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Email app Superhuman adds a cheaper plan for students and teachers
They can pay $10 per month instead of $30.
Yahoo Mail helps you track packages and remember events
A couple of new, useful features are coming to Yahoo's web email client. For starters, the company has announced that Mail will now send notifications when packages are due to be delivered -- you can also track them from there. The same goes for event reminders, which is going to make it easier for you to access information like an address, or get directions to a place. Yahoo says it'll be rolling this out to users in the US over the next few days, adding that it plans to bring more of these type of notifications to Mail later on. And yes, while Gmail's had similar features for years, it's still great news for people who use Yahoo Mail on the regular.
Mailbox iOS email client updated with cloud search
The popular Gmail email client for iOS, Mailbox, has been updated to allow for cloud searching through messages. The new feature in the version 1.5 update means users no longer have to have their emails downloaded to their device to search -- something that is incredibly handy if you have years' worth of emails. In addition to cloud-search capabilities, Mailbox 1.5 lets you set a unique signature for each email account in the app. That means if you have, for example, three Gmail accounts (Mailbox allows up to five), you can have a unique signature for each that's automatically applied. Mailbox was purchased by Dropbox last March and the company has been making rapid improvements ever since. A few weeks ago, Dropbox announced a free 1 GB of Dropbox storage when users sync Mailbox to their Dropbox account. Mailbox is a free download.
Mail Pilot comes to the Mac, beta signup now open to the public
Mail Pilot, an email client for iOS from Mindsense, made waves when it hit the App Store in early April. Today, Mindsense announced that it is bringing its productivity app to the Mac. Mail Pilot for the Mac will mirror the iOS version, but will include features to help you manage your inbox effectively on the Mac. Details on the specific features included in the OS X version of the Mail Pilot app will be released in the coming weeks. While you wait for MindSense to roll out the full version of Mail Pilot, you can sign up for beta access now at the MailPilot website.
AOL unveils Alto: a web-based email client with an emphasis on aesthetics and organization
A cleanly organized inbox may be a holy grail that's seemingly out of reach, but AOL (which happens to be our parent company) has unveiled a web-based e-mail client dubbed Alto to help cut through clutter. Instead of signing up for a brand-new email address, users log into the service with an existing Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL or iCloud account and can use Alto to organize, send and receive messages. In addition to the traditional list view of received emails, Alto takes a cue from analog letters and automatically sorts mail into stacks depending on whether they contain attachments, photos, daily deals, notifications from social networks and bulletins from retailers. Users can customize and hide existing piles or even create new stacks based on key words, recipients, senders and other parameters. Have more than one email account that needs its contents wrangled into order? No problem. Alto can handle up to five accounts per user. If you're intrigued by the cloud-based client, you can take a gander at the gallery of screenshots below or head past the break for more details in the press release. Alto is currently accepting users on a first come, first serve basis in a limited preview, so hit the source link if you feel inclined to take it for a spin.
