PopTray

When it comes to accessing emails one received, there are two ways of achieving this: either connect to the mail server and view the email, or download all the messages locally then read the email. The former protocol is called IMAP, while the latter is POP3. One of the email notifiers available for POP3 is PopTray.

It comes with a well-organized interface that permits users to preview their messages and select the one they want to read, delete or reply to a message with a single mouse click, as well as mark an item as spam.

Before actually using the app, an account needs to be added and users are required to assign it a name, enter the server address, and then specify the username and password. It is also possible to choose the color and sounds that need to be used in association to this account.

The Options tab is the place where one can adjust the frequency for checking for new emails, or set a different interval for each account.

The application can also be set to run minimized at Windows startup, so that it does not seem intrusive to users and they can focus on their work.

Another way to reduce the impact PopTray might incur on users’ workflow is to configure mouse or keyboard shortcuts as one might feel most comfortable. Each action can be launched with a user-chosen trigger, so that the main window of the app does not even need to be manually accessed.

PopTray also offers the possibility to set up rules that would help organize email messages so that the most urgent ones are properly marked, whereas others can be automatically deleted from the server or ignored.

It is important to mention that this utility launches the default e-mail client installed on the computer for opening the selected message, as this app only serves as a notifier.

Without putting a strain on your OC’s performance, PopTray manages to help you easily filter your e-mails from different accounts and receive custom notifications. The response time is good, the interface is suitable to all users and we did not come across any errors or crashes in our tests. If you are interested in bypassing the installation process, you should know a portable edition is also available for download, called Portable PopTray.