Slashdot Mirror
New Version of Gmail Being Tested
Keith writes "Gmail was launched on April 1, 2004, and has revolutionized the way many of us use email. The interface has remained largely untouched since it launched, but get ready, it's soon to undergo a change in what they describe as a 'New Version'. Only a select few people have access to use the new interface — mainly employees and trusted people outside the company called 'Trusted Testers'. From the ZDNet blog entry: 'Google lets every-day users who are fluent in both English and another language translate small snippets of English text into the language of their choice. This is how they can offer services in several languages without spending a dime on professional translators. Unfortunately, exposing sensitive information in this manner makes it hard to keep a secret. One of my readers, who wishes to remain anonymous, stumbled across an interesting snippet of text (which I confirmed exists) spilling the beans on a new version of Gmail that is either currently being tested, or about to be released to testing in short order.'"
Why use POP when you can use IMAP? As long as you can backup your messages on your local computers, I don't see any benefit of using POP over IMAP.
I tried submitting this to Slashdot but it wasn't accepted. It did get picked up on the InsideGoogle blog. They have some photos and discussion.
For what it's worth, Google is stopping to call it GMail.
All of the icons were changed over the past few days to say "Google Mail" instead of GMail with little fanfare. Not sure if this is any indication of things to come, or simply a branding effort coming from the top-down. Guess we'll have to wait and see...
-- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
What are they distracting us from? Does Google really need human help to translate into Pig Latin. Iay ont'day inkthay osay. This sounds too much to me like an "accidentally on purpose" leak. Either they want us to know about it to create some free buzz, or it's sleight of hand to distract us from something else they're doing. Either way, there is probably a new something on the way. It just may not be Google Mail.
Mal-2
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
Maybe they can finally get rid of the 'beta' in the logo :)?
Overall, I think Google has a hit with their latest offerings. Google desktop for instance is a perfect addition to indexing and searching 65k+ Outlook emails (work still uses Outlook). Similar to Lookout, but doesnt crash Outlook. Google Documents has greatly improved and is perfect for sharing documents across PCs. Installing Microsoft office or OpenOffice is really optional now. While Gmail's interface isn't perfect, they have been making small updates throughout the months. I still think it beats Hotmail, Yahoo, etc...
They call me the wookie man, I guess that's what I am
Except that it's the best mail UI ever devised. I have actually switched from my "real" mail client to using gmail exclusively. I love the "keep everything in one folder, tag it and search" approach. Much better than dozens of folders with filters. I love how threaded mails are displayed; I always know what people are replying to. Oh, and search is fast.
Furthermore, they don't try to create a "real" app inside the browser, instead concentrating on making an awesome "web app." Yahoo recreates a "real" application inside the browser. So you've got tons of buttons and drag and drop and folders and all that crap, all of which makes the application slow, and doesn't really help you get your stuff done. Google has the right idea: It's a browser, make it a great web app, not a shitty copy of a "real" app.
Pray tell, what is so shitty about the current gmail UI?
Of course they can afford professional translators; but why would they hire 5 professional translators when they can have 20,000 translators for free?
We're talking about the same Google that MADE those billions by using thousands of cheap/free Linux computers.