AquaMail Forum

English - Android => General Discussion => Topic started by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on February 27, 2017, 03:36:52 pm

Title: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on February 27, 2017, 03:36:52 pm
Hi everyone,

I probably should have done this earlier, but I wanted to say hello to the community - which I did not realize was so vibrant and active!

When Mobisystems acquired Aqua Mail, I was given the task to update its interface according to the modern Material guidelines, make its look more appealing/familiar to new users, etc. Certainly not an easy task, and we've only just begun!

We received some great feedback (of course, both negative and positive) which I wanted to say, I really appreciate, and I'm doing my best to learn from it. I'll be trying to address all meaningful suggestions and criticism (although, I hope everyone realizes that we can't possibly make everybody 100% happy, and that not all decisions are up to me).

Sometimes I may not be able to answer directly to everyone or every thread, but I'll be lurking in the forums for sure.


Cheers,
lpetkov
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Yaatzek on February 27, 2017, 06:58:53 pm
Great job! Your work made me finally switch to aqua ☺️ besides functionality I need the app to look great and now it does 👍
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on February 28, 2017, 12:13:38 pm
Thanks, guys.

@Paris Geek - yeah, I lurked through that thread. We actually addressed some of your points there, others we'll probably address in future releases! Thanks!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on February 28, 2017, 12:43:14 pm
.... make its look more appealing/familiar to new users, etc

With all due respect, you appear to have done that at the expense of existing users, many of whom have clearly been pretty pissed off with your work.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on February 28, 2017, 12:51:38 pm
.... make its look more appealing/familiar to new users, etc
With all due respect, you appear to have done that at the expense of existing users, many of whom have clearly been pretty pissed off with your work.

Some users will always resist any change. As an example, any time Facebook introduces a design change, millions of people go crazy, then a couple of weeks later no one can't even remember what the older design looked like.

Having said that, however, I realize I need to be more careful and find a better balance between what old-time users want and like, what new users want and like, what my boss wants, etc.  This is why I'm here, and I'll try to be as active as I can, ask the community about future changes, listen to feedback, etc.

Thanks for you comment!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: beerlao on March 02, 2017, 08:11:54 pm
.... make its look more appealing/familiar to new users, etc

With all due respect, you appear to have done that at the expense of existing users, many of whom have clearly been pretty pissed off with your work.
Please keep in mind that the chance users express their opinion is higher when they are not satisfied. People that are happy with the design changes (like me and I'm really a long time user) might not feel the need to seek for a forum to express their appreciation. So it might not be an indication for a bad design change if more users seem to be unhappy in these forums. That being said I like the fresh layout and I am a big fan of a clean interface with enough white space to make it look neat and clean. So, while I fully respect our position, count me to the happy user side ;-)

Best regards,

Beerlao
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 02, 2017, 08:34:27 pm
With all due respect, you appear to have done that at the expense of existing users, many of whom have clearly been pretty pissed off with your work.
Please keep in mind that the chance users express their opinion is higher when they are not satisfied. People that are happy with the design changes (like me and I'm really a long time user) might not feel the need to seek for a forum to express their appreciation. So it might not be an indication for a bad design change if more users seem to be unhappy in these forums. That being said I like the fresh layout and I am a big fan of a clean interface with enough white space to make it look neat and clean. So, while I fully respect our position, count me to the happy user side ;-)
That's not an unreasonable hypothesis. However, it's also not unreasonable to hypothesise that there may be many disgruntled users who either can't be bothered to, or don't know they can, express their opinion on a forum where doing so might have an influence on the future direction of the product. It's all guesswork to be honest, but you're probably right.

Perhaps I'm a little biased as I use a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact; it's only little, so all that extra whitespace isn't always a good thing!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 02, 2017, 09:39:44 pm
Since there is already an option "Slim padding" it could be useful to make this a bit more 'aggressive' to reduce the white space between "account/folder name" line and first title line.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 02, 2017, 10:44:57 pm
@Paris Geek:
Well, as shown in the screenshots below:

#1 "Slim padding" disabled
My suggestion is to leave the white space as it is currently:
Users who want a more clear, airy layout will be happy

#2 "Slim padding" enabled
Reduce the white space between "account/folder name" line and first title line a bit more 'aggressive' to satisfy users who want to see as much messages as possible on the screen.

PS:
I'm not of the opinion that slim padding is already too aggressive now.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: beerlao on March 02, 2017, 11:23:30 pm



Perhaps I'm a little biased as I use a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact; it's only little, so all that extra whitespace isn't always a good thing!

Yes, point taken, I'm using a Galaxy S7 edge, so there's plenty of room. It might come down to just personal needs ;-)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 02, 2017, 11:39:57 pm
@mikeone,

Screenshots, in order:

- "middle size", slim
- "middle size", regular
- "+1 size", slim
- "+1 size", regular
Thanks, I see....  8)
Too much white space in "regular view" but IMO too much even with "Slim padding".
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: iainmann on March 03, 2017, 02:08:37 am

Welcome lpetkov...and good to see you taking notice of a feedback forum like this. You have a hard act to follow and I wish you well.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on March 06, 2017, 01:25:41 pm
Thanks, guys.

