Streamlining a Classic!
As George Lucas found out after deciding that Greedo shot first, messing with a classic can be a delicate thing. The Yahoo! Mail team took a long, hard look at what happened to George and came up with a couple key takeaways:
- Of course Han shot first (actually only a few of us really cared about that one)
- When changing a classic it is better to do stuff people want, than to do stuff people don’t want (everyone agreed on that one).
So it is with those takeaways in mind (ok, probably just the 2nd) that the Classic team embarked on a journey to make some major changes to Yahoo! Mail Classic.
Yep, you read that correctly, Classic Mail will be going through some changes. I guess it was probably expected. After all, we did just celebrate the little fella’s 10th birthday. Isn’t that the time in your life when things really start to change?
A handful of you may have already noticed some differences in the interface (some subtle, and some not so subtle). Others may have heard the news coming all the way out of India, where it was just announced that Yahoo! Mail will be available for the first time in Hindi. Now you could be asking how those events would be connected … and I’ll tell you. The Classic team has been working diligently to fine tune the underlying technology for Classic Mail. That fine tuning is the foundation that has been critical not only in making the product available in Hindi, but also in making it easier to update features for all of Classic. In short, they are both part of the same overall project.
With all of the recent hubbub around New Mail, more than a few of you lit up the comments area on this blog asking about the future of Classic. I’m happy to say that I can now share with you some details about the future you’ve been so anxious about. In a nutshell there are features that have been added, changed, and removed. We’ve been keeping an eye on what functionality users have been requesting, as well as stuff that people just weren’t really using much (or in many cases at all). The changes span many areas, and we feel like you will be happy with the results. Some of the highlights that you will be seeing in the coming months include:
- Auto-save to Draft - Yahoo! Mail Classic now automatically saves a copy of the message you’re working on in your Drafts folder in case you lose your internet connection or your computer malfunctions.
- Simpler uploading and downloading attachments - In most cases, downloading now requires just one click!
One-Click Flagging - The new Flag column (just one column to the right of the check-boxes) makes it super easy to flag messages.- Folder Renaming - Rename and delete your personal folders directly within the folder view.
- More Intuitive Names - References to “Address Book” have been changed to “Contacts”, and your “Bulk” folder will instead be called “Spam” (since that’s what it is).
All in all there a lot of changes, so you should take a look at the “What’s different…” page to see everything.
***UPDATE: Some comments I’m getting suggest people think we are forcing people to change to the New Mail (formerly known as “Beta”) but this actually about giving those people who prefer Classic some of the features and changes that have been requested. ***
Ryan K.
Community Manager
Yahoo! Mail
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October 31st, 2007 at 9:02 am
To those of you who left comments last night, I apologize but the blog software needed to be upgraded and I lost all of your comments. They were not meant to be deleted or censored in any way, and I encourage you to leave them again.
Thx,
Ryan
July 17th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Have complained many times on Feedback, Contact Yahoo! Ask a Question, etc. to no avail and without and reaction. So am posting the following here:
1) I cannot access My Yahoo! page any more. I join all the others in saying that I do not like the new My Yahoo! and will not personalize it and will to another Home Page. Through yesterday I could at least switch from the new to the Classic(old).
2) On View mail the choice for viewing mail from my Contacts has disappeared for months now. Please bring it back. The choice now is limited to All, Unread or Flagged. Also why remove the small signs indicating which e-mails are from contacts?
October 31st, 2007 at 9:45 am
Love the Hindi functionality thing…but is this feature limited to Classic? Using my yahoo mail would be a great way for me to practice my Hindi…
Cheers yaar
October 31st, 2007 at 10:13 am
Why are you taking away “forward as attachment”? That was very useful because it retained the original headers. That was very useful in reporting spam, for example.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:31 am
PaulP,
I’ll pass along the feedback, but I also want to ask why you wouldn’t just click the spam button (instead of forwarding)?
-Ryan
October 31st, 2007 at 10:50 am
you know… this is stupid. LEAVE YAHOO ALONE!!!! that new format is awesome!!
October 31st, 2007 at 11:19 am
I will very much miss the “Forward as attachment” feature. On occasion, I would use that to forward messages to another account using Outlook. Since the original message arrived as an attachment, it was possible to utilize the forwarded e-mail directly in Outlook (e.g. respond to it, file it, etc.).
Why get rid of this?
October 31st, 2007 at 11:23 am
Mail Beta is great, works the way I think. MyYahoo Beta sucks - too many things moved around, modules not available and cannot be sized/placed where I want/need them
October 31st, 2007 at 11:34 am
Glad you’re keeping Classic Mail. I tried Beta Mail and kept switching back to find things I missed, like “printable view.”
