Thunderbird 91 lands: Now native on Apple Silicon, swaps 'master' for 'primary' password, and more Thunderbird 91 has been released with support for Apple Silicon and other enhancements. This version entered the release channel yesterday, according to the release notes, and follows the emission of Firefox 91. You can fetch Thunderbird directly from here, or wait for your system package manager to catch up and hand it out. …
Oh yes I'm on Thunderbird 78 too (Kubuntu 20.04). 13 release numbers between then and now seems very busy. Will I even recognise the new beasty? I do tend to prefer stability over agility in email clients. They are supposed to be a bit boring - IMAP, POP3 & SMTP are not exactly fast moving targets.
Regarding version numbers (from 78 to 91), I think they are just trying to keep in sync with the Firefox version numbering system; there haven't actually been a huge succession of Thunderbird releases while you haven't been looking! (Well, a few minor point-updates now and again, but that's it.)
I exited the app (v78 as well) moved /usr/local/thunderbird to thunderbird-old, untarred the BZ2 file, and started it. I still had my 5 or 6 Google calendars working. I'm on Devuan. It's probably systemd that broke your calendars.
It "just works" and hasn't been screwed with, or revamped, or updated, so I went back and donated $60.
> Will I even recognise the new beasty?
YES. The UI has not been Mozilla-ed at all.
Yeah, I installed it and cheered at seeing the account wizard had found calendars but after setup saw no sign of calendars/contacts. Turns out I had to click on them in the setup wizard and click on somewhat hidden "connect" buttons, there's no easy way after the fact. The wizard could make this more obvious for people like me who over-confidently clicks through too fast...
Besides from that I'm rejoicing that it supports Google Calendar+Contacts directly. Older version were a sh*t show of flaky Calendar/Contact sync extensions that only worked with specific outdated versions and only some of the time. FF 91 is a huge leap in this respect.
Now if only the spam/block buttons in mail apps could connect with/report to the mail host like Google...
Thunderbird is one of those programs I really want to like, but it feels like it's stuck in the 90s. In particular, why is it necessary to pop up a window showing the status of sending an email? Every other modern email program just, you know, sends the email, with maybe a notification in the program's status bar. The search function is also thoroughly wretched, popping up a strange text list of message content rather than, say, the messages themselves. Maybe now that they're rolling in cash, some improvements will take place, although the fact that the developers have taken the time and effort to focus on IRC integration into the program bodes ill.
it feels like it's stuck in the 90s
Well, other than using the 'f' word FEEL, I would want MORE things to be "stuck in the 90's" if it means
* 3D Skeuomorphic menu-based multi-pane interface WITH NO 'HAMBURGER' MENU
* Keyboard+Mouse UI centricity unless you WANT it the other way for some reason...
* sensible menu hierarchy
* tabs where it makes sense
* extensibility
* can turn OFF HTML MAIL (which is EVIL and a YUGE SECURITY CRATER)
</rant>
Zillions of years using Thunderbird (mostly on Linux/KDE, but also on Windows) and we still have to rely on different add-ons to minimize the application to (system) tray. Add ons that support only one OS, or don't work very well or stop working at some point (the majority)... I don't understand why it is so difficult to implement that feature into the application (at least on Windows it is very simple)
That said, a quick spin with the new version does show some limitations. Connection to Exchange, Outlook.com, or Office 365 is by IMAP, unless you purchase an add-on called Owl for Exchange at the modest cost of €10 per year. This extension may be necessary if IMAP is not enabled by your organization.
True el Reg, but please note, even after your purchase (or using e.g. Evolution), and gaining IMAP, it still is not without tribbles. The kind people who brought you O365 nowadays will allow you access through IMAP/SMTP, but if you want to exchange, I don't know, something trivial as meeting invites with your colleagues, you will not get the invite (you know, productivity software) but a message to go to settings to allow "external" access (UNSAFE!). No invite. And arrived at the settings of O365... it turns out $USER can't set it, and an admin has to jump through hoops for you. Who then mumbles if you can't buy a Windows computer and leave him alone (yes, really!).
"The user interface looks dated and intricate, though those familiar with it perhaps like it the way it is."
Well, thank goodness for that. If they fuck around with the interface like Mozilla have been doing for years with Firefox then the likely outcome is that Thunderbird will lose users and donations will most likely plummet.
Outlook's user interface is diabolical! I've tried the online version and I hate that even more.
The search is utterly appalling and the complete lack of control over the ultra-low-contrast colour theme and massive areas of wasted white side make it a miserable daily use experience for me.
I'd give anything to use Thunderbird for my work email and did once try it using the old 'exquilla' plugin for Exchange, but in a highly locked down Windows environment it wouldn't work. So I'm stuck being miserable and less productive with Outlook instead.
I really don't understand how Microsoft gets away with charging so much money for this utter shite
I love the 'dated' UI of Thunderbird and will be very sad if they change it significantly without retaining user options to keep it in 'classic mode'... I'm not anti change but I'm also very pro-choice when it comes to UIs.
Microsoft has gone from being 'passable' to 'nil points' for allowing user control over their applications, whereas both Firefox and Thunderbird continue to give a wonderful raft of personalisation options plus mainly sensible defaults for new users.
I've used TB a *very* long time ago, last.
Is it any good now ? I read UI hasn't been duck around with which is good.
What about sending image NOT inline with full res ? I'm getting real sick of gmail manipulating whatever I'm trying to send to other TBH and looking for a non-MS alternative.
I have always loved TB which I initially chose as a free replacement for MS Office Outlook.
On my latest home laptop, I see I switched off TB Updates and notifications more than 2 years ago.
Was I trying to save Data Allowance? No idea.
Anyway I'm now fully up to v78 and have signed up for the Newsletter to see when I could upgrade to v91
Even v78 UI looks great to me and I see ReminderFox is there too.
Since no longer using Firefox I missed ReminderFox and forgot it could also be a Thunderbird add-on.
I hope I can continue in this unfairly maligned, "dated" Eco-system till I'm pushing up the daisies.
https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/91.0/releasenotes/
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I don't like modern UIs with hamburgers, context sensitive unavailability or even disclosure of options.
I've been very computer literate for decades. I can tolerate and use W10 but not going to bother with W11, even if I could find workarounds for the hardware requirements.
I am a beginner with Mobile Phones - Android.
Recent examples to annoy me:
Q: Where is the '$' key/symbol? Answer: Press And Hold any currency key. Doh!
Q: How do I set the Countdown Timer?
Answer: I accidentally found it on my new phone. On the Clock/Timer screen, Swipe the digits up and down the screen! Not Left/Right or try to edit the Field.
A few years ago, reference Office 365...
Can't I download the Office applications to my computer? I prefer the non-web version for when I'm working offline.
OK, you click on the field of 9 dots on the top left of the page in your web browser next to where it says Office 365... No, not on the words Office 365, that takes you somewhere else, it's the 9 dots... Yes I know it's not very obvious... don't shout at me! I didn't write the bloody thing.
I'm still using version 68, since 78 broke a lot of important add-ons. I'd pay extra if they'd add the "personalities" feature of old Eudora; v68 supports the Folder Account add-on which matches the from address to the folder your cursor has selected, but it really is best to match the message itself. It looked to me like the t'bird developers were more content with playing around with new tools than with maintaining capabilities.
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