@Paris Geek - yeah, I lurked through that thread. We actually addressed some of your points there, others we'll probably address in future releases! Thanks!

Hi again,
Just before you finish 1.8, please see attached screenshot. It's without "slim padding" so it's layout by default, and as shown, the white band between "account/folder name" line and first title line is too large. It is significantly larger than the space between "account/folder name" and the preview lines of the previous message.

Would you please decrease the width of that space (by 20 or 25%, or even less).
The user would gain in layount balance (especially when there attachement clips or message size displayed): the "colored" line will be closer to the title of its message. I don't see any cons for that change.

Thank you

Yeah, this is actually an implementation bug that we didn't catch before release. Not an intentional design decision.
Thanks!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2017, 03:44:17 pm
I really miss the Floating Tool Bar (FTB) being vertical.  Any chance this can be made an option?  Even better, make it truly floating, in that it could be dragged and AM will remember its position.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jcasares on March 06, 2017, 04:38:09 pm
Having said that, however, I realize I need to be more careful and find a better balance between what old-time users want and like, what new users want and like, what my boss wants, etc.  This is why I'm here, and I'll try to be as active as I can, ask the community about future changes, listen to feedback, etc.
First of all, welcome!

I value an application with an updated design but I value more functionality. While you don't reduce or impair functionality I will try to adapt to the new design. I know it takes time sometimes, and that you can't please everybody. In any case thank you for your work.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: nadir husain on March 06, 2017, 04:59:33 pm
Having said that, however, I realize I need to be more careful and find a better balance between what old-time users want and like, what new users want and like, what my boss wants, etc.  This is why I'm here, and I'll try to be as active as I can, ask the community about future changes, listen to feedback, etc.
First of all, welcome!

I value an application with an updated design but I value more functionality. While you don't reduce or impair functionality I will try to adapt to the new design. I know it takes time sometimes, and that you can't please everybody. In any case thank you for your work.
+10000000
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on March 06, 2017, 05:37:27 pm
I really miss the Floating Tool Bar (FTB) being vertical.  Any chance this can be made an option?  Even better, make it truly floating, in that it could be dragged and AM will remember its position.

Hi,
Could you explain why you like it better vertically positioned ? Is it just because it used to be that way, or are there particular reasons why you find it more comfortable that way? My argument for horizontal: easier to reach with the thumb by both right-handed and left-handed people.

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: ThomasN on March 06, 2017, 07:00:40 pm
I love AquaMail and don't mind the new design (except the logo/icon, miss the @). But please include .png  as supported file type for size reduction when attaching images. Used by screenshots.

Sent fra min SM-T810 via Tapatalk

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jcasares on March 06, 2017, 07:29:11 pm
But please include .png  as supported file type for size reduction when attaching images. Used by screenshots.
I second that.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2017, 07:57:04 pm


Could you explain why you like it better vertically positioned ? Is it just because it used to be that way, or are there particular reasons why you find it more comfortable that way? My argument for horizontal: easier to reach with the thumb by both right-handed and left-handed people.

For me, it was more easily distinguished from the other standard UI elements, which are all horizontal.  It seems an option to have it be either orientation would please both those that wish it Vertical and those that wish it Horizontal. 

Being able to position it would be an added bonus.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on March 07, 2017, 10:52:50 am
But please include .png  as supported file type for size reduction when attaching images. Used by screenshots.
I second that.

I submitted the idea to our product manager, hopefully will see the light of day at some point!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on March 07, 2017, 12:09:46 pm
Great to know it's not intentional design. When do you intend to "fix" it? Thank you.

I submitted this to our internal bug tracker. It will be fixed in time, depending on its complexity. Thanks!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 07, 2017, 08:34:34 pm
Quote
Just before you finish 1.8, please see attached screenshot. It's without "slim padding" so it's layout by default, and as shown, the white band between "account/folder name" line and first title line is too large. It is significantly larger than the space between "account/folder name" and the preview lines of the previous message.

Would you please decrease the width of that space (by 20 or 25%, or even less).
The user would gain in layount balance (especially when there attachement clips or message size displayed): the "colored" line will be closer to the title of its message. I don't see any cons for that change.

Done in 1.9 build 222:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5478.0

Made the spacing "below account / folder label" 6sp for "default settings" and 2sp for when "slim padding" is enabled.

Prior to the change, the spacing was equal to the padding along the bottom - 12sp or 6sp in "default" / "slim" padding respectively.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 08, 2017, 12:40:45 pm
I'll try 4sp in the next build.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 08, 2017, 12:51:32 pm
4sp when "slim padding" enabled: build 223.

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5478.0
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 08, 2017, 08:51:10 pm
Yeah, looks very good to my eyes too.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Julian on March 09, 2017, 08:47:11 pm
I originally posted this elsewhere under the subject "Slim Padding and general space problems in ver 1.8 and 1.9 compared to 1.7 " but was asked to put it here.

