It's currently invite-only, and I imagine they won't force people to use it once it's gone public.
Though I think it looks very cool. I was hesitant to use their 'Categories' because I have my email all nicely filtered into different folders automatically. However, this goes way beyond that, and I expect their algorithms would keep getting smarter, as opposed to me manually updating my filters every few months.
I just make an effort to unsubscribe or not sign up for things in the first place. Honestly, calling it an effort is overstating it. I never get unwanted email and I can manually manage the emails that I do get.
Google Now already does some of the things that Inbox does and more; package tracking, setting reminders, TV schedules, product sales, movie showtimes, weather updates, traffic updates, etc.
I'm glad to hear you have your email all organized. But you could imagine a case where another person, not you just to be clear, does not have it worked out so well.
Maybe they use their email in a different way that you, so that the influx of emails do require some effort to keep track of. Or maybe they use their email for team collaboration, tracking tasks, etc.
This new application could be beneficial to those people. I'm looking forward to trying it out and seeing if it fits my usage of email.
Of course they will force it onto people. Google would like to introspect your data as much as possible so they can sell perfectly targeted ads and user profiles and this Inbox looks like a very good reason for them to ask for consent to even deeper introspection then they already have in place for Gmail now.
well, if they were serious about forcing this onto people, won't they have just made this the next major update for Gmail? The fact that they have delegated a special app for it shows that they are drawing a fine line between the two, at least for now.
About Google forcing the issue......Google forcing people to sign up for Google + to make an app review on the play store is an example. No "opting out" on that one. Bing it.
Err, because Gmail isn't already scanning on all the email you receive? Go put your tinfoil hat back on and climb back into your cellar. If you cared about privacy and keeping things away from the NSA, you wouldn't be using it in the first place.
I think the experience may be inconsistent at least in the beginning, especially with multiple languages, postal services, airlines and everyone using his own formatting. I guess it will get better with time.
If they give you the automatic algorhytm but also allow you to force conditions (like treat e-mails from this recipient as a work e-mail, or stuff like that), it might be a cool feature.
Honestly though, unless you receive more than let's say 10 e-mails every 6 hours (if you check your e-mail every 6 hours), categorization doesn't seem much of an improvement to me. If you are subject to a constant barrage of e-mails, I guess being able to see with a quick look that it's all work e-mails or e-mails related to something that can wait until later, and dealing immediately only with the other ones, would be a pretty useful feature. Having a ready-made algorhytm instead of having to create your own categories is useful. The problem is that you have to be able to trust it.
The snooze feature is a separate useful feature. Like make it so that the e-mail gets "resent" to your inbox 6 hours later when you can deal with it.
As far as privacy goes, that's been gone for a long time.
Looks very cool! I've basically abandoned Android and am using Windows Phone as my daily driver (as I find it superior in most respects), but more stuff like this, if it's well executed might be able to persuade me to come back (unless it gets copied by MS in the next year or so).
Got the invite, tried to use it, and it doesn't work for Google Apps accounts. What the fuck Google? You lock out your only paying customers??? I'm not going to manage a Gmail app and an Inbox app. Figure your shit out and start treating your paying customers better. Ridiculous!
Yeah, Google's relation to Apps (or Domains, or whatever they're calling it these days) customers is totally broken. It took them forever to get single sign-on working acceptably, but they seem to have learned nothing from that.
Basically the take-away message, IMHO, is don't ever rely on Google for anything serious and longterm. They're fine for core products (eg search, presumably GMail) but ANYTHING that's not core, even if you're paying for it, just can't be trusted.
I tried to use the invite they sent me and you have to download either the iOS or Android app to accept it. My smartphone doesn't run either of those operating systems.
Disappointingly, it is *not* available for Google App accounts. No mention was made of this until I tried to use it. This is a peculiar limitation and I'm not sure why. Oh well...
I wish they would not sort my mail. I'm always wasting time looking for some email or other. It shows up in whatever place THEY think it should be, not where I think it should be. Just put it all in one place and let me sort it.
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nathanddrews - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Not sure if that was an ad for a new app or a hipster tutorial.As long as I get the option to opt out, I'm cool. I can manage my own email, thanks.
xilience - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
It's currently invite-only, and I imagine they won't force people to use it once it's gone public.Though I think it looks very cool. I was hesitant to use their 'Categories' because I have my email all nicely filtered into different folders automatically. However, this goes way beyond that, and I expect their algorithms would keep getting smarter, as opposed to me manually updating my filters every few months.
nathanddrews - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I just make an effort to unsubscribe or not sign up for things in the first place. Honestly, calling it an effort is overstating it. I never get unwanted email and I can manually manage the emails that I do get.Google Now already does some of the things that Inbox does and more; package tracking, setting reminders, TV schedules, product sales, movie showtimes, weather updates, traffic updates, etc.
xilience - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I'm glad to hear you have your email all organized. But you could imagine a case where another person, not you just to be clear, does not have it worked out so well.Maybe they use their email in a different way that you, so that the influx of emails do require some effort to keep track of. Or maybe they use their email for team collaboration, tracking tasks, etc.
