yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] VirtualWaver:
Are there any plans to implement PGP encryption directly into FairMail so that we can send/receive and view encrypted emails without third party apps like OpenKeychain? For example, if we can store our keys in FairMail and it can automatically upload our public keys and lookup to our specified PGP directory for recepient keys when composing emails.

Whilst OpenKeychain does the trick, its inconvenient as we need to open each encrypted email in OpenKeychain and its interface is not good at all and very limited vs FairMail.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
You do not have to open received mails in OpenKeychain to decrypt, nor encrypt outgoing mails within OpenKeychain if a confirmed key is already set up for the recipient and sender address.

Fairemail already has an interface to talk to OpenKeychain directly. You just press the lock icon to decrypt. Both for PGP and S/MIME encrypted mails. And you can just set FairEmail to send PGP encrypted within the sending options. That's sufficient without having to see anything outside of FairEmail.

Only if you are sending a mail to a recipient whose key you have never used before yet, you might have to import a key into OpenKeychain and confirm its fingerprint first. Or if you do not have a key pair for your outgoing account, you may have to create one within OpenKeychain. So, just the initial things. That's it.
[Android Apps and Games] VirtualWaver:
Thanks for the info.

I think I have found a possible bug. Steps to reproduce:

1. Generate a new key in OpenKeychain but do not upload the key to OpenKeychain.

2. Use the key in FairMail to send an encrypted email. All goes well and it decrypts the email too.

3. Now delete OpenKeychain app. As the key was not uploaded, we simply delete OpenKeychain.

4. Reinstall OpenKeychain app, generate a new key for the same email but this time upload it to OpenKeychain server. We can confirm this is uploaded fine by searching the key from OpenKeychain on another phone. We can also send and decrypt messages with this new key directly from OpenKeychain. So the key is working and searchable.

5. Try to send an encrypted email from FairMail again. It will try to search for the previous key in OpenKeychain, the one we deleted, and won't notice the newly generated key. It will open OpenKeychain`s Search window trying to look for old key ans OpenKeychain will return "key not found" error as the old key is not there anymore, and won't allow to select the newly created key. The screenshot is attached.

So FairMail should forget the old key and look for the new one instead. I digged the settings but couldn't find anything to reset this.

Also, one more thing: the app doesn't allow to select all drafts to discard them, nothing happens when I tap to Select All in Drafts folder nor does it react if I tap and hold emails to select. The only option is opening the emails one by one and tapping to Discard.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
FairEmail will remember the last used encryption key for your convenience. Please see this FAQ about how you can reset an old key (and a lot of other useful info related to encryption):

FairEmail/FAQ.md at master · M66B/FairEmail

Fully featured, open source, privacy friendly email app for Android - M66B/FairEmail

github.com

You can't multiple select local only messages, which is probably why you can't select the draft messages.
[Android Apps and Games] La_Globule:
It works fine as expected, thanks!
[Android Apps and Games] VirtualWaver:
Thanks a lot for this!!
[Android Apps and Games] nadir husain:
FairEmail is so amazing. Like a well trained pet. You can make it do whatever you want. It behaves exactly as you want. Run, walk, sleep whatever you desire! Kudos Marcel!
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1576 1.1577 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

I like to hear whether you like or not the new menu icons (in the multiple selection, message actions, answer and text style menus).
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
I like the new menu icons.
[Android Apps and Games] avalx:
Very nice 👍
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Currently, the main setup screen looks like below. It is deliberately as simple as possible, also to send a message that setting up the app will be simple. However, some people are scared off by the simple look and think that the app is very simple as well. This seems what most of the bad reviews about the user interface are about, while this is of course not what the real user interface is.

I like to hear suggestions about how to improve this, without too much bells and whistles and keeping the idea of "simple".
[Android Apps and Games] topcaser:
In my opinion the screen is OK. You should leave it as it is. Saying that, if you present such a screen to a new user with zero skills he is overflown with Infos. I would present a setup wizard which opens automatically after first start of Fairemail. This wizard guides you through the three steps. I would guess that 90 percent of users never look to the settings again. The wizard needs an exit mode for advanced users.
[Android Apps and Games] wimstefan:
The new icons look wonderful! 👍🏼
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
Looks fine to me. Just the way it is.
[Android Apps and Games] mrrocketdog:
jeez marcel , how much simpler could it get?

the only only thing that could be simpler is upon 1st opening the app , the only thing seen is the "welcome message and the "wizard button". then have a "click here for advanced features button".

which is practically what you have.

sorry , just dont have the vision on how to make it simpler , or look less "daunting" , (lol).
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Thanks, but the goal was not to make it simpler, but more attractive. A little more "bling bling". Yes, contradiction ;-)
[Android Apps and Games] deechte:
As a new user here, first of all thanks for your great app. I like it a lot and have purchased the pro version.

