Possibly to go back to version before update? (New update stinks)

[Sigh]

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

[thermoman]

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.

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)), 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.

[Sigh]

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.

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)), 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

[jmccabe]

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.

[mikeone]

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.

[mikeone]

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'

[tbessie]

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

[b8drf]

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.

[someone]

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?

[StR]

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

[tbessie]

... 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

[StR]

... 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.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

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

[jmccabe]

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.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

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