Add a folder with POP3 ??

[Cephas]

I've read through quite a number of posts in the forum. Came across the post at https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=5553.msg33427#msg33427

There is no + sign to add a folder. Have just purchased the pro version, the basics of adding a new folder don't seem to be available. Possibly I'm looking in the wrong spot ?

AM version 1.29.0-1784

[mikeone]

You can find an answer in this post:

https://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=1632.msg5454#msg5454

[Cephas]

Thanks. That post is nearly 8 years old. I have never come across an email client that didn't allow the addition of folders for POP3.  Not everyone uses IMAP.

No mention of POP3 at https://www.mobisystems.com/help-center/aqua-mail/?cat=244&qst=1606 [nofollow]

The question is, can I get a full refund ?

[Justin]

Not everyone uses IMAP.

I think, you hit the problem. Nowadays very most people are using more than one device. IMAP Is a must.

There are very few use cases for using POP. And if necessary, I wouldn't recommend to do so on a mobile device that will be replaced after 3-4 years.

[Cephas]

I think, you hit the problem. Nowadays very most people are using more than one device. IMAP Is a must.

Yet I assume IMAP was originally for those who travel. With so many countries in "lockdown", who travels ??

There are very few use cases for using POP. And if necessary, I wouldn't recommend to do so on a mobile device that will be replaced after 3-4 years.

I did see some sort of backup function on Aqua-mail; I assume that does a backup of settings and data, and can be restored on another device. I can see the use of IMAP in the mobile device replacement scenario (for myself), yet I have absolutely no need to have a copy of all emails sitting on an email server.

Anyway, if I want more than an inbox, drafts, trash and a sent box, it seems I am forced to use IMAP if we want extra folders. It would have helped if Mobi Systems had highlighted the fact that extra folders aren't possible with POP3. To advertise POP3 and IMAP without indiicating that POP3 doesn't have the ability to add extra folders, is frustrating.

I assume one can have IMAP and NOT have the server emails as a mirror of what is on the Tablet. Any new emails on the server, simply download and delete from server. Any sent emails simply go to 'sent' folder on tablet.

[Cephas]

I have heard that if we use IMAP, I cannot delete on the server and leave the messages in the  inbox. Can someone confirm this please ?

[Martin, Aqua Mail Support]

I think, you hit the problem. Nowadays very most people are using more than one device. IMAP Is a must.

Yet I assume IMAP was originally for those who travel. With so many countries in "lockdown", who travels ??

There are very few use cases for using POP. And if necessary, I wouldn't recommend to do so on a mobile device that will be replaced after 3-4 years.

I did see some sort of backup function on Aqua-mail; I assume that does a backup of settings and data, and can be restored on another device. I can see the use of IMAP in the mobile device replacement scenario (for myself), yet I have absolutely no need to have a copy of all emails sitting on an email server.

Anyway, if I want more than an inbox, drafts, trash and a sent box, it seems I am forced to use IMAP if we want extra folders. It would have helped if Mobi Systems had highlighted the fact that extra folders aren't possible with POP3. To advertise POP3 and IMAP without indiicating that POP3 doesn't have the ability to add extra folders, is frustrating.

I assume one can have IMAP and NOT have the server emails as a mirror of what is on the Tablet. Any new emails on the server, simply download and delete from server. Any sent emails simply go to 'sent' folder on tablet.

I have heard that if we use IMAP, I cannot delete on the server and leave the messages in the  inbox. Can someone confirm this please ?

Hi Cephas,

I'll go through your questions 1 by 1.

First, a clarification - IMAP isn't for people who just travel. IMAP is useful for anyone looking to access their mail account on more than one device. Say, you have both a laptop and a smartphone - generally you want to see the same messages regardless of which device you use to open your mail. That's what IMAP provides.

1. Aqua Mail's backup - there is a backup option, yes, it only covers settings and accounts added in the app. It does not back up e-mail messages.
2. You will get an Inbox, Drafts Sent and Deleted folders if you use POP3 in our app. However, all of the folders besides the Inbox are local. This is because POP3 doesn't support folders natively. Local folders will only work in Aqua Mail, on that device. You won't see the same messages in your Sent folder on another device.
3. Both POP3 and IMAP allow you to delete from the server. I've answere in more details on POP3 deletion in your other thread.