This new application could be beneficial to those people. I'm looking forward to trying it out and seeing if it fits my usage of email.
Daniel Egger - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Of course they will force it onto people. Google would like to introspect your data as much as possible so they can sell perfectly targeted ads and user profiles and this Inbox looks like a very good reason for them to ask for consent to even deeper introspection then they already have in place for Gmail now.ruggia - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
well, if they were serious about forcing this onto people, won't they have just made this the next major update for Gmail?The fact that they have delegated a special app for it shows that they are drawing a fine line between the two, at least for now.
nathanddrews - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
If history has shown us anything, it's that a Google BETA app is destined to become integrated with Gmail at some point.piiman - Saturday, October 25, 2014 - link
You can always opt out. Stop using it!SantaAna12 - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I use gmail, but not sure about this.About Google forcing the issue......Google forcing people to sign up for Google + to make an app review on the play store is an example. No "opting out" on that one.
Bing it.
Really put a sour taste in my mouth.
xilience - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Just got a delivery failure when sending to the request invite email address, [email protected]. =(SpartanJet - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I guess this is a way to scan more emails. No thanks.shabby - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
It seems like its gmail + google now rolled into one. I wonder how they'll integrate ads... oh you like kfc? Popeyes is better!Gigaplex - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
They already have access to your inbox. They don't need a new UI to scan your email.Azurael - Friday, October 24, 2014 - link
Err, because Gmail isn't already scanning on all the email you receive? Go put your tinfoil hat back on and climb back into your cellar. If you cared about privacy and keeping things away from the NSA, you wouldn't be using it in the first place.Communism - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Monetizing tools made as a contractor for the NSA.Classic Google.
MathieuLF - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
Uh no.Murloc - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I think the experience may be inconsistent at least in the beginning, especially with multiple languages, postal services, airlines and everyone using his own formatting. I guess it will get better with time.If they give you the automatic algorhytm but also allow you to force conditions (like treat e-mails from this recipient as a work e-mail, or stuff like that), it might be a cool feature.
Honestly though, unless you receive more than let's say 10 e-mails every 6 hours (if you check your e-mail every 6 hours), categorization doesn't seem much of an improvement to me.
If you are subject to a constant barrage of e-mails, I guess being able to see with a quick look that it's all work e-mails or e-mails related to something that can wait until later, and dealing immediately only with the other ones, would be a pretty useful feature. Having a ready-made algorhytm instead of having to create your own categories is useful.
The problem is that you have to be able to trust it.
The snooze feature is a separate useful feature. Like make it so that the e-mail gets "resent" to your inbox 6 hours later when you can deal with it.
As far as privacy goes, that's been gone for a long time.
althaz - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Looks very cool! I've basically abandoned Android and am using Windows Phone as my daily driver (as I find it superior in most respects), but more stuff like this, if it's well executed might be able to persuade me to come back (unless it gets copied by MS in the next year or so).tayb - Friday, October 24, 2014 - link
Got the invite, tried to use it, and it doesn't work for Google Apps accounts. What the fuck Google? You lock out your only paying customers??? I'm not going to manage a Gmail app and an Inbox app. Figure your shit out and start treating your paying customers better. Ridiculous!name99 - Friday, October 24, 2014 - link
Yeah, Google's relation to Apps (or Domains, or whatever they're calling it these days) customers is totally broken. It took them forever to get single sign-on working acceptably, but they seem to have learned nothing from that.Basically the take-away message, IMHO, is don't ever rely on Google for anything serious and longterm. They're fine for core products (eg search, presumably GMail) but ANYTHING that's not core, even if you're paying for it, just can't be trusted.
purrcatian - Saturday, October 25, 2014 - link
I tried to use the invite they sent me and you have to download either the iOS or Android app to accept it. My smartphone doesn't run either of those operating systems.keithh - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
Disappointingly, it is *not* available for Google App accounts. No mention was made of this until I tried to use it. This is a peculiar limitation and I'm not sure why. Oh well...Kidster3001 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
I wish they would not sort my mail. I'm always wasting time looking for some email or other. It shows up in whatever place THEY think it should be, not where I think it should be. Just put it all in one place and let me sort it.