Gmail Completely Redesigns the "Compose" Experience, Now More Like Chat

Gmail is getting a new Compose dialog, a completely redesigned one. Given that writing emails is a large part of using Gmail and email in general, the change is a big one.

As such, the new feature won't be unveiled to all users just yet, Google is testing it with a few for now and will be gradually rolling it out over the next few months as the kinks are ironed out.

"How many times have you been writing an email and had to reference something in another message? Saving a draft, opening the old email, and then reopening your draft wastes valuable minutes. The new compose pops up in a window, just like chats," Google explains the big change.

The new compose dialog looks and feels like a chat tab. It doesn't replace the main Gmail view, it sits on top of it, making it much easier to switch back and from a message or the inbox to the compose window.

The change should make it easier to multitask, by keeping more info in just one page rather than requiring users to switch back and forth between pages. But that's not all.

"The new compose is designed to let you focus on what's important: your message. The controls are still there when you need them but get out of the way when you don’t," Google added.

"We’ve even added some new features like the ability to easily insert inline images and have more to come. And, when you add recipients to your message, you'll see profile pictures of your contacts in autocomplete helping you find the right person faster," it said.

The changes apply to reply messages as well. Google's not providing any screenshots yet, but it says reply message should better fit inside the conversation thread.

The box also expands as your message gets longer, while also keeping contr ols like the recipients and other buttons in view.

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