yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I have just released

ALPHA

version 1.567

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/open-source-email/releases

Since about all core source files were modified to change inline dialogs into dialog fragments, so that they will survive rotation changes, this is an ALPHA RELEASE. There will be no update notification and hopefully F-Droid won't build this preview version.

I have been carefully changing things the past few days and I have tested almost each change, but I can't guarantee that everything will work as before.

Please report any issue you find and I will fix it at the earliest opportunity.
[Android Apps and Games] ths180:
Only Info :

I get an update notification at start for version 1.566.

But I have 1.567 installed.

Because of alpha?
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION] ever since installing the test version, whereby I tested for the CJK attachment filenames I don't get notifications for new version. I have the “ Check for updates” set — even tried toggling it — but it doesn't check. What could be wrong?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Yes, just ignore it.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Maybe access to GitHub is blocked?

Long press 'about' to do a manual check and to see any errors.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Two star rating:

:( :( :(
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
Nothing visible happens when long pressing “About” — the panel just slides back. Netguard log however shows access to api.github.com at the time.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Either the current version should be shown on screen at the bottom or there should be a status bar notification if there is a new version available.

Maybe you disabled the 'update' notification channel?
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
Oh right! Duh… Yeah, I disabled notifications from the app via Thea Android system — as I didn't want to be notifieof new mails, and didn't want to disable the notifications in FairEmail settings… :@)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Assuming you have Android 8 Oreo or later, better disable the individual notification channels (via 'manage notifications' in the FairEmail notification settings). This way you can have message notifications disabled and update notification enabled.
[Android Apps and Games] andy356:
Mate, I think you might need to add a welcome prompt that says something along the lines of "All settings are set to default options that prioritise your privacy over convenience. If you wish to change this, you can do so in the settings."

Also, with regards to a few replies before, a small tutorial for first time users wouldn't be bad either. "Here are the settings. Here is how you read emails. You can pull down to refresh. This is where you add accounts. There, you have been thoroughly spoon-fed."
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
Yes, exactly what I did now — and now I remembered why I did it the other way originally: now, when I open a message for reading and delete it from there I get the popup “Move 2 messages to Trash?” (this on gmail, always 2 not 1, but that's not the issue) and even if I tick the “ Do not ask this again box” then the next time when deleting the popup comes up again.
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
1.567 but it was happening to me before too…
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I have just released

beta

version 1.568

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/open-source-email/releases

I have fixed the single :) problem reported by [MENTION=4237286]白い熊[/MENTION] in alpha version 1.567, so it appears I have been really careful changing all stuff. Additionally, there are some small improvements, like a spinner for the full message view, although it will be rare to see it.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I like to hear more ideas about how a better welcome would look like.

I am not a fan of guided tours because IMHO it is assuming stupidity and therefore even can be considered to be insulting. Most guided tours I have seen are just a waste of time and are more like "look how nice our guided tour is", highlighting a few obvious action buttons(do we really need a "use this button to write an email" ?). Although the low ratings might prove me wrong, I still think a guided tour would be a wast of time for hopefully a majority of not stupid people.

If you are able to write a Play store review (opt-out the testing program first), please do so.
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
I don't think a guided tour is necessary — but I see some validity in the proposal for an intro which would target new users and alleviate the Play Store pain etc.

I'm going by my initial thoughts as I recall being perplexed initially. I'm not an incompetent user I'd say — no hacker like you, but quite versed in shell, scheme and lisp — and interested in security/privacy issues. So — this was the reason to “ try” FairEmail initially.

I came from K-9 mail which didn't inspire in me the feelings of having any flaws with respect to my user case at the time — anyhow even for me the treatment of the images being displayed / full message view mostly was very confusing and seemed very painful. I.e. I never consciously considered the problem with displaying tracking images in emails before. It seems very necessary now, and I wouldn't go back to K-9 now, but then I was strongly considering it.

So all this is to say, the average Joe user, who will be attracted to FairEmail on the grounds of it being a good email client is gonna have a kneejerk reaction — and say “ Ahhh, this is trash…”. Just what you got in the review.

So, all this is to say — marketing wise, I would put some strong statements right in the beginning of the Play Store description of the type:

— FairEmail is the most privacy conscious email client in the store — focused on protecting you from tracking…

— All the options set by default have this in mind — they might make some operations uncomfortable, but they are set so that your privacy isn't compromised by default…

— For example, images are only displayed by clicking through — this is to disable tracking images. To read about tracking images treatment in FairEmail… (link to FAQ or something and so…)

etc.