Now, when on-boarding for the first time, the main setup screen is confusing. I was searching for a way to add my account as a first step. I expected that to be a big fat button or menu option. I also expected that to be in the top corner like most apps and sites have.

Instead it is a drop-down arrow burried between some links and a button. Parts of this are alligned to the left, others are centered. If you would want to improve anything, that place would be my advise. Make everything there in a logical order and add uniformity in layout.

Thanks for your great product. Ga zo door!
[Android Apps and Games] eiric:
Thanks, I found these 2 variables:

$name$

$email$

Is it possible to add other variables such as

$date$

$time$

$subject$

?

To be more specific, I have an html email signature on my computer email client (Thunderbird) using those variables thanks to QuickText addon, and I would love to finally find an android email client able to do that as well.

Whatever your answer will be, I paid today the pro features to support your impressive work.
[Android Apps and Games] topcaser:
Again, from my experience with user experience (UX) projects: for a first time user it's too much text. He downloads the software with one main goal: he wants to receive and send emails. Therefore only step 1 is of interest at first (step 2 and 3 are only supporters to get to the goal, those steps have to come one after the other). Step 1 needs an entire simplified screen for first time users. I am talking now from a new (!) first time setup screen: Remove most of the text as well. The first text block is way too long and let it look complicated (although you want to reach the opposite with the text). Remove the botton to the inbox (why is the button there anyway? One can click on back button).

OK, next try:

1. A welcome message on the entire screen is shown if no account is setup. Some dots on the bottom indicates how much screens will follow. Write what you think is important for the users in larger font. The important UX element on this page is the forward button to the next screen. Make this button prominent (most of the user will not read the welcome text) and make this button on the other screens compatible (position and size). A swipe makes the same: bring you to the next screen. Users are used to swiping and probably expect this).

2. Second screen: list the email provider here prominently. A user will walk through the list and search for his provider. If it's not listed he is willing to read more and is probably a user with more technical knowledge. Therefore he will read small text as well. Guide those users to your settings page with smaller text. It's up to you whether you want to help those users with the wizard or quit the one time wizard and guide him directly to the settings.

3. Screen: get account credentials

4. And 5. Screen: rest of the steps.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
Users who cannot (or do not want to) read should not use programmes.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
There is now "1. Add or change account" with a blue colored button "Wizard" below it. How do you suggest to improve this?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
It wouldn't be a problem and not even much work to add new place holders, but the subject is already there when you reply and the date, time, etc are in the reply header.

So, why would you want this?
[Android Apps and Games] zmg:
Feature request: Add notes to emails (ala Post-It to documents).

I often make mental notes when reading emails but it sure would be easier if I could do something like we all do in the real world and post a note for myself without having to print the thing.

Anyhoo, I understand if this "feature" seems too esoteric or wouldn't have enough interest to be useful. Just thought I'd toss it out there. Really great project. Glad I purchased. Keep up all the great work!
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This is already there. You'll find it in the horizontal three dots menu just above the message text. If you use this frequently, you can configure a button for it.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
There is very little text in the setup screen and I don't want to treat people as children. Personally, I hate long winding setup wizards.

I guess, it will just be impossible to make everybody happy, but I will keep trying.
[Android Apps and Games] nadir husain:
I have already said - you can make FairEmail be whatever you want it to be;)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1578 1.1579 1.1580 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases
[Android Apps and Games] topcaser:
You asked for suggestions and I spent some thoughts on it. If you are still the opinion that this what you have is the best way to offer setup, then you don't need to ask. I just told you from my experience with software projects how I would do it. Text is in most of the cases never read and it let it look like to be complicated
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Your suggestions are appreciated and maybe I will eventually go this way. For now I am looking for ideas and opinions, which seem to vary greatly.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
In my previous working life, I told employees who had asked something that was answered in the circular before you that it was all described in the circular after all. If they then said that it was too extensive and they hadn't read it, I said "Wait, then I'll start my read-out service and read the circular to you" ;-).

Maybe we should do the same here ... the talking FE - for all those who can't (or don't want to) read. ;-)
[Android Apps and Games] heinhuiz:
Only thing I would change: I would make a big Manual setup button and put it next to the Wizard button, so that users have a clear choice presented to them how to setup an account. The current manual setup link is easily overlooked in the current screen. (In fact, just a few days ago I wanted to change something in an account and I couldn't find where to do it at first, until I looked better.)

