Gmail is now rolling out an updated design with a slightly more streamlined appearance and a different layout of some features. The Contacts tool, one of Gmail’s most criticized feature, is also getting a major revamp. Better Contacts has been the most requested feature by Gmail users for a while now and the team finally got around to bringing the tool more on par with the rest of the Gmail experience.
“You’ve asked us to generally make Contacts easier to use, as well as for specific improvements like sorting by last name, keyboard shortcuts, and custom labels for phone numbers. So, by popular request, we're happy to announce that an overhauled version of Gmail Contacts will be rolling out today,” Benjamin Grol, a Gmail Product Manager,
wrote.
One feature that should please power users is keyboard shortcuts support. You can check out the full list by hitting ‘?’ while in Contacts. Another feature introduced is the possibility to sort by last name.
The new Contacts also enable users to edit any filed in place and also to undo changes. The Notes filed is bigger and easier to spot but it’s still just a plain text box. Gmail says it may eventually make it a rich-text editor.
Along with the revamped Contacts, Gmail also gets a fresh new look. The changes have actually been
inadvertently revealed by a Google engineer earlier. They’re mostly cosmetic but also serve a practical function.
Overall, Google says messages should be showing up 16 pixels higher thanks to a smaller header. This was achieved by using a smaller logo and also by getting rid of the “Select: All, None...” line and replacing it with a simple drop-down menu.
Other changes include three new links for Mail, Contacts and Tasks at the very top of the left sidebar as well as a new Compose Mail button as opposed to a simple link. Gmail also features slightly altered colors. Apps users will have to wait a bit longer to get the new Gmail interface.
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