Dear All,

Version 1.7.2-132 compared to version 1.9.0-224-dev.

First, thank you for the improvements made so far.

Second, may I just repeat myself briefly by saying that one of the great things about AquaMail is the regular updates. Personally, I believe regular change can be a positive thing for apps, however, the best apps that I use are the apps best at presenting the maximum amount of well organised information in the smallest space, the main limitation of a mobile's screen. The most recent update significantly reduces the information available on my mobile's screen within AquaMail (please see the attached screenshots, with the same 'Message list' settings).

Third, analysing the problem, there are a number of points to consider:
1. It is clear that the space between the messages is much greater in ver 1.9.  I know that changes have been made over the original 1.8 release, but it is clear that slim padding is still less aggressive than before and I don't understand why the settings can't just be rolled over - why take away my ability to set padding to the same amount as in version 1.7?
2. In the examples below, both 'message list' settings have set the font size to 'normal'. Is 'normal', now not normal? Has the value for 'normal' changed for some reason? Even if I change the 'normal' to 'small' in the 1.9 version it doesn't do much to help recreate the 1.7 'message list', there is still too much unnecessary padding.
3. Perhaps one of the problems is the replacement of the tick with a box and the new way the checkbox is anchored vertically. It appears, that whereas the old tick always took up the same vertical space as the first two lines of a message, the new box is centred vertically taking up just half of the top line's space, all the middle line's space and half the third line's space. I can see that this could be considered better - but equally it can clearly be considered worse. It looks much worse in the example attached. And, on the subject of the check box, why is the box much fatter in terms of vertical space than the tick? It takes up so much more space in each direction than necessary and doesn't seem to look better as a result, so why do this?
4. By moving the paperclip to above the star, another line has been added between messages with attachments - the paperclip was happy where it was. Why move it to somewhere where it harms the amount of information that can fit on the screen, what's the point, as it looked good previously.
5. Similarly the message received time is in a vertical line with the paperclip and star - why have you changed this? The more information that can be presented inline like in ver 1.7, then the greater number of messages can be seen - why mess with this. It seems to me that the message received time is now much less easy to see at a glance, that is not progress.
6 I have also noticed, and it is clear in the attachments, that the new version shows an empty line of space where there is no message text to preview - this is inefficient and again an unnecessary change. If a line is empty, then why present it - what's the point of a completely empty line, when space is at a premium?

It is hard to look at the new screen in ver 1.9 compared to ver 1.7, in this case, and not notice how much worse it is, not just from a look and feel point of view, but most importantly with regards to information. There is less information presented and space where there need not be. Does anybody reading this prefer the look of the new screen in my attached screenshots? If not, I can't see the justification for these changes. Why have changes if they don't either increase the information available or make the presentation better? The screen in ver 1.7 is really very good, looks good, well balanced, clear and lots of information and nearly no wasted space.

I have seen other discussion of 'slim padding' on the forum and see that generally others are having similar complaints. I wonder whether a possible solution might be to have 2 choices? Perhaps 'Original' (as in ver 1.7), 'New' (as in ver1.8) and 'None' (as in every version without padding)?

In any case, please may I plead with you to help me get back the 'message list' that I have grown so fond of? Just give me access to the settings I had before please.

Thank you again for your time on this and thank you to the whole forum for your thoughts.

Regards,

Julian
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 09, 2017, 08:50:09 pm
Thank you @Julian, and I just posted a suggestion in your original post which should address at least two of your concerns.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Julian on March 09, 2017, 09:28:49 pm
I was asked to put this here - I already posted it under "Slim Padding and general space problems in ver 1.8 and 1.9 compared to 1.7 "

Dear All,

Version 1.7.2-132 compared to version 1.9.0-224-dev.

First, thank you for the improvements made so far.

Second, may I just repeat myself briefly by saying that one of the great things about AquaMail is the regular updates. Personally, I believe regular change can be a positive thing for apps, however, the best apps that I use are the apps best at presenting the maximum amount of well organised information in the smallest space, the main limitation of a mobile's screen. The most recent update significantly reduces the information available on my mobile's screen within AquaMail (please see the attached screenshots, with the same 'Message list' settings).

