Gmail, the world’s most popular email service, underwent a big transformation this week. Among the changes, users can now do email snoozing, nudging, and confidential mode.
The changes are being phased in gradually to Gmail’s 1.4 billion users. Jacob Bank, lead product manager for Gmail, told The Verge the redesign is to make “people safer and more productive” when using the email service.
Here are a few of the changes Gmail users can expect:
Confidential mode: The sender can set an expiration date on a sensitive email or revoke the message entirely. A link is sent to view the confidential content, instead of actually sending the content embedded in the email. The sender is in charge of how long the party can access the message.
Integrated rights management: You can block the forwarding, copying, downloading, or printing of certain messages.
Two-factor authentication on a per-message basis: You can request the recipient to authenticate their identity with a passcode received via text message before they’re able to open a confidential email.
Email snoozing: You can snooze an email for later by hovering over the message in your Gmail inbox.
Nudging: Gmail will resurface emails that it deems require time-sensitive responses. “We don’t nudge very often, but when we do, it can save people from making a high-cost mistake,” Bank told The Verge.
Google also announced it's stepping up its security features, including phishing warnings and alerts. A security message will flash in front of users when Gmail detects a potentially malicious or fraudulent message.
View images and more details of Gmail’s overhaul.
Source: “Gmail’s Biggest Redesign Is Now Live,” The Verge (April 25, 2018)
