AquaMail Forum

English - Android => General Discussion => Topic started by: blass12 on February 17, 2017, 08:51:19 pm

Title: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 17, 2017, 08:51:19 pm
Hi, I believe yesterday or the day before a new update came out 1.8? All new fonts and style and so on.. Well I really don't like it.. First, when dark mode, I can barely tell the difference between read and unread msg's, its not much of a contrast.. Also, I HATE HATE HATE the fact that when in inbox, the delete icon is no longer at the bottom... Its up top, that is super annoying when going down inbox checking msg's to delete, to only have to uncomfortably reach all the way back to the top of phone to hit delete.. You did this once before years ago, and then wound up switching it back, or maybe I had found a way to switch back to bottom.. I don't remember.. (Also hate not having the compose icon on the bottom, sorry but the top is just an uncomfortable position)

So anyway, is there anyway for me to go back to the old look and feel that I loved, because there is no way that I can continue to use Aquamail with the current setup..

Thanks in advance for any help

Jeff
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Aciss on February 17, 2017, 09:10:08 pm
I agree with blass12, I too loved the old look and feel and am hoping for an option or setting to revert back to the previous look and feel!!!

No offence as I am sure a lot of hard work has gone into the redesign but .... for me .... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Also, Paris Geek, can you provide details as to how you got those setting on the screenshots you provided?

Thanks,

Aciss
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 17, 2017, 09:13:23 pm
This is my view, everything on top, and it was not like this before the update yesterday

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Aciss on February 17, 2017, 09:26:34 pm
Also, how do you get rid of the check boxes to the left of the emails??
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Aciss on February 17, 2017, 09:36:57 pm
Thanks but I don't want anything to the left of the email - no contact images OR Check boxes... similar to the way I had it before the update
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: robert on February 17, 2017, 10:05:22 pm
I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT STAND THIS DESIGN!  It's god awful!   You know what?  Another developer pulled the same mess, recently and it immediately made me jump ship.  It was my favorite weather app I had been using for years and it took one email to them and a reply to realize they weren't going back.  What's the point of changing the app to a design that I'm not asking for changes to?  Don't force it on me.  This is the same crap Microsoft pulls with Windows.  Do you guys never learn?

Seriously, I just opened Aquamail after posting on a news site forum about a competitor about how great Aquamail was and was welcomed by this ugly styling and messed up inbox crap.  I couldn't even change it...thinking, "no bigge," I'll just change the theme from Light-Material back to Light...but nope.  I've got the same chicklet bullcrap I didn't want to see, my email address hangs over every email (as if I don't know who the recipient might be) and while I had already gone through the hassle of customizing my color scheme, in light mode it goes to black text against my custom dark-purple background.  WTF? 

Even if I can go into 10 settings and change it back, why the hell should I have to?  Make the default theme the way it was and let me take a look at the new theme and decide if I want it on.  Meanwhile, if I'm going to spend 15-20 min trying to determine how to get it back, my time is better spent typing this message.

Fix this or I'm done with all apps by you guys.  This is not OK.  I'll say the same thing about this I did to that other company.  I bought a product that is no longer the product I bought and, without my permission, is now as non-functional and misrepresented as it can be.

This immediately made me go back to the message forum on that news site and correct my recommendation.  It also made me go to Google Play and give this 1 star.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: robert on February 17, 2017, 10:14:13 pm
Screw it.  I'm already looking for a different app.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 17, 2017, 11:09:27 pm
The design of the "light" and the "dark" themes in 1.8 has been switched to "material design" from Android 5.0, previously it was based on "holo" from Android 4.

Material design is Google's new trend, and with user requests for "more material", including for those themes, and with about 60% of all Android devices now running Android 5.0 or higher -- it was time to do so.

Sorry you didn't like the new design. Perhaps you'd like K9 Mail, they're still in the early planning stages of doing a Material update (but they are planning to do it too).
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: robert on February 17, 2017, 11:52:42 pm
That's exactly the kind of response I expected...time to move on to a different vendor and never look back.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 18, 2017, 12:26:18 am
My apologies for trying to explain and to be helpful.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 12:30:02 am


Ok, enable Floating action button and bar in Look and feel

Well that helped a "little" bit, at least it gives me some sort of task bar on the bottom, which has the trash icon... BUT to be honest, I never had the floating action button before, i purposely had unchecked it... Im not a fan of it, and I still had a task bar on the bottom of the screen which had the trash icon and the compose icon... With no floating action... Ive never used the floating action to compose an email...

Also, still a major issue, after i click compose, and I am actually composing an email, again the damn task bar is on top of the email, which has the "send" icon, "attach" icon, and menu (3 dots) icon... It was never on top before, I would compose an email, and then nice and easy on the bottom i could click send or attach, now i have to go all the way up top for it... Very uncomfortable, I dont understand the change?

I have to agree, while I am not gonna go nuts on the forum lol, the new setup/look as it is, just doesnt work.

