First off, while I have several personal and one educational Gmail account, I was not aware Google Inc. 189,70 -0,45 -0,24% had made changes to the interface. I manage all my Gmail accounts via Mozilla Thunderbird email client (which ironically I also use to manage my Google Calendar). I might actually access the web interface maybe once or twice a year if I need to access one of the Gmail accounts on my laptop (not sure why I don’t have Thunderbird installed on that machine). When the new interface was rolled out earlier this year, users could go back to the old style. However, beginning this month Gmail users will be forced to use the new layout as the ability to use the ‘old’ interface will be removed.
“The integrated view with Gmail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet on the left side of the window will also become standard for users who have turned on Chat,” the company said in a blog post. “Through quick settings, you can customize this new interface to include the apps most important to you, whether it’s Gmail by itself or a combination of Gmail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet.”
Google notes that the ability to customize the new interface makes it easier to stay on top of what’s important and reduces the need to switch between various applications, windows or tabs. It’s worth noting that with this new change, users will no longer have the option to configure Chat on the right side of Gmail.
Image Credits: Google
Looking at the above image I see the ‘new’ Gmail format looks very similar to that of Microsoft Corporation 454,46 +2,87 +0,64% Outlook’s web interface (just without the ads to get more OneDrive space or upgrade to an Ad-Free version). Outlook has the same app bar (except the apps are for Office and are on the left side underneath the Mail, Calendar, People and File icons. The right side of Outlook is just a blank space with an ad to get the Ad Free version (they are detecting I am using uBlock Origin). Surprised they are not trying to get me to use Edge….
via TechCrunch
