If you're looking for an app to manage your Gmail account, then Mimestream might be just what you're looking for.

Sadly, the app is currently exclusive to Google's email platform, while also being stuck on the Mac - but the latter is changing soon.

While Mimestream has had an iOS app on its long-term roadmap since it was in beta, the company is now actively building an iPhone and iPad version, as per the latest newsletter from founder Neil Jhaveri.

Jhaveri previously worked at Apple for seven years, working on Mail and Notes for Mac and iPad, so his expertise in the field makes an iOS version of Mimestream an exciting prospect.

"The highest priority enhancement we’re working on is bringing Mimestream to iOS, so you can have the same Mimestream experience on your iPhone and iPad! Mimestream for iOS will be just as fast, capable, and full of features as the macOS version," the newsletter says.

"This is our most ambitious project yet, and we’re taking advantage of several new technologies from Apple that we’re confident will make Mimestream even more powerful, stable, and faster in its next chapter as a multi-platform app."

When will Mimestream come to iOS?

Jhaveri notes that "great progress" has been made so far, but "there are still many important parts left to build".

The company is planning a TestFlight beta of up to 10,000 users before launch, and Jhaveri notes that users will be invited "based on the date that they purchased a subscription, with the earliest customers getting invited first".

On a personal level, I've been using Mimestream to manage a Gmail account for a couple of years, and it's about the only native Mac app for the service that feels close to offering the speed of the web-based version.

That's because it uses Google's Gmail API for speed and things like Gmail keyboard shortcuts, labels, filters, and more. It's also the only email app I've ever used where the search functionality is almost instant.

The app's roadmap can be found here, and also includes support for IMAP and JMAP email protocols under the "Considering" section. This would allow Mimestream to handle iCloud, Yahoo, or Fastmail accounts.

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What you need to know

• The Gmail app for iPhone and iPad has been updated to add a new inbox widget.
• Gmail users can see the three most recent messages in their inbox without opening the app.
• The app's release notes make no mention of the change.

Users of iPhones and iPads can now take advantage of a new Gmail widget that shows the three most recent messages that are in your inbox. The App Store release notes don't mention the change, but the new widget can be added via the usual iOS 15 mechanism.

The new widget only displays the last three messages but it does show when they arrived as well as the subject line. The same widget also has a button that can be tapped to create a new email from scratch, too. The widget itself can live either on your Home screen or on the Today screen, whichever works best for you.

While the Gmail app is perhaps not the best iPhone app for reading email, it's the app that a ton of Gmail users will be reading email with and this widget is most welcome. As MacRumors point out, It joins the existing widget that shows a compose button and search option, building that into something that is much more useful.

The updated Gmail app can be downloaded from the App Store while those new to the app can also grab it now, too.

What you need to know

• You can now start and join voice and video calls from within the Gmail app.
• Calls can now be started by tapping a button in Google Chats.

If you're someone who likes to use Google Chat inside the Gmail app on your iPhone, you can now more easily start or join a video or voice call, too. While it was kinda sorta possible before, it's now a case of tapping a button rather than the convoluted invitation system that was present before.

Google confirmed the change in a new Workspace Update post, saying that the feature works for "1:1 chats."

Google says that the move has been made to make it easier for people to stay in touch at a time where some people are working from offices and others are working from home.

The Gmail app is the best iPhone solution for people who want to access their Google-hosted emails, especially if they also want to make use of features like Google Chat. Improvements like this will no doubt be welcomed by those who also make use of Google's calling features, too.

What you need to know

• Google has announced a number of updates for iOS and iPadOS.
• The company has launched a new inbox widget for the Gmail app.
• It has also launched Picture-in-Picture support for the Google Meet app.

In a blog post, Google has announced that it is bringing some new features to its apps on the iPhone.

The first of which is a new widget for the Gmail app. The new widget allows you to more easily manage your inbox with the ability to see the senders and subjects of your most recent emails.

Google has also brought Picture-in-Picture support to the Google Meet app. The company says it will do the same for the Gmail app "in the next few weeks."

Google has also launched keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets. The company says the shortcuts will be available for both Bluetooth and Apple keyboards like the Magic Keyboard.

What you need to know

• The Gmail app on iPhone and iPad now has a new Google Chat tab.
• The change is available to everyone with corporate and free Gmail accounts.

