TECHNOLOGY TIPS – YAHOO EMAIL HAS CHANGED

TECHNOLOGY TIPS – YAHOO EMAIL HAS CHANGED

The grace period for Yahoo users who prefer old-school emailing is over. The newest version of their popular email service is now a required upgrade. This change has been in the works since December when Yahoo announced a major and long-awaited overhaul of e-mail including quicker logins and streamlined communications. The upgrades were made available for Web Windows 8 iPhone/iPod touch and Android.

As is always the case when faced with change some folks were more comfortable with older versions including "Yahoo Classic" and were given until Monday to switch. The upgrading requires users to agree to terms including "automated content scanning." That’s technology similar to that used by Google with Gmail which uses search algorithms not real people to read through the content of people’s messages in order to target relevant advertising — as well as other features — towards them. Users may opt out of that feature by changing their settings.

The changes to the latest version of Yahoo Mail include removing some of the boxes that filled the page in the Web version and offering thumbnail images of attachments presumably to help avoid clicking on scams spam and other unwanted content. On Mail for iPhone users can select multiple messages and swipe to delete highlight or file them away. The Android app was upgraded to among other things put less drain on battery life.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO