Gmail's new design
 

Google is planning to launch a new Gmail design.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/12/1...-2018-redesign

The new design will include a ‘Confidential Mode’.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/13/1...l-mode-feature

It's due for a refresh for sure, but as always it seems that beloved functionality sometimes gets left behind in most software updates. I'm hoping nothing I use regularly gets worse! In my mind the prime example of this is Microsoft Word, which progressively has gotten worse and worse in terms of UI for the past couple of decades. There's something to be said for fine tuning, but major changes can lead to major problems. I hope to be pleasantly surprised once it comes out.

After reading this:

https://blog.google/products/gmail/s...own-new-gmail/

I went into one of my Gmail accounts, clicked on the settings, and try the new Gmail was there.

First impressions, looks similar to another e-mail provider's app that I am currently beta testing! ;)

There's not a lot to it, based on my first impressions. Nothing to love and nothing to hate. I like the addition of direct access to other functions, like the calendar and Keep in the right sidebar, but it is very small. Maybe there is a way to make those icons bigger. I don't use Task, but maybe I will check it out. I would love to be able to add Drive and Photos to that space--can it be done? The design is only a mild tweak and I think it looks a bit better--friendlier.

No option to enable it yet for me.

Here is a good article with screenshots at Android Police. Last section describes G Suite features, like offline access.

Is Confidential mode supported by Exchange/Outlook? That's still the main enterprise platform. Or is the mode just supported for local email?

Not sure if Confidential mode is available yet, or how to select it.

I wondered where the address book disappeared to. :(

If you go to compose a new message, then click on "To", select contacts opens up. :)

I’m not alone.

Apparently, Confidential mode is so confidential nobody is allowed to see it. It's rather odd they don't have some sort of pop up or other means of illustrating what the new features are and where they might be hiding.

I opted in this morning. Nothing special.

Outlook/Exchange has expiry and revocation. Expired messages are not deleted, the subject is stuck out. Revocation only works if the message has not been read. Don't know if these work with mobile Exchange accounts, but they certainly don't work with IMAP.

Google is just adding Confidential mode to grab Microsoft customers. It may only be available in G Suite. It is implemented by storing the message on Google and including a link in the email. That means no offline access.

If "do not copy" is implemented in javascript, you can defeat it (restricted sites in IE, developer tools).

I've since discovered that to access all your contacts, you need to click on the 9 boxes (3x3 = Google apps) icon at top right of screen.

Contacts may not be immediately visible, if you click on More it may be there, but you can click and drag the contact icon to the top of the visible list of apps.

Personally, the Confidential stuff doesn't interest me for my own messages and I don't like the idea of receiving things that disappear. Seems like it might be a way to send out truly awful spam to people, and then have the evidence evaporate.