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Popular Email Client Spark Gets Major Redesign For Mac, Moves to Subscription Model
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Airmail seems to be good ... we bought it for the iPad. Working fine so far .... it is like 30 bucks per year, so not too bad. Is feature packed.
Fantastical went this route, too. Although they were already kinda pricy, they increased their subscription to basically match Spark’s. Seems like they’re more in it for Businesses and companies that can afford to pay that much. Definitely no longer an app geared towards the average Joe or Jane.
I was looking over the Flexibit site the other night and noticed the business push, which I don't fault them for it. I was a Fantastical version 2 user for several years, until the debacle happened.
It is really a shame that Apple doesn't focus more on their email app. Granted, they have added some features recently, that had been lacking but, with the email shift toward business for so many third party companies, Apple needs to push forward and make use of a golden opportunity to earn more iPhone and mail users.
As a Mail app user, I want to see the ability to pin emails as well as completely block a sender, not just getting automatically moved to junk.
Started on computers in the early 70s. Built a few early systems from Heathkit using HDOS (Heathkit MS_DOS) and C/PM. Have used email programs then through early Windows and Dec mini computers including Vax and RT-11. In 1990 transitioned into the Apple world. Have tired many email systems over the years and discarded most as newer and better variations came along.
Early on I was a non-Apple email user. Their Mail program just did not work for me. When Spark came along, it fit my use as I have three different email plarforms to monitor. Spark shifted to a subscription model. I am okay with that as a steady income stream could allow them to improve the program and keep it compatible with the newer Apple OS, iOS and iPadOS as they evolve let alone the new Apple M series chips.
I have lots of subscription programs and they tend to get better and stay alive.
Frankly, in my opinion, if one can afford Apple equipment, they can also afford good software and there is no FREE lunch.
Early on I was a non-Apple email user. Their Mail program just did not work for me. When Spark came along, it fit my use as I have three different email plarforms to monitor. Spark shifted to a subscription model. I am okay with that as a steady income stream could allow them to improve the program and keep it compatible with the newer Apple OS, iOS and iPadOS as they evolve let alone the new Apple M series chips.
I have lots of subscription programs and they tend to get better and stay alive.
Frankly, in my opinion, if one can afford Apple equipment, they can also afford good software and there is no FREE lunch.
As a Mail app user, I just want the Unread Mail number of emails to match the actual number of unread emails. So many problems with the Mail app.
This seems ridiculous to me. Some people don’t just have money and buy the most expensive Apple thing. Maybe they’re getting a MBP because of some deal or something.
Also, if Apple can charge a crazy amount of money for Hardware that runs their software, and people are paying for that Hardware, where exactly is this “free lunch” you speak of?
The number of people condoning/supporting the silly idea of every app being a subscription instead of a one-time purchase baffles me. The developer should keep the app up-to-date and valid for new iOS/iPadOS versions both because it enables them to continue to sell to customers on that newest OS and also as a value-add/life-extension to those who already purchased it. Just “keeping the wheels on” by keeping the app able to run on the latest OS isn’t worth paying a monthly/annual subscription for. If they need more revenue for more features then make the new features an in-app one-time purchase.
I have tried just about every email app out there: Mail, Edison, Spark, Airmail, Postbox (and I may be missing a few).
Keep coming back to MAIL. Why? It handles RULES the best out of all the above-mentioned programs. I can create mailboxes and have specific senders go to each. The other email clients either don't have this feature or don't do it well.
I also use the MailButler plug-in which greatly enhances MAIL. I only pay half the price for it since I renew yearly and they offer a discount.
I probably mentioned this earlier in the thread but I abhor subscriptions. It's Apple's fault. They got all these software companies together a few years back and convinced them that they could keep revenue rolling in by charging a subscription. Since then, almost everything is subscription-based and people like us have to pick and choose what to install.
And, yes, MAIL is the one app that Apple has given no love to. While they did add a needed delay send and undo send with Ventura, the design of Mail has basically remained the same as it always has. Perhaps Apple feels they should just give us the basics with their free operating system.
Keep coming back to MAIL. Why? It handles RULES the best out of all the above-mentioned programs. I can create mailboxes and have specific senders go to each. The other email clients either don't have this feature or don't do it well.
I also use the MailButler plug-in which greatly enhances MAIL. I only pay half the price for it since I renew yearly and they offer a discount.
I probably mentioned this earlier in the thread but I abhor subscriptions. It's Apple's fault. They got all these software companies together a few years back and convinced them that they could keep revenue rolling in by charging a subscription. Since then, almost everything is subscription-based and people like us have to pick and choose what to install.
And, yes, MAIL is the one app that Apple has given no love to. While they did add a needed delay send and undo send with Ventura, the design of Mail has basically remained the same as it always has. Perhaps Apple feels they should just give us the basics with their free operating system.
This is true so much on way Apple Mail handles:
1. Attachments - this is my biggest gripe, I mean for the love of christ, someone sends you a 1 page pdf and a multipage pdf, you will have an ugly view of one document displayed fully and second as an icon, it looks darn ugly. Plus images just show, not icons, but show. Confidentiality issue with docs and ugliness of handlind.
2. Being a native app, it still can't handle scaled resolution, for the life of me i don't get that. The damn text is so small when looking in scaled resolution, it's hard to read, i get that the recipient will see it just fine, but i have to be able to see it too. No other mail app has this issue, just Apple Mail and this is the biggest irony, since they are the native app.