Changes to FastMail

[pjwalsh]

Originally Posted by JeffK

Where is that option. I can't seem to find it.

On beta.fastmail.com, Settings / Preferences, at page bottom 'show advanced preferences'.

... ahh, in the mobile app first do Settings / Device Settings / Advanced settings, and switch Server Backend to Beta... then Settings / Preferences, 'show advanced' at bottom.

[JeffK]

Got it. Thank you

[FredOnline]

@Fastmail on Twitter:

Thank you for all your feedback on the UI changes! We’ve heard you about the accessibility needs for system fonts, and know text is displaying poorly on some screens. We’re testing system font access and text tweaks at beta.fastmail.com. Let us know what you think!

[Berenburger]

Originally Posted by FredOnline

@Fastmail on Twitter:

Appreciate the quick turnaround.

[pjwalsh]

Thank you for all your feedback on the UI changes! We’ve heard you about the accessibility needs for system fonts, and know text is displaying poorly on some screens. We’re testing system font access and text tweaks at beta.fastmail.com. Let us know what you think!

Accessibility needs?

[JoeR]

Originally Posted by earlybird

Just today I noticed the font change, too.

I have the issue that while the new font looks maybe fine, the rendering in my browser of webfonts in general is slightly blurry and not very good (Firefox 74 on a rolling Linux distribution). It's why I was using the "System font" fallback as long as it was possible.

I'm tired of type foundries throwing their web fonts at sites for a lot of money while the rendering of those fonts is not very good. For example, I have bought a lot of expensive, high-quality type faces and have them installed on my computer for on-screen & print use, and they render perfectly and sharply, while the corresponding web font is always atrocious. I had this issue with Source Sans Pro (installed version vs webfont from Fastmail), Proxima Nova, Open Sans etc pp.

It's annoying to have to do this but Fastmail has actually a very well designed web app. You can override the complete website font without breaking icons etc by just applying a user style (with e.g. the Stylus Firefox extension) that contains:


html {
font-family: sans-serif;
}


to use your browser default or really any other locally installed font. No !important or other overrides necessary. The resulting look consistent across the email/calendar/contact/files/preferences views.

Another way would be to block loading of web fonts for Fastmail altogether. Looking at the source code, they'll fall back to some Apple stuff, Segoe UI, Arial, and then sans-serif.

I'm a long time lurker & just wanted to say thanks for this. Installed it & it worked like you said. I couldn't believe it the other morning when I logged on to be greeted with that blocky mess they gave us.

Would there be a way to use this extension to change the font of incoming emails? There is one font that I find particularly bothersome. I don't know its name but it looks like the font you'd see back in the day made with a typewriter. Any way could the body of the incoming emails be forced to display with a specific font?

[JeremyNicoll]

The ability to use "System Font" is now in the production version of the web interface, not just the beta.

The setting is in Settings - Preferences (scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Show advanced preferences") - then it's the third item "UI Font".

[ppm]

Originally Posted by JeremyNicoll

The ability to use "System Font" is now in the production version of the web interface, not just the beta.

The setting is in Settings - Preferences (scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Show advanced preferences") - then it's the third item "UI Font".

Thank you

[JamesHenderson]

Originally Posted by JeremyNicoll

The ability to use "System Font" is now in the production version of the web interface, not just the beta.

..it had already (re)selected system font!

J.

[JeremyNicoll]

If you'd used the beta, with that selection made, I think the preference would have come from there.

In the complaint I made about the original font change, after they'd brought System Font back to the beta, I asked where they document what's going on within the beta (answer: nowhere), and whether preferences set in the beta and production system are separate or shared (shared).

I do test betas of other software, but do so where there's a community of testers who can discuss with the vendor and each other what isn't working properly, etc. I find it surprising that FM aren't more open about their beta system.

[chickadee]

JeremyNicoll, thank you for the update.

[BritTim]

Originally Posted by JeremyNicoll

I find it surprising that FM aren't more open about their beta system.

That was a large part of what the FastMail forum(s) used to be about until FastMail became upset about negative feedback, and withdrew from the forums. They now put changes into production without seeking such feedback.

[Lockwood]

Originally Posted by BritTim

That was a large part of what the FastMail forum(s) used to be about until FastMail became upset about negative feedback, and withdrew from the forums.

I didn't know that. I only know this is the fastmail forum - that explains in good part how a poor step like this is made

[Junkle]

Hi folks,

Though it's already been discussed, I would like to confirm again that the system font selection option is now (once again) live on the production version.

[ppm]

Originally Posted by Junkle

Hi folks,

Though it's already been discussed, I would like to confirm again that the system font selection option is now (once again) live on the production version.

Yes. This is worth repeating.

The updated interface includes several improvements. I like, in particular, the capability to hide folders when empty and to assign different colours to different folders

FASTMAIL reacted quickly to the font-related annoyance.