Olena Obilets

All-new Spark - Smart. Focused. Email

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Spark is a fast, cross-platform email client designed to filter out the noise – so you can focus on what's important. Cut out distractions, develop intentional habits, and discover true productivity. Now, on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

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DeepBlackMonster
I am VERY disappointed in this design. Spark has been my favorite email app for years, but you absolutely ignored all current design trends and created a confusing mess with V2. NO one wants to go to a second page to read emails, they want the reading pane visible on the right side or bottom. That's all you had to replicate from V1. And yet you turned it into a poor web page substitute with fancy graphics and far too much complexity for easy reading. I can literally turn a browser webpage into my email app that functions correctly, but Spark has been turned into a dumping group of bad design and management, so why would I pay for it? I have always been a fan of Readdle projects, but this is poor design and implementation.
DeepBlackMonster
@michael_andreuzza Hey Mickey, I can not speak for everyone, but I do have decades of design & development experience so I know a bad product when I see it.
Bradley Davis
@deepblackmoon yes! I have been a user for a LONG time and would have happily paid a subscription for the OLD version of the app. As soon as I downloaded the new one and experienced the new design I began looking for a new app. I'll transition away from Spark before the end of the week. This happened before when Dropbox bought Mailbox. It was a great email app and was shut down. I feel a lot like that today. Something that worked SO WELL for me is being taken away. Also, I know the old one is still there for now, but it won't have further development. Others are making products that are more in line with my needs and I'll gladly pay a subscription to them.
DeepBlackMonster
@bradley_davis8 My frustrations are due to the fact that I really do enjoy Spark v1 on both Mac and iOS. They are incredibly well designed apps, and now that I added a Windows machine to my development I really wanted that same feel & flow. I feel heartbroken that a bad UX manager was able to keep amazing designers from improving on an already amazing product. Users should not have to work to understand an app, an app should do the work to help users. They forgot that.
Michael Andreuzza
No matter how many decades you have we shouldn't take for granted that every user acts the same way, even if we see, think is wrong. Just my opinon.
James Cooke
@deepblackmoon Rarely do I comment on here but I have to wholeheartedly agree with you on this one, been an avid Spark fan for years and saw the latest update only to find it is a complete and utter mess. It feels like they are trying to force an Inbox Zero (Done === Archived) way of working mixed in with a bit of task management (Priority emails) and then the process of composing emails is just shoved in as an afterthought. For example, when you write an email it takes over the screen and collapses the email you are replying to...so unless you have a photographic memory and know exactly what you need to respond to you find yourself having to expand each and every time. Let's not even mention changing all of the shortcuts? Why? On top of that, it feels like it is no longer a Native app and is instead a web wrapper, leading to poor performance, laggy scrolls etc...we might as well just use Gmail in a PWA 🤷🏼‍♂️ TLDR: Poor UX and feature creep for what was once a great email client
Olena Obilets
Hey hunters 👋 Many of you know our Spark email client, and today we’re excited to launch the all-new Spark. Spark is more than an email app with a few new features. It's a new philosophy to help users improve their focus and prioritization and to become more organized. Spark is designed to help you build healthier email habits and bring more intentionality into how you work with your inbox: • Reclaim headspace Use the Home Screen to set intentional habits by creating focused email sessions. Find more moments to breathe. • Focus and prioritize Spark intelligently prioritizes your emails and shows emails from real people at the top. Mark important contacts as Priority to never miss their emails. Group emails by sender to keep your inbox neat and clear it faster. • Stop unwanted emails Pre-screen new senders with Gatekeeper. Easily block unwanted senders to save time and mental energy on dealing with their emails later. • Feel accomplished Mark emails as Done, just as tasks. Master a new way to clear your inbox and get a beautiful reward in the end. And finally, we’re releasing Spark for Windows – something thousands of people were waiting for. Read more on our vision behind Spark: https://sparkmailapp.com/blog/in... Try the new Spark and let us know what you think! ---- Update: - The new Spark is free to use. Premium is a small selection of new extra tools that we’ve developed to take prioritising your inbox to new heights - but is by no means a mandatory subscription. - Existing customers retain the features they had before at NO EXTRA COST. In case existing customers decide to upgrade for using the new premium features, they can do that with 30% lifetime discount. - During its current development phase, Spark is working toward feature parity between platforms. Our goal is to reach feature parity with the Original Spark on Mac. Check out this page to learn more about upcoming features: https://sparkmailapp.com/help/en... - We do recognise that the new focused approach of Spark is a dramatic overhaul from the previous version. That is why the previous version of Spark still remains and you can continue to use it. Meanwhile we are actively gathering the feedback on the new version and there will surely be further tuneups and updates of the features and logics.
