Today Google released a series of exciting new features for iPhone and Android GMail users – offline access, floaty bar , easy access to search and tasks. Ah!! GMail is rocking. It is all set to conquer web mail in few years and there no doubt that it will not even leave any space for other e-mail services on mobile phones (Microsoft is struggling with search and Yahoo is struggling for it’s very own existence. Where to do they have time to compete with Google on web front!)
This upgrade of GMail also demonstrates how powerful are today’s mobile web browsers and clearly states that they are not anymore used of just reading text on plain web page. Lets have a look at the new features introduced in GMail for iPhone and Android mobile users
Offline Access
I love the offline access of GMail as it allows us to read the recent mails and compose new mails even though we are out of network coverage. Offline access is implemented with the of Google Gears in Android and HTML 5 in iPhone
If the data network drops out on you, rest assured that Gmail won’t. You’ll still be able to open recently read messages and to compose over a flaky, or non-existent, network connection.
Floaty Bar
A new floating tool, "floaty bar", is a new companion that travels along as we scroll the page when a message is opened or multiple messages are selected in the inbox. This floating bar lets us quickly perform various actions like archive, delete, mark as unread, etc.
Gone are the days when you had to archive multiple messages by selecting each one, then scrolling all the way up (or down) to reach the archive button. Our fingers were getting sore with all the scrolling and we’re willing to bet yours were too. Now when you select a message, a floaty bar appears near the top of the screen with options to archive, delete, and more. In fact, the floaty bar stays with you as you scroll through your inbox, so you can easily archive, delete, or view more options no matter where you are.
Easy Search Option
The search button is now moved to a very handy location and it is available at the top of the screen. Earlier it was placed at the bottom of the inbox which is accessible only after scrolling through the entire page.
You Should Have iPhone/iPod Touch OS 2.2.1
All these new features are NOT AVAILABLE for iPhone/iPod Touch users whose firmware is older than the version 2.2.1. If any such user tries to access GMail, they will be redirected to old GMail interface.
Watch The Demo
Further Reading
LifeHacker’s Mobile Gmail Showdown: The Webapp Versus a Mail Client
Now that Google’s made some much-needed improvements to Gmail’s mobile webapp, should you abandon your smartphone’s email client for its browser? Let’s find out.
CNet’s Eight reasons we still need an iPhone Gmail app
Tuesday’s release of a much-improved Web client for Gmail on the iPhone and Android handsets was nice, but it’s still got me salivating at the idea of a native application for the iPhone. Over the last year we’ve hounded the Gmail team on whether one was on the way, and the answer is–in typical Google fashion, that there will be no discussion of products that have not been announced. But that doesn’t mean one isn’t in the works.
Is there a way to get rid of the “floaty bar” it seams to get in the way more than help at all for me anyway