Third, analysing the problem, there are a number of points to consider:
1. It is clear that the space between the messages is much greater in ver 1.9.  I know that changes have been made over the original 1.8 release, but it is clear that slim padding is still less aggressive than before and I don't understand why the settings can't just be rolled over - why take away my ability to set padding to the same amount as in version 1.7?
2. In the examples below, both 'message list' settings have set the font size to 'normal'. Is 'normal', now not normal? Has the value for 'normal' changed for some reason? Even if I change the 'normal' to 'small' in the 1.9 version it doesn't do much to help recreate the 1.7 'message list', there is still too much unnecessary padding.
3. Perhaps one of the problems is the replacement of the tick with a box and the new way the checkbox is anchored vertically. It appears, that whereas the old tick always took up the same vertical space as the first two lines of a message, the new box is centred vertically taking up just half of the top line's space, all the middle line's space and half the third line's space. I can see that this could be considered better - but equally it can clearly be considered worse. It looks much worse in the example attached. And, on the subject of the check box, why is the box much fatter in terms of vertical space than the tick? It takes up so much more space in each direction than necessary and doesn't seem to look better as a result, so why do this?
4. By moving the paperclip to above the star, another line has been added between messages with attachments - the paperclip was happy where it was. Why move it to somewhere where it harms the amount of information that can fit on the screen, what's the point, as it looked good previously.
5. Similarly the message received time is in a vertical line with the paperclip and star - why have you changed this? The more information that can be presented inline like in ver 1.7, then the greater number of messages can be seen - why mess with this. It seems to me that the message received time is now much less easy to see at a glance, that is not progress.
6 I have also noticed, and it is clear in the attachments, that the new version shows an empty line of space where there is no message text to preview - this is inefficient and again an unnecessary change. If a line is empty, then why present it - what's the point of a completely empty line, when space is at a premium?

It is hard to look at the new screen in ver 1.9 compared to ver 1.7, in this case, and not notice how much worse it is, not just from a look and feel point of view, but most importantly with regards to information. There is less information presented and space where there need not be. Does anybody reading this prefer the look of the new screen in my attached screenshots? If not, I can't see the justification for these changes. Why have changes if they don't either increase the information available or make the presentation better? The screen in ver 1.7 is really very good, looks good, well balanced, clear and lots of information and nearly no wasted space.

I have seen other discussion of 'slim padding' on the forum and see that generally others are having similar complaints. I wonder whether a possible solution might be to have 2 choices? Perhaps 'Original' (as in ver 1.7), 'New' (as in ver1.8) and 'None' (as in every version without padding)?

In any case, please may I plead with you to help me get back the 'message list' that I have grown so fond of? Just give me access to the settings I had before please.

Thank you again for your time on this and thank you to the whole forum for your thoughts.

Regards,

Julian

Update:
I was told to use different settings in 1.9, i.e. to turn of message indents. This certainly helps with the amount of data on the screen - see attachment.
What seems to be happening is that the non indented line is squashing the check box box, this is much better because it increases the number of messages presented, but it doesn't look great not to have the indentation - just compare it to the original.
For the moment, the other problems persist.
Slim Padding can't be set as slim as before.
Font sizes have changed. Normal isn't normal anymore.
Check box width is too wide.
The paperclip is unnecessarily hogging vertical and horizontal space.
The date received time is taking up vertical space and is much less visible.

Thanks as always.

Julian

 
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 09, 2017, 09:47:49 pm
Thank you @Julian, and I just posted a suggestion in your original post which should address at least two of your concerns.
Here are @Kostya's suggestions:

Please turn off app settings -> message list -> indent previews and you will immediately see a difference:

- the checkbox or the contact image will be vertically aligned on the first two lines (sender / subject) not three (sender / subject / first line of preview)

- the empty line of "message text preview", when there is no actual preview, will go away

Font sizes have been adjusted somewhat, yes. We still provide a way to adjust them individually (app settings -> message list -> second half of the list -> you can adjust the size of "line 1" or "line 2" making them larger / smaller as you wish, independently of the message list's overall size adjustment).

I leave the rest for the designer to respond to.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Julian on March 09, 2017, 09:54:09 pm
Hi,

Thank you for your reply and thanks for the suggestions.

I have updated my settings to take account of the suggestions and reposted with an update, to which you have replied with the suggestions I have tried.

Please may I politely ask you to consider the other points.

Thank you,

Julian
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: bertrand731 on March 09, 2017, 09:55:15 pm
Aquamail is far away the best email app for Android (thanks to Kostya!)... I use it for several years (maybe six) I don't see any good reasons for the followings:

1) The conversation counter was initially on the right and it was great, now it's on the left of each image, honestly it's awful and out of any logic. Please put it back where it was (or eventually give the option to put it back)
2) Please put back (or on option) the bottom bar with the buttons 'refresh, new, search, all selected'
3) Take off this awful multicolor refreshing line, it could be the bottom button as initially or a basical unicolor

Until now, I've been back to version 1.7.2-121 with an APK I could get with the app Myapks (fortuneatly)...

Please keep Aquamail the best
Bertrand
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 09, 2017, 10:06:29 pm
Hi,

Thank you for your reply and thanks for the suggestions.

I have updated my settings to take account of the suggestions and reposted with an update, to which you have replied with the suggestions I have tried.

Please may I politely ask you to consider the other points.

Thank you,

Julian

Just a quick 'work-around' for the "... much less visible date received time":

-> Settings -> Message list -> scroll down to the section "Customize" -> you can set
1) an appropriate color for 'message times (unread)' / 'message times (read)'
2) enable 'Bold: message times' for 'Unread' and/or 'Read'
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Julian on March 09, 2017, 10:16:08 pm
Mikeone,

Thank you for that - good idea and it helps a lot.