Oleg Kukharuk
@elena_obilets yeeeaaahhh, my favorite app became better 🍺
Jason Corpus
@elena_obilets Can you expand on what the vision is for Spark? This change is so incredibly drastic that I cannot wrap my head around where this product is going. No swipe actions, no dark mode, no Smart Inbox, no Smart Folders? Is this a beta, or the finished product? Not trying to be confrontational, but as a Spark loyalist I’m completely confused by this direction. Thanks!
Nikita Tanchuk
@jasonc1821 Everything will be added in future versions 🚀 Our goal is to reach feature parity with the Original Spark on Mac. Spark Desktop development is far from over and a lot of amazing updates are coming soon! Check out this page to learn more about upcoming features: https://sparkmailapp.com/help/en...
Olena Obilets
@jasonc1821 Hi Jason, thanks for the question. The major reason for the change in the design is to help you focus on what's important. We consider the 3 column design in the original Spark to be more distracting while we want to help you focus - that’s why we are creating that single-column design. At the same time we surely understand that’s a pretty big change. That’s why we: - monitor customers feedback on this release and would listen to it in terms of feature/logic/design tuneups. - plan to continue supporting Spark 2 for Mac for the next year. We are going to keep Spark 2 as a separate app which you can use, and if needed, we can add the old Smart inbox to the new Spark should many users give us this feedback. On iOS we retained the older version of the Smart Inbox, so you’ll be able to switch between the old and new Smart Inbox and choose what you prefer. Regarding the missing features: they will be added in future versions. This release is not feature complete in terms of everything we have in our plans and yes, some of the Spark 2 features like templates are not there yet, but it’s definitely not a beta. It’s a 1.0 release of the new product that has a lot in common with the current Spark but at the same time approaches problem of the busy inbox from a different angle. As for the feature gaps, some of them, like Dark mode will be resolved within 2-3 weeks, while majority of others will be addressed in the next few months. Our goal is to reach feature parity with the Original Spark on Mac. https://sparkmailapp.com/help/en...
NK Tim
@jasonc1821 @elena_obilets Let’s keep it focused. The major reason is you wanted to make it a subscription app and force everybody to pay 💰 And in the process, you ruined it.
Teresa Ibarra
This has been one of the most disappointing software updates I've ever seen. No dark mode, removing the two window pane, and FORCING USERS TO PAY $8 EVERY MONTH TO GET RID OF A PERMANENT "Sent with Spark" AD from every email they send through Spark. I've been a huge supporter of Spark as a part of digital hygiene and I would have loved to contribute to a Premium tier had it not forced upon users. Who approved this?
Nikita Tanchuk
@klipspringr We have received some feedback regarding reading panes - 2 pane design is on its way, so we hope you can hang tight while we work on Spark’s development. We do recognize that the new focused approach of Spark is a dramatic overhaul from the previous version. That is why the previous version of Spark still remains. All the old features you enjoyed are still free on the new Spark. Premium is a small selection of new tools that we’ve developed to take prioritizing your inbox to new heights - but is by no means a mandatory subscription. The new Spark certainly does take some getting used to, yet we received a lot of positive sentiment once the initial shock has worn off. As for the Dark Mode - it will come soon! Our goal is to reach feature parity with the Original Spark on Mac. Spark Desktop development is far from over and a lot of amazing updates are coming soon! Check out this page to learn more about upcoming features: https://sparkmailapp.com/help/en...
Nikita Tanchuk
@klipspringr As an existing customer, you maintain free use of all the features you had access to in the previous version of Spark, including disabling the Sent with Spark tagline. Our development team has identified a bug that forces existing users into a paywall and will be releasing a hotfix shortly. Once fixed you need to head into the settings to disable this feature. Within the settings panel, go to the composer section, click on Signatures and then toggle "Sent with Spark' tagline 🙌
NK Tim
@klipspringr @nikita_tanchuk Now now. That’s a good cover up given all the backlash that’s unfolding because of this misdeed 🤐
René Hesse
@nikita_tanchuk "and will be releasing a hotfix shortly." what do you understand by „shortly“?
Olena Obilets
@renehesse Hi Rene - the iOS hotfix was on the approval at Apple for a week, unfortunately - we do not have the force to speed up the review process. Now we've passed the review and have just released the iOS update, you should be able to manually update to the new version now, please check.
René Hesse
Unfortunately, they really screwed that up. 😵‍💫
Bradley Davis
@renehesse I agree! And I'm sad to lose Spark in my dock.
