Inbox: What's Missing




Updated 06/14/2016: Items 7, 9, 10, 39, and 40 Resolved

 Back on October 22, 2014, Google launched a new email product, aimed at revolutionizing the way we handle email. This was the vision when the original Gmail was launched and after years of analysis, Google decided it was time to shake things up again. Introduce Inbox by Gmail, a simplified, material design focused email portal.


 Inbox by Gmail was launched as a Beta, invite only program, not necessarily to replace Classic Gmail, but rather give users an option to choose either Inbox by Gmail or Classic Gmail.  As of this writing, Inbox by Gmail remains in beta, requiring an invitation to access.  Nobody outside of the Gmail/Inbox team knows what the future holds for Inbox, or Gmail for that matter.

 Inbox by Gmail is definitely not for everyone, as it is missing many features that users have come to rely in from Classic Gmail.  As an active participant in various Google + Communities, and as a Rising Star in the Google Gmail Product Forums, I have seen the same feature requests come up over and over again.  As a result, I have compiled what I think is a comprehensive list of requests and have provided this to Google via the Feedback link in Inbox by Gmail:
  1. Signatures - Resolved  
  2. Customization/Themes
  3. Easier Trash - Resolved http://goo.gl/vtR1iH
  4. Empty Trash - Resolved http://goo.gl/vtR1iH
  5. Option for swipe to done versus swipe to delete - Resolved  http://goo.gl/vtR1iH
  6. Mark as read when marking as done
  7. Integration of Reminders into Web Version of Calendar - already exists for Mobile Calendar 5.0 - Resolved
  8. Ability to change notification sounds - Resolved on Android
  9. Save to Drive functionality - Resolved http://goo.gl/AeDB0n
  10. Attach from Drive functionality - Resolved http://goo.gl/fDAI4x
  11. Better print capabilities
  12. Copy and paste links in new email - Resolved  
  13. Undo Send - Resolved  http://www.scottgreenstone.com/2015/05/io2015.html
  14. Add custom icon/color to Custom Bundles
  15. Mark spam as not spam Resolved http://goo.gl/WRUreS
  16. Schedule send (although this is not technically available in Gmail either)
  17. Change time settings for snooze (Later Today, Tomorrow, Next Week) Resolved http://goo.gl/6JsyOL
  18. Share contact from Android app. Currently gives error message unable to attach empty file
  19. Attach emails from Inbox to Calendar events
  20. Empty Spam - Resolved  http://goo.gl/RHNt3Q
  21. Ability to mark as unread - Sort of Resolved http://goo.gl/cOsS4y
  22. Ability to delete individual messages in a conversation thread
  23. Gmail Labs
  24. Bring back Quick Snooze for Morning and Afternoon
  25. Add to Trips -  Resolved  http://goo.gl/JBs3W7
  26. Search Hangouts or Chats
  27. Offline capabilities
  28. Listen to WAV files without downloading
  29. Choose which icon options appear 
  30. Save All attachments
  31. Create trips manually - Sort of Resolved http://goo.gl/l0ytyu
  32. More Snooze options - Resolved http://goo.gl/w8p5x7
  33. Group Emailing
  34. Right Click Context Menu
  35. Create event from email - similar to Gmail
  36. Add Train Tickets to Trip Capabilities
  37. Create Contacts from within email
  38. Hide bundles from list - not delete
  39. View headers - Resolved http://goo.gl/rSuysk
  40. View original -  Resolved http://goo.gl/rSuysk
  41. Attach image by URL
  42. Ability to quote/reply inline when not in a popped out compose/reply window
  43. Control sizing of images
  44. Separate custom snooze times for weekends
Full disclosure: The list above is not necessarily my desired features, but a compilation of requests I have seen throughout the forums and communities. I switched completely from Classic Gmail to Inbox by Gmail and abandoned/deleted all of my Labels/Sub-Labels from Classic Gmail.  I have not looked back, other than to assist people on the Gmail forums. 


