Comments on: 5 little Gmail annoyances Google needs to fix

Gmail may be great, but it's annoying sometimes too. Find out some of those attributes that Don Reisinger thinks Google should address.

[Martin9700]

Labels can be used just like folders. Simply click on the "Archive" button and they disappear from the Inbox and go into their label "Folder" (below the chat availability window).

[svk1069]

I disagree. Folders and Labels are not the same thing. While labels are convenient and helpful, there are times when I need folders. That's why I've stuck with Yahoo for now.

[superswiss]

You beat me to it. Labels and Archive are the two best features in Gmail. One of the most annoying features in traditional mail clients is figuring out which folder to file an email. What if it fits more than one folder? Or what if you just want to file it away without a specific folder. That's where Gmail shines. Once your done with an email, just hit "Archive" and away it goes. It can easly be found again by a simple search.

[toshiiseda]

Labels are the best idea, borderline revolutionary.

At first I too missed folders, ala Yahoo, or Hotmail. But as said previously, for the situation where an email can be classified in more than one folder, labels are indispensable. For instance, when my dad emailed me his flight itinerary for his visit, I was able to label it "Dad" as well as "Itineraries". With folders, one is faced with being forced to pick one classification.

[eagunner]

@svk1069 and Don Reisinger:

You've misunderstood how labels work. The only difference between labels and traditional folders is that a given item can only exist in one folder, but with gmail's labels, an item can have more than (or less than) one label. With traditional folders, there is never actually a folder in which your email/files reside. It's all tags in a database. gmail simply gives you the advanced functionality of the many-to-many relationship between emails and tags.

The real flaw is that gmail doesn't streamline it or explain it well enough for new users.

[svk1069]

As mentioned further down this comment thread, using labels instead of folders really screws up Gmail's IMAP abilities.

[Iria00]

You can also create a filter that not only labels an email, it archives it automatically.

[whiterabbit--2008]

Yes, filters can be set to "skip the inbox" when a label match is found. A new message will not end up in the inbox, and the interface will show a small numeral next to the label name indicating that there are unread messages under that label.

The Label complaint is moot.

[taylor1277]

you think gmail is the best email service,well i guess im not that tech savvy because i think it SUCKS,i cant keep emails in a folder i want, when i did put it in what they call labels,if i wanted to delete it out of the inbox folder it would delete it out of the label also.you know its sad that we see people who have lots of money come up with these websites, how come there arent people out there like say the people who have freeware making an awesome email service.well anyone as far as email im stuck with them till Jerry Yang destroys it for good

[kast5089]

I've been using GMail for years and I HATE labels. I don't just dislike them: I hate them! They're absolutely useless to me. Fortunately, I have the GMarks plugin that allows me simulate folders in Gmail. Without it, I would not be a Gmail user. For an organization freak like me, labels are too cluttered and chaotic for me. Give me folders.

[svk1069]

Hmmm? If all the difference between "labels" and "folders" is just terminology, can you explain why I can nest folders but not labels?

Don't try to sell me that Firefox extension as a solution. I don't access my e-mail exclusively through Firefox.

[kesskay]

Agree completely with the privacy concerns and a partially baked set of keyboard shortcuts, but I absolutely love the labels. The fact that I can assign multiple labels to the same message is just great.

I am not sure how folders are any better than labels. If you really like folders, you can assign one label for each folder you care about.

[kast5089]

But you can't nest labels, and that's what makes folders useful.

[october271986]

Kast5089 -- You can "nest" labels - you can apply two labels to the same email. It is essentially the same as nesting.

[jefflac]

Don, you should try this new email application, it does all you ask for and more: Microsoft Outlook.

Granted, because it doesn't have the ads, you'll have to pay a bit for it - but I'm sure you'll find it worth it.

To each his own, I suppose.

[zizzybaloobah]

Outlook or Thunderbird - because POP access is FREE in Gmail

[WillSimpson62]

Your last three suggestions are right on the money, especially drag and drop. However...

I think your first complaint is pretty pointless. So some inanimate bot reads my emails. ahem. ... ? I really don't give a rip. For example, if I send an email to my buddy about the inauguration, it's not like I get telemarketer spammed by an overzealous Obama volunteer every time I mention the election, it just knows that political ads are more useful for me than daycare ads.