So im guessing theres no way to just roll back pre update to what I loved...
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 12:40:11 am
Would anyone happen to know the color code for read and unread msg's in dark mode before this update were? Id like to try and get back to that?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 18, 2017, 12:43:27 am
My apologies for trying to explain and to be helpful.
+1
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 18, 2017, 12:45:11 am
Re: Would anyone happen to know the color code for read and unread msg's in dark mode before this update were? Id like to try and get back to that?

The "read" background was almost same as now: #323232 now, #303030 before.

The "unread" background was and is "transparent", with the window color showing through.

The window has changed: used to be pure black, now it's a very very very dark gray.

Bottom line, you will want to assign an "unread" background color too, and make it pure black.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 18, 2017, 12:48:01 am
Quote
Also, still a major issue, after i click compose, and I am actually composing an email, again the damn task bar is on top of the email, which has the "send" icon, "attach" icon, and menu (3 dots) icon... It was never on top before, I would compose an email, and then nice and easy on the bottom i could click send or attach, now i have to go all the way up top for it... Very uncomfortable, I dont understand the change?

The "dark" and "light" themes in the app are now based on Android's Material themes (from Android 5.0+), before they were based on Holo (from Android 4.0).

Rationale: quite many users wanting to get the newer Material look in those two (dark and light) themes, not just in the Material theme.

Background: 60% of all Android devices out there are now running 5.0 and newer. The scales have tipped.

Consequence: icons along the bottom are no longer possible.

Explanation: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=77632

( the "reported by" there may look familiar )
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 12:52:12 am
Re: Would anyone happen to know the color code for read and unread msg's in dark mode before this update were? Id like to try and get back to that?

The "read" background was almost same as now: #323232 now, #303030 before.

The "unread" background was and is "transparent", with the window color showing through.

The window has changed: used to be pure black, now it's a very very very dark gray.

Bottom line, you will want to assign an "unread" background color too, and make it pure black.

Ok thanks, so read 303030, unread pure black, ill give it a try...

Im just gonna say, no offense, and I get the "google's new trend" stuff, but honestly Ive been with aquamail for ages, well because it looked better and the setup was better... I mean if its going to just get very similar looking to gmail app, wouldn't people just use the stock gmail app? I dont know, just sayin... I mean if on day 1, when I looked for a new email app, if I found aquamail and it was just pretty much like the gmail app, I probably wouldnt have moved..
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 12:53:21 am
Before the user leaves to another app:
Pure black is #000000

LOL, thanks haha.. But just to be clear, I started this thread, but I was not the one who went on a flaming rant, that was someone else.. Dont take that part out on me!!!
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 18, 2017, 12:56:45 am
Before the user leaves to another app:
Pure black is #000000
LOL, thanks haha.. But just to be clear, I started this thread, but I was not the one who went on a flaming rant, that was someone else.. Dont take that part out on me!!!
Im pretty sure that @Paris Geek and @Kostya are both aware which guy is the 'flaming' one  :)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 01:07:58 am
Quote
Also, still a major issue, after i click compose, and I am actually composing an email, again the damn task bar is on top of the email, which has the "send" icon, "attach" icon, and menu (3 dots) icon... It was never on top before, I would compose an email, and then nice and easy on the bottom i could click send or attach, now i have to go all the way up top for it... Very uncomfortable, I dont understand the change?

The "dark" and "light" themes in the app are now based on Android's Material themes (from Android 5.0+), before they were based on Holo (from Android 4.0).

Rationale: quite many users wanting to get the newer Material look in those two (dark and light) themes, not just in the Material theme.

Background: 60% of all Android devices out there are now running 5.0 and newer. The scales have tipped.

Consequence: icons along the bottom are no longer possible.

Explanation: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=77632

( the "reported by" there may look familiar )

I just read the link you posted here... So this "material theme" is the thing now, but it makes is so you cannot have icons at bottom.. Which makes it very uncomfortable to use.. So why is it the new thing now? Google/Gmail/Aquamail/K9 whoever, i mean, idunno, just doesnt make sense to me..
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 18, 2017, 01:10:52 am
It's the decision of the 'famous' Google design team.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: blass12 on February 18, 2017, 01:17:45 am
It's the decision of the 'famous' Google design team.

Am I wrong though? 3rd party apps dont have to go with the design correct? I mean if it doesnt work why follow suit? Or is the majority of the world loving it? Maybe im the crazy one..
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 18, 2017, 01:18:50 am
Quote
Im just gonna say, no offense, and I get the "google's new trend" stuff, but honestly Ive been with aquamail for ages, well because it looked better and the setup was better... I mean if its going to just get very similar looking to gmail app, wouldn't people just use the stock gmail app? I dont know, just sayin... I mean if on day 1, when I looked for a new email app, if I found aquamail and it was just pretty much like the gmail app, I probably wouldnt have moved..

There are differences beyond the appearance.

