Gmail's ``simple HTML format'' is scheduled to end in January 2024, potentially disadvantageous for visually impaired people who use text-to-speech tools
In addition to the format displayed when accessing from a general browser, Gmail has a display format called ' Basic HTML view' that is used in browsers that are not supported by Gmail. It has been revealed that support for this simple HTML format is scheduled to end in January 2024.
Use the latest version of Gmail in your browser - Gmail Help
Gmail's basic HTML view will go to the Google graveyard in 2024 - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/25/23889791/gmail-basic-html-view-discontinued-2024
Google is retiring its Gmail Basic HTML view in January 2024
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-is-retiring-its-gmail-basic-html-view-in-january-2024/
Gmail removing basic HTML mode in 2024
https://9to5google.com/2023/09/25/gmail-basic-html-removal/
Gmail's simple HTML format lacks many of the features supported by the standard HTML format, such as chat, a spell checker, AI filtering, the ability to add or import contacts, and rich text support.
Basically, the simple HTML format is used by users of previous generation browsers that are not supported by Gmail. Also, although it lacks many features, it is light and loads quickly, so it is used by users with very old devices and users who only have slow internet connections.
Even from browsers that Gmail supports, such as Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, you can display Gmail in simple HTML format by clicking 'Load in simple HTML format' when opening Gmail.
You can also display Gmail in simple HTML format by clicking on
Gmail in simple HTML format looks like this. You can see that the overall appearance is quite simple.
Google announced in September 2023 that it will end displaying simple HTML format in Gmail in January 2024. From January 2024, Gmail will be automatically displayed in standard HTML format, and users who are using the simple HTML format at the time of article creation have already been notified.
While it's not uncommon for Google to remove features that aren't used often, one of the reasons users use the Simple HTML format is because it doesn't contain as much extraneous content, making it easier to use text-to-speech for visually impaired people. This is because the tools are highly reliable. Therefore, it has been pointed out on SNS that the end of the simple HTML format may have disadvantages for visually impaired people.
In response to these voices, Google explains ``How to use a screen reader with standard HTML Gmail'' on the Gmail help page. In this, Google once again noted that the simple HTML format will end in January 2024, and stated that Gmail has built-in accessibility features to support visually impaired people.
Use a screen reader with Gmail - Gmail Help
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/90559
A forum related to this article has been set up on the GIGAZINE official Discord server. Anyone can write freely, so please feel free to comment!
• Discord | 'Have you ever used Gmail's 'simple HTML format'? ' | GIGAZINE
https://discord.com/channels/1037961069903216680/1156198828521836568
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in Software, Web Service, Posted by log1h_ik