Now all I need is a little help with the slim padding and the paperclip and I may get my 4 missing messages back too - fingers crossed.

Thanks again and regards,

Julian
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 09, 2017, 10:19:15 pm
You're welcome  :)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 10, 2017, 02:09:34 pm
Re: Take off this awful multicolor refreshing line, it could be the bottom button as initially or a basical unicolor

The bottom button? What bottom button? :)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: pixel_junkie on March 11, 2017, 01:25:18 am
Just want to say that I love the app, it is very well designed and I appreciate your work. It's not perfect but it's pretty damn close. The abundance of customization options is awesome. And love it that you listen to your users and implement changes quick! Well done, keep it up!!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 11, 2017, 02:02:29 am
Is there any sign of a customisation option for the "accent" colour? My tablet has updated to the latest Play version but I can't see that this has been added so I still have the (in my opinion, quite horrible) teal accents. I've switched off automatic updates on my phone so that I can avoid the latest version until this option is available, but that's tremendously inconvenient.

Thanks
John
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 11, 2017, 11:45:29 am
Is there any sign of a customisation option for the "accent" colour? My tablet has updated to the latest Play version but I can't see that this has been added so I still have the (in my opinion, quite horrible) teal accents. I've switched off automatic updates on my phone so that I can avoid the latest version until this option is available, but that's tremendously inconvenient.

Thanks
John
-> Settings -> Look and feel -> Title bar and icon bar color -> choose one of the predefined colors or define an individual one under 'Custom' - 'Exact' :)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 11, 2017, 01:54:47 pm
Nope - that's not the 'accent' colour. I'm talking about the overlays that appear when you select messages in a message list. They're still teal which really doesn't fit with what I've already set in that option you described.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 11, 2017, 03:20:00 pm
Quote
Nope - that's not the 'accent' colour. I'm talking about the overlays that appear when you select messages in a message list. They're still teal which really doesn't fit with what I've already set in that option you described.

Overlays - checkboxes?

Assuming you have turned off "contact images" in message lists?
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: nyceyes on March 11, 2017, 03:42:32 pm
I purchased this 5 years ago (maybe more) and always appreciated that it kept evolving. I always wrote the original developer to thank him every time he made an update. So thank you, too, for the updates to the UI. Keep up the good work. 😊
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 11, 2017, 04:32:46 pm
Quote
Nope - that's not the 'accent' colour. I'm talking about the overlays that appear when you select messages in a message list. They're still teal which really doesn't fit with what I've already set in that option you described.

Overlays - checkboxes?

Assuming you have turned off "contact images" in message lists?

No. When you're in the message list, select one or more messages and the top toolbar changes to a different bar that's a teal colour with no option to change it.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 11, 2017, 07:42:42 pm
Quote
I purchased this 5 years ago (maybe more) and always appreciated that it kept evolving. I always wrote the original developer to thank him every time he made an update. So thank you, too, for the updates to the UI. Keep up the good work. 😊

To give credit where it's due - the design update was (mostly) the work of @lpetkov, he's here on the forum:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5461.0

Re: No. When you're in the message list, select one or more messages and the top toolbar changes to a different bar that's a teal colour with no option to change it.

Ah, in the light theme? Yes, true, very light "pastel" teal. Sorry no setting for this one.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 11, 2017, 11:56:42 pm
Quote from: John McCabe
Re: No. When you're in the message list, select one or more messages and the top toolbar changes to a different bar that's a teal colour with no option to change it.

Ah, in the light theme? Yes, true, very light "pastel" teal. Sorry no setting for this one.

Would you please consider adding an option to change it, which should hopefully be quite simple? The current 'standard' colour in the 'light' theme you mention clashes horribly with my custom settings for other colour options (and it never used to be this way!).

Thanks
John
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: tommyt on March 12, 2017, 12:09:57 am
To join in the opinion sharing, I'd like to see the message times (in the Message List) move back to being to the left of the star (next to) instead of beneath it, or at least make it selectable. It would appear to me that with the change since v1.8 that the space next to the star is empty, while having the time below the star crowds things up a bit in the info on lines 2 and 3.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 12, 2017, 02:13:08 am
Re: Would you please consider adding an option to change it, which should hopefully be quite simple?

If it were simple, I would have done it years ago.

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: someone on March 12, 2017, 01:13:38 pm
This may be too difficult to implement but if it could it would be very helpful.

One of the major strengths of Aquamail is its extreme customizability. Excellent! But it can also be one of its most confusing elements. This has been greatly improved but it is still at times difficult to find "where" a setting is to be found and sometimes "what" a setting actually does.

As I said, this has become easier (or I have become more used to the app settings) but it makes me wonder if it would be possible to expand a feature already implemented in a few AM settings: visually "seeing" in a panel within the settings screen an example of how that setting (slim padding, etc) changes things. Where such an immediate example display exists, it is very helpful. At least to me.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 12, 2017, 01:31:29 pm
For the "where" Aqua Mail's settings screen has search since December.

There already is a preview in message list settings since, well, forever, and it does shows the effect of "slim padding" and all the other ones.