And it's very important for new users (and old users too, just not all of them) to see a "modern looking" app.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 18, 2017, 01:23:58 am
It's the decision of the 'famous' Google design team.

Am I wrong though? 3rd party apps dont have to go with the design correct? I mean if it doesnt work why follow suit? Or is the majority of the world loving it? Maybe im the crazy one..
Third party app's needs to go with Android's new, clean "modern" Material design to get marked as "designed for Android 5.0+".

AquaMail is marked that way, and it needs it.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 18, 2017, 01:26:37 am
Re: Or is the majority of the world loving it?

Actually, yes.

It's been two and a half years since this design concept has been unleashed (summer 2014).
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: this_is_nascar on February 18, 2017, 05:37:20 pm
Absolutely a terrible update.  Not sure why you'd not default to the old look and let people apply the new look if they wanted it.  No, you're forcing a new look to the user base and asking them to fumble around with a bunch of settings, in hopes of getting back to something close to what the had before.  I'm extremely dissappointed.

I spend most of my time in the Smart Folder window, which now is horrible.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Fargus57 on February 18, 2017, 10:50:00 pm
I have to agree with most of the comments, the new look isn't very good and less efficient than the 'old' look and operation. First, mail in folders used to have a day/date separator which I found to be a nice feature to break up the mail. That seems to be gone. It also used to be easy to go from the Smart folder to the account list view by just clicking in the top left, now that useless 'three bar' menu is there. Is there an archive of previous versions so I can revert and disable updates?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 18, 2017, 10:55:55 pm
I have to agree with most of the comments, the new look isn't very good and less efficient than the 'old' look and operation. First, mail in folders used to have a day/date separator which I found to be a nice feature to break up the mail. That seems to be gone. It also used to be easy to go from the Smart folder to the account list view by just clicking in the top left, now that useless 'three bar' menu is there. Is there an archive of previous versions so I can revert and disable updates?
You can find an option in
Settings > Message list > enable 'Break up by date'
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Fargus57 on February 18, 2017, 11:06:08 pm
You can find an option in
Settings > Message list > enable 'Break up by date'

Thank you. One issue down.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Fargus57 on February 18, 2017, 11:37:46 pm
And what are other issues please?

Aside from efficiency in operation/design where several things seem to take more keystrokes to accomplish, I am still reading other posts to see if I can resolve my other issues in menu settings. Trying to be fair about evaluating the new look but would rather not have to waste time sorting through a myriad of menu options trying to get back to where it was, or as close as possible. Easier if I could just revert versions and disable updates.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: 73enforcer on February 19, 2017, 02:00:23 am
With Dark Theme, the Account List used to be completely Black but now it's an ugly grey screen, not my cup of tea at all. How do i revert back to the old app version or can I change this in settings? (Which obviously I cant find)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: MrKappa on February 19, 2017, 02:11:47 am
Hello, about the new update and look is it possible to have the floating buttons in vertical on the right instead of bottom horizontal?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 19, 2017, 01:57:01 pm
Re: Hello, about the new update and look is it possible to have the floating buttons in vertical on the right instead of bottom horizontal?

No, sorry, the bar has become horizontal so it's an easier reach from the bottom (for large sized phones). The message list can be "overscrolled" so there isn't a problem with overlap (of the bar on top of "last" message").

Re: With Dark Theme, the Account List used to be completely Black but now it's an ugly grey screen, not my cup of tea at all.

Yes, it was made a dark dark gray, true it used to be black. Sorry there is no setting for this since this color has to be specified in the app's "resources" (i.e. it's not set from code at runtime).
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: 73enforcer on February 19, 2017, 02:51:27 pm
Kostya,

The Black backgrounds were the sole reason why I purchased Aquamail for my oled phone and oled tablet.

Please return this Account list screen to complete blackness, I beg you!

Can I revert back somehow then? This grey is driving me nuts EVERY DAY :(
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 19, 2017, 03:03:01 pm
Re: The Black backgrounds were the sole reason why I purchased Aquamail for my oled phone and oled tablet.

Um, but dark gray is still more energy efficient than white, isn't it?

Re: Can I revert back somehow then? This grey is driving me nuts EVERY DAY

Please contact support / aqua-mail / dot com.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: someone on February 20, 2017, 09:11:21 am
I agree that the new version is not an improvement. I just went back to the prior version by restoring from a Titanium backup.
For those who don't have such a backup perhaps Kostya could provide a url to download the previous apk. Or maybe find it on a apk mirror such as
https://www.androiddrawer.com/27397/download-aqua-mail-email-app-app-apk/

But it would be best if Kostya would provide the older apk for those who prefer it. This way he could have the new design to please Google and the older version for those who supported Aquamail from the earliest days and helped it become the success it now is.

👍
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: FifiTheReal on February 20, 2017, 11:36:22 am
But it would be best if Kostya would provide the older apk for those who prefer it.