If you put stuff like this there I think it would be handholding and would remove many of these negative reactions.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
On opening the app for the first time and also in 'about' there is this message:

"FairEmail is an open source email app focused on privacy and security. For this reason some features might work differently from what you are used to. For example, messages will always be reformatted to remove unsafe elements and to improve readability and opening links needs to be confirmed for safety."

Maybe this should go into the Play store description, although I rather have people install and try the app first.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
How about adding this text above the quick setup (with a button to remove it):

"To receive and send messages you'll need to setup an account and identity. This is not easier or not more difficult than in any other email app, although some providers make this not very easy. You can use the help button for instructions."
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
I think the upfront mention especially of the way images are treated should be there — in fact as a “selling point” — in the description. The way currently it's surprising — and the average user, I think, is not inquisitively going to research why it's so, so that he later would appreciate it like I do, but is gonna have a kneejerk reaction.

For me, for instance, I never study what pops up on first run — I'd think it's common behavior, you don't think about — in fact so much so that I don't remember any first run popup for FairEmail.
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION] there is an issue in displaying the messages that I see in the current version, but it's also there for some time:

When I open a mail for reading, click on the “ display external images” button — the image thumbnails will be displayed in the body of the message. Now, when I click on the image I'll get the large black screen with the sand clock — n no matter how long I wait, the sand clock doesn't update an change into the image view.

If on the other hand, after clicking the “ display external images” button I exit the message, then open it again, again click the button and then click the thumbnail — the image is displayed.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This should be fixed in the latest release, but let me know if it isn't.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I have added this to the description:

Privacy features

Reformat messages to always safely view messages

Confirm showing images to prevent tracking

Confirm opening links to prevent tracking and phishing

Automatically recognize and disable tracking images

How does this sound? Is there anything important that I forgot?

Edit: link to Play store and GitHub description:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.faircode.email

https://github.com/M66B/open-source-email/blob/master/README.md#privacy-features

It will take Google some time to update the description with the above.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
Hello Marcel, it struck me that for some time now the contents of mails (not in the original view) are somehow all displayed twice. Could that be?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You mean two times the text after each other?

Or do you mean two messages with the same content?

Note that Gmail shows each message in the 'all messages' folder too. You can filter on duplicates with an option in the menu.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
I don't use Gmail and I mean each text after each other twice. Do you not have that display-issue?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
No, I can't reproduce this. Can you please post a screenshot?

Does anybody else have this too?
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
Maybe it is also a mistake in the mails... see the example screenshot.

The later parts of this (and also other - not from XDA) mails are twice displayed.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Given that two parts repeat independently this is likely, but to be sure please send me the raw message file for inspection (in the message 'more' three dots menu download/save raw message).
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
RAW-message with support-info sent.
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
I think this is good…

---------- Post added at 11:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 AM ----------

I'm on 1.568 and it still does it.
[Android Apps and Games] Licaon_Kter:
So... is 1.568 ok to pickup by F-Droid or should I disable it?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Should be okay, since there was just one problem reported, which is fixed in this version. Thanks for asking.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I seems to be a FairEmail problem after all, so I will look into it.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Open the message again, tap show images, wait one minute and send me a log file (via 'about'). Be sure to describe the problem because else I might not know what it is about and not look into it.
[Android Apps and Games] AgustinH:
thanks and sorry, where can I see the log file?
[Android Apps and Games] Irish_Dude:
I have been playing around with the google play version of the app (0.32) and have kind of got posteo working.

I have added my posteo mail address and it shows as "connected"

I have added my posteo alias address and it shows as "not connected"

The strange thing is that I can send mails from my alias address but not my main email address, and when I am in the compose email address screen and I select the dropdown button, I can't select my main email address to send an email address from, its not there, just the alias.

Also the app is still creating blank draft emails

(photos attached)

Once again I am only trying to help because I really want to dump K9 mail, the UI is aweful
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Identities show 'connected' only during sending of email.

All identities are listed in the identities (from) selector, so my best guess is that you have added only one identity.

Drafts are created if anything was changed, which includes selecting an identity.
[Android Apps and Games] Irish_Dude:
2 more photos
[Android Apps and Games] Irish_Dude:
Thanks for your reply.

Yes I only have 1 alias but how do I send an email from my main address (not the alias)?

Or do I have to add my main address as an alias too?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
If you want to select from more 'from' addresses, you'll need to add more identities. Seem logical to me.
[Android Apps and Games] TheMadRuffian:
I'm getting red gibberish text below every mail.