Alternative email clients for Sparrow on the iPhone
Sparrow announced late last week that it had been acquired by Google. In its announcement, the company said it will continue to make both the Mac and iOS versions of the Sparrow email client available and provide support for its customers. This means that iPhone owners can continue to use the current version of Sparrow, but at some point, iOS is going to outpace the app and you're going to need to switch to a different email client. If you're on the hunt for a new email app, then you should check out some of the iOS email clients listed below. If you have a favorite that's not included below, please share it in the comments. Mac users may also want to take a look at our list of email clients for the Mac. Default Mail app for iOS (Free) For most users, the default iOS email app is sufficient. It supports a variety of accounts including IMAP, POP3, Exchange and services like Hotmail and Yahoo!. It's a basic email client that'll alert you when you get an incoming email and will let you move, delete or flag a message as important. You can setup an email account for push, if supported by the back end, or set the client to check your email at regular intervals. There's also a handful of options that'll let you select your default account, tweak how many messages you view, setup a custom signature and more. Gmail (Free) The Gmail app is for heavy Gmail users with a single Gmail account who need access to Google-specific functions like labels and the priority inbox. Besides labels, you can also archive and star emails. All changes made in the mobile client will be reflected in the web client. The latest version adds support for the iOS Notification center and lets you send an email using an alternative email address, if it's been configured within the Gmail web client settings ahead of time. The Gmail app is a universal app that works on the iPhone and iPad. iMailG - Gmail and Google Apps on the go (Free, in-app purchases) iMailG lets you manage your Gmail as well as the other Google services within one app. It works well for iOS owners who use the full suite of Google Apps including G+ and Google Calendar. Multiple sign-in is supported, but that has to be turned on for each Gmail account first. The app is available for free, and a series of in-app purchases will unlock specific functions like push notifications (provided by a third-party service). It's a little heavy on the in-app purchases, but it might appeal to some Google users. There's also an HD version for $1.99 that's optimized for the iPad. eMailGanizer Pro ($4.99) eMailGanizer is a mail app that'll help you control your deluge of incoming emails by making it easy for you file them into folders quickly. You can also add emails directly to your iPhone calendar or add them as tasks to outside sources like Toodledo, OmniFocus, Things, The Hit List and more. eMailGanizer works with multiple email accounts and supports IMAP, Exchange and third-party services like Hotmail, AOL and iCloud. It takes a while to add each email address and set up the folders, but it's a very useful system once you've got it up and running.
Email client alternatives to Sparrow for the Mac
Sparrow announced late last week that the company had been acquired by Google; that means that the Sparrow email clients have been put into maintenance mode, with no new features expected going forward. Many customers, like me, who enjoyed using the email client are now contemplating the task of finding an alternative. Yes, Sparrow is useful in its current form, but even if the Mac client behaves well in OS X Mountain Lion and the iPhone client works in iOS 6, that won't necessarily hold up indefinitely -- and if there's a feature you've been waiting for, it's unlikely to ever arrive post-acquisition. Thankfully, there are several alternatives worth mentioning that can take the place of Sparrow, especially for heavy Gmail users. Here is a short list of email clients (and some borderline cases) for OS X that you can check out; I'll cover iOS options in a separate post. If you know of any other titles, please share them in the comments. Postbox ($9.95) For Gmail users, Postbox might be a good alternative. It supports labels and archiving, two features commonly used by Gmail users. It also detects appointment dates inside email messages and lets you add them to your Google calendar. A badge counter on the app's dock icon keeps track of incoming emails, and Growl can be used for notifications. Postbox supports POP or IMAP email accounts as well as services like Yahoo!, Hotmail, iCloud, and more. Besides its email features, Postbox also ties into social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and lets you update your status from within the email client. One of the best features of Postbox is its integration with third-party services like Dropbox and Evernote. The Dropbox support lets you send large files via email as Dropbox links, while the Evernote integration lets you save your emails as a note. It's a great way to share files and organize emails without cluttering up your email client. Interested OS X users can give Postbox a spin for free by downloading the 30-day trial. A single-user license that you can install on every computer you personally use (PC, Mac, or both) is available for US$9.95. MailMate ($29.99) MailMate is an OS X IMAP email client that shows its strength in its many options. The app supports multiple accounts, offline access and dynamic signatures that'll insert a signature based on your previous emails with that person. It also supports Markdown formatting and custom keyboard shortcuts that provide access to almost everything within the app. One strong point is MailMate's search feature that lets you find emails based on the body text, first or last names, email addresses and quoted text. If you don't like how MailMate looks, you can easily switch to an alternative layout like widescreen, three-pane, or