From offical download page: (http://www.aqua-mail.com/?page_id=217)


Quote
Direct download
Base application (with direct purchase link and its own update checker):version 1.7.2-125 (https://www.aqua-mail.com/download/AquaMail-paypro-1.7.2-125-stable-e9be23cd483a.apk)


I also have downgraded aquamail.  :'(
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: someone on February 20, 2017, 03:07:09 pm
Is there a setting that prevents Google play from including updates to the Aquamail version you like?

I prefer ver 1.6
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 21, 2017, 11:41:05 pm
Re: pure black background for AMOLED screens

We discussed this today, and will make it possible in an update, hopefully fairly soon.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: tbessie on February 22, 2017, 01:43:46 am
I'll just say that just because Material Design exists, and just because it is a good choice for SOME apps, doesn't mean it's a good choice for ALL apps (especially ones with this amount of functionality - the trend to simplified mobile apps seems to trend to a real dumbing-down, to the degree that more full-featured apps like AquaMail suffer when Material-Design-ified).

I have plenty of apps that let me change the look and feel of the GUI, even if that means away from Material Design guidelines.  Just because more Android phones use 5.0+, that doesn't mean that the GUI guidelines for those Android releases need to be followed.

Not everything fits (or should fit) into Google's idea of "good design".

- Tim
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: b8drf on February 22, 2017, 11:31:13 am
I agree with many on this thread re: the new look'n'feel - imo AquaMail was THE standard against which other Android email clients were compared. A desktop quality email client for mobile devices.

I really don't like the new look'n'feel - for example, I don't want anything to the left of the message header cluttering and taking valuable screen space - no contact images OR Check boxes... similar to the way I had it before the update. Why has this update taken us a backward step. I understand material design etc,  but to remove functionality from software I purchased??

I have now rolled bqck back to previous stable version, disabled market updates and will continue with v1.7.2 and also look for an alternative. What a shame the developer sold to MobiSystems!

For anyone interested in rolling back, here is the link to the last 1.7.2 stable version (prefix this with https:// as I am not able to include full external links)

aqua-mail.com/download/AquaMail-market-1.7.2-132-stable-44a9e5fb96c0.apk
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 22, 2017, 11:46:44 am
I spend most of my time in the Smart Folder window, which now is horrible.

I'm in at least partial agreement with this. After a load of messing around with settings (that I shouldn't have had to do, enable date splitting then having to customise the colours of the date header because the default grey doesn't stand out amongst all the read messages that have the same grey background), I'm almost ok with it but:

1) I think the top line, with "show the account name" enabled is just nasty; separate bits of text in what appears to be almost randomly chosen locations, with highlights looks awful to me. I think there was very little wrong with the way that used to be.

2) the action bar colour when messages are selected is also nasty IMO; where's the option to customise that?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 22, 2017, 01:08:58 pm
Quote
What a shame the developer sold to MobiSystems!
As a user, I'm comfortable that AquaMail belongs now to a solid company with many resources. This ensures the continued existence of the app.

Don't you use any other MobiSystems products then?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 22, 2017, 01:11:56 pm

2) the action bar colour when messages are selected is also nasty; where's the option to customise that?

There's no option to customize the color of Floating action bar (that appears when selecting a message). This is a good suggestion to add such customization (for the Floating action bar after selecting a message, and also top bar since both of them have got the same color now). Users: if you want that to happen, say it please on this forum. By proposing constructive (i.e. positive) requests, we could have a little chance to get them developed.

Where can we say that? The "Feature Requests" forum is read-only.

I can say it here - please make the top bar and floating action bar colour customizable, because the default is nasty.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Sigh on February 22, 2017, 06:49:34 pm

For anyone interested in rolling back, here is the link to the last 1.7.2 stable version (prefix this with https:// as I am not able to include full external links)

aqua-mail.com/download/AquaMail-market-1.7.2-132-stable-44a9e5fb96c0.apk

I just created a throwaway account to say thank you so much for doing this. What a horrible update. And I agree with everyone here, just because you can change to Material Update doesn't mean one should. Or maybe, hey, ask the users what they want with some beta or preview versions? People that use (or should I say used) Aqua Mail were not your typical Android users. We found Aqua Mail on our own and purchased it because we thought it was miles above any other email service. I understand selling out to another company as we all need to make money and live. But in this day and age I've seen way too many apps makes changes for the sake of making changes. I've also learned to voice my opinion and then either go back to a prior version or delete it. Which I am doing now. Good luck to MobiSystems in the future, but they've lost me based on this upgrade (and the sneaky way they tried to throw analytics into the prior version and then added an option later to remove it as if they figured no one would notice).

To those that are also not happy with the upgrade, I urge you to stop wasting time and either go back or find something else. It makes one healthier and happier in the long run. Because they may change some things now but they will most certainly push something on you later again.

