Thunderbird 3 Will Still Be Behind The Times

The latest trunk build of Mozilla Thunderbird at the time of this writing is version 3.0b1pre, called Shredder (the Mozilla Firefox 3.1b2pre is called "Minefield" just in case you were wondering). I downloaded it and tried it out – more on that later.

Thunderbird at this stage of the game is really, really far behind. It has not followed along in advancement with Firefox as the official release is still at version 2 (version 2.0.0.17 to be exact). This is not to say that t-bird is bad. Rather it’s an awesome e-mail program and served as my mainstay e-mail client for several years before I switched over to using Windows Live Mail (both client and web-based).

There are times when I really miss Thunderbird. Truly I do. The reason is because the way t-bird does mail makes complete sense. Simple things like file attachments are easy. Searching your mail is at its best in this client. Assigning colored tags was in t-bird way before anyone else got it right (and the other guys are still playing catch-up to a fair degree). You can customize just about everything in t-bird and that’s just plain awesome.

However the problem with t-bird that ultimately forced me to give it up is the same even in the latest 3.0b1pre Shredder trunk build – no ability to sync the address book built-in. Local only. This makes t-bird what’s called an "island unto itself", and that’s not where the internet is going.

Yeah, I know, you could use an LDAP directory server for addresses, but that’s not the answer. The vast majority of home users don’t even know what an LDAP directory server is, never mind know how to connect to one.

~ ~ ~

If you happen to be a Gmail user, you would definitely like Shredder. Additional options have been put in the software where you can configure an IMAP Gmail account without any need to manually type in server addresses. It just takes a few clicks and you’re off to the races.

In the new interface, t-bird has tabs, star icons to quickly add people to your address book and a drop-down next to addresses to edit contacts super-easy style.

Other nice little touches are throughout the software making it really nice to use overall. In fact I’d dare to say you could use a trunk build right now and be completely happy with it.

However the problem still remains that Thunderbird is an island. The IMAP-only means of sync with no Address Book communication between local and web makes it a dinosaur even at this stage.

~ ~ ~

Thunderbird needs to have some kind of sync ability with a major e-mail service if it expects to survive. And to be honest, since it has such good support for Gmail, that should be the service it should wholly sync to as an option – or at least mail + address book at bare minimum. Mozilla is largely on Google’s payroll anyway, so why not?

If this doesn’t happen, Thunderbird could turn into vaporware quickly.

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

Sharron Field
“However the problem still remains that Thunderbird is an island.” – Tracey Island?
- Was Thunderbird 3 the one I called the bumblebee? (I forget.) : Totally non-aerodynamic, far too bulky, and much less propulsion than it needs; yet still manages to fly.
(Someone’s going to follow up this comment and tell me it wasn’t real soon I’ll bet. )
Alan David
Hmmmm…I don’t seem to have a problem syncing Thunderbird to Gmail (a major e-mail service). GMail offers LDAP so my mail syncs, I have the Remember the Milk for GMail plugin for tasks/to-do lists, and I use the Zindus plugin to sync my addressbook.
That’s the beauty of Firefox/Thunderbird – a whole world of plugins so the developers don’t have to think of everything.

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
You can’t get native LDAP support on Gmail, it requires GCALDeamon – that’s not a solution, that’s a workaround. (Try searching for LDAP in Gmail help and if you find any official support from Google direction and *not* another service – post the link here.)
This means on every computer you use, you have to not only install t-bird but plugins just to get the features to work.
No thanks.

Alan David
My bad – I meant IMAP for syncing my mail to my computer(s). I personally have no need or use for LDAP support. Everything else I need (Zindus & RtM) work just as I need. I also have GCal in Thunderbird and those sync without issue.
You’re complains are noted, and AFAIC are a no issue. Yet again, you blog about a none issue as most would see it.
Alan David
My bad – I meant IMAP for syncing my mail to my computer(s). I personally have no need or use for LDAP support. Everything else I need (Zindus & RtM) work just as I need. I also have GCal in Thunderbird and those sync without issue.
You’re complaints are noted, and AFAIC are a no issue. Yet again, you blog about a none issue as most would see it.

Alan David
Opps…doubled that – my bad.
http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
Oh yeah, you can IMAP all day and twice on Sunday with Gmail and it runs like a trooper.
Would be better if you could get full Gmail functionality out of t-bird however. If t-bird supported all Gmail features natively (calendar/contact sync, etc.) it would truly be a killer app and put Windows Live Mail in its place quickly.

http://portableapps.com John T. Haller
You can sync your Google contacts using the Google Contact or gContactSync extensions. There are other extensions for other providers.
Scott Hamilton
Right. I need three extensions – Zindus, Lightning and Provider, for all the functionality you describe. Bidirectional contact and calendar synchronization across any OS. The hassle is negligible.
hU0N
Thunderbird syncs bidirectionally to google calendar natively. Without an extension.
Just add a CalDAV calendar with the URL
http://www.google.com/calendar/dav/ [your google username eg person@gmail.com] /events
T-bird will ask you for your username and password, save them with password manager and thunderbirds are go.
hU0N
that said, t-bird should incorporate lightning (an extension written and supported by mozilla no less) and zindus in the mainline build by default. They just should.