Please try to stick to 1 question per thread or one thread for all questions, not a mix of each question in several places.

[Cephas]

First, a clarification - IMAP isn't for people who just travel. IMAP is useful for anyone looking to access their mail account on more than one device. Say, you have both a laptop and a smartphone - generally you want to see the same messages regardless of which device you use to open your mail. That's what IMAP provides.

Thanks for the clarification. We only want to use one device, so we have no need for IMAP.

1. Aqua Mail's backup - there is a backup option, yes, it only covers settings and accounts added in the app. It does not back up e-mail messages.

Okay, thanks.

2. You will get an Inbox, Drafts Sent and Deleted folders if you use POP3 in our app. However, all of the folders besides the Inbox are local. This is because POP3 doesn't support folders natively. Local folders will only work in Aqua Mail, on that device. You won't see the same messages in your Sent folder on another device.

Yes, I get that. Can you please explain why Aquamail doesn't provide the option to add folder/s locally when using POP3 though ? It's only added funtionality, some software modifications.

3. Both POP3 and IMAP allow you to delete from the server. I've answere in more details on POP3 deletion in your other thread.

Please explain where the option is under a POP3 account, to delete emails from the server, WITHOUT deleting them locally

Please try to stick to 1 question per thread or one thread for all questions, not a mix of each question in several places.

That instruction is not clear, having no form (nebulous). One option contradicts the other, in fact they both contradict each other ??

[Martin, Aqua Mail Support]

2. You will get an Inbox, Drafts Sent and Deleted folders if you use POP3 in our app. However, all of the folders besides the Inbox are local. This is because POP3 doesn't support folders natively. Local folders will only work in Aqua Mail, on that device. You won't see the same messages in your Sent folder on another device.

Yes, I get that. Can you please explain why Aquamail doesn't provide the option to add folder/s locally when using POP3 though ? It's only added funtionality, some software modifications.

Because POP3 was created in the 90s and is severely outdated in comparison with modern e-mail requirements. While you may not use more than 1 device, probably more than 90% of the e-mail client audience does. POP3 is supported for completeness, in case IMAP or Exchange aren't available to the user. That doesn't mean POP3 is a priority for development.

We keep track of user suggestions so I'll add yours to the list. There are 2-3 very old requests for it on the forum and none in our ticket support channel, so I doubt it'll ever get implemented - both because POP3 is not a priority and because there isn't enough demand for such a feature.

Martin

[Cephas]

Thanks for your reply. I can find no information stating that a certain percentage of people use either POP3 or IMAP though. It will probably always remain unknown, a mystery. I don't see any evidence that IMAP will ever replace POP3 also.

It seems IMAP is not new though, "IMAP was originally created by Mark Crispin at Stanford in the 1980s." (I'd post a link but no can do).

Possibly if Aqua Mail had more POP3 support, it may result in more sales, ...$$$$  ?  If the demand for changes is based on the current user base, then who knows the extent of the need for improved POP3 support ?

[mikeone]

In a modern communication environment, the IMAP protocol will replace POP3 sooner or later. The POP3 protocol still exists, but nobody will want to ride a "dead horse". Especially when using a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a tablet, it is extremely negligent to save data (here: messages) exclusively on such devices, with the potential danger that they could be lost or destroyed.

Professional users are well advised to avoid such a scenario, as legal regulations require them to back up email communications.

The advantages and disadvantages of the two transmission protocols IMAP vs. POP3 are shown here, for example, quite well:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Message_Access_Protocol

In addition, there are a large number of other specialist articles that deal with this topic.  Also here in the forum, numerous posts have dealt with it in the past.

[mikeone]

In the corporate environment one often finds useful "mixed models" from POP3 and IMAP.

A central server - often a Microsoft Exchange mail server - retrieves the mails from a remote mail server via POP3 and stores them centrally for internal use.  The computers connected to this internal mail server retrieve the mails via IMAP within their network.  In this way, they are always saved on the central internal mail server.

So if you prefer to have all e-mails (only) available offline and a suitable device is used for e-mails on which a corresponding program for local backups is installed (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, etc. on a desktop computer), (only) then POP3 might be a suitable option.