#12 Outstanding

'Outstanding' now replaces 'Unread' in Plum Mail.

'Unread' is a simplistic concept that does not accommodate how we handle our digital communication. For example, you can't un-read something once you're read it.

There are always times when you want to read an email but not reply right away.

Plum Mail's new concept is called 'Outstanding' and it replaces the the need to 'mark as unread'.

An email is outstanding if:

• It has not yet been read
• You have not yet replied

Messages that fit this criteria are automatically considered outstanding.

Therefore, outstanding messages show which messages need your attention.

You don't have to take any action to 'mark it as outstanding' or remember to do anything. Plum Mail does it for you.

If you reply to a message, it is no longer outstanding.

If you don't want to reply, there is an option to 'mark the thread as done' which simply moves the conversation to the archive for future reference.

Action First Approach

In update #5 we announced an action first approach to the inbox.

This will make it easy to represent communication as tasks.

Outstanding emails are a key step in that journey towards the Action First Inbox. They represent the most basic task of all: 'reply to ...'

Cheers, Peter & Richard

p.s. If you have a friend who you think would be interested in our journey, please do forward this email to them! Thank you. :-)