Why won't Apple re-invent email?

[pmontanarella]

Hi all,

My question is simple: why do you guys think Apple isn't reinventing email?

While I love iCloud, and I do use it as my primary email service, it is EXTREMELY basic, especially when you compare it with what is out there on the market *cough* Gmail *cough*. I'm really tempted by Gmail but I don't want to lose the integration I get from iCloud with iOS and OS X. However, while the integration is great, I think Apple should really improve the backend service and reinvent cloud-computing (email mostly), just like they reinvented the phone and tablets.

What do you guys think? Do you guys use Gmail or iCloud or something else? What is making you stick with what you use?

Pietro

 

[maflynn]

What do you mean reinvent? What's the differences between gmail and apple's email service?

The only difference I'm aware of is that gmail scans your emails to sell to advertisers.

 

[pmontanarella]

What do you mean reinvent? What's the differences between gmail and apple's email service?

The only difference I'm aware of is that gmail scans your emails to sell to advertisers.

I mean, look at the big picture. Google scans your email for packages that have been shipped, flight details, puts all of that into google now. Plus it provides robust and efficient filtering and many customization options... It's not only email i'm referring too, it's everything put together.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Hi all,

My question is simple: why do you guys think Apple isn't reinventing email?

While I love iCloud, and I do use it as my primary email service, it is EXTREMELY basic, especially when you compare it with what is out there on the market *cough* Gmail *cough*. I'm really tempted by Gmail but I don't want to lose the integration I get from iCloud with iOS and OS X. However, while the integration is great, I think Apple should really improve the backend service and reinvent cloud-computing (email mostly), just like they reinvented the phone and tablets.

What do you guys think? Do you guys use Gmail or iCloud or something else? What is making you stick with what you use?

Pietro

You're probably predicting what IS going to happen. Apple could create an email system that will only work properly with the latest versions of the Mac and iOS operating systems, leaving the rest of the world out.

Currently, I have two domains...one with email hosting set up at Google and the other at Office 365. 95% of the time I use Google's web email interface and the Office 365 Outlook Web App, keeping them open in Chrome tabs.

 

[maflynn]

I mean, look at the big picture. Google scans your email for packages that have been shipped, flight details, puts all of that into google now.

I can easily take care of that myself and I'd rather not have google sell my email habits to the highest bidder - that's just me.

 

[Ccrew]

Apple could create an email system that will only work properly with the latest versions of the Mac and iOS operating systems, leaving the rest of the world out.

Precisely this.

You need to understand that email functionality is an RFC standard, not unlike networking, or FTP, or various other protocols. While Apple could design some snazzy new earthbreaking technology it would have to be ratified as a standard, or else you never know what's going to happen on the receiving end once you send an email.

 

[Michael Goff]

I can easily take care of that myself and I'd rather not have google sell my email habits to the highest bidder - that's just me.

I never understand this paranoia about your email information being "sold to the highest bidder". It's like you think that your information isn't out there regardless. The difference is that some people sell it to advertisers, others just hand it over to the Government.

Your private data isn't private.

Nothing you do on the internet is private.

 

[McGiord]

It isn't clear what do you mean by re-inventing it?
Email is a message that can have attachments and HTML stuff or simple text.
Video emails had been attempted by some but people still prefer the cold approach for formal communications.
The non verbal language behind a person's message can definitely produce different emotions and people in this texting generation will always prefer the privacy of a text.

I currently use both gmail and iCloud and both can be used together without no issues so far.

 

[maflynn]

I never understand this paranoia about your email information being

Its not paranoia, its my personal preference. You don't have a problem with a company scanning your emails, that's fine. For me, its not something I want. There are plenty of other email alternatives that don't do this, and I happen to choose one of those.

 

[reese2147]

I echo the sentiment of the OP. The sole reason I do not use icloud for my email is the lack of having threaded conversations. The web interface for icloud mail is just too much to handle (for heavier email users) without a conversation view (which seems to be standard now across web email platforms)

Until this functionality is added into icloud email, I'm sticking with gmail.

 

[roadbloc]

How do you re-invent email? Surely it would be like re-inventing the wheel.

 

[djtech42]

They can't really do much without breaking the email standards.

 

[kreach]

Actually, google did try something like that, and they called it google wave.

The idea was to create a mail system, which did not evolve from legacies of paper mail.

but not many used it, as all of us are still evolving from legacy issues, and they shelved the project.

 

[asleep]

They just invented air.

Give them some time(which they're also re-inventing).

 

[Abazigal]

How do you re-invent email? Surely it would be like re-inventing the wheel.

Maybe rethink the way people interact with their email?

I was kinda hoping they would buy over mailbox (which eventually got bought over by Dropbox). I quite liked their swipe method of sifting through your mail. It actually got me to actively organise my mail.

Just think, it would also have a greater lock-in effect, because no other app or service would allow you to organise your mail in that manner as efficiently.

 

[satcomer]

Hi all,

My question is simple: why do you guys think Apple isn't reinventing email?

While I love iCloud, and I do use it as my primary email service, it is EXTREMELY basic, especially when you compare it with what is out there on the market *cough* Gmail *cough*. I'm really tempted by Gmail but I don't want to lose the integration I get from iCloud with iOS and OS X. However, while the integration is great, I think Apple should really improve the backend service and reinvent cloud-computing (email mostly), just like they reinvented the phone and tablets.

What do you guys think? Do you guys use Gmail or iCloud or something else? What is making you stick with what you use?

Pietro

I use both. However what most people with Gmail on 10.9 OS X is account are handled in System Preferences->Internet Accounts.

Plus in Gmail's web page, settings, labels and turn off labels in IMAP. They tend not to mesh with OS X Mavericks Mail.

 

[kds1]

I hate gmail, it's complete crap, and their UI and the entire UX sucks. You know what I use the gmail address I have for? It's my junk address. It's the one I don't care about and use places where I'm pretty sure I'll get spammed or there's a good chance.

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I echo the sentiment of the OP. The sole reason I do not use icloud for my email is the lack of having threaded conversations. The web interface for icloud mail is just too much to handle (for heavier email users) without a conversation view (which seems to be standard now across web email platforms)

Until this functionality is added into icloud email, I'm sticking with gmail.

Conversation view is the most annoying thing in the world. I always turn that **** off. And the iCloud user interface is so much better and easier to use and simpler than ****** gmail.

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Its not paranoia, its my personal preference. You don't have a problem with a company scanning your emails, that's fine. For me, its not something I want. There are plenty of other email alternatives that don't do this, and I happen to choose one of those.

Agreed. Another reason why gmail is crap.