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Tech News and Analysis: Mailbox, the popular email app that got so much attention before getting acquired by Dropbox in March, announced Tuesday that it has dropped the waiting list that users previously had to endure before gaining access to the app.
This article raises an interesting point. I heard of Mailbox through a friend of mine, and didn't understand why he would wait on a "virtual line," as the article refers to the wait list, for an iPhone app. To me, it seemed like a clever plot to hype up the app and get more people interested. You know how it is. Once one person thinks it's worth waiting for, suddenly everyone and their mother are standing in line waiting for it too, even if they don't know what they're standing in line for. Of course, my friend insisted it was the greatest mail app since sliced bread. I wonder if, now that the app is readily available, it will seem less special and glittery and shiny, and if people will become less interested in it.
Mailbox is not a useful app. I waited in this "line," which is less of a big deal than it is being made our to be. Basically you sign up and just leave the app running on your phone for umpteen days and then POOF, you get a notification that you're up. And you expect magic. Except it isn't. It's essentially a to-do list app, which would be great if I thought most people saw their inboxes as being functional to-do lists. So much more is on my agenda than what appears in my inbox. And there are no viable options for spam or the like. Additionally, it doesn't coincide with the Mail app, so you have two separate sets of notifications going. It has potential if it were to integrate, but right now it's just cluttered and annoying. Not worth the hassle even without the wait.
As both Kassondra and Jess point out, this really was just an impressive marketing campaign. What I can't decide is if it was purposeful or not, and then if the dropbox acquisition changed something. Was this the plan all along in order to generate some hype? Its especially disappointing that the product is also less than satisfying, so that those who waiting are just disappointed. that leaves a good whole for a better mail program to jump in.... might I suggest Postbox?
I have never heard of anything as ridiculous as having a waiting list for an app. I know those are all the rage these days but that seems pretty extreme and conceited of the company to have something like that. I get that there server couldnt handle that work load but this article makes me wonder if some of that wasnt on purpose to get more hype around their app. I agree with the article that it seems like a serious possibility that their new member rates will go down since it tends to be human nature to want what we cant have. Also from what i have heard of this app it doesnt really do anything that we couldnt just do our selves with mail folders and taking care of our inbox in a timely manor.
This reminds me a lot of all the hype that was generated around Google+ a few years ago. At first there was a waiting list and then the first few people on starting being given invitations, and this cycle was going but still limited. And I kept waiting....thinking maybe this thing was gonna be cool or something and then they let everybody in...and I was let down. Granted I haven't even heard of this app or email client until now, from what people seem to be saying I imagine that it's quite similar. Unfortunately, I would expect something better from a company that is now owned by Dropbox, but I think that I'll stick with Gmail for the time being.
5 comments:
This article raises an interesting point. I heard of Mailbox through a friend of mine, and didn't understand why he would wait on a "virtual line," as the article refers to the wait list, for an iPhone app. To me, it seemed like a clever plot to hype up the app and get more people interested. You know how it is. Once one person thinks it's worth waiting for, suddenly everyone and their mother are standing in line waiting for it too, even if they don't know what they're standing in line for. Of course, my friend insisted it was the greatest mail app since sliced bread. I wonder if, now that the app is readily available, it will seem less special and glittery and shiny, and if people will become less interested in it.
Mailbox is not a useful app. I waited in this "line," which is less of a big deal than it is being made our to be. Basically you sign up and just leave the app running on your phone for umpteen days and then POOF, you get a notification that you're up. And you expect magic. Except it isn't. It's essentially a to-do list app, which would be great if I thought most people saw their inboxes as being functional to-do lists. So much more is on my agenda than what appears in my inbox. And there are no viable options for spam or the like. Additionally, it doesn't coincide with the Mail app, so you have two separate sets of notifications going. It has potential if it were to integrate, but right now it's just cluttered and annoying. Not worth the hassle even without the wait.
As both Kassondra and Jess point out, this really was just an impressive marketing campaign. What I can't decide is if it was purposeful or not, and then if the dropbox acquisition changed something. Was this the plan all along in order to generate some hype? Its especially disappointing that the product is also less than satisfying, so that those who waiting are just disappointed. that leaves a good whole for a better mail program to jump in.... might I suggest Postbox?
I have never heard of anything as ridiculous as having a waiting list for an app. I know those are all the rage these days but that seems pretty extreme and conceited of the company to have something like that. I get that there server couldnt handle that work load but this article makes me wonder if some of that wasnt on purpose to get more hype around their app. I agree with the article that it seems like a serious possibility that their new member rates will go down since it tends to be human nature to want what we cant have. Also from what i have heard of this app it doesnt really do anything that we couldnt just do our selves with mail folders and taking care of our inbox in a timely manor.
This reminds me a lot of all the hype that was generated around Google+ a few years ago. At first there was a waiting list and then the first few people on starting being given invitations, and this cycle was going but still limited. And I kept waiting....thinking maybe this thing was gonna be cool or something and then they let everybody in...and I was let down. Granted I haven't even heard of this app or email client until now, from what people seem to be saying I imagine that it's quite similar. Unfortunately, I would expect something better from a company that is now owned by Dropbox, but I think that I'll stick with Gmail for the time being.
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