>In a surprise move, Google has started moving people over to Inbox, a much less powerful app that was seen as another Google experiment.
I distinctly remember reading somewhere that Gmail interface was simplified and inbox was a much more powerful client.I cannot find that page right now.
From my experience, and what I understand, google has made it so that if you use Inbox, gmail.com will now direct there. Those who don't use inbox are unchanged, and inbox users can turn it off. As an Inbox user I can still access gmail from the app menu, but the url forwards.
Shortly after this happened (last week I think), I saw a few articles saying "Google forces all gmail users to inbox" and "Google Kills Gmail", but I haven't seen any evidence of this, and I really doubt they're going to retire gmail. There's too many people using it, and no reason not to leave both services running if they're using the same backend.
This was interesting at first glance - it's very approachable in it's
simplicity, and I can see it having an impact on the typical Google app user.
Something like this could be a useful resource for people who may not think
about the consequences of their dependence on proprietary cloud apps. I think
most people don't think about the fact that Google (or any other cloud app
provider) can and does shutdown their apps or significantly change the Terms of
Service, usually with very limited options to migrate their data elsewhere.
FOSS cloud apps aren't subject to arbitrary shutdowns or unwelcome changes to
the ToS. This is a huge, obvious advantage that most cloud app users don't
realize. I think supporters of FOSS cloud apps should have something concrete
to point to that shows the fragility of proprietary cloud apps.
However, I would not use this website as a reference for the following reasons:
- No citations! It reads as if it is pure opinion without any citations.
- It's hard to find evidence for some of the claims. Google+ shutting down? Is
that pure speculation?
- No place to discuss app status in the app. Comments or a wiki should be
offered.
- Closed source, no way to send pull requests for updates/corrections.
The page has a prominent link to the author's Patreon. This comes across as
litte more than link-bait to draw traffic to the Patreon page, and a hit-piece
on Google. The potential benefit to cloud app users gets lost.
11 comments
[ 2.5 ms ] story [ 35.4 ms ] threadHere's an article about it, though: http://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/google-allegedly-planni...
Here's some more:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/12/05/google-en...
http://www.techworm.net/2015/12/google-ending-gmail-new-inbo...
http://www.technewstoday.com/27625-inbox-it-dont-gmail-it-sa...
I distinctly remember reading somewhere that Gmail interface was simplified and inbox was a much more powerful client.I cannot find that page right now.
Shortly after this happened (last week I think), I saw a few articles saying "Google forces all gmail users to inbox" and "Google Kills Gmail", but I haven't seen any evidence of this, and I really doubt they're going to retire gmail. There's too many people using it, and no reason not to leave both services running if they're using the same backend.
FOSS cloud apps aren't subject to arbitrary shutdowns or unwelcome changes to the ToS. This is a huge, obvious advantage that most cloud app users don't realize. I think supporters of FOSS cloud apps should have something concrete to point to that shows the fragility of proprietary cloud apps.
However, I would not use this website as a reference for the following reasons:
- No citations! It reads as if it is pure opinion without any citations.
- It's hard to find evidence for some of the claims. Google+ shutting down? Is that pure speculation?
- No place to discuss app status in the app. Comments or a wiki should be offered.
- Closed source, no way to send pull requests for updates/corrections.
The page has a prominent link to the author's Patreon. This comes across as litte more than link-bait to draw traffic to the Patreon page, and a hit-piece on Google. The potential benefit to cloud app users gets lost.
(edit: formatting)