tag:,2009:/1/tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561- 2009-11-23T17:10:50Z Comments for Gmail Mobile Gets Performance Tweaks, New Look Movable Type 4.23-en tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561 2009-04-08T03:25:00Z 2009-04-08T17:34:02Z Gmail Mobile Gets Performance Tweaks, New Look Google announced a new and improved Gmail web site specifically for mobile browsers that supports the latest Web standards, namely the iPhone, iPod Touch and Android platforms. Speed and responsiveness are improved, especially in bad or non-existent network situations. Thanks to aggressive caching, opening recently read messages and composing new email will still work fine.... Phil Glockner Google announced a new and improved Gmail web site specifically for mobile browsers that supports the latest Web standards, namely the iPhone, iPod Touch and Android platforms. Speed and responsiveness are improved, especially in bad or non-existent network situations. Thanks to aggressive caching, opening recently read messages and composing new email will still work fine.

iPhone and iPod Touch devices have to be upgraded to firmware version 2.2.1 to get the new code, but all Android phones will benefit immediately. The service leverages such technologies as HTML5 and Gears to work its magic.

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The experience of using Gmail on these mobile platforms is now much closer to using the actual web site than before. Multiple messages can be selected out-of-order and operated upon immediately, using a floaty action bar. Use of the limited screen real-estate has been optimized, making the stars and labels on messages more prominent. Search and new email icons are now conveniently at the top of the message list as well.

After using the new site briefly, I can confidently say if I had to use a web-based Email application, this would be the one, for two big reasons: Caching and Search:

  • Caching: Since it leverages the Gears-like ability to cash anything that's been touched, and all the screens for creating a new email, it works great even when wireless or cellular signals are not available. Once you are back in range, everything is synchronized without any more effort.
  • Search: Google has always leveraged search as a big differentiator for Gmail, and now that power is easily accessable in the mobile site as well. One click to an icon gets you in to the search interface and finding that particular email quickly an easily. Search is also used when composing an email, letting you quickly find people by any part of their name or email address,then letting you select who you want to add out-of-order.

I will admit, I don't have an Android phone so I don't know how the new Gmail website stacks up against the native mail client. For those of you with Android phones, how is it working for you? Would you say it is better or worse than what's built-in?

]]> tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132459 Comment from Andy on 2009-04-07 Andy http://www.andydesoto.com I like the new interface, but I am still hard pressed to think of a scenario in which I'd access the mobile web version instead of the mail client on my iPhone. In the past, I've only ever accessed mobile web Gmail if I've needed heavier-duty search machinery.

]]> 2009-04-08T03:38:37Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132462 Comment from jyoseph on 2009-04-07 jyoseph http://jyoseph.com I absolutely love gmail mobile, I love gmail/google period. Everything I use google-wise is conveniently located on my phone. Gmail, maps, reader, calendar, docs, etc etc.

The new drop down when you select emails is slick, very handy.

]]> 2009-04-08T03:51:35Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132463 Comment from 面经 on 2009-04-07 面经 http://www.jobsphere.cn/ gmail is developing every single day.
nice to have gmail around!

]]> 2009-04-08T03:53:59Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132464 Comment from Dave on 2009-04-07 Dave http://batipi.com Google's commitment to the mobile market makes me want to ditch the blackberry for the android!

]]> 2009-04-08T04:08:45Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132465 Comment from Scott on 2009-04-07 Scott Its definitely an improvement on the old browser based gmail. I still prefer the standard Gmail client that comes on the Android, but very useful for a second gmail or managed domain mail client. Plus with gears can offer an offline mail client too.

]]> 2009-04-08T04:17:40Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132514 Comment from Cas Tuyn on 2009-04-08 Cas Tuyn Would this also be available to Ubuntu NBR 9.04 running Firefox 3, or only the mobile version of Firefox: Fennec ?

I'm currently building a carPC with a 9" touchscreen, and want to use gmail and google maps while driving around (obviously mainly using the maps while driving, and mail while stuck in traffic/parked).

]]> 2009-04-08T11:32:05Z tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2009://1.14561-comment:132519 Comment from Susan Scrupski on 2009-04-08 Susan Scrupski http://www.itsinsider.com Two Google products I use regularly: Sites and Groups. Both not on my iPhone. Need them, Google. Hurry.

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