Steve
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 22, 2017, 07:00:39 pm
Steve

To those that are also not happy with the upgrade, I urge you to stop wasting time and either go back or find something else. It makes one healthier and happier in the long run. Because they may change some things now but they will most certainly push something on you later again.

Have you got any thoughts on what you're going to move to?

Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Sigh on February 22, 2017, 07:07:00 pm
Steve

To those that are also not happy with the upgrade, I urge you to stop wasting time and either go back or find something else. It makes one healthier and happier in the long run. Because they may change some things now but they will most certainly push something on you later again.

Have you got any thoughts on what you're going to move to?

Sadly, no. I stopped using Gmail as they (yes, I'm shouting), FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, won't let you turn off conversation view in their Android app (yet you can in iOS). There is a setting for it but it doesn't work. I used K-9 before (clunky) and Type/Blue (stopped due to privacy issues, they use their own server). I think we're all kinda stuck now unless Kostya decides to go off on his own.

At some point I guess I just go to Gmail if they make a couple changes. That's why my user name is...Sigh.

Steve
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: thermoman on February 22, 2017, 07:54:20 pm
Hi. Just for information:

I, too, updated AquaMail a week ago and was upset with the new design. I immediately downgraded from a Titanium Backup. Today I took some screenshots of the 1.7 app and then updated Aquamail again and compared the actual new design to the old one. Most of the issues I had with the new one was fixable.

Yes, the checkboxes are there instead of checkmarks - I noticed and thought "there were no checkmarks in the old design" but hey I was wrong. It's a subtle change and you notice and get angry because you were used to the old design.

The checkboxes can be removed completely with the newest developer build, see Version 1.8.2-201 - "stable hotfix", not in Play yet (https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5435.0).

I then enabled grouping by date, slim fit, floating action button, floating action bar and enabled swipe (for "move to SPAM" since it's now hidden behind another click on the three dots in the floating action bar (see Feedback on design refresh in 1.8 (https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5314.msg32366#msg32366))), changed colors and it's almost as the old design.

Did I like the new design at first? Hell, no. Sure, it's new and some things changed, but I'll get used to that. AquaMail is still by far the best email app compared to other apps like K9.

I think you're making a mistake by moving away. I bet you'll get it to almost 100% of the old functionality of your workflow in less than an hour of customizing the settings.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Sigh on February 22, 2017, 08:16:05 pm
Hi. Just for information:

I, too, updated AquaMail a week ago and was upset with the new design. I immediately downgraded from a Titanium Backup. Today I took some screenshots of the 1.7 app and then updated Aquamail again and compared the actual new design to the old one. Most of the issues I had with the new one was fixable.

Yes, the checkboxes are there instead of checkmarks - I noticed and thought "there were no checkmarks in the old design" but hey I was wrong. It's a subtle change and you notice and get angry because you were used to the old design.

The checkboxes can be removed completely with the newest developer build, see Version 1.8.2-201 - "stable hotfix", not in Play yet (https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5435.0).

I then enabled grouping by date, slim fit, floating action button, floating action bar and enabled swipe (for "move to SPAM" since it's now hidden behind another click on the three dots in the floating action bar (see Feedback on design refresh in 1.8 (https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5314.msg32366#msg32366))), changed colors and it's almost as the old design.

Did I like the new design at first? Hell, no. Sure, it's new and some things changed, but I'll get used to that. AquaMail is still by far the best email app compared to other apps like K9.

I think you're making a mistake by moving away. I bet you'll get it to almost 100% of the old functionality of your workflow in less than an hour of customizing the settings.

Yes, but a week ago I didn't have to make all those changes. I may have the time but I do not have the inclination to have to re-do settings on my apps all the time. Just leave it be. There was nothing wrong with the app, nothing. The switch to Mobisystems was strike #1 (understand it, but sad anyway). Sneaking in analytics was strike #2 (and I usually stop there). This was strike #3.

Steve

Steve
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 22, 2017, 08:27:03 pm
Sadly, no. I stopped using Gmail as they (yes, I'm shouting), FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, won't let you turn off conversation view in their Android app (yet you can in iOS). There is a setting for it but it doesn't work. I used K-9 before (clunky) and Type/Blue (stopped due to privacy issues, they use their own server). I think we're all kinda stuck now unless Kostya decides to go off on his own.

At some point I guess I just go to Gmail if they make a couple changes. That's why my user name is...Sigh.

I used to use K9 before AquaMail. The privacy issue is a big problem as most free email apps can afford to be free by syphoning off loads of information from your usage that they can sell on. I'm keeping an eye on K9 as there has been a bit more active development recently and the new UI design might work out ok. And, apart from that, as I probably mentioned, I have issues with the MobiSystems approach.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 22, 2017, 11:17:35 pm
There is a  newer build of the 1.8 series where it's possible to turn off both contact images and checkboxes:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5435.0

It's worth to give it a try.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 22, 2017, 11:30:55 pm

Yes, but a week ago I didn't have to make all those changes. I may have the time but I do not have the inclination to have to re-do settings on my apps all the time. Just leave it be. There was nothing wrong with the app, nothing. The switch to Mobisystems was strike #1 (understand it, but sad anyway). Sneaking in analytics was strike #2 (and I usually stop there). This was strike #3.