Comments

  1. jay lewisJuly 31, 2015 at 10:54 AM

    Any options available for different "fonts"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 10, 2015 at 5:18 PM

      Yes, yes, yes! Font support is needed and lack of it is one of my primary reasons for using other email clients.

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 10, 2015 at 5:19 PM

      Yes, yes, yes! Font support is needed and lack of it is one of my primary reasons for using other email clients.

      Delete
  2. Scott GreenstoneJuly 31, 2015 at 11:00 AM

    Not at this time and nothing planned yet as far as I know. sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 7, 2015 at 8:32 PM

    Creating hyperlinks? It's easy in the old interface.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneAugust 7, 2015 at 8:52 PM

      Emmet not sure what you mean. IN inbox if you type a url it become a hyperlink

      Delete
  4. UnknownSeptember 10, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    Maunal searching for new mails in added non-gmail account added into gmail (web and app). Searching about once per hour automaticaly is way too less when it's important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneSeptember 10, 2015 at 11:45 AM

      Are you referring to the frequency the system fetches? You can click on the word Inbox on the top left and it will do a refresh for you. But this is a factor that has been an issue in classic Gmail as well. The fetch timing is not able to be set and it usually speeds up the more often you get emails in that account.

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 10, 2015 at 11:49 AM

      I mean what was in classic gmail in settings -> accounts and import whereyou could search for new mails from POP3 accounts manually

      Delete
    3. Scott GreenstoneSeptember 10, 2015 at 11:53 AM

      Yeah the closest to that in Inbox is clicking on the word on top left. Otherwise you can use the settings in classic Gmail. Not all features of Gmail are expected to make there way into Inbox.

      Delete
    4. UnknownSeptember 10, 2015 at 12:15 PM

      yes, but that is the most useful in my opinion. I have integrated my other accounts in gmail to be able to see my mails on the go everywhere. But when I need to see if an important E-Mail has reached me in a few minutes, it is quite annoying to open gmail in browser, force desktop version because mobile version only shows the old one and go into the settings

      Delete
    5. Scott GreenstoneSeptember 10, 2015 at 12:18 PM

      Agreed - but that is not an issue unique to Inbox - its an issue with Gmail as well.

      Delete
  5. UnknownSeptember 14, 2015 at 4:11 AM

    Mark events or notifications to calendar

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownDecember 16, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Ability to open MS Office files in Google Apps rather than just preview mode.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Andrew MalcolmsonDecember 17, 2015 at 3:54 PM

    CC or BCC contact groups.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownDecember 20, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Hmmm... Signatures not completely resolved. Inbox seems to place them below the quoted text (at the bottom of the email) in 'reply' emails rather than below the reply itself - unless I'm missing something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneDecember 20, 2015 at 11:44 AM

      Not missing anything. The fact that I state it is resolved is that for a time there were no signature capabilities at all.

      Delete
  9. DonJune 15, 2016 at 12:26 PM

    Any plans for google to allow developers of Android Calendar apps to integrate Reminders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneJune 15, 2016 at 12:38 PM

      Currently calendar reminders are not included in the API, and not sure if that is on their list of things to add

      Delete
  10. confusedJuly 10, 2016 at 5:05 PM

    I would like to be able to auto forward an email to my wife's Gmail account, but I haven't found a way to do that if there is one. Any hope of seeing this ability on Inbox?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneJuly 10, 2016 at 6:13 PM

      If you setup forwarding in Classic gmail at mail.google.com those forwarding settings will be reflected in Inbox

      Delete
  11. UnknownJanuary 16, 2018 at 2:59 PM

    https://www.lifewire.com/create-a-google-calendar-event-from-a-message-in-gmail-1172093

    ​Regarding this article above, there should be a "create event" option under MORE, however, I do not see this "create event" option under 'MORE'. Any idea why?
    - Mo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott GreenstoneJanuary 16, 2018 at 3:08 PM

      You should, but for troubleshooting this issue, please post in the Gmail Product Forum https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/gmail

      Delete

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