I sure wish there was a way to attach photos into the body of e-mail. Or am I missing something? I hated to see Photo Mail go..it was so simple to send pics.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:56 am
i do not know what can i do with my e mail
October 31st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Any plans to increase the number of mail folders from 200?
October 31st, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I would be enjoying the new style yahoo mail you’re raving about, or even the classic style as you now call it, but as all I can do is get a blue screen with a few links to Yahoo7 sites across the top and be told “sorry, you cannot go to your mail due to an error”, I am frankly not impressed with the new one. No stars!
October 31st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
“Forward as attachment” is also useful as described above because you can redirect messages to another system leaving the original info intact.
I do use the “spam” button to report spam to yahoo mail, but sometimes you have to send reports elsewhere like the originating ISP or the FTC (uce.gov).
I noticed that the spam filters are letting more through. Is there a way to “tighten” the settings a bit?
October 31st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
It says:
“Spam Folder = Spam Folder
Updated folder name from “Spam” to “Spam”. Because, well, that’s what it is!”
I guess you meant: ““Bulk” = “Spam””
October 31st, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Sorry to hear that the “Avatar display” is going to be removed. I kinda liked it
(also, clicking on it would bring me directly to Yahoo! Avatars page) … so it’s a pity it doesn’t exist in New version of Yahoo! Mail - though there’s a place for it on the welcome page 
(next to date & time, for instance) …
October 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
How do I put my mail back to Classic? the new
one sucks, always wants to take me to Classic
anyway, but takes forever now and I have to wait
for the option to show up
————-
October 31st, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I have a problem - your “New Classic” does not load at least 90% of the time!
I continually get the msg. that it appears to be taking too long to load and to try the Classic Email. And that doesn’t work any better!!
IF YOU EVER GET YOUR —- TOGETHER LET US KNOW!
October 31st, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Classic Mail should have been left alone–dislike the changes–especially where signature is added at beginning of all replied and composed e-mails–Box under options is unchecked but still sig.gets put on all mail-and at the beginning too!!-much better the old way where check box was at bottom of the composed e-mail
October 31st, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I use both versions (Mail Classic and the New Mail) and I like them both!!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:08 am
The new mail takes for ever to load on my machine, especially when I am on the road. Now you seem to be reducing the feature set of Classic.
All the while gmail has now introduced IMAP (free). By the way as you know gmail has POP for free as well.
Are you considering IMAP or free POP?
(I have been with Yahoo since it started).
November 1st, 2007 at 2:17 am
Would really appreciate not having to sit through the “offer” to go to the new beta mail when I have already stated that I want the Classic version. How many times must I click on “No Thanks” for you to get the message?
Please help out us dial-up dinosaurs and make your software smarter! If somebody tries the Beta Mail and does not like it you should not continue to push it in their face. Thanks, but no thanks!!
November 1st, 2007 at 4:20 am
Personally, I like it. It will take a little getting used to, like anything new.
When going from Yahoo Mail back to MyYahoo it opens it in a new tab (Firefox). Not too crazy about that.
Now if we could get rid of those dang ads!!!
November 1st, 2007 at 6:06 am
Boo. Bad news.
Two very useful Classic features are being removed:
1. Forward as attachment
2. Preview attachment
What is the rationale for this??
November 1st, 2007 at 6:34 am
As stated by others, forward as attachment is very much needed. The headers of the attached message are vital for reporting spam to their ISP.
Why would you take away this functionality?
November 1st, 2007 at 6:46 am
Personally, I like it. It will take a little getting used to, like anything new.
When going from Yahoo Mail back to MyYahoo it opens it in a new tab (Firefox). Not too crazy about that.
Now if we could get rid of those dang ads!!!
Comment by BadPaul — November 1, 2007 #
November 1st, 2007 at 7:10 am
I also agree with several others comments that “forward as attachment”, the “preview attachment”, and the “signature check box at the bottom” should be kept.
They are all very useful at times.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:06 am
I like the yahoo classic and can’t get my computer to stay on it, BETA needs work before you offer it to users.
I can’t open my mail and send it without a long wait time. Take it off and put it back in the production department.
Otherwise your going to lose your people, that like yahoo. something isn’t broke don’t fix it
Suzie
November 1st, 2007 at 8:16 am
Yahoo is becoming too grasping and complicated. I’ve had a group with Yahoo since forever but you guys are screwing my virtual life up. As unhappy as I am with Google (google earth putting our troops/country in danger), I’ve already started moving my stuff over there, just in case Yahoo becomes completely impossible to take. Save me from Google!
