Avec: Swipes and Voice Input for Quick Email Sorting
The mobile app Avec simplifies handling incoming emails with swipe mechanics similar to Tinder. Swiping right moves the email to the "Done" folder, left to "In Progress" for later processing. Swiping down marks the message as unimportant. The system analyzes these emails and groups them automatically, minimizing manual sorting.
In the bottom panel, there's a dictation button: voice input is converted into an editable draft reply before sending. In addition to the card view, a traditional email list is available for flexibility.
Development and Motivation
App creator Jonathan Unikowski drew inspiration from everyday tools. Initially, ideas like a custom browser were considered, but email client won out. "Email hasn't changed in 25 years," he noted. "With good design and AI, you can achieve more."
The app launched in the USA, free for Gmail. Outlook support is in the works. Monetization via premium subscriptions is planned, but features are still being finalized.
Comparison with Alternatives
Similar innovations appear in Shortwave and Spike—they also use a card interface for email. Basecamp's Hey tried to radically overhaul email with a paid model sans traditional search and folders. However, the service didn't catch on amid Gmail's dominance.
- Key Gestures in Avec:
- Right: "Done".
- Left: "In Progress".
- Down: "Unimportant" (with auto-grouping).
- Dictation Advantages:
- Instant transcription.
- Editable draft.
- Integration into card UI.
What's Important
- Swipe mechanics speed up sorting without menus.
- AI groups unimportant emails based on user patterns.
- Voice input cuts down reply time.
- Dual mode: cards + list.
- Free for Gmail in the USA, Outlook in development.
— Editorial Team
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