Google announced today to its G Suite customers that a “new design” is coming to the Gmail web interface, along with a bunch of new features. The update will first arrive as an Early Adopter Program (EAP) experience in the coming weeks, before rolling out to others.
What will this new experience be like? Google didn’t share pictures, only that it will be “a fresh, clean look” for Gmail. It probably looks like this, though, which was first spotted back in September.
But with the new design, you’ll have easier access to Calendar, ability to Smart Reply to emails (like you do in the Gmail app), the option to snooze emails and choose when they reappear (like in Inbox), as well as offline support. According to Google, the offline support will be native and arrive in June 2018.
While this redesign info was shared with G Suite customers, you have to expect that everyone who uses Gmail will get this new experience. When, we don’t know, but the EAP starts for G Suite within the coming weeks. We’ll let you know when it’s ready.
UPDATE: A Google spokesperson reached out to add the following —
“We’re working on some major updates to Gmail (they’re still in draft phase). We need a bit more time to compose ourselves, so can’t share anything yet—archive this for now, and we’ll let you know when it’s time to hit send.”
Cute.
Just freaking add the HTML signature or ability to use the signature in the web based Gmail for Android.
I know I am in the vast minority, but I NEVER use the GMail web interface even though I consider myself a GMail power user with dozens of tags/folders and thousands of stored emails. I use the GMail app on my phone for quick reading sometimes, but 95% of the time I access GMail via IMAP with the Thunderbird mail client on my various PCs. This is the only way that I ever feel productive dealing with the hundreds of emails that I get a day. The 2 work very well together and it is well worth the setup time if you regularly use PCs.
I don’t like the additional spacing, if that screenshot is any indicator. I’m all for a clean look, but don’t do what Outlook.com did and make it to where I see less on my screen without scrolling.
I use Inbox but the web app drives me crazy (it doesn’t show the entire email). I switched because of the design (even though I miss I can’t change the background in Inbox) and I could snooze emails. With a new fresh look (a la Calendar) and the ability to snooze, I might switch back to Gmail. I just hop e that the web contact app gets updated too!
I see what they did there.
Now all Gmail needs is pinning.
Marking as important and starring doesn’t have quite the same effect.
Hope it doesn’t slow down the site the way the new Google Calendar site did…
I had way too many labels to use Inbox well, using GSuite. But use Inbox for my personal account. Looking forward to a snappier and smarter gmail. Just don’t mess with my labs and keyboard shortcuts, okay? LOL.
That’s how I feel with Inbox, too. I use labels to keep my inbox organized in a way that makes sense for me. Inbox, when I first used it, just seemed cluttered and messy. Even after getting the hang of it, I’m really not a fan. I just love being able to pin emails and snooze.
I switched to inbox when it came out. I have no regrets. I’m not a big email user, so my inbox is always clean!
same. love inbox. have never switched back.
I’m a big email user, but i switched to Inbox on day one and haven’t looked back. Inbox is easily one of Google’s best apps.
Also a big email user. I’ve tried Inbox a few times since it came out, and every time I end up going back after a few days. I just can’t seem to get used to the workflow differences. Maybe I’m just too much of a control freak when it comes to my email. I already have a pretty good “inbox zero” system I’ve been using for a few years, which is probably part of the problem.
Agreed. Tried Inbox several times as well. Liked the organization but it seems to take at least 2x the clicks to get to each email. Too much work. And Gmail works withTodoist.
Why? What feature make it better than GMail specifically? (I tried inbox for 3 days and saw no benefit over GMAIL) I’m curiously interested if I’m missing something?
I’d like to know more as well.
@dansan382:disqus @Xsoldier2000:disqus
So my reasons for prefering it as I’m a light email user. I never understood what archive did in Gmail until using Inbox. But markiing Done is the same as archive.
I use the Snooze feature all the time. A good example is my Power bill is due. I get the email 25 days before I need to pay it, so I snooze it for the day it charges (Auto pay but i like to remember.)
it has categories, think folders, but they do a good job of grouping things into purchases, finance, social media, general updates etc. you can make more folders and gmail folders are in there and nesting still works.
The conversations thread nicely, the searching works very well. I don’t really care about sorting to folders anymore (I have rules in Gmail that do that still) It organizes trips so flights and hotels and car rentals are all in one easy place.
Content is enriched, so an email from amazon with tracking, you can click tracking without having to open the email.
Saved links (used to work with keep better) and reminders that work with google assistant.
With this said I use Outlook in a professional setting and I could not use the Inbox style for my professional work.
I really think people need to use it for a month to understand it’s beauty. At first I used it to clean up my gmail, but now I use it and go to gmail now and then to make sure I’ve not skipped over anything.
Only down side is it can be a little slow from time to time, but I think that’s more chrome on PC than my phone as my phone is always fast.
“…and go to gmail now and then to make sure I’ve not skipped over anything.”
That’s the part that bothers me. I think Inbox feels like I’m letting go of too much control of my inbox, which is why I’ve never been able to make the change. Though, admittedly I’ve never used it for a full month (each time I’ve tried I’ve given it 4-5 days). I fear a month-long commitment, as going back to my main Gmail would be a mess after that period of time.
When I made the change, I gmail on computer and inbox on phone. It’s not like I’m replying to keeping track of threaded emails on my phone, mostly just checking shipping updates and promos i’m sent.
The thing is there is not automation other than junk mail. You don’t lose email, nothing ever goes away. If you snooze something you hit the snoozed button and it all comes there.
Think of the categories i mentioned as the tabs in gmail. They’re like the same idea, google sorts them as they see fit, you can correct them and it learns.
I’ve never lost an email. What I don’t like is unread emails so now and then i’ll have one i marked as done without opening (by my own lazy.)
Same here! Inbox for life!
I just wish they would get a widget for inbox, that’s my only qualm with it.
My issue with Inbox is that it can make email feel like a cluttered mess. It took me a while to get used to it, but it’s still sometimes confusing to navigate, like when you just want to see the most recent new mails rather than various categories. Also, Inbox relies too much on automation. I filter a lot of email to various labels with Gmail. That’s impossible with Inbox. Honestly, that’s my biggest issue. Sometimes I want that extra control to tailor the experience to myself before letting auto pilot take over.
Ditto.
Not being able to move a message in trash back into my inbox is the only thing I don’t like about Inbox app. Or maybe I’m just missing something?!
Hope a mobile app refresh is coming soon as well.
Be sure it will…
Will Google Tasks be included in this update? ????
holy carp i hope so
Tasks is currently in Gmail so I don’t see why not.
I know it’s not the most favorite app amongst the community here but I would really like Allo integration.
What kind of integration? Like Hangouts has? I always found it rather odd that they stuck the chat app into the email app.
Yeah, like Hangouts. I honestly like the implementation of Hangouts in Gmail, one less tab to always have open.
No tabs you have to open if you use a Hangouts extension.
I actually love that. It’s not weird to have email open at work so I can send messages on my computer rather than having to constantly pick up my phone.
I just wish instead of Google making Allo that they would have incorporated those features into Hangouts and just given Hangouts the proper support it needs. Inbox and Gmail actually make sense to coexist (though I do wish there was more overlap in some features), whereas it makes absolutely no sense that Google should have made another IM app,especially once missing a lot of basic functionality that some people take for granted (like a functional desktop client ala Hangouts in Gmail).
What do you mean? There are literally dozens of people worldwide who use and appreciate Allo. Dozens!