November 1st, 2007 at 8:16 am
I really hate where you have reduced the size of the forwarded mail to a little window. It makes it awfully hard to work on.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Yes! My forwarded mail’s window is a little window, too. Did you ever figure out how to enlarge? Also, when I respond or forward mail, I cannot automatically put in a contact name from my addresses.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:46 am
Ryan,
Please keep “Attachment Preview” and “Save Message Text” and “Forward as Attachment”.
Please do the same streamlining (e.g. add the Spam flag back) to New Yahoo Mail.
General Comment: Would it be possible to ask the user community for feedback first BEFORE you make drastic design changes to either old or new Yahoo Mail? I don’t know how many people are in your design team, but your decisions are going to impact millions of users worldwide. Shouldn’t you be asking a few more people before you rush into these decisions?
November 1st, 2007 at 9:04 am
Please also bring back the Photo Attachment interface where you can select and attachment multiple files in one dialog. Please bring this to Classic and NEW Yahoo Mail.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:05 am
hahayz what happen to my adress i cannot recieve any mail pls. help me
November 1st, 2007 at 9:24 am
I like several features of the new Yahoo format (specifically, I like the IM and text switch options), but I can’t insert addresses into emails I’m composing or forwarding anymore. I don’t want to go through my address book (contacts) every time I want to send an email to several people. Am I doing something wrong?
November 1st, 2007 at 9:29 am
I really don’t like that inthe new email you cannot just view unread email….you can sort them to the top…but being able to view only unread really helps with deleting
November 1st, 2007 at 10:42 am
I would like to see free POP and IMAP support.
Both are available with Gmail!
November 1st, 2007 at 11:51 am
My email is rather slow coming up or changing from one phase to another. Tried Beta but after a couple of days, I ditched it & went back to the old email. It kept tangling & losing things. Can’t you just keep it simple? Like on / off!!
November 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pm
New Mail divides the screen into too many small windows.
Classic Mail has Previous and Next reversed, i.e. Previous goes to later email, instead of earlier email. Delete causes a Next, so one has to review emails in reverse order, i.e. the latest are read first.
Classic Mail has a security flaw. If I login at 07:05 on Monday, leave it idle overnight, and then access it at 07:00 Tuesday, it does not require a fresh login until after 07:05.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Hi everyone,
I’m hearing you loud and clear on the “Forward as attachment” option, and I’m already relaying that feedback to the product managers.
-Ryan
November 1st, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I use Beta…. My spouse is techno challenged and stuck on classic….your changes in the classic have her screaming it’s broke and not working.
I expained the changes to her, but her reply is “if it won’t work for me it’s broken”.
kindly change it back and keep the refinments on beta for us geeks….
November 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Hi Jacks,
Can you offer some clarification on what she said is broken? Just like the recent roll-out for the New Mail, the number of users who are switched over on day one is small. There also aren’t any dramatic changes that would cause it not work.
-Ryan
November 1st, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I’m with the ‘forward as attachment’ crowd. Sometimes you need to report spam to someone other than Yahoo. If it was only about what mailbox it ended up in then it wouldn’t matter. But some of these are illegal and need to be reported to other sites… and the full headers are necessary.
Just my .02…
btw.. tried the ‘beta’. I have a 3.6 ghz system with 2 gig of RAM running Windows XP Pro and 3 mg DSL. And it was slow as dirt… so it’s not just the dialups that like the simplicity of classic.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
So far not bad. But I miss the ‘Forward As Attachment’ option, I used that all the time to forward to another account. Also wish there was an option to have the web page open displaying the Inbox tab instead of the Home tab.
November 1st, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I seem to be getting lots more spam in my inbox than before. I haven’t changed any of my spam settings, so why is this happening??? Other than that, I do like the New Mail and use it every day in my business. Thanks.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I hate the new mail, want the old clasic back. Print to small, window to small, whole thing sucks.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I’d be happy to use the new interface beta theta tomata whatever but my problem is more basic than that…the emails I think I am sending don’t always reach the recipient and I never receive an error message. yesterday I was told AT&T is experiencing problems with web based mail…ummmm call me kooky but in my mind that’s a pretty big problem dontcha think?
November 1st, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Well, tonight my “Updated Classic” loaded fine and I was able to see what others complained about.
I fully agree that the new small window version is obnoxious - would much prefer to stay with the old “Classic” full page version. Also, my spam continues to come in at a rate that is out of sight - “Bulk” box regularly has 300 +/- pieces daily - what happened to the “filter”?