The Go to inbox button is indeed redundant, as mentioned before - and therefor confusing.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I agree that the inbox button is redundant, but before it was there I got quite some questions about how to go to the inbox ...

I will see what I can do about the manual setup visibility.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
I go with @topcaser on how to improve user experience.

People that rate FE bad due to it being complicated most likely do so because they do not read the start screen and do not want to read as well. They just want to see a screen to enter their credentials and receive/send mails. That's it. Nothing more.

Text is informative. People don't want to (yet) know things mostly. They don't want to tweak things. They want to use the app without any "complicated" stuff.

They might not want to "search" an (actually quite visible) wizard button, klick and select from multiple options, but get one option only: the option they need. They don't want to read about the many options available. So you need to either illustratively introduce them, or.. read minds. I doubt you can nor want to do the latter.

So a welcome screen can be more appealing in that case as topcaser noted. But again not with alot of text, but in slides with ilustrations (e.g. partial screenshot of relevant parts) and a text with very few words in large fonts. If you remember, I had created a sample for you a while ago, and I wouldn't mind assisting you on this even if I'm not a professional designer, if you are interested in this kinda stuff.

It's just important that such any welcome screen must be skippable to not annoy people who dislike that while introducing people who want it "simple".
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
(did quote instead of editing accidentally. Sorry. Since can't delete this post [can I?], removing all other parts)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
To configure an account, people need to tap on the wizard button to select the provider, which is basically step 1 of the wizard. After that they can enter their details, which works differently for OAuth, hence why the provider needs to be selected.

I am listening, but I like to be careful with changes for now, so I have made the wizard button a bit wider and the manual setup a little more prominent (colored drop down and bold text):
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
How about changing the Wizard button into a drop down spinner with "Select provider ..." and a button "Start" or "Configure" ?
[Android Apps and Games] mrrocketdog:
that sounds like a good idea.
[Android Apps and Games] eiric:
That's a good news if it wouldn't be to hard to add these features! Yes I know it may sound strange, but it's required for my work. QuickText is great for that on a computer email client, but I know no Android app able to do that.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I am not blindly adding everything which is being asked for and I am still missing a justification for this ...
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
Just a got an idea on how to improve the account setup options in general.

How about removing the "OAuth" parts in "Gmail (Oauth)", etc.. Just "Gmail","Outlook/Office265",.. Thenafter you may show the same options as in "other provider" (Name, E-Mail Adress, Password) but with a checkable option (checkmark) "This account uses OAuth to authenticate", which if selected will disable the latter two options (turning them grey or invisible) and the next step would be the same as currently with OAuth accounts.

I had read a few times that configuring the Google account without the account being installed on nthe device would be hard. I believe that is because people go for the GMail (OAuth) selection instead of using the "Other Provider" option and entering the email address and password or token.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I understand the suggestion, but some people specifically look for OAuth. In general, I think is only good to be as clear as possible about what is what.

I don't see many people having trouble with setting up a Gmail account, on the contrary.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
After some experimentation: I don't think a spinner and a "go" button will make things any easier, on the contrary. People have to interact with two controls instead of one, also involving more clicks.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I just released yet another version 1.1581 today, to fix block quote handling in some situations.

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
I never knew of this. This is excellent, especially with color to make it stand out in the header.

Excellent!
[Android Apps and Games] deechte:
Well, in this part of the menu there's a blue button, a grey button, a drop down arrow which acts like a folding-open thingy. Which is messy if I may say so, without wanting to insult. And this part is centered, while the rest of the screen below is alligned to the left. I would keep the alignment consequent and wouldn't mix buttons, drop-down and links.

I have a mail account where servers and ports aren't usually automatically detected correctly. Therefore at first glance I was looking for a manual setup option, hence I chose the drop down arrow, where I found that, instead of the wizard button.

Lastly, I would suggest using menu buttons and structure like Google's material design. People are used to that.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Your feedback is appreciated.

The links are pretty essential to prevent questions and are centered to put some more emphasis on it. So, the "ugliness" is intended.

The manual setup has gotten some more emphasis in recent version. Putting it somewhere else hasn't been a success. It is just hard to make it work for everybody.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
If it is an own domain or a corporate one where you can contact some admins, it might be useful to note that the auto detection in FairEmail uses open standards like RFC 6186 and Thunderbird:Autoconfiguration. And it's not even hard to implement them for a domain, with RFC 6186 being the easiest one.

