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[Richard Leger <1347305@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As indicated in Bug 1084539 after upgrade to TB 31.2 (Win 7 64bits) the lack of contrast between the background color of windows and background color of fields (currently same color) in compose window is the main issue. It make the fields much more difficult to read and edit and therefore are not end-user friendly at all, even after a while of usage. It remain not-intuitive in term of usability. 

The address fields background color shall be of different color that the
window background color (white would remain most appropriate in a light
theme). For constancy, I would expect those field background color to be
the same as the body/content field background color (eg: white in a
light theme).

The simple fact that developer themselves seems to have difficulties to
adjust to the new layout shall have ring a bell that it wasn't an
adequate change to make for all. Why to change what's works? Better
concentrate on what doesn't...

As a stone to the edifice, you would find in attachment 8507216 a rough
mockup proposal that may inspire a better solution as a possible
compromise... Basically From and Subject fields appears more separated
(thicker lines - same color as window background color) while To,Cc,Bcc
scroll down list stand in the middle with addresses lightly separated by
thin lines of background windows color... Rounded corner may be
optional... just look more smooth... to my opinion... The field shadow
may be removed to provide a less bulky aspect and to bring it closer to
a "flat design" which seems fashion at the moment but which usually
create loss of contrast making things more difficult to distinguish...
new version of Android and iOS are good examples...

If you look at Bugzilla, Thunderbird and Firefox layout, most of the
editable field by end-users have a white background that clearly
contrast with the background color of the window that contain them (eg:
url address bar, search field, etc...) this is the most optimized
contrast in term of usability. Most of forms on the web (and in
software) do use such layout [though some might use a background color
for field and white for the background color of windows/table that
contain them]. This is a very standard design guideline that works and
which is well followed in software development and on the web.
Thunderbird should keep it.

As you are at redesigning the layout of compose windows I would also suggest the following additional changes as possible room for improvements:
- Replace the current To/Bcc/Cc separate fields for each email address set by a comma (or semi-colon) list of addresses instead (as usually used in alternative email client software). With a trailing X button for each address to allow deletion/removal or a drop down menu to: delete, copy email address, edit contact, add contact, etc...
- Increase the newly set auto-completion search result display default limit (in To, Cc, Bcc fields) from 5 contacts to the previous value available in TB 24.x (I think it was about twice the amount: 10 contacts) and eventually allow end-users to change this limit within the options.

Those may be created as separate bug if needed.

Hope you would take all those input positively.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1347305

Title:
  Address fields are grey when composing messages

Status in Mozilla Thunderbird Mail and News:
  Confirmed
Status in “thunderbird” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  When composing a message, any address field that does not have the
  cursor is shown as grey. While this is at first only a cosmetic
  glitch, it is also serious usability issue: Usually any field that can
  be edited is white and text that can't be edited is simply drawn grey.
  Now it looks like Thunderbird does not allow editing of the recipient
  addresses. Only when you try it regardless you discover that it is
  still editible.

  I attached a screenshot showing a stuffed up composer window.

  This bug appeared with the latest update of Thunderbird that was
  installed today.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: thunderbird 1:31.0+build1-0ubuntu0.14.04.1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-30.55-generic 3.13.11.2
  Uname: Linux 3.13.0-30-generic x86_64
  AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
  ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
  Architecture: amd64
  AudioDevicesInUse:
   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
   /dev/snd/controlC0:  kaymes     2516 F.... pulseaudio
  BuildID: 20140721092545
  Channel: Unavailable
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  Date: Wed Jul 23 10:37:17 2014
  ExecutablePath: /usr/lib/thunderbird/thunderbird
  ForcedLayersAccel: False
  IfupdownConfig:
   # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
   auto lo
   iface lo inet loopback
  IncompatibleExtensions:
   Lightning - {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   English (GB) Language Pack - langpack-en-GB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   Deutsch (DE) Language Pack - langpack-de@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   Thunderbird (default) - {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-07-02 (20 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
  IpRoute:
   default via 10.33.0.1 dev eth0  proto static 
   10.33.0.0/22 dev eth0  proto kernel  scope link  src 10.33.1.197  metric 1
  IwConfig:
   eth0      no wireless extensions.
   
   lo        no wireless extensions.
  LocalLibraries: /home/kaymes/.thunderbird/dymzcbig.default/extensions/{e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}/components/Linux_x86_64-gcc3/libcalbasecomps.so
  PrefSources:
   prefs.js
   [Profile]/extensions/{e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}/defaults/preferences/lightning.js
  Profiles: Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=31.0/20140721092545 (In use)
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   rhythmbox-mozilla 3.0.2-0ubuntu2
   totem-mozilla     3.10.1-1ubuntu4
  RfKill:
   
  RunningIncompatibleAddons: True
  SourcePackage: thunderbird
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  WifiSyslog:
   Jul 23 08:56:13 uqbox kernel: [427030.548782] [drm] Setting output timings on SDVOB failed
   Jul 23 09:37:38 uqbox kernel: [429515.541016] [drm] Setting output timings on SDVOB failed
   Jul 23 10:06:02 uqbox kernel: [431219.445267] [drm] Setting output timings on SDVOB failed
   Jul 23 10:07:12 uqbox kernel: [431289.957320] [drm] Setting output timings on SDVOB failed
   Jul 23 10:23:06 uqbox kernel: [432243.381132] MATLAB[25882]: segfault at 8 ip 00007f2f4507bcfe sp 00007f2f06cc5320 error 4
  dmi.bios.date: 10/27/2011
  dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
  dmi.bios.version: A13
  dmi.board.name: 0J468K
  dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
  dmi.board.version: A00
  dmi.chassis.type: 3
  dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA13:bd10/27/2011:svnDellInc.:pnOptiPlex960:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0J468K:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct3:cvr:
  dmi.product.name: OptiPlex 960
  dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

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