There is a preview of swipe settings, and conversation settings.

Now maybe you meant "slim padding" in message view - the effects are quite small, and it's a new setting so we haven't had a chance to think about a preview for that.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 12, 2017, 01:35:47 pm
Re: Would you please consider adding an option to change it, which should hopefully be quite simple?

If it were simple, I would have done it years ago.

On my phone, which is still running 1.7x, when the floating bar slides into view (equivalent to the top bar that appears in 1.8 on my tablet), it's the same colour as my day/date separators in the message view. In other words, before 1.8 there was no need (well, in my opinion, of course) for a customisation option on that. It's only recent changes that have made me feel a need for this.

Hope that makes sense.

John
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on March 14, 2017, 09:19:27 pm
Quote
On my phone, which is still running 1.7x, when the floating bar slides into view (equivalent to the top bar that appears in 1.8 on my tablet), it's the same colour as my day/date separators in the message view

I see what you're saying, but we picked the color of the "action bar" so it matches other colors in the app's built-in theme(s) -- we couldn't possibly have picked it to match custom color settings used by any particular user, or by every one of them :)

The divider color settings is mostly for people who feel that the dividers are too thin (even with thin fonts off) -- in which case they can make them black, for example, which is "stronger" and "feels" thicker even though it's not.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 15, 2017, 02:28:20 am
With all due respect Kostya, if you're going to give users the amount of freedom you do to choose their preferred colours, it really doesn't make any sense to restrict some colours under the "built-in themes" argument. It's fine for you to choose how your built-in themes should look and, I guess, quite a lot of people would be happy to use them.

However, first of all, the 'Light' theme we're discussing here has changed recently and that change was forced onto users. Some of us (me in particular) are extremely disappointed about the fact that we had to go through the customisation options the app provides to try to get it back to a set of colours that appeal to us, and that (probably) helped to contribute to us paying for your app (possibly more than once in some cases).

Secondly, you might be able to argue the technicalities of the action bar colour selection being difficult to implement as a customisation (and, as a software engineer with 30 years experience, I would really appreciate hearing that argument) but, to me, it just doesn't feel right that you should offer so many colour customisation options, but not that one.

John
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: lpetkov | Mobisystems | Designer on March 16, 2017, 12:01:53 pm
@jmccabe
I'm not quite clear on what you're referring to. Could you provide a screenshot, please? Thanks.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 16, 2017, 12:57:43 pm
I'll try, but chances are it won't be until tomorrow or maybe Saturday. I don't have that version on my phone because (as I've mentioned many times) I really don't like that colour. It's on my tablet and that's at home now. It's quite simple, though, so I can describe it.

The tablet set up with a two-panel UI with the "Light" theme selected and the "Title bar and icon bar colour" (or whatever it is in the most recent version; you might've changed its name) set to something around 0xFFCBD5E2. Date separators are on, and the colour of those is set to something similar but a bit darker than the title and icon bar colour.

When I open Aqua Mail it's set to go to the Smart Folder so I can see the account list on the left panel and the messages in the smart folder on the right-hand panel.

Now, if I select one or more of the messages in that view (i.e. such that the contact image changes to a tick, NOT so that the content of the message is displayed), the title bar changes to show a different set of icons. On my phone (with a single-panel UI and an older version of Aqua Mail) the floating action bar or whatever it's called appears on the right of the screen and, as far as I remember, the change to the title bar in the new version is equivalent to that, i.e. it shows the number of messages selected, the trash can icon, the mark as unread icon etc. It's the colour of that bar that I don't like and can't find a way to customise.

HTH, and I'll try to get a screenshot (I've searched on the net but nearly all of the screenshots of the two panel UI, with the message list displayed and messages selected are from the old version!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: ang on March 17, 2017, 07:08:57 pm
I have been using Aquamail for some time but it now won't connect to my ISP outgoing server (TalkTalk). I have tried everything even deleted my account and tried to set up again. Nothing works, nothing wrong at server, webmail working
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on March 25, 2017, 12:12:58 pm
I have been using Aquamail for some time but it now won't connect to my ISP outgoing server (TalkTalk). I have tried everything even deleted my account and tried to set up again. Nothing works, nothing wrong at server, webmail working
I recommend to open a separate thread in this section to get some help for your issue - as long as it still exists:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?action=post;board=1.0
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: H2Om on March 26, 2017, 12:02:59 pm
.... make its look more appealing/familiar to new users, etc
With all due respect, you appear to have done that at the expense of existing users, many of whom have clearly been pretty pissed off with your work.

Some users will always resist any change. As an example, any time Facebook introduces a design change, millions of people go crazy, then a couple of weeks later no one can't even remember what the older design looked like.

Having said that, however, I realize I need to be more careful and find a better balance between what old-time users want and like, what new users want and like, what my boss wants, etc.  This is why I'm here, and I'll try to be as active as I can, ask the community about future changes, listen to feedback, etc.

Thanks for you comment!

