I installed the new Gmail browser for 'faster connections' according to the mini ad at the top of my gmail inbox when I browse to it via my phones standard browser.
Well, I installed it and not only will the soft touch keys not function properly with the keyboard open (e70) but the first thing I notice visually is the lack of boldness to indicate unread/new emails. After looking for a bit I noticed a little envelope to the left that indicates open or not but it's not immediately visible. I much prefer the bold feature of new emails when I browse to it via the standard browser. That and when I tried clicking a link through one of my emails the transition to the new page was clunky at best. It asked me for an access point again even though I was already connected. When browsing with the standard browser the transition to links within the emails and then back again were seamless. Then there's the fact that it takes up extra memory and resources (I assume) and even though it's not much, every little bit helps with these little phones.
What I'm wondering is what is the benefit of this versus logging in via the standard browser. I read that you can do attachments with it (not sure if this is possible via standard browser as I've never used it so no big deal) but other than that, what's the good sides to this application? I find it hard to believe that it's all bad but haven't used it enough to find the pros I suppose.
For those that use it, why do you choose to use it?
Besides the browser or Google's Java app for GMail, there's also the alternatives of using the standard Messaging app and its POP3/SMTP email support to access GMail + there are also additional apps like ProfiMail (which can access GMail via POP3/SMTP).
there are quite a few benefits I find. In POP use on builtin email app on my nokia E61, it shows sent emails as new (i.e. unread) emails and is slower at responding (there is quite a lot wrong with that builtin email client). I think Profimail is a good alternative but I love the GMail app. The keyboard shortcuts are great once you learn how to use them. The search of your email, as in the desktop browser version, is the killer app - any old emails are so easy to find, and I never delete emails as there is so much space, so I never struggle to find old logins and love letters from ex girlfriends begging me back, when I'm feeling vain.* Also, the starring (STARS) marking of notable emails is a killer feature. And the Conversation threading GMail feature has the extra benefit of saving screen space on the mobile, of course.
The bold text for new mails works for me, but perhaps you could try changing the font size to bigger?
The worse thing about the GMail app though and is a serious shortcoming for me, is that in composing an email, when I search for a contact, the input field thinks I have a numeric keypad (it gets the device key layout worng for this input field only, weirdly!). I just send emails from my POP account on the Nokia email client. A nice workaround, but a bit bugging.
There is a Google group with a fair bit on GMail for mobile - google groups is very good for settings and troubleshooting stuff. 😎
www . battez . org for e61 tips and links and stuff....
* this is a hypothetical use case, I admit...
You can search your emails just fine accessing your gmail account from the phone's browser so that's not something specific to the gmail browser versus accessing your gmail via the phone's built in browser. I still haven't heard a compelling reason to install the gmail browser.
jeremyhelling wrote:You can search your emails just fine accessing your gmail account from the phone's browser so that's not something specific to the gmail browser versus accessing your gmail via the phone's built in browser. I still haven't heard a compelling reason to install the gmail browser.
speed and convenience simply - the one click shortcuts to quickly reply or star are much better than having to do all that through the web browser. It only loads emails (not whole web page and clicking through yer bookmarks etc) each time to your phone too so saves on time and money if you dont have a unlimited data plan. Go on, stop pretending you don't want to use it - you wee tease!
battez wrote:speed and convenience simply - the one click shortcuts to quickly reply or star are much better than having to do all that through the web browser. It only loads emails (not whole web page and clicking through yer bookmarks etc) each time to your phone too so saves on time and money if you dont have a unlimited data plan. Go on, stop pretending you don't want to use it - you wee tease!
I have the WLAN Wizard on my stand by selections and gmail.com as my home page so when I want to check my emails I click just as few keys (or even less depending on where your Gmail browser shortcut is) and am surfing just as fast.
I'm not sold on it because I also had a mysterious text message problem that begun shortly after installing the Gmail browser. I'm not saying it caused the problem but I installed no other programs (I only have autolock installed anyway) and made no other changes to it either directly or indirectly caused my issues. I'm not planning to install it again to find out either.
jeremyhelling wrote:I have the WLAN Wizard on my stand by selections and gmail.com as my home page so when I want to check my emails I click just as few keys (or even less depending on where your Gmail browser shortcut is) and am surfing just as fast.I'm not sold on it because I also had a mysterious text message problem that begun shortly after installing the Gmail browser. I'm not saying it caused the problem but I installed no other programs (I only have autolock installed anyway) and made no other changes to it either directly or indirectly caused my issues. I'm not planning to install it again to find out either.
battez,
Am having the same issue re the number pad re looking up or typing a new email address into the "To" field...any resolution thus far that you are aware of?
thanks...
jeremyhelling,
Was the "mysterious text message problem" blank messages if they were more than a few characters...I am experiencing this on a sporadic basis, and only after installing the Gmail browser.
npross -
Nope, I just wasn't getting any.