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FastMail Forum All posts relating to FastMail.FM should go here: suggestions, comments, requests for help, complaints, technical issues etc. |
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27 Mar 2024, 08:41 PM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
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Fastmail becoming Gmail: Calendar UI changes without notice
I have elements in the calendar now appearing on the left side, that were hidden before and/or located at the top. Maybe I'm a rarity, but I don't need constant access to the mini navigation calendar, nor toggling Calendars, or my Subscriptions. I use 11" and 13" devices, like MacBooks, and this new column on the left uses valuable real estate. This is not a change that is easy for me with attention issues.
I've reached out to support and they've been cordial, but I'm doubting there will be any resolution. I've been told that the changes took place for consistency in the web UI. Sorry developers, I don't need dead elements collecting dust and rotting on one side, while taking away space from my full month view on my dinky displays. Not everyone is using a 27" or 32" monitor with your service. Their online calendar doesn't need to replicate their webmail interface to the T. I feel Fastmail is getting more and more distant from their end users, beyond this current problem. Just sucks we didn't get any notice about what I consider radical interface changes. FM support will respond, but I think the developers and managers stay clear of their paid clients. I left Gmail because of the constant confusing webmail interface changes. New Calender web interface: https://postimg.cc/R6GbQNVB Old Calendar web interace (Clean & Simple): https://cdn-resprivacy.pressidium.co...r-1024x396.jpg Last edited by bbbc : 27 Mar 2024 at 09:21 PM. |
28 Mar 2024, 05:30 AM | #2 |
Master of the @
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 1,751
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Ha! I haven't really noticed many Gmail UI changes in years, other than very minor tweaks. However, I suspect that any changes FM has made were based on feedback from customers, and unfortunately they can't make everyone happy. I feel the same way about phone sizes. I really, really like smaller phones. I want one that can just slip into any pocket and be invisible as I walk about. They are almost extinct now, but I understand that what I like is not what the market wants.
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28 Mar 2024, 06:04 AM | #3 |
The "e" in e-mail
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Holon, Israel.
Posts: 4,863
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Actually this calendar has been on the beta app for some time (about 3 weeks).
I sent them some feedback, and I saw some changes that may have been the result of that feedback, but I don't use a screen as narrow as yours, so the slightly narrower columns were not a big problem for me. Most of the time I use the calendar displayed in the left column in the mail view screen. There were also slight changes to the way the folder tree (in email) works (with shared folders) in the pas month. |
28 Mar 2024, 09:19 PM | #4 |
Master of the @
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 1,751
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I'm not sure it is worth it to provide feedback to most tech companies--they just ignore you! Though I have been told by a Google insider they do value feedback, it only works if you happen to be one of many millions of people pointing out the same problem.
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28 Mar 2024, 10:15 PM | #5 | |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
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Silicon Valley 101: Do as we say!
Quote:
Anymore, I feel UI/UX designers have to justify their employment and don't care about end users, especially when they're so far removed from the feedback and complaints. |
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29 Mar 2024, 01:00 AM | #6 |
The "e" in e-mail
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,908
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My biggest disappointment in Fastmail compared to the past is that they are no longer communicative at all towards their users. It's just marketing blah blah.
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29 Mar 2024, 01:19 AM | #7 | |
The "e" in e-mail
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Holon, Israel.
Posts: 4,863
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Quote:
If you point to particular problems with new features there it's quite likely to be taken into account, as there is someone actually working on that particular feature when it is new in beta. I pointed to some inefficiencies in the way the new calendar works and this was fixed within a few days, and also to a capability that was gone from the folder tree (collapsing the folders shared by other users) and it was restored (in a slightly different way that's more compatible with the rest of the folder tree). With Gmail probably you when you send suggestions you are one of millions, but still I think there's an element of timing: if you make a good suggestion and some developer is actually working on that feature at the time it arrives, there's a fair chance it would be considered. If no one is working on that subsystem when the suggestion is made then it would probably be lost in the archive with millions of other suggestions, unless it is exceptionally good. |
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29 Mar 2024, 05:30 AM | #8 | |
Master of the @
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,877
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Quote:
Im sure no one suggested removing the basic interface!! |
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2 Apr 2024, 10:59 PM | #10 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
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Kudos to the Fastmail developers for listening
So I've learned that the beta Calendar now has a button toggle to hide/show the sidebar and extra calendar on the left. I appreciate that the Fastmail folks listened and implemented a solution so fast.
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3 Apr 2024, 05:41 AM | #11 |
Intergalactic Postmaster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Irving, Texas
Posts: 8,930
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Another change in the current beta interface is in the listing of folders/labels at the left. Any folders (or labels) which are sorted to appear after the system Trash folder are separated from the standard folders and are subfolders of a new Folders (or Labels) folder. You can open Folders/Labels to see all of your folders, or close it to hide them, producing a very clean simple basic interface without the list of folders/labels. In addition, the + (new folder/label) and folder/label search icons are adjacent to that Folders/Labels top-level heading.
If you want to add a new folder/label and force it into the upper list of standard system folders, just go to Settings>Folders (or Settings>Labels), create the new folder/label, and drag it somewhere above the system Trash folder/label. The Templates folder/label becomes a system folder/label after you add it, and it will automatically appear before Trash in the top system folders/labels.
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3 Apr 2024, 06:55 AM | #12 | |
The "e" in e-mail
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Holon, Israel.
Posts: 4,863
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Quote:
Above it are many system folders that I would really like to be in it because I either do not use them, or I rarely need to access them (and also some folders that I prefer to have above them, because I filter incoming mail to them). So I'm quite glad that this "Folders" container is now collapsible (I asked in my beta feedback a couple of weeks ago that it would be, and also the containers of the of shared folders from other users (so when one browses mail folders of anther user one can collapse one's own folder tree which is a bit in the way). I'm a bit disappointed that I cannot shove all the system folders that I rarely have to directly access into this collapsible container. Another difference between this collapsible container and ordinary folders is that when one drags a message to an ordinary folder that is collapsed, the subfolders are shown, so one can drop the message into subfolders, and after the message is dropped the folder returns to collapsed mode. I use this a lot: I can have most of my archive folders inside a collapsed folder and still I can easily use file messages in them. The "Folders" container doesn't work this way. |
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3 Apr 2024, 11:49 AM | #13 |
Master of the @
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,877
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Its good they are listening..... Would be nice bringing back the basic interface!!!!!
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3 Apr 2024, 04:38 PM | #14 |
The "e" in e-mail
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Holon, Israel.
Posts: 4,863
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Now the "folders" container is back on top and is collapsible.
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