MacAutomationTips.com
@renehesse , no they didn't. It's a beautiful redesign. V.2 is still there for those who want to keep using it.
James Bostock
This is atrocious. Where is smart inbox? Where are templates? Forced adverts within the email? How long will the old spark be supported? I'll need to find an alternative as the new spark is a mess when you have more than 3-4 inboxes.
Nikita Tanchuk
@jtlx We do recognise that the new focused approach of Spark is a dramatic overhaul from the previous version. That is why the previous version of Spark still remains at least for a year. Templates and all other features from the Original Spark will be added soon 🚀 Our goal is to reach feature parity with the Original Spark on Mac. Spark Desktop development is far from over and a lot of amazing updates are coming soon! Check out this page to learn more about upcoming features: https://sparkmailapp.com/help/en...
Olena Obilets
@jtlx Hi James, thanks for your comment. Let me add a response regarding the "Forced adverts within the email" please. If you mean the "Sent with Spark" tagline under the signature: As an existing customer, you maintain free use of all the features you had access to in the previous version of Spark, including disabling the Sent with Spark tagline. Our development team has identified a bug that forces existing users into a paywall and we will be releasing a hotfix shortly, we are sorry for that problem with this feature - this is not how it was supposed to work for the existing customers.
NK Tim
@jtlx @nikita_tanchuk Goal is to make money via subscription as users suffer your bad redesigns.
Dario Sušanj
@nikita_tanchuk You should not be asking for a pretty expensive subscription fee on the promise of future updates but on what the software does TODAY. And Spark v3 is a mess with less features than v2. So in essence you are asking us to pay for a piece of software that is not yet finished (as you yourself have said) to finance its future development. And then *maybe* we get feature parity with v2 at some point. That’s a HUGE ask given how bad Spark v3 currently looks and behaves! :( So sorry to say this but Spark v3 is a major disappointment. I’m sure it will suit some users but I will move off Spark ASAP as the legacy v2 is essentially also dead (there will probably be no more updates so there’s no point in relying on it).
MacAutomationTips.com
@jtlx @nikita_tanchuk , you're on the right track. I'm pretty sure the two-column will be an option in v.3, so if people want to use it they can. I for one am happy with the single column view.
Lucas Dubois
Hey there, 🙋‍♂️ I'm Lucas, user of Spark since October 2016. 💔 Spark is one of my all times favorites app. I cannot speak for everyone, but I feel very disappointed by what feels like an incomplete and inconsistent release with this new version. 🤓 I’ve been using SparkMail on a daily basis since 2016. I’ve seen you evolve up to what you became today. In my personal experience, you always had great improvements and excellent new features added, UNTIL today with version 3.0. ❤️ I love the clean and beautiful new design, but this should not come at the expense of usability in the way it has. 👨‍💻 I have downloaded the two version on Mac and iOS. 👀 The iOS version does not look and feel as different from the previous version, and the fact that I can still CHOOSE to use the traditional smart inbox is excellent. It feels like a good update with a beautiful new UI. Even-thought some of the things I'll be naming next are missing here too. 🫣 On the other hand, the macOS version feels like a completely new product that has kept absolutely nothing from its predecessor. And that's a shame. The core and essential features of what made Spark one of my favorite apps are completely gone on desktop: 👉 The fixed sidebar, which was an essential element to my workflow in allowing me to quickly see what was going on in each of my inboxes, is gone. 👉 The reading pane, which made navigating my inbox a breeze, is completely gone, having to now enter each email individually on "full screen" to read them. 👉 The dark mode is visibly gone. A feature without which it's very hard for me to work at night. 👉 The swipe action on emails is gone. This feature was one of the most relevant and important features brought by you many years ago. 👉 The smart folders seem to be gone. 👉 The grouping by newsletter, notifications, etc that allowed me to VERY quickly know how many unread emails I had is gone. Or made different. 👉 The quick actions found at the top left of the email view (very accessible) has now been moved to the opposite side, where the accessibility is clearly inferior. 👉 Your messaging has always been about keeping Spark free for individuals because you were able to monetize through teams subscriptions. This is now gone, and you're forcing users to pay to remove the "Sent with Spark" messaging in the signature. I can accept a premium tier for individuals with a greater set of features, but you're abandoning your core ethos by making the experience worst for non-paying user with the "Sent with Spark" thing. 😞 It feels like a very sad moment for me. An app that I loved deeply has turned into something completely new and different. And I'm sorry to say that new is not always better... ⏳ I'll wait to hear more from the team on what is coming next. I've spent some time reading through Twitter and ProductHunt, and I've seen mainly negative reactions to this launch. 😓 I know how long it takes to build and create new products. So I know there is no easy way to iterate quickly on all of this, except if most of the things that I named are already on the roadmap for next updates. 💡 All that I can think of, for now, is that you could keep a "Spark Legacy" app in the AppStore on both iOS and macOS so that faithful users can still use you. In my case, I will keep using the old version on macOS until there is more clarity from you. I would be very sad if I need to move to an alternative. 🙏 Thank you for reading me. Cheers, Lucas