I really, really hope you keep the focus on lightweight and speed.
I'm neutral about the changes you made. They are different, not better, not worse.
Ideal would be modular skin design.

That's best explained by comparing to Windows. It has a certain look but many alternative themes and skins are available.
All those 100's of theme's aren't installed, for the majority of users not even one will ever be installed and taking up resources.

What's I'm suggesting is that AM is nothing more than a command line utility with a GUI frontend.
The users can install the frontend they like. Some go for material, some for classic. Others for Theme-X, etc.
MobiSystems could even offer/sell themes separately.

That way everyone has the design he/she likes.
And that could be different designs depending on the device.
The ideal design on a 4" phone very likely isn't the ideal design on a 10" tablet for many users.

My experience is that programs that allow to be skinned often have a lively community because people really love to tweak the looks of their programs.
And that may boost MobiSystems sales.
I'm quite sure many don't buy AM because it looks boring. Others like 'boring' very much; and like me would abandon AM if it gets 'flashy'.
I'm a dinosaur stuck in time I think, because I still think the Windows 2000 look is the best look Windows ever had.  Yeah, I'm that old!  ;)
But many find it extremely ugly and demand a heavy SF theme that makes me dizzy  ::)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Galactic Fork on March 31, 2017, 10:00:36 am
I was told to put a UI suggestion I had in this thread, so I shall.  Actually I really dig the design for the most part.  I do have 2 minor issues.  One new, and one old.

1)  The date is aligned to the second line, I think it'd be better to have it match the "sender" as that is usually shorter than the Subject, it's less likely to cut it off.  And then the attachment icon can be returned to the subject line.  This way the paperclip won't enlarge the border between the above mail when slim padding is on.

2)  Now that the contact images are centered to the second line (whether subject or sender), it looks much more symmetrical when you have a 1 preview line setup, and preview indenting on.  This is great, but it also means there is now blank space above and below image, instead of just below.  It'd be great to have the option to enlarge some of that space.
The attached mock up is using the old design, but the size in relation to the message entry would be the same.


OK, now for a suggestion of a new feature.  The ability to make the read and unread backgrounds of messages in the message list customizable by account type.  So one account could have 2 shades of blue for the backgrounds of unread and read messages and another can be shades of green.  There is a color selection option in the account settings that adds a little colored strip in the smart folder, but this would be more elaborate.

Thanks!
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Galactic Fork on March 31, 2017, 12:39:13 pm
1)  The date is aligned to the second line, I think it'd be better to have it match the "sender" as that is usually shorter than the Subject, it's less likely to cut it off.  And then the attachment icon can be returned to the subject line.  This way the paperclip won't enlarge the border between the above mail when slim padding is on.

You mock screen of date and clip is not precise (displayed date and clip are those of older version, which is gone and will not get back). What do you think about my suggestions, made for the new design version (see links)? We'll have more chance to be heard if we all push in the same direction at the same time

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5317.msg31797#msg31797
https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5317.msg31338#msg31338

In the short term, I suggest that you hide the stars, which will improve the message display, since the date will move to the first line. You'll always be able to star/unstar using swiping actions.

My mock up was only for the my suggestion about the contact image, as I said, it was for the old version.  I didn't intend for it to be in reference for 1.  I just wanted the date aligned with the sender, or set on the top line.  So I guess we're on the same page there.  But I don't have stars on now, and the date is still is on the second line. 




2)  Now that the contact images are centered to the second line (whether subject or sender), it looks much more symmetrical when you have a 1 preview line setup, and preview indenting on.  This is great, but it also means there is now blank space above and below image, instead of just below.  It'd be great to have the option to enlarge some of that space.
The attached mock up is using the old design, but the size in relation to the message entry would be the same.


You're not using conversation view, are you? With you suggestion, there will be no place to display the conversation counter, unless you propose a mock screen with that counter in a suitable place. Also, consider that a majority of users have not changed the option (selecting by default) of displaying round contact images.

You are correct, I do not have conversations on.  However, looking at it, I don't see why it's an issue.  There are many ways it can be handled.
1)  Just have the counter push the image to the right.  (most likely option)
2)  Have the counter just extend over the contact image.  (this is my favorite option)
3)  Have the contact counter shrink the contact image to make room.
4)  And it's optional, so they can turn it off if they don't like whichever one of the above is chosen.

As for the square contact images vs round.  The image was just to give scale in relation to the lines, so I just used an image from when I made this suggestion for the old version.  I wasn't trying to show how it would look for everybody, I'm sorry. 

When I get back to my home pc, I will be able to make a more up to date mock up.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jmccabe on March 31, 2017, 01:14:15 pm
I'll try, but chances are it won't be until tomorrow or maybe Saturday. I don't have that version on my phone because (as I've mentioned many times) I really don't like that colour. It's on my tablet and that's at home now. It's quite simple, though, so I can describe it.

The tablet set up with a two-panel UI with the "Light" theme selected and the "Title bar and icon bar colour" (or whatever it is in the most recent version; you might've changed its name) set to something around 0xFFCBD5E2. Date separators are on, and the colour of those is set to something similar but a bit darker than the title and icon bar colour.