threaded view. MailMate is not as easy to use as the default mail client of OS X, but it's a worthy upgrade for power users. Interested in Mac users can download a free demo to try it before buying it. Mailplane ($24.99) Several people mentioned Mailplane in the comments, so I downloaded the client and took it for a quick spin. Mailplane handles Gmail very well because it pulls the Gmail web interface into the app. Gmail users get access to their priority inbox and labels just like they would if they opened Gmail in their web browser. It's an interesting experience as you get the familiar look and feel of Gmail inside a full-fledged app. As a result, Mailplane lets you do more with your message than the web-based version of Gmail. There are bonus features like built-in support for Evernote and a Screenshot function that lets you grab a screenshot and automatically attach it to an email. The app also uses growl for notifications. Mailplane supports multiple Gmail accounts, but there is no unified inbox like the one you have in Postbox and other clients. You have to switch between Gmail accounts to see all your email. Interested OS X users can download a 30-day free trial from Mailplane's website. Thunderbird (Free) Thunderbird is an open source IMAP/POP3 email client from Mozilla that's inspired by the Firefox browser. The email client has a tabbed interface that lets you jump from one email to another quickly and a built-in search function that'll search the web. It also supports add-ons. It's not as easy on the eyes as the default Mail app in OS X, but it's functional and efficient. It's also free. As several readers have pointed out, Thunderbird's support from the Mozilla Foundation is transitioning from full-time feature investment to support and stability, which to some degree puts it in a similar boat to Sparrow in terms of future features. The main difference is that Thunderbird is an open-source client, and can be supported, forked and improved by the developer community; Sparrow is not. Outlook ($199 as part of the Microsoft Office bundle) Outlook is bundled into Microsoft Office and offers a full-featured client for Microsoft Exchange 2007 (or newer) email accounts, as well as accounts from major providers such as AOL, Gmail, MobileMe, Windows Live Hotmail, and Yahoo (all POP and IMAP services are supported). For Mac users working in a Windows back-end environment, Outlook is a good choice for managing your email, contacts, calendar and other documents within the Office bundle. Of course, Apple's built-in Mail app, iCal/Calendar and Address Book/Contacts all interoperate with Exchange too. Apple's Mail.app (Free) For users who need a basic email client, the default Mail app for OS X will fit the bill. It's free with OS X and supports POP3, IMAP, modern versions of Exchange and other popular email services like Gmail and Yahoo! Mail. Mail has a pleasing interface that includes a widescreen view and threaded messages so you can see all the emails exchanged in a conversation. The upcoming Mountain Lion version of Mail will also include VIP contacts (flag and sort mail from specific high-priority senders) and granular support for the new systems Notification Center alerts. MailTab for Gmail (Free, or $1.99 Pro Version) MailTab for Gmail isn't an email client per se. It sits in your menu bar and alerts you (via Growl if it's installed) when you receive a new email. You can view your Gmail emails by tapping on the icon in the menu bar. There's a compose button so you can quickly write an email without opening a web browser or any other client. If you want to manage your emails in greater detail, the app will open the web version of Gmail in a new tab. For OS X users who have one Gmail account and receive a manageable amount of email, MailTab may fit the bill for checking and responding to incoming messages. I sometimes use it to check on two Gmail accounts at once. One account is open in the web browser, while the other is open in MailTab. MailTab is free to try from the Mac App Store. There are several in-app purchases that will unlock notifications and remove ads. You can also buy the Pro version which is available for $1.99. Fluid (Free, or $4.99) Fluid also serves as more (or less) than an email client, but it does provide a handy way to keep Gmail access going without managing a tab in your primary browser. Fluid creates single-site browsers (SSBs) with their very own application icon and space in the Dock. If you want to have a Fluid SSB for your webmail session, it's a matter of a few clicks to set it up. You'll get all the functionality, keyboard shortcuts and capabilities of the web client in a standalone app. Fluid is free to use, and the $4.99 optional feature upgrade adds several handy tools; for mailreading, the split cookie storage in the upgrade means that you can manage a different Gmail account in Fluid from the one you're logged into in the regular browser. If you've got a favorite email client that we didn't touch on, please do let us know in the comments!
Google+ adds a better 'notification experience' to your email, saves you a few clicks
Google knows just how much you love to Hangout on its social network, thus it's doing everything within its mighty power to make things a tad bit easier for you. This time around, the Mountain View crew's bringing an improved Google+ notification experience right to your email, allowing you to see, comment and Like +1 posts straight from your inbox. Google says comments stream in real-time to the Plus site, while responses from folks inside your Circles (or anyone else) will show up instantly under the same thread if you're using Gmail. Speaking of, the new "pop-up" features won't be exclusive to those using Big G's email service, and you'll also be able to reply from almost any device once the tidbits go live sometime next week. For now, check the Gmail Blog for details on how to set it all up to your liking.