Similarly, I don't buy your second suggestion. Labels can work exactly like folders, if you want. You know you don't have to use filters for label, right? Just create some, then every time you want to move an email into that label/folder, just click "Apply X Label" in the dropdown menu. Then you can select that label on the right hand sidebar and see those emails.

[sroussey]

Without the computer reading your email, it wouldn't know how to deliver it! Duh! Oh, and helping public companies make more money is bad, bad, bad. I guess they should only lose money on free services. Everyone should do that! And I hate that they spy on my searches to show me unwanted related ads -- such a privacy breach! Just so they can make more money. I think ads on content sites like this one are evil too.

Just use AdBlock -- the whole point of using Firefox. Done.

[stigmattaman]

I don't like you or your link-baiting links.

[ThreeMilesNorth]

I'm a Mac user and I find Gmail annoying--it gives me that 'Still Loading...' all the time (on the new version). My Internet connection is not the culprit. Any clue, anybody?

[svk1069]

I don't have a problem using it on my Mac with Firefox 3.

[cfbandit]

I get that all the time too and I'm a PC user. Its the browser. I've found Chrome is the only one that works for me on the PC. Try a different browser? Firefox 3 instead of Safari?

[jdgnyc]

i have the same problem on my mac...loading...loading. also I find that If i dont label something - good luck finding it. i can type a subject or an email exactly (i've tested it) and it does not come up in search. any suggestions?

[NProszkow]

DON'T USE SAFARI! It is a dated browser. I use FF 3 on my PC and MAC and it runs very well. I also use IE 7 on the PC and I don't have any issues either...

[jihiggs]

I get that problem if I am logged into gmail with multiple browser instances.

[svk1069]

I would like to see Gmail offer a "Premium" or "Plus" service by which I can pay a subscription fee and have the ads removed from the interface. They offer this for "Apps for your Domain" but I don't really want to use my own domain, and I *hate* ads in my mail. Both Yahoo and Windows Live/Hotmail offer this option.

I know there are Firefox extensions that block ads, but those do me no good if I access my mail from another computer.

[eagunner]

Yeah I agree. The only reason I can think that they're not offering this is becuase GMail is in (eternal) beta.

[Sporlo]

Beta is a sad excuse for things to be wrong with Gmail.

[BIGELLOW]

@Sporlo,

We're still waiting for you to finish writing the better service that everyone will like more. Do you have an ETA, yet?

[Sporlo]

@BIGELLOW,

No I don't mean hurry up and make it better so it can come out of beta, I'm saying if it's been that so long since it was released TO THE PUBLIC, AND it's fully functional, just with a few issues, then why can't they just remove the beta label from it. It doesn't have to be perfect. Besides, massive amounts of people already use it. I'm sure most people don't even know it's in beta. I've used Gmail for 2+ish years and I only noticed the word beta underneath the logo a few months ago (yes, you may argue that I'm just really unobservant).

Unless Google is just following a strict definition of what beta software really is, I just find it pointless.

[richardupright]

In your previous article you mention how you like the ads in GMail. Maybe they're not so annoying because of the email scanning? I cant see showing random tiny text ads that may be totally irrelevant to the user as being a good way to make money. GMail is free so I dont think you can complain about the scanning, if you dont like it dont use GMail? If your email is sensitive there are secure alternatives such as hushmail that also offer free accounts.

[bdaniel]

i really don't see why labels can't possibly do what you want. What if an email fits into multiple folders? That's what labels are for. When you're done with a message, give it a label and then archive it.

svk1069, how is giving something a label and archving it different than putting it in a folder (besides an extra click)?

[svk1069]

As mentioned further down this comment thread, using labels instead of folders really screws up Gmail's IMAP abilities. Try it. It screws things up really bad. Although labels appear as folders in IMAP, if you try dragging and e-mail to one of the labels/folders and then try to add it to another label/folder, it deletes it from the first label/folder. If the point of labels is being able to assign multiple tags, then the concession appears to be IMAP access is extremely flaky and unreliable.

I'd rather have IMAP.

[BIGELLOW]

@svk1069, The reason "dragging" via IMAP removed the first label and adds the second label is because you are DRAGGING. Dragging implies that you are dragging it AWAY from something (the first label) and dragging it TO something (the second label)... or in other words, your actions are telling the system to remove the first label and add the second label in its place. So, it is doing exactly what you are asking it to do.

