Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

I write about email, privacy, and the systems that sit underneath everyday digital life. My focus is on calm workflows, sensible defaults, and understanding how communication tools shape trust, identity, and control over time.

56 posts

Why HEY Should Add ‘Mark as Unread’

Some inboxes assume that once you’ve opened a message, you’ve dealt with it. HEY leans into that idea by design — replacing “unread” with workflow tools. But opening isn’t finishing. This is why “mark as unread” still matters, even in 2026.

Why HEY Should Add ‘Mark as Unread’

HEY: I’m Nearly All Yours

HEY nearly became my email provider. Living in it felt calmer and clearer — but going all-in meant accepting its model, not just its features.

HEY: I’m Nearly All Yours

Recycling Center — HEY.com

HEY’s Recycling Centre is a small feature with a bigger idea: not everything in an email archive needs to be kept indefinitely. It lets Feed messages expire on your terms without forcing deletion.

Recycling Center — HEY.com