EDIT: I had to turn off the debug mode and the red text vanished
[Android Apps and Games] chantoine:
https://framapiaf.org/users/sebsauvage/statuses/100644841064442392

One french well known blogger just made a mastodon pouet about FairEmail. Very positive :)
[Android Apps and Games] m8980:
cool app. very high potential. as far as I see the standard value for the synchronisation is 30. any plans to offer an option to synchronise the whole content of a email folder at once. my workaround at the moment is to set the value to 1000 days to see all my emails.

i hope you understand what i mean.
[Android Apps and Games] AgustinH:
well [MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION] seems that the issue if for one list of distribution that I receive, I test in others and the show image works great. Fair Email will stay in my phone and I hope for new update (I install it through play store)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You can request features on GitHub.
[Android Apps and Games] m8980:
Could you please add this provider. this would be great

<provider name="Mail.de">

<imap

host="imap.mail.de"

port="993" />

<smtp

host="smtp.mail.de"

port="465"

starttls="false" />

Tested and it works.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Can you also provide a link to the setup instructions for the provider?
[Android Apps and Games] m8980:
i hope it helps

https://mail.de/hilfe/nachrichten-imap-unter-android
[Android Apps and Games] KaiserSnorezay:
Was going to post the same query. I use widgets as well, being able to immediately see the last few emails or calendar appointments is a time saver. And with multiple homescreen support from day one of Android, how does it waste homescreen space?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You can do a feature request here:

https://github.com/M66B/open-source-email/issues
[Android Apps and Games] AgustinH:
that the problem of not showing images wasn't the app, was the mailing list that I'm suscribed
[Android Apps and Games] beeshyams:
This explanation should be suitably put across in Playstore features (especially the part of NOT sending mails without your knowledge) . Not everyone considering your app knows it. I didn't
[Android Apps and Games] andy356:
[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION] Many guided tours have a skip option right on the first screen. Power users will know to use that. But for regular users, it should be highly recommended for them to go through it properly.

I think we should consider how FairEmail is *different* from the expected UX of an average Play Store email app.

1. The account setup screen would look intimidating:

- Gmail app: enter username and password, done

- FairEmail: setup accounts? Identities? Permissions? Battery optimisation? Oh, there is a Quick setup. What? Gmail/Yahoo authentication FAILED? I'm not gonna read a flippin' FAQ! (If they have the patience for it: It needs some sort of LESS SECURE SETTING enabled? *runs away*)

I think the initial app launch should directly take them to the quick setup screen, letting them set up as many accounts as they want. There is no need to explain at this stage that "this will work for most providers", planting a seed of doubt in their minds that theirs might be the problem case. Do that only when something does go wrong, with the exact problem and solution provided either as a pop-up or as a link to the FAQ like currently done.

Also, the moment the user enters a Gmail/Yahoo ID, instead of checking for the config and showing "authentication failed", just show a help pop-up explaining that the "less secure setting" needs to be enabled, and why. Once they confirm that they've done so, THEN fetch the config. I think we can safely assume that most users wouldn't have that setting enabled or even know what it is. An info box is much less alarming and scary than a failure message. A user is liable to rush to change their password if something spooks them (this happened to an older person I recommended the app to).

The contacts permission granting and battery optimisation whitelisting shouldn't be on the same page as the one containing account and identity setup. Battery optimisation can go under the Receive tab. I don't know where the other one fits best. They should also be automatically shown to the user after they have finished setting up accounts, with explanations.

2. Images don't show by default. This needs its own screen and privacy explanation in the guided tour. A sample image showing how to view them in a given email and where to enable "always show for known contacts" in settings would go a long way in helping smooth things. I personally think there should be a setting to always show images, even for unknown contacts. It can have a scarier looking alert than the current setting, as well, but the choice should lie with the user.

3. Same goes for links. You mentioned this:

This needs to be front and center in the guided tour. And there HAS to be an option to turn it off. The power should remain in the user's hands about which features to use and which not to, as I said before.

4. The app should also have an option to open to the inbox of the last selected account by default (Non unified inbox, basically). The user can always switch from the sidebar.
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
A guided tour 'might' be helpful but it requires the reader to read it and unfortunately many won't.

What might actually be helpful is a search engine similar to what android pie has in its settings. (See attached) It might be under the hamburger on the top right and labeled "What do you want to do?" The user would enter a phrase and the answer would list a series of links to where to go.

I think that would be helpful because new users unfamiliar with the app do not necessarily know where to go to change something. Creating such a search would be a lot of work but be a major step towards app friendliness and pay dividends over time.