Steve

Steve
There was an update in the meantime. You can disable "Sneaking analytics" in the settings now:

-> Menu -> Settings -> Send usage statistics -> uncheck 'Send usage statistics'
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: tbessie on February 23, 2017, 12:14:31 am
I'll just say that just because Material Design exists, and just because it is a good choice for SOME apps, doesn't mean it's a good choice for ALL apps... (snipped)

Material Design has been applied to AquaMail more than two years ago ("Material Design Theme").
Which new UI features in AquaMail don't you like?

I haven't upgraded, but am mostly referring to comments others have made here.  I'm also talking about the general problems I've seen out in the world of UX trends that folks attempt to apply to all apps and websites, where they'd be better served by NOT doing so.  For example, the current UX trend of "adaptive/responsive design", which ends up being "mobile only" rather than "mobile first" (that is, all websites end up looking like sites designed for tablets, even if you're using a huge desktop screen).  The usual UX Designer's response to that criticism is usually "Oh, well, they're not doing Responsive Design RIGHT!"  If that's the case, I haven't seen ANY site that's had Responsive Design done "right' - they all look like giant mobile apps.

In any case, Google's Material Design guidelines seem to be pushing apps in the direction of dumbing things down and hiding more sophisticated features deep in left-menu options, even if the app is one that shouldn't be dumbed down in that way.

That is - change for change's sake, or because it's "cool" to some young UX bunny that wants to prove himself - isn't necessarily always a good thing.

- Tim
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: b8drf on February 23, 2017, 11:03:15 am
There is a  newer build of the 1.8 series where it's possible to turn off both contact images and checkboxes:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5435.0

It's worth to give it a try.

Kostya,  Thank you ... This looks so much cleaner now without the checkboxes...

I have just spent an hour or so tweaking the settings and I must admit have managed to get back close to where I was pre: v1. 8 - I may have been a little hasty in rolling back.

One further request that is not configurable is that the new Title & Icon bars are significantly larger than before taking up more top/bottom screen space while the icons inside are actually smaller than before (which is fine).

This not only wastes a little valuable screen space Top/Bottom, but also looks dis-proportionate when compared to the icons. 

Is there a chance you could slim down the bars slightly?

I would appreciate a response/reply if this can be considered.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: someone on February 23, 2017, 08:27:53 pm
Steve

To those that are also not happy with the upgrade, I urge you to stop wasting time and either go back or find something else. It makes one healthier and happier in the long run. Because they may change some things now but they will most certainly push something on you later again.

Have you got any thoughts on what you're going to move to?
I am learning to live with the latest version but was happiest with version 1.6 but it is no longer available except in a personal backup. And for those who decide to go back, how to avoid update reminders?
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: StR on February 23, 2017, 10:10:04 pm
I am learning to live with the latest version but was happiest with version 1.6 but it is no longer available except in a personal backup. And for those who decide to go back, how to avoid update reminders?

You can download any of the older versions using the links from the development thread. I believe the latest "stable" version was 1.6.2.* and "development" was 1.6.4.*:
https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?board=9.40
As far as I can tell, the corresponding latest versions were 1.6.2.9-22  and 1.6.4-dev4.6, respectively.

Which reminders are you talking about? From Google Play? Just ignore them. On different devices, I have some 40-90 apps that I am not updating. The most inconvenient part in Google Play is that you cannot mark "ignore updates for the app XYZ", so that you can continue updating those that you want to.


https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5092.0
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: tbessie on February 24, 2017, 12:30:08 am
... The most inconvenient part in Google Play is that you cannot mark "ignore updates for the app XYZ", so that you can continue updating those that you want to.

Yeah, that's always been kind of annoying to me.  I like being able to do "Update All", but it would be nice to be able to say "except THESE ones".

You can do that with some custom ROMs, I've heard, but not the stock kernels.

- Tim
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: StR on February 24, 2017, 01:06:24 am
... The most inconvenient part in Google Play is that you cannot mark "ignore updates for the app XYZ", so that you can continue updating those that you want to.

Yeah, that's always been kind of annoy to me.  I like being able to do "Update All", but it would be nice to be able to say "except THESE ones".

You can do that with some custom ROMs, I've heard, but not the stock kernels.

- Tim

I'd expect that to be a property of Google Play app, not a ROM. But I might be wrong: maybe some ROMs can effectively hide some selected apps from Google Play, so that Google Play doesn't know these apps exist, and hence doesn't offer any updates for them.

