Gmail For Android Updated With Priority Inbox And Better Compose Features
When we first reviewed Android 2.2 (Froyo) back in the summer, we found a lot of reasons to love it. It was a highly revamped OS, and it really put Android into a serious position against iOS. And ever since, Google has been working to make a good OS even better. With Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) set to debut next week on the Samsung Nexus S, Google is giving those stuck on 2.2 a welcome update: Gmail.
Heavy Gmail users will know that while Android's Gmail client is the best on the mobile side, it still needs some tweaks. This week, Google launched Gmail for Android 2.3.2, a major update that adds a bunch of new, much-wanted featured. The first major feature is the addition of Priority Inbox. This has been available on the desktop Gmail for some time, but now it's ported to mobile. Now you can see important messages in a new Priority Inbox view, with this view including all important messages in your inbox, regardless of whether you’ve read them or not.
There's even a new notification setting that will only alert you if you get an "Important" email through the Priority Inbox. You’ll notice the importance markers you’re used to seeing in the desktop version of Gmail, and you can also change a conversation’s importance using the menu. To switch between inboxes or labels, just tap on the current label. It's not the exact same as the desktop version, but it's really, really close.
Also, there's an improved compose feature which gives Android users an easier way to switch between replying to the sender to replying to all. Now, you can easily switch between reply, reply all, and forward while composing your response. Also, there's a new drop-down that lets you send from an alternate address; this has been possible in regular Gmail for a while, but now whatever alternate "Sent From" addresses you have stored will also port over to Mobile. Finally, users can now reply to messages in-line.
The great news is that Gingerbread isn't required for the update; as long as you have Froyo (2.2) on your phone, you can visit the Android Market to get the free update. Gotta love free!
Heavy Gmail users will know that while Android's Gmail client is the best on the mobile side, it still needs some tweaks. This week, Google launched Gmail for Android 2.3.2, a major update that adds a bunch of new, much-wanted featured. The first major feature is the addition of Priority Inbox. This has been available on the desktop Gmail for some time, but now it's ported to mobile. Now you can see important messages in a new Priority Inbox view, with this view including all important messages in your inbox, regardless of whether you’ve read them or not.
There's even a new notification setting that will only alert you if you get an "Important" email through the Priority Inbox. You’ll notice the importance markers you’re used to seeing in the desktop version of Gmail, and you can also change a conversation’s importance using the menu. To switch between inboxes or labels, just tap on the current label. It's not the exact same as the desktop version, but it's really, really close.
Also, there's an improved compose feature which gives Android users an easier way to switch between replying to the sender to replying to all. Now, you can easily switch between reply, reply all, and forward while composing your response. Also, there's a new drop-down that lets you send from an alternate address; this has been possible in regular Gmail for a while, but now whatever alternate "Sent From" addresses you have stored will also port over to Mobile. Finally, users can now reply to messages in-line.
The great news is that Gingerbread isn't required for the update; as long as you have Froyo (2.2) on your phone, you can visit the Android Market to get the free update. Gotta love free!
