The nine dot menu instead of a small header row was a terrible change. First because it is an extra click every time for a commonly used task and second because no one had any clue what the hell nine dots were supposed to mean. A friend of mine that worked at google told me the official name is "app drawer". I have no idea how that's supposed to look like a drawer.

More generally the entire move from words to pictograms looks to me like a regression to a technology that was superseded by a superior one 5000 years ago.

Really? That seems smart to me. How often do you use the links in that drawer? Seems better to remove all that text up top and replace with a small icon for something that is rarely used.

Before, I actually used the top menu to navigate from one Google service to another.

Now, I just rely on Firefox’ autocompletion of the URL bar, or I just use Thunderbird instead of GMail, or here.com maps instead of Google maps.

Every time I want to look at my calendar I need to re-remember where the hell they hid it at.

I expect it to be in the drop down on the left, since Gmail and Google Calendar are otherwise so well integrate, but nope, it is hidden in the little square.

The first couple times I had to actually Google how to access my calendar from within Gmail (I can always go to calendar.google.com of course)

Ugh, you definitely do not use more multiple google services if you think that.

Even today, years afterwards, I was on the phone checking my calendar and I totally lost the train of the conversation as I was hunting in that dumbass thing for the calendar.

The worst part is that, yes, the top was getting stuffed, but instead of letting you choose what you wanted in your menu, they added that navigation monstrosity instead.

I just find it bizarre the number of people that do this. For me, I open a new tab, and start typing "calendar.google.com", but I don't even get past c or ca on most computers before it autocompletes.

And can't you customize that menu? Just make it work for you.

For service I use frequently, I pin a tab so they are always open. So for me, the app drawer is rarely used.

I just leave calendar and gmail open all the time.

Well, I for one used those links to navigate between Google properties: from Gmail to YouTube, for instance.

Now I just don't go to YouTube when something on Gmail piques my interest.

That one click was a huge amount of effort for casual browsing, and forces a re-evaluation of idle browsing between properties.

Wow, this menu is so useful! I got annoyed when they removed the links to the different apps and just assumed this 9 dot thing was a part of their new account switcher design and never tried clicking on it.

It requires three clicks to edit the subject line and I still sometimes click in the wrong place trying to find it and I've edited subjects dozens of times. It also requires it to open in a different editor. The default reply window is a tiny piece of shit by default. They added the stupid tabbed system that I turn off every time I have to make a new gmail account. It's not always clear whether I want Google or Gmail settings to change some preference, and the buttons for them are right next to eachother. Hangout chats blink until you click within that specific hangout box. I can't even find the option to link GMail accounts but I know I've done it before. If you hit reply and make no changes then close it, it saves it as a draft. Spam and Trash folders and all labels are hidden by default (have to expand). I could go on.