In this respect I like how it was done with Microsoft updates e.g. in Windows 7: you can uncheck and "ignore" some updates, and they will not show up again.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 24, 2017, 08:32:13 pm
Re: K9 Mail - the new UI design might work out ok

This is their "mockup" for the "new design" -- http://www.julia.io/works/k-9/index.html

Message list: http://www.julia.io/works/k-9/images/k9_01.png

I *think* they'll have a lot of users unhappy with too much wasted space :)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: jmccabe on February 24, 2017, 10:58:35 pm
I'd be surprised if that was official, given that it looks different to the mockup discussed on GitHub, but I agree there is a lot of wasted space.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 24, 2017, 11:23:19 pm
Nothing's official until it's released, but this was the concept posted on the K9 Mailing list.

Anyway, I don't follow them too closely, just open their Google Group once in a while.

They have this discussion on GitHub: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1859 and ...

... when they release it, they'll get a lot of "where are the icons along the bottom" and "too much wasted space" and "now looks like any other app" too :)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: PlayNice on February 25, 2017, 12:08:53 am
Wow, pretty sad that the developer and whomever these other people are (Mobisystems employees? ParisGeek/MikeOne) making fun of other apps. That completely turns me off from wanting to continue using *your* app. Good luck, I am outta here for good now.

Former AquaMail user who will never again recommend it
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 25, 2017, 12:39:31 am
Re: That completely turns me off from wanting to continue using *your* app. Good luck, I am outta here for good now.

I was not making fun of K9. A very competent mail app with some features that Aqua Mail doesn't have (but the opposite is true too).

However:

Their design is dated, it's a fact, and they've been getting complaints about it for a long time. So they want to update it.

And:

When they do, the direction they're going (and this direction is to a large extent is set by Google, and also by user expectations), when they "make the design more modern and clean and airy", all those good words --

-- they too will get a lot of complains about "wasted space", "humongous font sizes", "where did the icons along the bottom go" and more, just like we did with our design update.

There isn't really anything funny about that.

Some users want "modern", others want "tried and true", then there is fashion (yep) and last but not least, technical capabilities ("icons along the bottom" removed by Google from Material Design theme).

The K9 people may not know this yet, but they will get those complaints when their design is done, and will have to decide how to deal with them.

(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/a3/a3b613a0a227d0b5615887ec44622b3dcf35a10f040f9c990e644d32d87165f0.jpg)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on February 25, 2017, 10:20:02 am
Wow, pretty sad that the developer and whomever these other people are (Mobisystems employees? ParisGeek/MikeOne) making fun of other apps. That completely turns me off from wanting to continue using *your* app. Good luck, I am outta here for good now.

Former AquaMail user who will never again recommend it
As mentioned and explained by Kostya there was definitely no bashing about k9 app from our side. At least this wasn't intended.

I'm sorry if this impression arose.

Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 25, 2017, 01:35:57 pm
Re: I think that future k9 layout is nice.

It is. Modern, clean and all those words. My point was that -- when they release it, they will get many complaints about it from the more conservative users, and there won't be a magic way to avoid that situation.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: nadir husain on February 25, 2017, 01:51:17 pm
 @ kostya  haven't used k9 for almost 2 years now but from what I read on forums it seems they still haven't addressed the doze issue on 6 and 7 and lots of users are migrating to other apps because of this.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: StR on February 26, 2017, 12:16:14 am
Wow, pretty sad that the developer and whomever these other people are (Mobisystems employees? ParisGeek/MikeOne) making fun of other apps. That completely turns me off from wanting to continue using *your* app. Good luck, I am outta here for good now.

Former AquaMail user who will never again recommend it

Good luck wherever you are going, a very sensitive person.
It's a pity that your very shallow reading of the forum will deprive you of a very good app. Hopefully the grass will be greener for your elsewhere.

If you read the forum with a little bit more attention, you would've realized that both Paris Geek and Mikeone are just fans and enthusiastic users of Aquamail. Moreover, as far as I can see, Mikeone had not even said anything about K9 in this thread (until today, after your response).

I suspect that you are angry for a completely different reason...

(https://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/186/684358b0-9a75-0132-44d4-0ebc4eccb42f.gif?w=740&h=417&fit=max&auto=format)

(I started this post some 6-8 hours ago, but was distracted before I could post it.)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: MarkAtHome on February 28, 2017, 04:54:38 am
I only have one nitpick to make re the latest version. I make use of Cc, Bcc and Reply-to fields (they are filled in beforehand) and I use them about half the time. When I do not use them, I had gotten used to click on the "X", located at the far-right of the (Cc, Bcc, etc.) line to clear the field. Now, with the latest version, I am being forced to position my cursor at the end of the already filled in text, and backspace once. Clicking on the "X" was easiest to use.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: someone on February 28, 2017, 05:31:57 pm
I only have one nitpick to make re the latest version. I make use of Cc, Bcc and Reply-to fields (they are filled in beforehand) and I use them about half the time. When I do not use them, I had gotten used to click on the "X", located at the far-right of the (Cc, Bcc, etc.) line to clear the field. Now, with the latest version, I am being forced to position my cursor at the end of the already filled in text, and backspace once. Clicking on the "X" was easiest to use.
+1
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on February 28, 2017, 08:24:28 pm
Re: I only have one nitpick to make re the latest version. I make use of Cc, Bcc and Reply-to fields (they are filled in beforehand) and I use them about half the time.

