[MlMt] AltaMail vs. Preside?

[Bryce Wray]

Fellow MailMate users,
  

I apologize in advance for the length of this! However, there’s a lot 
to unpack here.

A search of the list archives suggests that those of you seeking a 
MailMate-like experience on iOS have generally ended up with one of two 
apps, either AltaMail or Preside. I am trying both now—and, in the 
interests of full disclosure, wish to note that I plan to write a 
(totally unpaid-for) blog post about this subject—so I would 
appreciate knowing your feelings, if any, about each app **and** whether 
you’ve actually made either your go-to iOS mail app. *(Re the blog 
post: rest assured I would quote you by name* ***only*** *if you 
explicitly approve. I mainly just want to get a “sense of the room,” 
but would also appreciate some particularly cogent quotes if 
applicable.)*

To be sporting about it, I’ll go first—with the caveat that I’m 
not nearly as heavy a power user as I suspect the vast majority of you 
are, so I’m doubtless missing a **lot** of stuff; hence, my curiosity 
about *your* opinions. I will spare you multiple “IMHO” qualifiers, 
since this is *all* in my humble opinion . . .

## AltaMail

- Pros
	- Real-time, highly configurable notifications.
	- Ability to navigate folders at multiple levels.
	- Apparently thorough adherence to email standards.
	- Syncs many settings among multiple devices via iCloud (although this 
can be a gotcha if you’re not careful, such as with “Sent from my” 
signature lines that reference a specific device).
	- [Have nothing to say about the vendor’s responsiveness, since I 
haven’t yet requested help.]

- Cons
	- Menus’ on-screen structure and modalities make it difficult to 
navigate through folder levels, especially on iPhone-sized screen. (Its 
biggest flaw.)
	- Real-time notifications require keeping the app always running in 
background.
	- Sync with large IMAP folders can be slow on first access (apparently 
not done in background, which may be to save battery juice).
	- Some oddities with customizing received/sent emails’ appearances.
	- Doesn’t make efficient use of extra real estate on iPad, even when 
explicitly set for that device.
	- User docs appear to lack comprehensive details, are difficult to 
navigate, and lack screen captures.
	- Enforced subscription model after initial free trial.
	- Doesn’t use Markdown.


## Preside

- Pros
	- Ability to navigate folders, easily, at multiple levels.
	- Vast customization options for both functionality and look-and-feel, 
organized for easy config once you’ve had time to get used to it.
	- Makes good use of iPad screen size while keeping consistent 
look-and-feel with iPhone version.
	- Apparently thorough adherence to email standards.
	- Until you get the hang of the config options, “Profiles” let you 
get a head-start on setting things to look as you want, such as making 
it look remarkably like the Apple app if you’re initially more 
comfortable with its visual metaphor.
	- Vendor is highly responsive and helpful.
	- “Freemium” model—you get nearly all the features (and 
definitely all the **important** ones) for free, but can choose to pay a 
yearly subscription if you want to receive a few more (minor) features 
and, more to the point, support the vendor’s continuing efforts.

- Cons
	- Due to vendor’s admittedly well-argued opinions about 
notifications’ effect on productivity, app doesn’t provide them in 
real time. (Its biggest flaw. Suggested methods to resolve this involved 
considerable, potentially glitchy config which, for me at least, 
didn’t prove successful.)
	- Default per-email swipe behavior, as well as default ordering of 
icons intended for quick action on emails, seems oriented less toward 
dealing with emails and more toward getting them out of sight.
	- “Snippets” (drop-in variables, essentially) in signatures are 
glitchy.
	- User docs, while well-organized and apparently comprehensive, lack 
screen captures.
	- Doesn’t use Markdown.

Finally: right now, I prefer Preside over AltaMail by a fairly wide 
margin *except* for the Preside notifications shortcomings, which really 
bug me. The only reliable way around it that I’ve found so far is to 
let Apple Mail—or, for now, AltaMail—provide real-time notifications 
and then go to Preside to view the emails themselves. It’s a kludgy, 
but workable solution; **but**, if your intent is to quit having Mail 
running in the background at all (although, remember, you can’t 
**really** delete Mail; it only “hides” if “deleted”), it’s a 
non-starter.

So, any takers? Thanks for whatever info/opinions you may wish to share.
  

Best wishes,
  

Bryce Wray
bwray at wraytx.com
https://brycewray.com
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