Sparrow 1.1 adds built-in browser, delete options
You have to give them credit. The developers at Sparrow don't waste any time when it comes to improving their apps. It's only been a little over two weeks since Sparrow for the iPhone launched and there's already an update in the iOS App Store. The 1.1 version of Sparrow rolled out on Wednesday and has some new features and bug fixes. According to the changelog, Sparrow now lets you send and archive mail as well as empty the trash and spam folders from your phone. You can bring important emails to the forefront by selecting which accounts show up on dock badges and which specific labels and folders you want to see. There's also a new built-in browser which will knock the socks off users who receive links in their emails. Besides the new and exciting features listed above, Sparrow 1.1 also fixes both authentication issues with some Google apps account and custom SMTP for aliases. Oh, and that missing push notification feature. Sparrow is determined to get push notification into the app. The company said in a blog post, "Push is coming. If Apple can't help us yet, we have other ideas." You can download Sparrow from the iOS App Store for US $2.99.
Sparrow mail app for iOS hits version 1.1, Push support to follow 'with or without Apple'
Good news today for Sparrow iOS users. As expected, the company has updated its splendid lil' email app to version 1.1 and loaded it with a few hotly anticipated features. Among some bug fixes, you can now make use of a built-in browser, "Send and Archive" messages, filter specific folders and labels, clear your spam and trash bins and even set which accounts you'd like to show or hide dock badges for. While the app is still sorely lacking Push support, Sparrow believes that Apple may change the privacy guidelines for its Push API, which the company plans to include in version 1.2. That said, it's partnered with folks outside of Cupertino's walled-garden, so that it can bring the feature to fruition "with or without Apple." Furthermore, that future version's other features have been detailed -- it'll include landscape support, vertical swiping through messages and localization for an additional nine countries. In related news, version 1.6 of Sparrow for Mac OS X is being readied for release, and it'll pack support for POP email accounts. You can glide on down to the source link for further details.
Sparrow for iPhone released: just a POP and Push away from email perfection
Sparrow's made a name for itself over on the Mac desktop side, and now it's doing its darnedest to do the same on iOS. The email-client-that-could has launched its long-awaited iPhone edition into the App Store today, with $2.99 netting you a highly polished program that integrates a "pane navigation" concept, a unique threading system and full IMAP support. In other words, Gmail, Google Apps, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL and custom email addresses are fine to use here, but there's no support for POP or Push notifications just yet. The latter is apt to put off the power users, but more casual readers may appreciate the unified inbox, direct-attachment feature and plenty of other details that provide for an overall delightful experience. It's available now in the source link (or the App Store, if you're up for a search), and we're told that localization, landscape mode, a built-in browser and 'Send and Archive' will be coming in future builds.Psst... hit the More Coverage link to read Sparrow's explanation of why Push is being left out. If you couldn't guess, it's about privacy.
Yahoo upgrades its email for everyone, puts Facebook updates and tweets in your inbox
Yahoo is the latest in a line of would-be champions to try to topple king Gmail from its perch atop the email mountain. The company's newest Mail Beta (no relation to Gmail Beta) was introduced last October, but now its overhauled UI and fresh features are available to all. With the change comes quicker load times, stronger spam filtration, and it lets you send and receive Facebook updates and tweets. It also automatically turns picture and video links into thumbnail previews and handles up to 100MB attachments. These fancy new features are certainly a step in the right direction (even if the purple paintjob isn't), but time will tell if it'll rule the webmail world.
Enter to win a copy of the Sparrow email client for Mac
Sparrow's popular email application made its official debut in the Mac App Store this week and hit the store with a bang. Within a few hours of its launch, the application climbed to the top of the application charts and has received very favorable reviews. Sparrow is an email client that dazzles with its simple interface and back-to-the-basics functionality, including drop dead easy navigation and time-saving shortcuts. Currently, the application supports Gmail with IMAP support expected in the next update. It's an excellent email client for an OS X user looking for something different. To help you get startled with Sparrow, we have five free promo codes to giveaway to five lucky TUAW readers. The rules for the giveaway are located below. Best of luck to all who enter!