November 1st, 2007 at 7:08 pm
I agree with the other users who decry the planned retirement for the “Forward as Attachment” feature. Earlier today, I was using All-New Mail and searching for that feature, and when I found out that it’s not a feature of All-New Mail, I was very disappointed and surprised that Yahoo! would eliminate such a feature. As others have commented, it’s an important aide in reporting spam, and for that reason alone I think the feature should remain.
I have used Yahoo! Mail as my exclusive e-mail program for almost ten years. I used Classic Mail until 1 1/2 years ago, and I thought it was a wonderful program. I really liked Yahoo! Beta and thought Yahoo! was on track for building an even more impressive program.
Ever since my account was upgraded from Beta to All-New Mail, many features of the program have not been working well, or not at all, in some cases. I did not experience the variety nor the quantity of problems with Beta that I now experience with All-New Mail.
I was seriously beginning to consider giving up on All-New Mail and switching back to Classic. Now I learn that features I was expecting to be available if I switch back - like PhotoMail and “Forward as Attachment” - have either been removed or are under consideration for removal.
What’s a Yahoo to do?
November 1st, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I don’t like the “new” mail. I tried using it several times, but find it a little bit too cumbersome.
I have the Classic version, but I detect that I must have the old Classic, not the updated version. Did I miss somewhere how I can update to the updated Classic mail?
Thanks.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I would like to see a read receipt added to Yahoo Mail. Often you need to have proof or need to know when an email has been read.
Please see what you can do about this.
Thanks
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:18 am
I tryed the new Beta version. I don’t want the news feeds someone else thinks I need! I have a yahoo page set up to see what I want, don’t need yours too. I want to go straight to my mail! If you ever figure out how to link to my Yahoo page, you may be on to something. I move back to original Classic. Looks like I may not be happy with the new and improved classic either.
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:40 am
IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT.
I tried the new Beta when you first brought it out. Fifteen minutes later I was back to “Classic.”
I also noticed you upgraded “Messenger” to make it run at 5% of the old speed and added your special SPAM FRIENDLY™ feature so that every time I log on there are off line messages from “olde buddie” for R rated web sites for “HOT DAMES who need you.”
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Hey just wanted to say that I love yahoo mail (beta). Its alot easier to use. Also like the idea of updating yahoo mail classic. Have to say that I cant thing up of anything else to add to yahoo mail (beta). Thanks for the hard work.
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
[…] That’s classic: For those who haven’t switched to the new Yahoo! Mail, you may have seen some of the updates we’ve made to Yahoo!’s Classic Mail. We’ve added auto-save to your email drafts, so no need to worry about computer malfunctions losing your work. With the new flag column, you can easily flag important messages with one click. And get more organized by renaming or deleting personal folders within the folder view. We’ve even deleted some of the features you told us were not as useful. For visually impaired users, we’ve enhanced our screenreader capabilities with easier navigation, html headings to help navigate the page, more shortcut keys, and hidden text that lets users know when there’s a picture or attachment in the email. Check out all the changes we made and read about what else the team has been up to. […]
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Since I’m a techy guy, I tried the new email, and I did like it. However, when I tried to access my other Yahoo email accounts it error’d out. I turned in a trouble report and after 3 weeks of going back and forth with different support people who couldn’t understand the problem, I have someone who claims they fixed it. Howver, I find that since I accepted the push to try the new beta, I no longer have that option to go back to the “new mail”. I am awaiting an answer. Meanwhile, I found this blog/comment thing at the bottom, and figure I’d say something.
I’ve always been one for testing new technology, and would suggest you specifically stated in your push advertisement that you were looking for beta testers to test the new email, instead of offering an upgrade to everyone. Thanks for all your innovative work in lots of areas.
Chris Shannon
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
The beta sucked so I finally figured out how to switch back and I’m happy again.
Please leave it alone.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
The feature I will miss most from “Improved Classic” is “Forward as Attachment”. This was very useful for keeping original message intact, including headers. There doesn’t seem to be any good workaround other than using a POP client.
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I use the new mail and find it to be outstanding. The ability to get my emails anywhere in such a rich interface is a real benefit to me.
IMAP support would really be the icing on the cake - and something that I definitely be willing to pay for.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:21 am
Somebody, please tell me how to get back to classic mail.
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:20 am
I like Yahoo Classic because it operates quickly. The Beta did not, it was too slow, so I won’t use it. I keep Yahoo as my home page because it loads quickly, unlike many other starting sites.
Keep it simple, sweetheart!