Start a message without leaving the inbox.

Everything else in the inbox happens in the inbox. Starting a message was the exception: a box opened on top, you filled it in, waited, and came back somewhere you did not choose. That step is gone.

• The panel you are looking at becomes the composer. New Message takes over the list rather than covering it, and slides back when you are done, so the inbox is still where you left it.
• Find the person by typing. A few letters narrows the list, the arrow keys move through it, Enter picks. Before this you had to reach for the mouse.
• Picking someone puts you in the conversation. No spinner and no waiting for anything to be set up. The cursor is already in the box.
• Nothing exists until you send. Change your mind halfway and back out, and there is no empty conversation sitting in your list afterwards.