Apple Introduces Beta of Next MobileMe Mail

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced that they are introducing the beta of an all new MobileMe Mail web application. Customers may apply by logging into MobileMe mail and clicking on the "Request Invitation" link found on the bottom left of the screen.

The new MobileMe beta introduces a number of new features including:

- Widescreen and compact views. When reading your mail at me.com, the new widescreen view lets you see more of each message with less scrolling. Choose compact view to hide your folders or classic view to see more of your message list.
- Rules to keep your email organized everywhere. Mail rules help you reduce inbox clutter by automatically filing messages into folders you select ahead of time. Set them up at me.com, and your rules organize your incoming email on the web and everywhere else — on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC.
- Single-click archiving. Click the Archive button and the selected message is quickly filed into the Archive folder where it's always available for future reference.
- Formatting toolbar. You can create great-looking email messages using formatting buttons to bold or italicize text, change font color, insert images, and more. You can even create formatted web links to hide long URLs.
- Improved performance. Mail at me.com loads your inbox and messages faster. And with interface refinements such as the ability to scroll through your entire inbox without having to manually click to load the next set of messages, you'll be able to work more efficiently.
0 Increased security with SSL. With the MobileMe Mail beta, accessing your email on the web is more secure than ever. Your inbox is protected to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on your webmail. As always, you receive SSL protection when you use your MobileMe Mail account on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC.

A Beta FAQ is also available.

Article Link: Apple Introduces Beta of Next MobileMe Mail

 

[thevofl]

I saw this a few hours ago and wondered, why haven't I seen this in the blogs?

 

[MacQuest]

With this exciting, life-affirming news, I can die peacefully now.

 

[talkingfuture]

Wonder if this is a precursor to a much bigger update. I have always thought that MobileMe would be ok if it was better value for money, either much cheaper or offering a lot more.

 

[sniffies]

Finally, Rules Holy Grail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111

 

[Zorrow]

U.S. Only?

I am Mobileme member and I don't see the invitation button... Is the beta for U.S. resident only? (Im Canadian)

 

[JNRidgway15]

I am Mobileme member and I don't see the invitation button... Is the beta for U.S. resident only? (Im Canadian)

Im from Australia and I signed up!

 

[Schizoid]

but..but... I prefer the original "chocolate teapot" MobileMe webmail!

 

[Zorrow]

Found it!

Was a language issue... my MobileMe was in french and I switched to english and voila!

Beta is probably english only...

 

[scooterbaga]

Long overdue.

 

[Thex1138]

Perfecto!

Looks perfect layout for the iPad my friends...

 

[MorphingDragon]

The layout reminds me of the iPad email client.

 

[rodpascoe]

Domain

Unless I can use my existing domain name then it's google mail for apps for me still.......

 

[AdamA9]

Just signed up too! It's about time the webmail was improved.

 

[northernbaldy]

coool, signed up

 

[spcdust]

This has got to be an improvement on the current interface which is showing it's age (and often requires me to log-out and log-in just to send / read an e-mail). Big thumbs up from me.

 

[revs]

signed up and waiting for my invite!

Looks perfect layout for the iPad

surely you would use the built in mail app?

 

[Mr Skills]

Thank goodness. The performance of the webmail has been terrible. It can take 30 seconds to load an email, but the worst thing is the way it loses connection and has to refresh when left for several minutes, which can mean losing long emails when you hit send. Whatever eye-candy they may bring, I hope they fix the basic performance.

 

[stadlin]

I am Mobileme member and I don't see the invitation button... Is the beta for U.S. resident only? (Im Canadian)

I changed the https://www.me.com/mail/de/ (German) to https://www.me.com/mail/en/ and the button appeared. Maybe that helps you?

 

[ValSalva]

Good news. Finally catching up to 2007 or 2008.

 

[bergmef]

I hope it allows me to see my entire address book now. That's all I hope for.

 

[davidee]

signed up and waiting for my invite!



surely you would use the built in mail app?

you don't really have a choice. If you go to http://webmail.mac.com on an iphone or ipad, it gives you the "here go setup your client" as opposed to letting you in. a downer for those of us that have multiple accounts.

-ee

 

[Appleboyjohnny]

About time!

 

[flo-o-rama]

If you wanna start the rumors (which I will because it's Macrumors) this could be prior to iPhone 4.0, the next-gen iPhone and the rumor of MobileMe becoming a free service.
In iChat you can currently only use MobileMe and AIM and Apple probably wants to get MobileMe out to more people for Videochat integration between iPhone and Mac.
Maybe Apple will roll out a free version of MobileMe for Mail and iChat (Videochat) purposes and a paid version with all the other features.

 

[Kelmon]

While I am glad to see that Apple are still working on MobileMe, for myself it is too late and I dropped the service last year after getting thoroughly annoyed at the current Web Mail application. The problem now is that for me to switch back Apple really needs to either reduce the price of the service or, better, make it free to Mac users (hey, I just gave them £2000 for a new iMac). The integration of services is nice but MobileMe is not worth the price when better services are available for free. Making the service free would also go someway to making things better since developers could then depend on users having, for example, access to an iDisk.

Still, for those of you sticking it out with MobileMe I hope that this update is everything that you hoped it would be. You have more patience than I do and I thought I had that of a saint after sticking with .Mac and MobileMe for 5-years.