When I open Aqua Mail it's set to go to the Smart Folder so I can see the account list on the left panel and the messages in the smart folder on the right-hand panel.

Now, if I select one or more of the messages in that view (i.e. such that the contact image changes to a tick, NOT so that the content of the message is displayed), the title bar changes to show a different set of icons. On my phone (with a single-panel UI and an older version of Aqua Mail) the floating action bar or whatever it's called appears on the right of the screen and, as far as I remember, the change to the title bar in the new version is equivalent to that, i.e. it shows the number of messages selected, the trash can icon, the mark as unread icon etc. It's the colour of that bar that I don't like and can't find a way to customise.

HTH, and I'll try to get a screenshot (I've searched on the net but nearly all of the screenshots of the two panel UI, with the message list displayed and messages selected are from the old version!

Sorry not to have been in touch sooner about this; I haven't managed to upload a screenshot yet as I haven't had time to go through it and obfuscate the content, but do you still need one or have you been able to recognise the control I'm referring to here?
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Galactic Fork on March 31, 2017, 05:28:14 pm

My mock up was only for the my suggestion about the contact image, as I said, it was for the old version.  I didn't intend for it to be in reference for 1.  I just wanted the date aligned with the sender, or set on the top line.  So I guess we're on the same page there.  But I don't have stars on now, and the date is still is on the second line. 


Please use a recent AquaMail dev build: the date now appears on the first line, when stars are off, and the sender/recipient is on the first line too.

If the date thing is already taken care of, fine.  Anyway, here are my mock ups for the larger icons with conversations on.  I have one for if the counter overlaps (I think it looks best).  And one for just moving the message over, and one for scaling down the contact image if the counter is there.

Also, as I said, I'm suggesting the option for larger contact images, so it would be able to be turned off.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jfeldredge on April 14, 2017, 10:31:14 pm
One feature that would be helpful is a menu option to view the plain-text source of an HTML-formatted message, so as to tell whether any links in it truly go to the location they claim to be. Various desktop mail clients, such as Thunderbird, have this feature, but I am not aware of any Android email clients that do so.

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: nica on April 15, 2017, 12:53:03 am
(..) so as to tell whether any links in it truly go to the location they claim to be.

Did you try to tap long on a link? You should see a popup window with address and possibility to copy/share.

@Kostya
These menu items are not translated yet (into german language). Help needed?
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jfeldredge on April 15, 2017, 12:56:32 am
The problem with this technique is that it would be easy to accidentally launch the link instead of viewing it, and end up installing malware. Being able to view the HTML source as well as the rendered HTML is safer.

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on April 15, 2017, 01:26:39 am
(..) so as to tell whether any links in it truly go to the location they claim to be.

Did you try to tap long on a link? You should see a popup window with address and possibility to copy/share.

@Kostya
These menu items are not translated yet (into german language). Help needed?
-> screenshot
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: nica on April 15, 2017, 09:16:04 am
@mikeone Additionally there are toasts strings for confirming the action after having tapped a menu item.

This menu seems to be a new one, I did not know this ;)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: mikeone on April 15, 2017, 11:07:51 am
@mikeone Additionally there are toasts strings for confirming the action after having tapped a menu item.

This menu seems to be a new one, I did not know this ;)
I didn't know them either  8)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Kostya Vasilyev on April 16, 2017, 02:01:54 pm
Re: menu -> screenshot

The menu's been there a long time, but the "copy text" / "share text" items are new (the "...link" items existed before).

Re: translations

That's being taken care of, but thanks (and you can always give your feedback once that's done, probably in a few days).
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: Aaron on June 06, 2017, 03:51:03 am
I don't know where to ask this question.  I looked all through the forums and no luck yet.  Is there a way to see who the email in my inbox is addressed to?  I'm in charge of overseeing employees email usage so copies of there email comes to me.  In Outlook I'm used to seeing who the email was addressed to so that I'm not responding to an email that wasn't meant for me.
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: StR on June 06, 2017, 05:22:38 am
In the message view, tap on the "header" area (that shows the sender and the subject), and it will expand to show "To:" and "Cc:", if any.
Is that what you are looking for?

(Starting a new thread in one of the forums, e.g. "How To" for this question, would've been just fine.)
Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: jfeldredge on June 08, 2017, 12:50:48 pm
Note that the SMTP mail protocol allows a message to be sent out with only the Blind Carbon Copy filled in, but nothing in From or Carbon Copy. The result, from the recipient's point of view, is a message that seemingly wasn't sent to anyone, yet showed up.

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: I'm the Aqua Mail designer - just wanted to introduce myself
Post by: StR on June 08, 2017, 02:09:31 pm
And the censor Aaron's address wouldn't be in "To" on the messages he "observes". (What an awful company to work for!). But, obviously,  he wouldn't be able to if he was a target of a mass-nmailing, or that was one of his, ghm... colleagues.
The best solution would be to have a separate,  "functional " account for the censorship role.