That would result in any clients supporting RFC 6186 (like FairEmail) finding which server and port to contact to for whoch protocol. Meaning you'd have to enter name, email address and password only. Much easier than manually entering everything IMO.
[Android Apps and Games] deechte:
Thanks. It's my own domain and server.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
In that case you can make it yourself easier by setting two DNS records like this:

_imap._tcp SRV 0 1 143 imap.example.com.
_submission._tcp SRV 0 1 587 mail.example.com.

Please see here for more information:

RFC 6186: Use of SRV Records for Locating Email Submission/Access Services

This specification describes how SRV records can be used to locate email services. [STANDARDS-TRACK]

tools.ietf.org
[Android Apps and Games] Dark_Eyes_:
@M66B I noticed a small annoyance when creating/editing signatures. Clicking the back button finishes the activity without saving nor a prompt to save. I've been fooled a few times and I think a dialog implemented in onBackPressed to ask for saving would be a nice addition. What do you think?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1582 is available on GitHub now in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

This version was released to fix lists for RTL scripts.

@Dark_Eyes_ there is a 'save changes' for signatures now. Can you please double check if it works as expected?
[Android Apps and Games] Dark_Eyes_:
Of course it works perfectly! Thanks my friend for the quick fix and continued support!
[Android Apps and Games] zzz2002:
Not urgent but I believe port 465 has been deprecated as a SMTP port, and that IANA has assigned TCP port 465 to a new service.

Could you change the default SMTP(S) port from 465 to 587 in line with current IANA standards.

TIA
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Port 465 is used by many providers as SSL/TLS port instead of the unsafer port 587 with STARTTLS.

Please see this article about why STARTTLS is potentially unsafe:

Announcing STARTTLS Everywhere: Securing Hop-to-Hop Email Delivery

Today we’re announcing the launch of STARTTLS Everywhere, EFF’s initiative to improve the security of the email ecosystem. Thanks to previous EFF efforts like Let's Encrypt, and Certbot, as well as help from the major web browsers, we've seen significant wins in encrypting the web. Now we want to...

www.eff.org
[Android Apps and Games] VirtualWaver:
Honestly, your app is just perfect and light years ahead of any other email app I used. You can't make everyone happy and you shouldn't - people should spent some time reading the manual and configuring things. For me, FairMail is straightforward enough, with tons of great settings to play with.

A bit offtop but I wish you could develop a Windows version of FairMail! )))
[Android Apps and Games] mrrocketdog:
get some rest marcel. :)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1583 is available on GitHub now in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1584 is available on GitHub now in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

This version was released to fix storing sent messages in the folder of a message being replied-to (this is a sent option).
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1585 is available on GitHub now in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

I like to hear opinions about the new layout of the settings screens.
[Android Apps and Games] heinhuiz:
Small layout change that makes the process much more clear!

Only one thing (that I could have thought of earlier): the explanation behind the big coloured question mark symbol does not only apply to the wizard where it is located, but to the entire setup process. Maybe you should provide a 'More...' link in the 'Welcome' card instead of this. Now one would only use the link when they want to know more about the wizard itself.
[Android Apps and Games] Friedel25:
Hello Marcel, I find the idea very good! :)

Unfortunately, I don't like the beige colour together with my favourite theme "grey", and I have therefore deactivated the option "Use beige background when using card style". Could you extend this setting so that the beige is also replaced by the same grey in the settings?
[Android Apps and Games] no.one.writeme:
Hi @M66B,

Just and heads up.

I find the card layout in settings much more readable. Good call in my opinion.

Best regards,

Luis
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Maybe there should be another main settings card with commonly changed settings, like selecting the theme. Which settings did you change after installing the app?
[Android Apps and Games] Andriy U.:
The new settings layout is better as for me, who likes the tabular style more than the card style.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
too much, I think it is very individual, so no.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I think you are right. The main screen should be as simple as possible.
[Android Apps and Games] ouzowtf:
The beige color is a bit "special" for my theme settings.

And I (still) think the tabbed layout and the "hidden" additional settings in the hamburger menu of the settings are not the best choices.

Scrolling sideways on top of the phone to get to a specific settings category is unnecessary hard to do on nowadays bigger phones.

I would prefer the categories in a normal list with it's content in a sub view (I don't know what the correct term is, just like in the normal Android phone settings) and the "hidden" settings (export, import, sort) maybe as part of the miscellaneous category.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I have restructured the settings several times and every solution has advantages and disadvantages.

The main goal now is to let the main settings page look more similar to the message list and less "old fashioned". The cards in the other settings pages are more to make everything consistent.