Finally, some bad reviews are inevitable. You can't please everyone. Responding helpfully to such reviews could demonstrate your excellent support and even change the rating.

Added:

Andy356's suggestions are excellent.
[Android Apps and Games] jaholm:
Internal / External Images

I think the are 2 types of images:

Internal images which are attached to the mail, and therefore localy available.

External images which are loaded via URL from an external web site

Fairmail seems to ignore this difference.

Internal Images will not be displayed by default. I have to tap on the Image icon to see these images.

But then external images from a remote site will also be loaded (when in mail). I don't want this.

My suggestion: Internal images should be always displayed because there are no privicy issues.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
There will be an option for this in the next release.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
The recent changes seem to have broken export/import :(
[Android Apps and Games] 白い熊:
1.568
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I was able to reproduce this, so I will try to fix this in the next release. Thanks for reporting this problem.
[Android Apps and Games] dnsroot:
Undo option when deleting emails

[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION] - would it be possible to add an "undo" option when deleting emails by clicking on the trash icon in the email view (similar to the way this is handled for deletion via swiping)?

I have deactivated the "are you sure..." question, but would still like to have the possibility to revert my action after I've sent an email to the trash folder if I change my mind.

Thanks and apologies if this is already implemented.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
The problem with this is that it is incompatible with auto close (the undo would be closed too). Suggestions about how to solve this are welcome.
[Android Apps and Games] dnsroot:
Gmail and VPN

This is probably not a problem of the FE app, but I've noticed a strange behavior with my Gmail account in connection with a VPN service.

Recently I added my Gmail account to FE to get rid of the Gmail app and it worked with the provided instructions. However, as soon as I turn on VPN on my device I get Gmail connection alerts and the account is not synchronized anymore.

When I turn off VPN everything works again as before and Gmail is connected and synchronized.

Did anyone observe this behavior before? Any suggestions what to do? Thanks.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Try to use an app password, see the FAQ for more information.
[Android Apps and Games] andy356:
Well, no idea what changed, but this works now.
[Android Apps and Games] dnsroot:
I tried to create an "app password" for FE following these instructions: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833.

However, I do not see a menu item for "app password". The only options I have are "password", "login via smartphone" and "two-factor authentication. Is it possible that I need to enable 2FA first in order to use an app password? Could an active 2FA lead to other kinds of connection problems? Thanks.

EDIT: OK, I figured out that 2FA is a prerequisite for generating app passwords. Maybe the readme file could be updated to make this clear. Seems to work now, FE is again connected to Gmail.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I am not sure, but maybe you like to know that I use two factor authentication for anything with some importance whenever possible because passwords alone are not really secure anymore these days.

Anyway, I got approval and an exception for the yearly, expensive, security audit from Google, so I am considering to bring OAuth2 (select account) back.
[Android Apps and Games] dnsroot:
Thanks for your reply. You are right, I use 2FA as well for all my important accounts (Gmail was not really one of them, that's why it was the last one to be added to FE). Now that one is secured as well.

It was just not entirely clear, that 2FA is a prerequisite for creating app passwords. This was somehow a hidden hint in the Google article https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833 ("...if you don't see the page..."). I'd recommendation to add this hint to question 6 in the FAQ.

I expect that now, that FE is working with Gmail with the app password, there will be no need to change my Gmail setup once OAuth2 is back, right?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I will update the FAQ later.

No action should be required later.
[Android Apps and Games] beeshyams:
:good:
[Android Apps and Games] cobben:
Isn't phone (sim card) hijacking still a risk with 2FA?

Or should one use something else than a phone number for 2FA?

Question is, what?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Maybe, but using 2FA is always safer than no extra security layer.
[Android Apps and Games] nussbaum:
Well, i am impressed google grants you this generous trust, for what you did to them with XPrivacy and XprivacyLua...:)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Me too, especially because there were several appeals, but in the end they granted the permission and when asked for an exception for the yearly security audit.
[Android Apps and Games] sxmiotb:
I'm confused. uninstalling....
[Android Apps and Games] beeshyams:
Firstly, did you read the FAQ?

Secondly, unless you say what's confusing do you expect any help in clearing your confusion?

Lastly, your whole post is pointless in the absence of above
[Android Apps and Games] sxmiotb:
Just remove my reply.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Just explain what you find confusing and you'll likely be helped with an explanation.
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
Question:

Sometimes FairEmail marks a link in a message as secure or insecure. That is very helpful but what is FairEmail looking for when it makes that determination and what does it do to 'make link secure'?

I found no mention in the FAQ.