Many users will still remember Google Inbox, which was finally discontinued a good two years ago and apparently left a gap. Now there is an unofficial successor that has all the well-known functions back in its luggage: bundles, a snooze function, the pinning of emails in the inbox and even the design is completely based on the product of that time. And that’s not all.
Inbox was introduced many years ago as an alternative inbox to Gmail, and despite that description and the perpetual beta label, it quickly became popular. However, it was actually just a playground for the GMail developers to try out some features, some of which found their way to Gmail. When that mission was accomplished, Google pulled the plug, much to the chagrin of many users.
With the new app Shortwave, you can bring back Inbox – almost completely. The design is reminiscent of Inbox at first glance: the coloring, the structure, the entire presentation – everything. Of course, the popular bundle function is included, which can combine several e-mails into groups. This saves space, increases the overview and manages relatively well to depict entire subject areas.
You can also pin emails, snooze them, or simply mark them as done. You rely very heavily on your own concept or the concept at the time. Labels, archiving and other organizational options from GMail are irrelevant to Shortwave.
Shortwave accesses Gmail
Of course, you don’t have to start from scratch with Shortwave, but it is based on Gmail – in line with the concept of Inbox at the time. Accordingly, you must grant the web app very extensive access rights to your Google account, because all emails and contacts must be accessed. There are currently no plans to access other e-mail databases or even to offer your own mail service. That could of course change if success sets in.
By former Inbox developers, It’s
no coincidence that Shortwave is very reminiscent of Inbox. The development team consists of former Inbox members who simply “recreated” the product from back then. In a slightly more modern form, but all Inbox users of that time will feel at home very quickly. I could well imagine that the new product will find some fans. It remains to be seen how sustainable it is.
Just try it out. Maybe it will be something and Google will be inspired by it again to offer some features again.