UI changes in Apple's Mail beta
The surprise announcement of a beta version of Apple's browser-based MobleMe Mail has users curious about the service's future. While we await our invitations, we compared the only beta screenshot we've found to Mail's current appearance. Here's what we found, starting from the top.Toolbar
The new toolbar is blue and features fewer icons. The Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, iDisk, Find and Settings icons currently on the far left have been replaced with a single MobileMe Cloud icon. Perhaps it produces a drop-down revealing the other services. It seems unlikely that Apple would release a public beta that's so incomplete so as not to include links to services beyond email, but it is a Mail beta, so Apple is likely focusing on the functioning of that service before providing links to the rest.
Check out the gallery below for side-by-side screenshots.
The search bar has moved from the far right to the left, and the "action" icons (reply, forward, compose, etc...) have been replaced with five simple icons that seem to have been lifted right from the iPad. From right to left, they appear to be compose, reply/forward and move. The remaining two icons, first and second from the left, have us stumped.
The icon on the far left could be tag. The remaining icon seems to be an arrow pointed into a box. Your guess is as good as ours there. Perhaps save to iDisk or single-click archiving? We know that the new service will feature URL shortening and changes to rules. Perhaps that's what these will be used for.
3 columns
The most dramatic difference is the new 3-column view. Right now 3-pane and 2-pane views are available, but always across two columns. Again, this feels like Mail on the iPad with the message header and blurb on the left and a full, wide column dedicated to the message on the right.
Finally, the blue folder icons are now grey. Overall the UI is much simpler and, as we mentioned, similar to what Apple has done with the iPad. We're very eager to try this out and hope we get our invitations soon. Hint, Apple.
Share
Categories
The surprise announcement of a beta version of Apple's browser-based MobleMe Mail has users curious about the service's future. While we...
Add a Comment
The title of this article is very misleading.. It should say "mobile me mail". I thought it was for Mail, which is the OSX mail client.
May 14 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI like the widescreen layout, and hope it'll make its way into Mail.app without resorting to plug-ins.
On a side note, Apple say the beta works fully in Safari 4, Firefox 3.6 and IE8. I'm using Google Chrome and it seems absolutely fine.
Am I missing something, or is this a side-effect of the Apple-Google fall-out?
As has been noted before, if it works in Safari, it is almost certain to work in Chrome.
--Sam
I bet Mail will look similar to this in 10.7.
May 14 2010 at 2:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThere's now such invitation in french canadian MobileMe.
May 13 2010 at 11:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI wish me.com could handle getting multiple domain emails sent to it. Like for some of us who have like more than one domain name registered.
That is what I like about GoogleApps (free) is that you can have google be your email server, for free, and it will handle a ton of domain names pointed to it.
Just got mine! Check it out.
Congratulations, you can now start using the MobileMe Mail beta.
Enjoy new features such as widescreen view, one-click archiving, and rules that keep your email organized everywhere.
You will see the new Mail beta every time you sign in to me.com. To access your other me.com web applications, just click the cloud icon on the top left of the screen.
You can leave the beta at any time by clicking the Action (gear) button in the toolbar and selecting “Leave the Mail beta.†This will return you to the current version of Mail with all your messages intact. If you have any questions, please read the MobileMe Mail Beta FAQ.
Thank you for trying the MobileMe Mail Beta. Please give us your feedback. Once signed in, you’ll find the link in the lower left corner of your browser window.
Sincerely,
The MobileMe Team
I love the 3-column view. Use to have that with WideMail, but had to give WideMail up when upgrading to Snow Leopard.
May 13 2010 at 5:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIf you know where to look, you'll find an updated version for Snow Leopard. Been using it since it came out and it's quite flawless!
May 13 2010 at 10:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's a definite improvement over the earlier UI for sure and I am loving the single-click Archive and server-side rules. Good start, Apple.
May 13 2010 at 4:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou can request an invitation, but absolutely no time table for getting into the beta was offered. Could be in two hours, two days, or a month.
May 13 2010 at 4:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI requested an invite last night and got accepted this morning.
May 13 2010 at 8:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow to request an invite?
May 26 2010 at 7:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
more deals- $15 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $8 for new Saveology customers
- Philips Fidelio Docking Speaker Station for iPhone / iPod for $38 + $6 s&h
- Retro 80's Case for iPhone for $11 + $2 s&h
- HHI 360 Dual-View Stand Case for new iPad w/ $2 credit for $12 + $3 s&h
- HHI ReElegant Smart Cover Companion Case for new iPad from $5 + $3 s&h
- Used Apple iPad 64GB WiFi + 3G for $240 + free shipping
Software Updates
more updatesFeatured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
21 Comments