This comes quite at a funny time, two weeks after fcodc of Mac Recon said that he was going to stop using the .Mac service, Apple has released a preview of their new version of .Mac webmail. The first reason on fcodc's list of .Mac pet hates was the webmail simply because other providers such as Gmail give you 2+GB of FREE space with POP3 access. Through the use of their .Mac webmail preview website, Apple has promised that the new version of Macmail will use the latest web technology and that "It'll remind you of the Mail application on your desktop, with a simple and elegant interface, drag-and-drop capability, built-in Address Book." Here's a sneak preview of what you can expect to come your way with the next generation of .Mac webmail:

• A new look - Everything will be rebuilt to create a new interface, which is a little easier on the eye compared to the dated .Mac mail service that currently exists. Your mail folders will be placed next to the Inbox, and you will be able to read full messages and access your contact info without leaving the page
• Drag and Drop - The next generation of .Mac mail promises the ability to manage your Inbox easily through the use of dragging and dropping messages, just like you do on your desktop.
• Message pane - You can read whole emails in a pane located right below your message list, just like you would in a desktop Mail application.
• Smart Refreshes - This new system involves the mail system refreshing only the portion of the page that needs updating instead of reloading the entire page, reducing refresh times and saving you hassle.
• Quick Reply - Just like the "Quick Reply" boxes in forums, this feature will allow you to email the person that send you the message back without leaving your inbox.
• Built-in Address Book - Start typing a name and .Mac mail will display all your matching Address Book contacts and show them in the address field.

Other features such as keyboard shortcuts, message previews and message flagging will also be present in the new version which, as of yet, doesn't have a release date. We guess 'coming soon' is the best we can offer, and lets hope that Apple get to work on the 'soon' part.