Sparrow mail application now available in the Mac App Store
Sparrow announced today that version 1.0 of its popular email application is now available in the Mac App Store. The developers listened to customer feedback and dropped the price from US$25 to a much lower $9.99. The paid version is free of advertisements and lets you add multiple email accounts. A free, ad-supported version, Sparrow Lite, is also completed and awaiting App Store approval. A quick note for those that installed the beta version. You will notice the Mac App Store detects this beta version and prevents you from purchasing the full 1.0 version. To purchase version 1.0 from the App Store, you must uninstall the beta app using the instructions here. Once the beta version is removed, purchasing and installing the paid version will be as easy as pie. Thus far, the customer response to Sparrow has been incredibly favorable. After a mere few hours on the Mac App Store, the mail application has already climbed to the #1 spot on the top paid applications chart. It is also #2 in top grossing applications and is bested only by Apple's Aperture. We have been following the application since its debut late last year and have been impressed with its elegant simplicity and clean interface. We recommend you give Sparrow a try.
Gmail can now restore deleted contacts, still can't mend broken friendships
So what if Google knows and remembers all our data, at least it's turning that stuff into something useful. The latest enhancement to its Gmail client is a neat Contacts restoration option, which can rewind you back to a maximum of 30 days ago, offering a chance to recover rashly deleted email addresses or to remedy an ill-advised sync with any of your other contact-keeping services. As is par for the course with Gmail, it's a neat and seemingly minor improvement that'll probably keep users from leaving it for greener pastures over the long term as they grow accustomed to its security. Just how Google likes it.
Facebook about to launch a Gmail-slaying Titan?
Oh no, Facebook's hosting another event? But it's so soon after the last one, we've barely had time to recover from all that excitement. The invite to this new shindig is adorned with some pretty obvious visual hints at mail and messaging, which (along with a few well placed sources) has led TechCrunch to speculate that Zuckerberg and crew are about to unveil their Project Titan email client. Rumored to have been in the works since at least February, this "full-fledged" webmail service -- replete with @facebook.com personal addresses -- is reportedly referred to as a "Gmail killer" internally. We struggle to imagine anything dragging us away from Google's versatile mail offering, but competition's never a bad thing -- even if it comes from another company that has more information about us than it should.
New Galaxy Tab video offers thorough overview, glimpse of starry mail client
Can't get enough of the Galaxy Tab? Then Samsung's got you covered with its latest, and possibly most detailed video overview of the tablet yet. Running just over nine minutes, the video doesn't exactly offer a ton in the way of surprises (apart from a rather curious contact listing for someone named "Bill Jobs"), but Samsung's demonstration of the Tab's email client did catch our eye. As you can see above, it shows a Gmail account with what appears to be starred emails. Unfortunately, it's not clear if those stars are actually tied to Gmail, since the client also showed the same stars in a Hotmail account during our first hands-on with the device. So, is a star just a star, or a star? Just one of many things to ponder as you watch the complete video after the break.
Mailsmith 2.2 beta universal
Mailsmith is an old-school, text-only email client from Bare Bones (of BBEdit and Yojimbo fame), that has long had a cadre of devoted users, but which has also really been showing its age of late (version 2.1.5 was released in March 2005). Yesterday, however, Bare Bones' Rich Siegel announced a public beta of Mailsmith 2.2 that brings the application into the Intel age as well as adding a variety of other changes, including substantial changes to disk storage formats which preclude downgrading back to 2.1. Siegel emphasizes that 2.2 is not yet for sale and is completely unsupported, but if you're an old Mailsmith user who moved away in the Intel age you may want to check out the announcement.[Via Daring Fireball]Update: fixed links to the announcement. Here's a FTP link to the demo of Mailsmith 2.2 (via Hawk Wings)
