News - Gmail removes old features, adds new ones

[HEXUS]

Offline mode support dropped from Chrome as the new People widget is added

Read more.

[Queelis]

On the additive list of Gmail changes, the People widget adds a tighter integration between you're the emails and contacts Gmail stores.

Oh my, what happened there?..

[Scott B]

Corrected, thanks.

[watercooled]

I'd be happy if they just removed that crappy drop-down menu along the top. I don't see how adding more clicks to sign out helps anyone!

[sybrows]

Also mark as read should be easier ffs

[miniyazz]

There's a Labs add-on..

[sybrows]

There's a Labs add-on..

Thanks miniyazz but surely it should be an up front feature, how much chaff do we all have to wade through ! ( that depends on what one puts one email addy into which form obviously) but still ... 2 cents

[watercooled]

Don't suppose there's an add on which makes the interface useful again (i.e. no crappy top toolbar)?

[miniyazz]

Not that I'm aware of

I guess they're just trying to make the interface look cleaner, but adding mouse clicks is never welcome.

[dangel]

Possibly controversial but.. having both I think Hotmail is far easier to use/better laid out.

[miniyazz]

Things may have changed since 2005 (), but before I used gmail I had yahoo and hotmail, and they both sucked in comparison. Hotmail was slightly worse, with more prominent flashy ads. Gmail had a clean interface, and only text ads. I have as few features enabled as possible (no chat, buzz, news or anything else) and it's mostly stayed the way I like it.

[watercooled]

Yeah the ads are a negative for me with Hotmail, plus the 1st party spam you get from them. I prefer Gmail's interface but that new toolbar is a completely useless PITA IMO.