Our designer is already aware of the issue, we're hoping to have a fix in 1.9.

And hey, the designer is here on the forum since yesterday: https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5466.0 and other messages -- so maybe he'll see and respond too.

Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: aqualung on March 25, 2017, 12:40:35 am
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/blass12/Mobile%20Uploads/Screenshot_20170217-130721_zpsg1askxk6.png)

Ok, enable Floating action button and bar in Look and feel
Changing those look and feel settings do nothing when I enable them on my Samsung Note 4 using SwiftKey keyboard. When I enable these nothing changes.

Another annoyance is the FAQ and support is written in developer vernacular not language used by the average user. Other nuances like icon vs button may seem simple issues but searching in these god-forsaken message boards is terrible at best.

Please tell me what I am doing wrong with regard to enabling my floating [buttons| icons | actions | toolbar] whatever is called today by Google, so I can make this new UI somewhat just friendly.

I have been a huge fan of aquamail and Kostya, but this release is really trying my patience.

Why wouldn't you have figured out a way to save a user's settings, map them to the new paradigm and then walk the user through a setup widget where there was no direct analogue to that setting.

I would really like to revert to the previous version. I have worked in software for 20+ years and releasing a code drop with such visual impact on its users without warning or adequate documentation is not good practice.

I have been a huge fan of aquamail and Kostya, but this release is really trying my patience.

Thanks

Aqualung
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: mikeone on March 25, 2017, 11:57:58 am
I only have one nitpick to make re the latest version. I make use of Cc, Bcc and Reply-to fields (they are filled in beforehand) and I use them about half the time. When I do not use them, I had gotten used to click on the "X", located at the far-right of the (Cc, Bcc, etc.) line to clear the field. Now, with the latest version, I am being forced to position my cursor at the end of the already filled in text, and backspace once. Clicking on the "X" was easiest to use.
Your suggestion is now (re)implemented and available version 1.9.0-242-dev:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5517.msg33203#msg33203
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: flynn on April 17, 2017, 09:26:14 pm
Until now I did not update Aqua Mail from 1.6 because I noticed the complaints about the new UI in advance.
Accidentally I updated Aqua Mail today. And I must say I really hate the new UI.
First I tried to get the old look and feel back, but fiddling with the settings didn't get me the old look back so that I reverted with much trouble to the old version.
I am really angry that this update wasted so much of my time!

And instead of wasting all user's time by letting them all figure out themselves how to restore the old layout:
PLEASE ADD A BUTTON IN THE SETTINGS to restore all options to the way it best resembles the old layout!

Thanks.
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on April 18, 2017, 08:20:39 pm
App settings -> message list -> turn OFF "indent previews"

... -> turn ON "group by date"

... -> turn ON "attachments"

App settings -> look and feel -> make sure that the Floating Action Bar and Floating Context Bar are both ON

... -> set "color theme" to "light (material design)"

... -> set "title bar and icon bar color" to 5677fc (on the HEX tab)
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: flynn on April 23, 2017, 01:57:31 pm
Thank you for your hints. I can't really post a screenshot without exposing my mail addresses and emails, but I give it another try customizing it to my liking.
I got some questions and improvement suggestions for the whole customizing experience:

1) It's great that there is a reset button for all colors so that you can return to them. It would be even nicer if the color selection dialog
    would show the actual default value. E.g. when pressing 'reset' and opening the dialog, the "Exact" tab does not show a value.
    I'd like to use the default color for read messages, but make it a little darker.
2) It would be nice to have more colors on the "Common" tab to choose from. Even white and black and grey tones are missing.
3) I am using the dark theme. How can I customize the very first line in the message list which shows the email account and the message size?
    Currently it looks so distracting because the text has got a different background color and is what stands out most in the whole list, while I
    prefer the subjects to stand out. I don't particularily care about to which of my accounts the message was sent to. Can I disable displaying it completely?
4) There are not many customizing options for the account list or I missed them. To me it seems there is more vertical space between mail folders than before
    and I really would like to reduce it. Is this possible? Also the fonts look somehow different and I could not find how to configure them (I already turned off the "Thin fonts" option).

Thanks,
flynn
   
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: flynn on April 23, 2017, 09:44:12 pm
5) How can I customize the font size of the group header in the message list? I can set the group header color and group text color, but as far
    as I can see not the font size and I'd like to increase it.

Thanks,
flynn
Title: Re: Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on April 25, 2017, 08:50:47 pm
Re: How can I customize the font size of the group header in the message list?

I don't think we have a setting for that, sorry. But then we didn't prior to the 1.8 update either.