So, if you want to use IMAP, labels are going to act like folders because IMAP is folder-based. If you want labels to act like labels, then use Gmail's interface or wait for Google to invent an IMAP alternative which supports labels.

[svk1069]

@BIGELLOW

Thanks for the clarification. I point this example out as one where someone (like myself) who needs IMAP would prefer *folders* as opposed to labels. If I could use the GMail intermface everwhere, I might but right now that is not an option. A second problem with the labels in IMAP is when you add an e-mail to a label/folder, it shows as an unread message.

I have no doubt Google is working on a better IMAP solution, but until then I prefer regular folders.

[mikedrud]

I really want folders too. Labels are fine, and good when you need to do a search by label, but I like cleaning up my Inbox and storing all subject-related correspondence in folders. I miss my Yahoo! folders.

[Hunnter2k3]

Archive e-mail using the lovely large Archive button in bold, then send that e-mail to the label of your choice.
Exactly the same as a folder.

[richardmayo]

My biggest Gmail annoyance is that you can't easily embed photos into the body of a message, you have to attach them.

[mikenmelanie]

Try copy / paste - it works for images that are hotlinked online. For local images, GMail does show them after your message (zoom-able thumbnails).

[svk1069]

I should suggest for those people who want a Gmail-like experience with labels yet without annoying ads, try Zenbe- http://www.zenbe.com

I can't recommend Zenbe highly enough.

[jefflac]

I have to admit, when I see someone plug a service on a comment, I usually just disregard it. I'm glad I checked out Zenbe. While it's probably not for me, because I think Gmail does a passable job with my email, I can see true email power users eating this up.

For those of you who aren't convinced to go to the site, I watched the demo video, here's the summary:

1. Web based email
2. Use your existing email address (I suppose to provide credentials and it logs in for you)
3. Clever way to view attachments
4. Supports standard documents, PDF, Word, Excel, right in the browser
5. Tag people as favorite and cut through to email just from that selected group.

I'm sure there's much more, but if you find your current webmail lacking, check out Zenbe - looks legit.

[svk1069]

Thanks for the second opinion on it jefflac.

It also *automatically* checks those other e-mail services (like Gmail does), so you don't have to manually do it.

It also offers access to your calendar, Twitter, Facebook, and GTalk right in its interface.

Like Gmail, it has free IMAP or POP access.

I don't think current Gmail users necessarily will have a need for Zenbe (yet), but for the rest of us it's incredible. From what I understand, there is still a lot more planned for Zenbe, but they're introducing new features slowly because they don't want to overwhelm people.

[richardupright]

How does Zenbes privacy/security compare to GMail?

[svk1069]

At this time Zenbe does not show ads in their e-mail interface. Here is their full privacy policy: http://www.zenbe.com/privacy

[terminalblue]

stop whining and just use thunderbird.

[podge_m]

Yes... get rid of labels and give me folders any day of the week!

[BIGELLOW]

Why not just pretend that when it says "label" it says "folder"... so when you are attaching a "label" you are really putting it into that "folder"... and when you click on the "label" link... you are really clicking on the "folder" link... and when it shows you the emails which have that "label"... you are really seeing seeing the emails that are in that "folder".

Not quite sure what the block is.

[getjeffrey]

yeah! and why the hell is there no search for filters. if i want to edit a filter, i have to scroll thru them all. i have hundreds of filters and it's a pain in the ass!

[squarkradio]

doesn't your browser have a find function?

[simonsonjh]

Why are labels different than folders? Just pretend the label is a folder. The different is that the file is not actually moved, but why is that important. Labels have the added benefit that more than one label can be associated with an email. Try that with folder.

[Hunnter2k3]

The files aren't moved with folders either, nothing is moved, it is just labeled differently in a database.

Folders = labels with... a different label. ;-)

[kast5089]

What is it about nested folders that you don't understand? Without nesting, my labels extend out into the hundreds, which is inefficient and disorganized. I traditionally keep a few base folders (for example, "Home," "Work," "Computers", etc.) and then I can nest folders, such as Computers > Programming > Java > EE > Struts > References. To simulate this with labels, I'd need a label for each layer. That, to me, is insane.

