Gmail's New Compose
Google is doing it again! They're phasing out a feature-filled interface for a minimalist devoid-of-all-features screen, this time for composing messages in email. So now I have to navigate sub-menus to format my text, first click on the recipient email to change my own sender email, and view the compose window in a fraction of the screen space making it all the more difficult to compose large messages. I understand this might be useful for those who want the compose window to load fast, and use it just to send quick messages, but what if you want to take your time to write a newsletter or invitation or something that requires the additional formatting or options, then this is just making it worse!
You'd think they could at least leave an option for the old/advanced compose screen and let users choose which to use, but no, they're phasing it out for everyone! I'm honestly, for the first time since I started using Gmail many years ago, considering switching to a different email provider. It was OK when they completely ignored my usability feedback on YT and rolled in the new featureless design, but Gmail is an application I both need and use frequently. But it's free, so I shouldn't complain, right? Right. There's no easy way to complain to Google anyway, they've made sure of that, so I should just switch service without letting them know. Here's a picture of the old screen, with elements that are removed (red) and elements that will be harder to access (orange) in the new one highlighted. I highlighted the message area too because the new window has a tiny message area. It's totally useless.
Shit like this makes me want to start my own email service. I'd run it non-profit. I'd take peoples feedback into consideration. I'd fund the service with user-based donations. Why doesn't a service like that exist already?? I'm not alone in my opinion either, looking around I see that 74% of LA Times readers agree. I hope Google actually listens this time around.