As discussed yesterday, I’m a fan of tabbed interfaces. The only application I use with regularity that isn’t tabbed is my e-mail client. I don’t like using any type of three-pane view for e-mail, instead I open each message in a new window in Mail.app and Thunderbird1.
Perhaps because of my style of mail client usage, I’d love to have a tabbed e-mail client. Composing new e-mails, reading e-mails, even viewing message lists in folders could all be done in new tabs.
I installed RoundCube Webmail recently, and I’m quite impressed. Soon, this will be the #1 choice for self-hosted web mail systems, hands down - it’s gorgeous. It’s PHP and Open Source (GPL), good for me to hack on if needed.
RCW also uses a similar model to my e-mail usage, replacing the message list with a full screen display of a message when reading and composing. Converting this to a tabbed interface might be pretty simple. Maybe add a little tagging goodness (IMAP labels please) and I might switch away from a desktop e-mail client!
I’ve created some mock-ups of what this could look like and stuck them up on Flickr. What do you guys think?
UPDATE: I’ve added this to their feature request list.
- Perhaps due to using Eudora for so many years in the 90’s. [back]
Popularity: 6% [?]
Chris Pederick adds this Comment:
Hey Alex,
Have you seen the Yahoo! Mail beta? It uses tabs to great affect in a way very similar to your mockups.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
No, I haven’t gotten upgraded there yet - sounds excellent.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Chris Pederick adds this Comment:
Found a screenshot from Jeremy Zawodny. The tabs are excellent as is the interface in general. My only issue is that it is pretty sluggish at times which I’m guessing is due to the large amount of AJAX they must be using.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Anonymous adds this Comment:
Eudora is brilliant. Was really the first program to bring the concept of tabs to the work place. I’d still be using it today if it was available for unix.
I like the look of this webmail system, totally support your request for tabs.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Brett adds this Comment:
Since you’re always looking for more to do Alex, maybe Round Cube will allow some contributions. =)
I’d love to help if I can. It is looking fantastic. Then goodbye to Horde and Squirrelmail… Thanks for sharing the excellent tidbits! Always a joy to read.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
I actually proposed that to them in the feature request. I’d be willing to write the code if they’re willing to accept a patch to enable this as an option. I don’t want to do the work unless it will be used.
March 2nd, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Eirik adds this Comment:
If you use the built-in mail-client in Opera, you get tabs for your email.. I’m just saying..
I would wait for Opera 9 final though, especially if you use IMAP.
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:02 am
Tim adds this Comment:
Alex,
Nice to finally meet you at Mashup Camp. I’m looking forward to the roadmap for tasks that you outlined.
As a looong time Eudora user, I too don’t care for the 3 pane interface.
I did see a demo of Zimbra a couple days after mashup camp that made me drool with envy — great web client.
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:08 am
Michiel adds this Comment:
Tim,
Zimbra is very nice yes, but also has an install package over 100mb. RCmail is small, really small, and works with any IMAP enabled mailserver.
I’ve been using RCmail since somewhere around nov. last year as my primary webmail client, and I’ve not regretted it since.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Jason adds this Comment:
Alex, I would use it in a heart beat! I am dying to get away from my current mail packages and I am waiting for RC to make the first stable release!
I am with hope that if a guy with your background likes RC, the package will have a strong future.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:44 am
Wouter Roosendaal adds this Comment:
Hi Alex,
It would be a good idea to have all incoming streams into one big meta application. So I would like to combine Bloglines, email and linkstuff like del.icio.us etc. Just to have one place to get bombarded with new things.
I have been testing the RCW for a while now, but dont consider it production ready yet. I support your views on the interface.
March 12th, 2006 at 4:45 am
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March 27th, 2006 at 7:19 am
YAWPU adds this Comment:
Hi, I was wondering whether anyone had done something regarding WP/RCW integration? I saw there was a Drupal plugin for it but a search for Roundcube on the WP forums simply returns nothing. Integration would be theme integration and consolidated login I guess.
April 23rd, 2006 at 3:18 am
Avi Flax adds this Comment:
I just tricked Yahoo into letting me into the Yahoo Mail Beta and one of the first things I noticed is that it’s tabbed! Double-click on any email to open it in a new tab. Composing also happens in a new tab. Nice! Finally!
April 24th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
All Narfed Up » Blog Archive » RoundCube Webmail installed adds this Pingback:
[…] When Alex King first mentioned RCW, I really wanted it instead of SquirrelMail. Perhaps I’m a sucker for a gorgeous interface. At least when I’m checking email at a friend’s house or at school, it’ll be in style. […]
August 29th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
nabil adds this Comment:
Hello ..yes i love the tab view email on roundcube
i already request to added this function into next version of roundcube. I’mvery happy are you working on it i hope in roundcube rc1 can see this function. Itis better allow use turn on or off this view on the option. Cant wait hear laster new about the progress of this feature
December 28th, 2006 at 4:50 am
tim adds this Comment:
What’s the point? Doesn’t your browser already have tabs?
August 29th, 2007 at 6:25 pm