gmail?). I made the move and left Gmail for most things, except an Android account. Missing the most: Decent search What is bad about Webmail in general: Webmail is not email. Public Wifi Spots, even Internet providers are more and more blocking ports.

It is. I do it.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#27

Post by frosted-flakes » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 9:03 PM UTC

smnrchrds wrote: post #5

dang wrote: post #2

Discussed at the time: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7506270

The top comments on that thread discuss the importance of owning your email address by way of using a custom domain, so you can move to a new providers and not worry about losing contacts or missing emails. I fully agree with that. Back in 2014, both Outlook and Gmail had free family plans with custom domain capability, but have since removed those options. Is there a good low-cost option for custom domain email in 2…

Zoho has free custom domains. I don't use the web client much, but it's actually pretty good.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#28

Post by alfonsodev » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 9:08 PM UTC

For all people involved in side projects, this quote is something to remember.

>"One of the lessons I learned from that was just in terms of my own psychology, that it was important that I always have a working product. The first thing I do on day one is build something useful, then just keep improving it."

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#29

Post by jayalpha » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 9:09 PM UTC

mandeepj wrote: post #19

jayalpha wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gmail is likely there to stay. Nevertheless you should always use your own domain (is this still possible for free with Gmail?). I made the move and left Gmail for most things, except an Android account. Missing the most: Decent search What is bad about Webmail in general: Webmail is not email. Public Wifi Spots, even Internet providers are more and more blocking ports.

Can you elaborate on Webmail? any email service opened via browser is - Webmail ?

Yest, but this is not "email". Not unusual to block all ports (incl. 25, 587, 465 and 110) except 80 adn 443. If you complain that email does not work then they check their "webmail" and say "what do you mean? Gmail works...".

This is not a major obstacle for me since I can pass through all ports via a http/https VPN but this is not how the internet is supposed to work.

Re: How Gmail Happened (2014)

#30

Post by wstrange » Wed, Apr 03, 2019, 9:13 PM UTC

gdulli wrote: post #15

tomcam wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. It’s now also a paid enterprise product (at consumer prices) so it probably pays for itself. I’ve been a customer since day 1 and think the $7/month or so it costs is ridiculously low. Also see this critically important comment regarding use of your own domain: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19566056

Let's be honest, it's also a big way they build data on you and show you targeted ads so I'm sure it pays for itself without direct revenue.

They do not scan the contents of mail for advertising purposes (consumer as of 2? years ago, and for paid gsuite I don't recall them ever doing this).