1818946 - New message/event/task buttons feel too loud/distracting

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Thunderbird :: Folder and Message Lists, defect)

Description

[Mark Banner (:standard8)]

Attachment: Screenshot 2023-02-26 at 11.55.27.png

On Mac, I'm finding the New Message/Event/Task buttons very "shouty" and distracting with the new UI.

I'm adding a screenshot in case this is different on other platforms.

I can understand wanting to make it clearer where to be able to write email, but those buttons feel like they are drawing my eyes/attention when most of the time I'm not starting a new message/event etc.

Comment 1

[Sören Hentzschel]

I don't feel really distracted but I understand what you mean. 99 percent of my Thunderbird usage is receiving and reading e-mails, not writing. For that reason I have already thought about opening a ticket to propose that the call to action can be changed, for example to have such a large and blue "get messages" button and a smaller "write" button instead. Would that solve your case as well or do you feel that it's for you less about a certain action but more about not having such a "shouty" button in general?

Comment 2

[Mark Banner (:standard8)]

I don't think it is the function, it is more the fact that it is boldly highlighted. I think it is good that it is clear where it is, but for me it is just a little too distracting being so bold.

Comment 3

[Mark Banner (:standard8)]

Slight expansion: I think the thing that draws the attention is that it is the only thing on the UI that's coloured this way, except the spaces buttons down the side, and that it is relatively a big block of colour.

Comment 4

[Alessandro Castellani [:aleca]]

The UI refresh is not finished, so as it is right now the majority of the interface is white an grey, with that unique primary button popping up.
I understand how that can be capturing the attention more often than wanted.

All those sidebar header areas (folder pane, calendar and task sidebar) will be collapsible, the folder pane header is already collapsible, so users that don't need to see or use that button can hide the header.
Alongside this, users can add back the get messages and write button in the toolbar in order to not lose functionalities and restore a more "classic" interface.

I'm inclined to mark this as WONTFIX for these reasons:

• That area can be hidden (same option for calendar and tasks will come soon)
• The continuing UI work will make that button better integrated and balanced
• Themes or a couple of CSS variables in the userChrome.css can change the look of those buttons

Comment 5

[Mark Banner (:standard8)]

(In reply to Alessandro Castellani [:aleca] from comment #4)

The UI refresh is not finished, so as it is right now the majority of the interface is white an grey, with that unique primary button popping up.
I understand how that can be capturing the attention more often than wanted.

Ok, that's reasonable. Unfortunately it is hard to know the status of things on nightly - I haven't been following much recently, but I did happen to look on topicbox today and there weren't any obvious posts as to the current state of things, like how "finished" the recent merge actually is.

All those sidebar header areas (folder pane, calendar and task sidebar) will be collapsible, the folder pane header is already collapsible, so users that don't need to see or use that button can hide the header.
Alongside this, users can add back the get messages and write button in the toolbar in order to not lose functionalities and restore a more "classic" interface.

Ah, it took me a while to figure this out. I found the customise on the mail toolbar first - and that doesn't have a write button, and appears to only be a small area at the end of the tab strip.

I eventually found the unified toolbar customise option (which I can't see anything for in the menus - is that known?), which does have the write button.

I'm inclined to mark this as WONTFIX for these reasons:

• That area can be hidden (same option for calendar and tasks will come soon)
• The continuing UI work will make that button better integrated and balanced

These are reasonable.

• Themes or a couple of CSS variables in the userChrome.css can change the look of those buttons

I don't think suggesting userChrome.css is a good idea. Although users can use it, there are many problems and bustages caused by upgrades etc etc, most users also won't understand it. It just isn't a good solution, and it is only really here because of historical reasons.

Comment 6

[Alessandro Castellani [:aleca]]

(In reply to Mark Banner (:standard8) (afk until 27 Feb) from comment #5)

Ok, that's reasonable. Unfortunately it is hard to know the status of things on nightly - I haven't been following much recently, but I did happen to look on topicbox today and there weren't any obvious posts as to the current state of things, like how "finished" the recent merge actually is.

Indeed, we've been so busy that we haven't had the time to keep a steady flow of mockups and previews.
As a general milestone, we're aiming to have a "complete" UI around the beginning of beta 114, so you can expect a lot of changes and improvements landing on daily in the next couple of months.

Ah, it took me a while to figure this out. I found the customise on the mail toolbar first - and that doesn't have a write button, and appears to only be a small area at the end of the tab strip.
I eventually found the unified toolbar customise option (which I can't see anything for in the menus - is that known?), which does have the write button.

Yes, we're still completing all the features and adding all the buttons to the new unified toolbar.
Once that's finished, we will make sure those menu items to trigger the customization only trigger the new unified toolbar customizer.
We're currently keeping both new and old toolbars just as a temporary transition period.

We're preparing some slides and videos to highlight this new feature (as well as the others) to better expose them.

I don't think suggesting userChrome.css is a good idea. Although users can use it, there are many problems and bustages caused by upgrades etc etc, most users also won't understand it. It just isn't a good solution, and it is only really here because of historical reasons.

Indeed, you're right.

Marking this as WONTFIX. We can reopen it or open another one if users want to keep those sidebar headers but find the primary buttons too obnoxious.

Comment 7

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

On a related note, the color blue has started to have many meanings in the UI:

• Focus (which should be the primary meaning)
• Active (e.g. the spaces toolbar button of the space which is currently shown; similar to focus but not the same)
• Primary action (like the + New Message button here).

I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Blue for Primary action may overload the color a bit, and somewhat dilutes the reliability/discoverability of the other two, especially focus.

Comment 8

[Nicolas Mandil (:NicolasWeb)]

(In reply to Thomas D. (:thomas8) from comment #7)
What you say is right.

• From another point of view, I find it consistent to have a light to deep same color blue more the element is "active" (Hover -> Temporary selection (i.e. right click, backend doing something, ...) -> selected/focused)
• For button, blue means default = enter keypress: the + New Messagebutton is themed the same but not behaves as a default button