Specific addressable issues

[Mr. Mark]

Let me begin by saying that I do not like the new interface, and I
feel it is a very superficial attempt at visual branding that may
prove to loose Google customers and ad revenues as time goes on.
However, since I'm using the free version, I guess my opinion doesn't
really count too much.

Every morning when I sign on to Gmail (which used to be one of my
favorite moments of the day), I now groan, get disgusted, and sign
out. I now read most of my Gmail on my iPhone or iPad, just because
it's easier to digest quickly. I am going to be forced soon to access
my Gmail at my desktop through Outlook just to be able to maintain
productivity. All of these workarounds defeat the purpose of friendly,
web-based email, which used to be Gmail's best quality. My only other
option is to change services, and I must admit I am doing research. A
shame really, because I am usually a die-hard Google fan. This new
look debacle, though, has really left a bad taste in my mouth.

Specific issues that could be fixed if the option to use the old
version is absolutely off the table (which I hope isn't the case):

1) Give the option for the Inbox background to be white while having
contrasting color on the sides and header. The low-contrast gray (or
worse semi-transparent!) background makes it very difficult to "see"
what I'm looking for.

2) Speed. The new interface is significantly slower and feels
'klunky'.

3) Offer completely customizable theme options, so that users can
define color, font, spacing for each element of the design. At least
then it would be possible to approximate the more user-friendly looks
of the previous version.

4) Offer an option to keep all header buttons visible at all times,
instead of toggling back and forth when moving in and out of messages.

5) Make the rollover pop-up 'learn more about...' boxes disappear when
the mouse moves off. They block access to functionality, and I'm using
Chrome, so I wouldn't think this is a browser bug.

I have replied consistently throughout the initial roll-out phase of
testing for the new look and every day since it was made mandatory.
I'm losing hope that anyone is listening, but I know from online
comments, forums, feedback groups, Facebook, Twitter, and
conversations with most of the people I collaborate on a daily basis,
that I am not alone in my dislike of the new interface. I hope Google
(and more importantly their advertisers) will respond.

[Marko Vukovic]

Hi Mark

On Sat, May 5, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Mr. Mark <markj...@gmail.com> wrote:

Let me begin by saying that I do not like the new interface, and I
feel it is a very superficial attempt at visual branding that may
prove to loose Google customers and ad revenues as time goes on.
However, since I'm using the free version, I guess my opinion doesn't
really count too much.

Every morning when I sign on to Gmail (which used to be one of my
favorite moments of the day), I now groan, get disgusted, and sign
out. I now read most of my Gmail on my iPhone or iPad, just because
it's easier to digest quickly. I am going to be forced soon to access
my Gmail at my desktop through Outlook just to be able to maintain
productivity. All of these workarounds defeat the purpose of friendly,
web-based email, which used to be Gmail's best quality.  My only other
option is to change services, and I must admit I am doing research. A
shame really, because I am usually a die-hard Google fan. This new
look debacle, though, has really left a bad taste in my mouth.

Specific issues that could be fixed if the option to use the old
version is absolutely off the table (which I hope isn't the case):

1) Give the option for the Inbox background to be white while having
contrasting color on the sides and header. The low-contrast gray (or
worse semi-transparent!) background makes it very difficult to "see"
what I'm looking for.

I'm not really understanding what you mean here. I'm assuming you've tried the other themes?

 

2) Speed. The new interface is significantly slower and feels
'klunky'.

I seem to have the opposite experience. Switching back and forth between messages def. seems faster to me.

 

3) Offer completely customizable theme options, so that users can
define color, font, spacing for each element of the design.  At least
then it would be possible to approximate the more user-friendly looks
of the previous version.

4) Offer an option to keep all header buttons visible at all times,
instead of toggling back and forth when moving in and out of messages.

Please explain what you mean here by toggling back and forth.

 

5) Make the rollover pop-up 'learn more about...' boxes disappear when
the mouse moves off. They block access to functionality, and I'm using
Chrome, so I wouldn't think this is a browser bug.

Where are these boxes? I don't seem to have them.

 

I have replied consistently throughout the initial roll-out phase of
testing for the new look and every day since it was made mandatory.
I'm losing hope that anyone is listening, but I know from online
comments, forums, feedback groups, Facebook, Twitter, and
conversations with most of the people I collaborate on a daily basis,
that I am not alone in my dislike of the new interface. I hope Google
(and more importantly their advertisers) will respond.

Seeing as you are using your mobile devices to access Gmail, have you tried the Chrome app for Offline Gmail? https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ejidjjhkpiempkbhmpbfngldlkglhimk

That gives you a clean simple interface based on the mobile one, and also syncs messages for offline access.

 

--
Marko

[Sean Murphy]

    I assume that this was a reference to the options that only become visible when a message is selected or opened - Back, Archive, Spam, and Delete, and Move to, Labels, and More.