Olena Obilets
@lucasdubois Hello Lucas, Thank you for such a detailed feedback on the new version, and thanks for being our customer all this time🙏 We have released a separate Desktop app with a new concept for treating emails and which should solve the focus problems from a new angle. We do understand that it was a risky move - that’s why the previous app version for Mac is still available and you can continue to use it meanwhile. We have released it with no feature parity with other platforms as we believed that even on the current stage, the new app would already help the broad audience with the existing email and focus problems with the new feature set - we wanted to get the feedback from the wide market on what we’ve built, so released it earlier. At the same time we are continuing to add the missing features and the goal is to reach feature parity with Spark 2 on Mac. Some of the features you’ve listed will be available in the upcoming releases (like dark mode, the fixed sidebar, etc) I want to assure you that we monitor the feedbacks from our customers thoroughly and there would be surely the new iterations of the new Spark ahead, hopefully you can use the Spark 2 version for now until we add the missing features which were needed for your workflow. Thanks for sharing your honest feedback - that would help to shape the vision of the new Spark. Elena from Spark team
Ray Astafichev
Great product and a great team!!! Please support Spark on its amazing journey!
NK Tim
@ray_astafichev are you one of “them”?
Olena Obilets
@ray_astafichev Thanks - it's great to see support from other Readdle's companies, hehe :)
stefan ketola
@ray_astafichev I have to agree and love V3. I agree re the reading pane but they have already said that is on the roadmap. I love the homepage, the snoozing is among the best out there. Oh and how many times do folk need to be told **what you have free now, you have free in V3** Why are folk still complaining about stuff that has already been answered, e.g. the free aspect? I get everyone's use case is different but every single reply I've read thus far before yours has been negative. I have been using Spark for some years and love it. Sure this design is radically different and some folk don't like change. I think it's fantastic and once the reading pane arrives it'll be better still. Thanks, team for such a great product,
MacAutomationTips.com
@ray_astafichev, I very much agree. I left off using v.2, but I'm back for v3. Great design, and I appreciate how the concepts they're pushing in the new redesign. I'm trying to stick with my Home screen schedule and not check emails numerous times throughout the day.
MacAutomationTips.com
@ray_astafichev @stefan_ketola, I agree. It's pitiful to see people complaining when they still have v2 for free and the free features in v.3. It's a little disingenuous to complain about the app they're not paying for.
Dimitris Demetriou
Maybe people shouldn’t have asked so bad for windows app. Mac app now crippled. 👎🏼
Nathan Monk
@ddemetriou this ain't the app they asked for 🙁
DeepBlackMonster
@ddemetriou All they had to do was to make the Windows Spark app look like the Mac v2 Spark app. That was it.
Dimitris Demetriou
@nathansmonk yes agreed, I was trying to be funny! We all make mistakes, hopefully they take on the clear feedback from existing users that they missed the mark. And address it as quickly as possible. iOS app V3 great so far and has a lot of the features brought on by V3 so surprised if it would have been much work to keep a native version on the Mac? and Electron for Windows? And just give people the option for 3 pane and current V3 experience if people want the mythical zen email.
Dimitris Demetriou
@deepblackmoon Yes for sure...seems like they already had a best of class app and took a massive unnecessary risk and then rushed out with no feature parity to V2.
Shane Williamson
I blame Windows and HEY for this :)
NK Tim
Readdle has been successful at ruining yet another one of their popular apps. They are in a frenzy to convert every app into a subscription without appreciating that they are ruining their customer base. Useless features, cosmetic makeovers, shaming prompts for non paying customers and false claims are so typical of Readdle team. I want to downvote this launch.
Ken Kinder
Wait... It's an Electron app now? 🤦‍♂️
Olena Obilets
@ken_kinder We have expanded our development platform rather than switched to a new platform. For a long time Spark had a swift-built cross-platform core that runs on Android, Windows, MacOS and iOS and ipadOS, and we have interface layer, built on Javascript and Electron, in new Spark Desktop (we use Electron as a wrapper), which allows us to create a cross-platform app which runs both on Windows and on Mac. Simply put, it’s a native core, with the interface built on Javascript in the Electron wrapper on Spark Desktop. 1password built their app recently with a similar approach.
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