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.Mac Webmail Sneak Peak
- Thread starter macridah
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The move to web applications
I have .Mac, but I probably won't be using this feature, disregarding some rare exceptions.
The reason: I prefer using the old Apple paradigm of "one application - one task". Yeah, I know, I like my habits from the outdated old century. I've never completely felt comfortable with web applications, since they don't have keyboard shortcuts that are analogous to the rest of the system. But with more and more applications moving to the web, I admit that I'm fighting a losing battle.
Yes, I'm aware that gmail and .mac have well-functioning autosave features, but that doesn't comfort me well when I try to move to the beginning of a line using command-leftarrow and end up wasting my concentration on the whole "gah! my document disappeared!"-idea. And I haven't even begun talking about command-Q
Visionaries have been talking about the browser replacing the OS as our main UI for many years, but I still don't think the conventions are mature enough for [me, at least] to do my serious tasks in browsers - yet.
I have .Mac, but I probably won't be using this feature, disregarding some rare exceptions.
The reason: I prefer using the old Apple paradigm of "one application - one task". Yeah, I know, I like my habits from the outdated old century. I've never completely felt comfortable with web applications, since they don't have keyboard shortcuts that are analogous to the rest of the system. But with more and more applications moving to the web, I admit that I'm fighting a losing battle.
Yes, I'm aware that gmail and .mac have well-functioning autosave features, but that doesn't comfort me well when I try to move to the beginning of a line using command-leftarrow and end up wasting my concentration on the whole "gah! my document disappeared!"-idea. And I haven't even begun talking about command-Q
Visionaries have been talking about the browser replacing the OS as our main UI for many years, but I still don't think the conventions are mature enough for [me, at least] to do my serious tasks in browsers - yet.
swingerofbirch said:
Overly aggressive? I'm currently forwarding all my .Mac mail through Gmail because I got sick of so much junk mail -- 20 messages per day, usually more -- getting through from .Mac to my inbox. I actually thought they didn't have any spam filters at all.
eji said:
I have the opposite problem. I get much more spam through to my inbox on my gmail account than I do with .mac . As always, YMMV.
This is just a start....
It's just a start of things to come.
With the new webmail and address book an online ical version is not far away.
Look at what you can do with 10.5 server.
Also the iWeb part could get a boost.
So you have:
webmail
Address book
iCal Calendar view
Groups calendar
Website editor (new version of old HomePage)
Sync
Backup
Al these thing in a new and dynamic way with AJAX tech.
Now if you only can edit your documents online in a texteditor...
It's just a start of things to come.
With the new webmail and address book an online ical version is not far away.
Look at what you can do with 10.5 server.
Also the iWeb part could get a boost.
So you have:
webmail
Address book
iCal Calendar view
Groups calendar
Website editor (new version of old HomePage)
Sync
Backup
Al these thing in a new and dynamic way with AJAX tech.
Now if you only can edit your documents online in a texteditor...
Looks nice, but I already have my own mail server (Exchange 2003) and it works perfectly, with Outlook Web Access and ActiveSync to my Windows Mobile smartphone. 
All I can say is its about freakin' time. Next, how about a dynamic web-based interface for iDisk, so Windoze users don't have to install an application to use it from the desktop, and with the ability to individually password-protect folders?
Here are a few more things to fix:
Drag and drop iDisk including right click for renames, etc.
The ability to update the calendar on the web.
An easy way to view published calendars.
A photocast that actually works with other platforms and browsers.
Better integration of iWeb and .Mac (get rid of those old web templates).
I am sure there are more, but these things irk me right now...
Drag and drop iDisk including right click for renames, etc.
The ability to update the calendar on the web.
An easy way to view published calendars.
A photocast that actually works with other platforms and browsers.
Better integration of iWeb and .Mac (get rid of those old web templates).
I am sure there are more, but these things irk me right now...
EricNau said:
I dropped .mac two years ago because it was completely unreliable. Apple has decided to focus on eye candy rather than improving the service. I'm amazed that they can't do both.
