Yahoo Mail Plus: Avatar Update

Dec-3-05, 1:00 am by Hanford
File under: Yahoo, Mail, Bad User Interface

So, a few days after blogging about the Bad User Interface experience I had with Yahoo Mail Yahoo (1) got rid of the offending, error-laden What's New Help page, (2) they added Avatars to Yahoo Mail, and (3) they still didn't update their remaining What's New Marketing page.

There are still no help topics regarding the Avatar in Yahoo Mail, and there's still no mention of Avatars in the What's New tab. What does my Avatar have to do with Mail? Does my avatar appear in emails I send? Who knows -- There's no mention of it in the help system or the What's New Page. So, again it's reenforcing that I can't trust Yahoo's Help system or What's New section to find out about new features. This is still very bad User Interface.

For anyone looking to turn off Yahoo Avatars: it's possible to delete your Avatar if you set one up by going to Yahoo Avatars and clicking the preferences link, then clicking Delete. This will still leave a placeholder that looks something like this, but it's better than nothing:

I pay for my Yahoo Mail and I'd really like to get rid of the Avatar for good. I don't even want the placeholder around.

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find online dating wrote: 2 days ago, 10:59 am

don't want these avatars, then don't download them. And to get them off is easy. Just ERASE them. God damn stupid people, jeez.

Richard Eisenman wrote: Jul-9-08, 11:41 pm

Another peace of junk by software designers who think they are the center of the universe. How about if you don't configure an avatar, display NOTHING.

Link wrote: Jan-6-08, 7:27 pm

I agree. Whoever approved the decision to let Yahoo avatar to be used should be fired. They are ugly and purposeless. I can't stand them.

Jane wrote: Mar-1-07, 3:15 pm

Reasons why people get these yahoo 'avatars' is probably because they want a better life, on the internet.

And I do agree that all Yahoo users aren't just teenagers, but don't be picky, don't want these avatars, then don't download them. And to get them off is easy. Just ERASE them. God damn stupid people, jeez.

Problem with alot of people, they aren't that bright.

Grag wrote: Aug-17-06, 4:50 am

I think that gmail is more interesting that Yahoo.

Sebrina wrote: Jun-23-06, 2:08 pm

Has anyone found out YET how to get rid of this juvenile avatar? I even hate the shadow thingy!

(Anonymous) wrote: Jan-16-06, 5:48 am

I agree. I also pay for Y! Mail Plus. I chose Yahoo because it has the most efficient, business-like interface when absent of tacky web ads. Now, the Avatar issue has made me reconsider using Y! Mail. Does Y! think all its customers are juvenile teenagers? I complained to customer service; but, like any other big corporation, I don't expect a response. And, unfortunately, most users who dislike the avatars are probably too apathetic to do anything to change the situation.

Jeff Cox wrote: Dec-8-05, 2:54 am

I think we should complain to yahoo about it. I pay for my service too and the avatar placeholder is extremely annoying. Maybe if enough people complain they'll listen for a change. Worth a shot anyway. BTW, I found you through a google search on "avatar yahoo email."

Dave Derecskey wrote: Dec-7-05, 6:13 am

Thank you so much! I was trying to get rid of that stupid avatar too.

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