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Will Google Inbox Help You Conquer Email Overload? [Video]

By Loraine Kanervisto
Published on: 02:07 PST, Nov 8, 2014

Ever since Google announced its new Inbox service on its company blog, users have been scrambling to try it out. The buzz surrounding early adoption reached a fever pitch when people started selling invites on eBay. The Daily Dot posted screenshots of Google Inbox invitation listings that hit $205 on the bidding site.

So what exactly is Google Inbox, and why do Gmail users think they need it so badly? Well, it’s a service meant for email organization, timed reminders, and message prioritization. The bundling, highlights, snooze mode, and reminders have been summed up in this official Google Inbox video.

But will it actually help cure the overwhelming deluge of messages you wake up to each morning? Well, early reviews make it sound like there could be a steep learning curve and some setup woes.

If you’re a Google for Work subscriber, then you’re out of luck for the moment. Time reveals that Google Inbox doesn’t function with Gmail accounts that are linked to a Google For Work service. This excludes a significant population of Gmail users who might benefit the most from Inbox’s prioritization and organization features. For example, if your Gmail address operates as a work and personal account, then the Bundles feature could be an excellent way for you to separate these two types of communications.

Google Inbox might fill the needs for users who email themselves reminders or have a difficult time stepping away from responsibilities. According to an email overload study conducted by Xobni, 72 percent of Americans check work email even during days off or outside of shifts. The Reminders option allows you to create centralized, short lists of to-do items, which auto-fill with relevant venue or business details (such as closing hours.) If your email seems to have a magnetic pull on your life, then hit the Snooze button and schedule a future time for a reminder task or email reply.

While Google strives to create an Inbox that bolsters productivity, the complexity of its features might only serve to bog down and distract us with micromanaging our time and tasks. A reviewer at the Christian Science Monitor described an experience “boiled down to one part frustration, one part irritation.”

Have you received a Google Inbox invite yet? If so, feel free to share your experiences in the comments.

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