Oddpost
Encyclopedia
Oddpost was a pay-for webmail service, in 2002, that pioneered the use of JavaScript
to mimic a desktop mail application, the first notable foray into using Ajax
methodologies for webmail. Ajax
techniques minimized the amount of data sent during an email session by sending "Datapacks" instead of reloading the whole interface
on every click like a traditional webmail service (Hotmail
, AOL
). This made the service much faster, at the time, than its counterparts.
Oddpost created an interface much like the traditional 3-pane view used by many desktop software applications (namely Microsoft Outlook, Apple's Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Mozilla Thunderbird, and others).
Oddpost also had the design philosophy of making the interface invisible, where unread message headers were bolded, so there was no need for an unread message icon next to each message; sub folders were indented under the parent, so there was no need for a little ant trail connecting each folder.
This excerpt from an 2003 interview with Ethan Diamond, Oddpost's co-founder and then president, explained this minimalist approach:
Google
made extensive use of these ideas in Gmail
, which was launched two years later.
Oddpost was also known for its humorous blog
entries about feature additions, bug fixes, and random musings about Oddpost.
Some disadvantages of Oddpost were seen http://email.about.com/cs/hostingreviews/gr/oddpost.htm to be that it required Windows and Internet Explorer, and that it lacked mail filters and support for secure email.
Oddpost was purchased by Yahoo!
on July 9, 2004 and became the new version of their Yahoo! Mail
service. On September 14, 2005 Yahoo! Mail
started letting some users register to beta test the new Yahoo! Mail
web client.
The original Oddpost servers have been shut down, however existing Oddpost customers were able to keep their Oddpost email addresses to be used with Yahoo!.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
to mimic a desktop mail application, the first notable foray into using Ajax
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
methodologies for webmail. Ajax
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
techniques minimized the amount of data sent during an email session by sending "Datapacks" instead of reloading the whole interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
on every click like a traditional webmail service (Hotmail
Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
, AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
). This made the service much faster, at the time, than its counterparts.
Oddpost created an interface much like the traditional 3-pane view used by many desktop software applications (namely Microsoft Outlook, Apple's Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Mozilla Thunderbird, and others).
Oddpost also had the design philosophy of making the interface invisible, where unread message headers were bolded, so there was no need for an unread message icon next to each message; sub folders were indented under the parent, so there was no need for a little ant trail connecting each folder.
This excerpt from an 2003 interview with Ethan Diamond, Oddpost's co-founder and then president, explained this minimalist approach:
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
made extensive use of these ideas in Gmail
Gmail
Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though...
, which was launched two years later.
Oddpost was also known for its humorous blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
entries about feature additions, bug fixes, and random musings about Oddpost.
Some disadvantages of Oddpost were seen http://email.about.com/cs/hostingreviews/gr/oddpost.htm to be that it required Windows and Internet Explorer, and that it lacked mail filters and support for secure email.
Oddpost was purchased by Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
on July 9, 2004 and became the new version of their Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail is a web mail service provided by Yahoo!. It was inaugurated in 1997, and, according to comScore, Yahoo! Mail was the second largest web-based email service with 273.1 million users as of November 2010....
service. On September 14, 2005 Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail is a web mail service provided by Yahoo!. It was inaugurated in 1997, and, according to comScore, Yahoo! Mail was the second largest web-based email service with 273.1 million users as of November 2010....
started letting some users register to beta test the new Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail is a web mail service provided by Yahoo!. It was inaugurated in 1997, and, according to comScore, Yahoo! Mail was the second largest web-based email service with 273.1 million users as of November 2010....
web client.
The original Oddpost servers have been shut down, however existing Oddpost customers were able to keep their Oddpost email addresses to be used with Yahoo!.
External links
- Oddpost.com
- johnvey.com - Explaining the Datapack concept.
- unraveled.com - Full interview with Ethan Diamond.
- An independent review