@kast5089: I understand nested folders, and despise them. I don't know if you understand the benefit of labels, quick search, and archiving. In your example, I'd probably simply label that message "Java, " in case I'd ever want to browse through all my Java-related messages. Gmail search would make it easy to find anything more specific within the message. Labeling a message to simulate deeply nested folders seems silly because it is. Just give it a quick tag or two and archive it. There's simply no need to maintain an intricate system of dead-end folder trees. That, to me, is insane.

[GslMusic]

Quote "I understand nested folders, and despise them." - then you do not understand what the word hierarchy means and you do not understand the requirements to control and organize data, information and chronology, and you do not understand how to control data complexity, variation, and quantity, and neither does google. Google "engineers" are too young and too liberal to create anything that adheres to known standards let alone create anything that *respects* known standards or allows backward-compatibility. I have written *over* a million lines of mission critical source code in my lifetime and I think I know something about controlling complexity.

[myles taylor]

I really want to see the option to download an archive of all your messages, or at least your incoming ones.

[richardupright]

You can use POP3/IMAP and any email client to do this.

[myles taylor]

That's what I do, but I lost some of my email on my computer and would like to download an archive, but it balks at downloading thousands of messages at once.

[simonsonjh]

Why would anyone want to delete an email? that's the whole advantage of Archive and large storage. Delete them in batch one a year if you just can't stand having them take up minuscule amounts of storage.

[thescale]

Lame.

If you enable keyboard shortcuts, you can delete a message by simply hitting the X key. How is that so difficult for you? Also, labels are far more useful than folders, as other posters have commented and they offer several filter options. Not sure what more you're looking for. Labels work just like folders, if not better, for me. My inbox is very well organized.

[BIGELLOW]

Not entirely true. The X key selects a message. Perhaps you used the Gmail Labs tool to change your keyboard shortcut mappings? In any case, that's an alternative. Someone could just use the Gmail Labs option of re-mapping the keys for keyboard shortcuts. Can't map to the delete button, but I'm sure a single key like "x" could be useful.

[CydeSwype]

Yes, there are keyboard shortcuts for GMail, but the point is that there are already a set of keyboard shortcuts that have become the standard over the years. GMail reinvented email...but it wasn't necessary to reinvent the keyboard shortcuts. Delete key should still delete (not x). Similarly, ctrl+enter should send (not tab enter). Google didn't need to be novel in this regard. I've finally gotten used to the new paradigm that GMail establishes, but I HATE having to shift and enter to send an email. Yahoo mail did a better job of following the establishes conventions of offline mail clients.

[zarrik]

Seriously, you could only come up with 5 annoyances? The big annoyance for me, and the only thing keeping me from using Gmail, is the god-awful conversation view interface. Because Google has a mandate to be different from everyone else, they couldn't in good faith use the folder system that every other email client on the planet uses. The end result is hands-down to worst way to manage email. The system is not smart enough to differentiate similar messages from the same sender as being different. They don't allow you to break a message out of conversation view. The delete option is buried in a menu. And there's no concept of sent messages, because everything is based on conversations.

[svk1069]

I'm not a big fan of the conversation view either. Sometimes it gets confused and groups e-mails that are not part of the same conversation because of their subject line. I'd like the option to turn it off.

[toumei64]

Which GMail are you using? Sure it has problems with similar E-Mails in conversation view and it would be nice to be able to separate something from conversation view, but uhh... There's a delete button at the top and bottom of the inbox pane and every email message. There's a link for filtering sent mail as well.

[Glenn_O]

I've used G-mail for7-8 months now and comments here indicate I must abandon all hope that the conversation view interface is inescapable and not just me not being smart enough to find a disable option. It is maddening!! My need to be able to reconcile different content to the same address has become too essential. Using FF3 now since the latest IE bugaboo. I guess I should give T-Bird a hard look. Yet the inertia of having to re-educate my current contacts (and more importantly, potential future contacts from cards in circulation) is really a dilemma.

Any thoughts?

[loose_screw]

I love the conversation view, instead of cluttering up my inbox with tons of replies they are neatly organized into one item.

[bdaniel]

conversation view is what happens to make gmail so great.