[Andy]

>> 1) Give the option for the Inbox background to be white while having
>> contrasting color on the sides and header. The low-contrast gray (or
>> worse semi-transparent!) background makes it very difficult to "see"
>> what I'm looking for.
>
> I'm not really understanding what you mean here. I'm assuming you've tried
> the other themes?

I think he means to have some contrast between the background behind
the text of your message (or list of messages), and the e-mail header,
and everything else.

Other themes can make the "everything else" darker; but I haven't
found one that makes the header really different. Just separating
messages within the same conversation, is a chore now. There is an
extremely faint (almost invisible) line, and that's about it.

They have given us a very limited choice in themes now. Many colors,
but few real choices.

>> 2) Speed. The new interface is significantly slower and feels
>> 'klunky'.
>
> I seem to have the opposite experience. Switching back and forth between
> messages def. seems faster to me.

It is faster for me too. But this is something I can see depending on
exactly how your computer and web browser handle certain requests from
the server. Evidently it is slow on yours.

>> 3) Offer completely customizable theme options, so that users can
>> define color, font, spacing for each element of the design.  At least
>> then it would be possible to approximate the more user-friendly looks
>> of the previous version.

I hear Google soon plans to give us this capability again.

>> 5) Make the rollover pop-up 'learn more about...' boxes disappear when
>> the mouse moves off. They block access to functionality, and I'm using
>> Chrome, so I wouldn't think this is a browser bug.

Myself, I don't recall seeing those "learn more about..." boxes, but I
do get other ones frequently that are annoying, such as the pop-up
when your mouse hovers over someone's name or icon. I have to keep
chasing my mouse pointer around the screen to keep these things away.
They do disappear in a few seconds though.

Andy

[Mr. Mark]

Marko, Sean, and Andy:

Response inline below:

On May 7, 12:40 pm, Andy <AI.eg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> 1) Give the option for the Inbox background to be white while having
> >> contrasting color on the sides and header. The low-contrast gray (or
> >> worse semi-transparent!) background makes it very difficult to "see"
> >> what I'm looking for.
>
> > I'm not really understanding what you mean here. I'm assuming you've tried
> > the other themes?
>
> I think he means to have some contrast between the background behind
> the text of your message (or list of messages), and the e-mail header,
> and everything else.
>
> Other themes can make the "everything else" darker; but I haven't
> found one that makes the header really different.  Just separating
> messages within the same conversation, is a chore now.  There is an
> extremely faint (almost invisible) line, and that's about it.
>
> They have given us a very limited choice in themes now.  Many colors,
> but few real choices.

The inbox (message area) background is Google's "soft gray". I use
the High Contrast inbox, and actually the message area is slightly
darker than the header and border sections. On the backgrounds with
colors (Seafoam, Wasabi, Mahogany, etc...) the message area seems to
be the soft gray with semi-transparency, so the message area becomes a
slight variation of the border/header colors. Right now, in High
Contrast, unread messages have a white background, but read messages
have a gray background. I'm asking for an option for all messages to
have a white background, with bold text being the indicator between
read and unread. The "soft gray" background is too low contrast with
the text color to quickly scan for info.

>
> >> 2) Speed. The new interface is significantly slower and feels
> >> 'klunky'.
>
> > I seem to have the opposite experience. Switching back and forth between
> > messages def. seems faster to me.
>
> It is faster for me too.  But this is something I can see depending on
> exactly how your computer and web browser handle certain requests from
> the server.  Evidently it is slow on yours.

Speed issues are not the priority concern for me. Internet
connectivity speeds may be impacting my experience as well. But
again, least of my concerns.

>
> >> 3) Offer completely customizable theme options, so that users can
> >> define color, font, spacing for each element of the design.  At least
> >> then it would be possible to approximate the more user-friendly looks
> >> of the previous version.
>
> I hear Google soon plans to give us this capability again.

That would be great!

>
> >> 5) Make the rollover pop-up 'learn more about...' boxes disappear when
> >> the mouse moves off. They block access to functionality, and I'm using
> >> Chrome, so I wouldn't think this is a browser bug.
>
> Myself, I don't recall seeing those "learn more about..." boxes, but I
> do get other ones frequently that are annoying, such as the pop-up
> when your mouse hovers over someone's name or icon.  I have to keep
> chasing my mouse pointer around the screen to keep these things away.
> They do disappear in a few seconds though.
>

> 4) Offer an option to keep all header buttons visible at all times,
>> instead of toggling back and forth when moving in and out of messages.
> Please explain what you mean here by toggling back and forth.

On the inbox view, you have to check an email for the "Archive/Spam/
Delete, etc." button sequence to show up. The buttons are there
inside a message and in the inbox when a box is checked. I just don't
understand when refresh isn't incorporated into a consistent set of
buttons that don't toggle. Irritating, but I can live with it.


Thanks for the feedback everyone.