I now use roundecube installed at dreamhost and I'm very happy. For the same price as .mac, I get 20gb of storage, unlimited domain hosting, a yearly free renewal of my domain name, 675 email addresses etc etc...and while it's not as integrated as .mac, it gives me much much more useful features. Above all, except for a week of iffy service, it's been rock solid.
For those who want something really nice looking, check out roundcube webmail
gauchogolfer said:
I discovered 0spam (www.0spam.com) about a year ago, check it out, it's dropped my spam count in 4 accounts I have from about 2000 - 2200 a day to less than 5 a week! Works with *any* email accounts webbased or otherwise. Awesome
I hate to be SO negative about this, but I've never understood the attraction here with a .mac account. I guess it fills the need of some people...but based on all the webmails with online storage - what is the main attraction here? Syncing? With USB storage, CDR's, DL-DVD's who would really need to use this much?
I did a little web page with iWeb (cute but TERRIBLY limiting) and thus had to get a temporary .mac account, but once built..it just sat there and slowly expired.
.mac is the Mac product in my "apple gut" that makes me cringe... very similiar to the cringe I get when I think about going back to my PC for something! Also, it reminds me of the feeling I got when I canceled my subscription to Macworld because it became iPod world...
I really just hate it. Damn! this rumor just pissed me off.
growl.
Does anyone have access to usage numbers? I'd like to know how much .mac is used...
I did a little web page with iWeb (cute but TERRIBLY limiting) and thus had to get a temporary .mac account, but once built..it just sat there and slowly expired.
.mac is the Mac product in my "apple gut" that makes me cringe... very similiar to the cringe I get when I think about going back to my PC for something! Also, it reminds me of the feeling I got when I canceled my subscription to Macworld because it became iPod world...
I really just hate it. Damn! this rumor just pissed me off.
growl.
Does anyone have access to usage numbers? I'd like to know how much .mac is used...
Apple should just make .mac adbased and free, to keep up with the competition and to attract a whole crapload of new switchers.
Address Book
Dear Job,
Please give me web-based address book that contains the groups I've created.
Amen.
Dear Job,
Please give me web-based address book that contains the groups I've created.
Amen.
Well kind of, but that's very limited. It doesn't support drag and drop, icon or column views, file previews, searching, .zip archiving and unarchiving, etc. In other words, all the goodies you get in a Finder window (including iDisk Finder windows). Using AJAX technologies, most of that should be possible, as they are doing for the Mail application. And as I said, making folders individually password-protectable (separate passwords, unlike now where it's one for the whole disk) is a priority for me.Kernow said:
I have a few months left of .mac and have began switching everything over to other services. The .mac mail is just unreliable and slow for the price. The new web page looks nice but I am sure it will be as slow as the other services.
I now use GMail for Mail and use Picasa for photo hosting. It has great iPhoto intergartion and the premium service is like 20 bucks a year.
I now use GMail for Mail and use Picasa for photo hosting. It has great iPhoto intergartion and the premium service is like 20 bucks a year.
HiRez said:
Ah - I get you now, and yes all that would be very nice. I don't use the iDisk that often, mainly just to store the odd file that I work on from both home and work, but the functionality you describe would make that a lot easier too.
.Mac is Down!
Well, I have excellent news. .Mac is down! Maybe they are going live with the new mail today along with some other goodies.
Well, I have excellent news. .Mac is down! Maybe they are going live with the new mail today along with some other goodies.
Does this drag and drop include attachements? That has always been my biggest pain with webmail (any webmail service, gmail, hotmail, ...) was that it is really annoying to send attachements (one by one adding and uploading instead of adding them all and upload them all at once)
Well, finally Apple has the only option for my web mail needs.
Less then $499 a year
No stinking contextual ads
IMAP and POP access
Drag and Drop functionality
Inline Image support
Digital Signatures
Able to Label Mail
Email Encryption
No Banner Ads
Slick Interface
Helps Support AAPL stock
Less then $499 a year
No stinking contextual ads
IMAP and POP access
Drag and Drop functionality
Inline Image support
Digital Signatures
Able to Label Mail
Email Encryption
No Banner Ads
Slick Interface
Helps Support AAPL stock