Thunderbird: Free Your Inbox

#Gmail is starting to show even more ads -- and they're appearing in the middle of email lists.

There's a real benefit to using email software that doesn't rely on YOUR data to generate revenue or train AI.

Thunderbird: Ad-free since 2003.
#FreeTheInbox

(Source: https://9to5google.com/2023/05/05/gmail-ads-increase-2023/)

Gmail is starting to show more ads, including in the middle of email lists

Ads are a central part of Google’s business and, in many cases, the way that the company’s products are provided...

9to5Google
May 12, 2023 at 7:29amWeb
Show threadCoo-OpsMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird And if you’re still using gmail for some reason - why? There’s plenty of better email providers out there that aren’t actively rifling through your personal life.
Show threadWiktor - wikiyuMay 12, 2023
@cooopsspace @thunderbird

Because:
1. most online services doesn`t allow to change email address without creating new account
2. most of my former work collegues have my email from (f.ex) 2009 or 2015 and will not know about change
3. most of my former employers sometimes needs to contact me and e-mail is best for that. And will use one from my work profile from 2012 ...
...
and so on
changing e-mail is not a trivial action. And having few email addresses used on daily basis is so uncomfortable...

so yes - i have been stuck with gooshit company e-mail address. Like many others.
Show threadCoo-OpsMay 12, 2023
@wikiyu @thunderbird 1. I’ve NEVER seen one before. And I work in tech.
3. Update your contact list with your new address, keep auto forward on for X years before closing it. At the very least you won’t be giving Google more data.
Show threadAnomnomnomalyMay 12, 2023

@thunderbird

This reminds me I need to consider installing Thunderbird again... I've got it installed on my mum's system. and I use so many plugins for firefox to block ads/scripts and so forth... that using gmail or outlook is actually tolerable on the desktop.

Show threadnot a martian, honestMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird I truly like your program, but somehow every time I install it I can use it for maybe a month before it becomes unbearably slow.
Show threadDavid BainbridgeMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird Thunderbird has been my email management programme of preference for the past 7 years. It works well!
Show threadBarbaraPittman ☕️💬May 12, 2023
@thunderbird I can’t remember why I have gmail?
Show threadBlf_tpeMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird Not having the same client on mobile is a thing, few years ago search was clumsy, as well as calendar integration, many plugins for simple things, UI not matching macOS. (I’m using Outlook as part of subscription - i think another barrier is the fact that there are a bunch of good free clients, suggest pushing integration with Firefox / differentiating functions)
Show threadmrscientificMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird
Yeah I've enjoyed using thunderbird. My one small gripe is that there isn't a way to receive emails and notify users of emils in the background (like on a system tray). But otherwise its pretty great.
Show threadIslamic Audiobooks CentralMay 14, 2023
@mrscientific @thunderbird Birdtray...?
Show threadmrscientificMay 15, 2023
@islamicaudiobooks @thunderbird
It's a bit wonky for me (at least when I tried it). I'll probably give it another shot soon though
Show threadTorge RosendahlMay 12, 2023

@thunderbird that's on one level with fake download buttons on hosting sites, why would anyone ever think that it's a good idea :/

Everyday, somewhere in the software industry, a team lead says: "Yes, that's it, that's how we'll do it!"

Show threadSunilMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird next logical step is to include ads in IMAP.
Show threadThunderbird: Free Your InboxMay 12, 2023
@sunil DON'T. EVEN. JOKE. ABOUT. THAT 😨 😜
Show threadMMR NmdMay 12, 2023

@thunderbird
Been using thunderbird (via Seamonkey or individualy, and yes I know, the name has changed ever since) for the last 17 years, changed my life.

Go libre !

Show threadrohdenMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird No fan of Gmail here. However, their “Help Me Write” AI feature (https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-google-help-me-write-gmail-g-docs/) will convince many users that personalized ads are not that bad.

I guess Mozilla and other FLOSS projects will have something similar in the future. Think of https://open-assistant.io/
What is Google Help Me Write and when can I use it?

This new feature looks like it could be a major time-saver - find out more here.

Pocket-lint
Show threadangel eyesMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird tbh the only reason I don’t use thunderbird is bc it’s not as pretty as the gnome email client. Looks a bit 2014.
Show threadThunderbird: Free Your InboxMay 12, 2023

@angeleyes04 Come back in July for Thunderbird 115 ;-)

https://developer.thunderbird.net/planning/roadmap

Roadmap | Thunderbird

Planned work for the 2025-2026 releases of Thunderbird.

Show thread2xfoMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird
I love Thunderbird and I would still use it if I could make it work with my Gmail account. It used to but I haven't been able to set it up correctly in several years.
Show threadSvenjeMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird Yes, effectively #gmailads are the reason why I came back to use #thunderbird and nevertheless I have a #gmail address, I don’t use this client anymore. On a #mac on #iphone and on #windows Really a great mail client! And so does my family. In combination with #protonmail and #protonmailbridge an even more cool thing!
Show threadmatthijsMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird
Go Thunderbird!
Show threadItsWilderMay 12, 2023
@thunderbird I’ll keep saying it - I don’t see how any professional or company can condone using Google products knowing full well they’re siphoning information from their users and using it to sell ads. That includes Chrome and Gmail.
Show threadBuck 🌱May 12, 2023
@thunderbird On my end I couldn’t get past the interface after Spark Mail on Mac so I moved to Geary until hopefully July, but Spark Mail on Windows keeps failing for my girlfriend, so I just switched her to @thunderbird! I was going to wait for July, but function over form! If it works, it works…
Show threadMackajMay 12, 2023

@thunderbird

Ads in Google email lists, since when? I've never had that happen to me.

Show threadAlditrusMay 13, 2023
@thunderbird My gmail inbox is so full of garbage that I hardly ever look at my gmail anymore. It's just there because online services require me to use it because reasons.
Show threadmadprogMay 13, 2023
@thunderbird I'm not sure that using Thunderbird with a GMail account will prevent them from using your data to train their AI, as they still have access to your email, and how you treat them... For true privacy you still need to receive the mail differently!
Show threadSeph HarrisonMay 13, 2023
@madprog @thunderbird Get your own domain and email service. I got my domain for $5 for the first year from PorkBun, and turned to Polaris for my email which is running $20/yr. Depending on what you need, you might be able to go cheaper or get more space for the money, my email is also used for business, so 4 email accounts for them, and 3 for me.
Show threadRoberto ResoliMay 14, 2023

@thunderbird

There's no reason to use gmail, anyway (if you're not forced to).

Whichever client you choose.

@paoloredaelli

Show threadBekkenesMay 21, 2023
@thunderbird its a even better reason to migrate to something like @protonmail
Show threadProton MailMay 22, 2023

@Bekkenes @thunderbird
Thank you for recommending our ads-free, privacy-first email service! We indeed have a completely different business model to that of Gmail, meaning that our customers are our users, not third-party advertisers: https://proton.me/blog/gmail-alternative.

If you have any questions about any of our products, check our Support sections: https://proton.me/support and https://protonvpn.com/support. We also have active communities on Reddit (r/ProtonMail, r/ProtonDrive, r/ProtonVPN, and r/ProtonPass).

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Proton Mail is the most popular private Gmail alternative. Emails are encrypted by default, giving you control over your data.

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