Google announced last year that it intended to make it easier for people to stay connected while working from home. To do that, it said that Google Chat would be rolled into the Gmail app and, as of right now, that's happened on iPhone and iPad.

Available to both corporate and free Gmail users, the move means that there are new Chat and Rooms tabs alongside the existing Meet and Mail tabs that people might be familiar with – Google Meet had already been rolled into the Gmail app. It isn't clear exactly when the change went live, but 9to5Google reckons it probably happened within the last few weeks.

The change appears to have been made server-side, but make sure you have the latest version of Gmail installed if you aren't seeing it yet. You might also need to enable it in the Gmail app settings, too. You can download Gmail for free from the App Store now.

Alongside push notifications for email, this is another reason not to use the iOS Mail app on your iPhone and iPad! That definitely doesn't mean that Gmail is one of the best iPhone apps around, though, because it very much isn't! Still, Gmail user who need Google Chat alongside their email will be happy as Larry today.

What you need to know

• Gmail for iOS has finally been furnished with privacy information as required by Apple.
• The change was made server-side, and the app is still two months without an update.

Google has finally added information to Gmail to comply with Apple's new iOS App Store privacy labels.

As noted by MacRumors:

Gmail has gone for weeks without an update ever since Apple introduced new measures to its App Store which show users how much data an app collects on them whilst they use it.

Google, which normally updates its iOS apps on a weekly basis, stopped updating its apps in early December, before promising in January that its apps on the App Store would be updated in January. From that report:

As MR now notes, Gmail does now have privacy information as required by Apple, but the app itself hasn't yet been updated for over two months.

What you need to know

• Supports browser Gmail extensions.
• Basic plan is still free.
• Support added for Apple M1 machines.

Zive recently announced the latest update for Kiwi for Gmail. The long-running Mac and Windows solution gives you the Gmail and Google Workspace experience in a desktop app. The Kiwi for Gmail 3.0 update adds numerous features, including full support for Apple silicon on the M1 versions of the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

The latest version of Kiwi for Gmail supports browser Gmail extensions, including Grammarly, Zoom, Boomerang, and Right Inbox, with more launching throughout the year. The browser extensions for Gmail have long been popular with millions of users. Kiwi for Gmail 3.0 also adds offline email, making it possible to access your Gmail account without an internet connection. The update also includes a more robust contacts pane that makes it easier to find family and friends in your listing.

Other Kiwi for Gmail 3.0 highlights include:

• Full media integration - Video and music files of any type can now be opened in Drive or Gmail, allowing collaboration and work on all kinds of media in Kiwi
• Calendar notifications - Now part of Kiwi. Unlike the browser, they work in Kiwi without the calendar being open across all your accounts.
• Improvements to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, such as right-click to copy/paste or paste without formatting in documents
• A completely redesigned settings pane and refreshed menu bar dropdown.
• Google Tasks is now supported as an app inside Kiwi.

According to Eric Shashoua, CEO and Founder of Zive Inc., "Zive created Kiwi for Gmail 3.0 as a resource and solution for quick access to Gmail and Google app features by adding over-the-top features to make it more useful and the consumer more productive ... This new release enables individuals to access documents, plugins, messages, events, Google Drive and more with a single click."

Kiwi for Gmail offers monthly and yearly subscription options; for a limited time, new customers can save 25% off the premium plan, which is $25.50 per year or $2.25 per month. The basic plan, which is limited to only one Gmail account, is free.

For more information, visit the Kiwi for Gmail website.

What you need to know

• The Gmail app on iOS is now warning users that it is out of date.
• Ironically, there is currently no update available for the app.

As reported by MacRumors, a number of Google's iOS apps have gone so long without an update now that they are even warning users that they are now out of date.

Ironically, the app does not have an update available even if a user wanted to update to avoid the security risks the message warns about.

As noted by the report, Google has not updated the Gmail app for iOS and iPadOS since December 1 and most of its iOS and iPadOS apps since December 7. It has been increasingly rumored that the company is holding off on updating its apps on the iPhone and iPad to avoid having to display the privacy information now required by Apple on the App Store.

That rumor was downplayed by Google when the company said, back at the beginning of January, that it would be adding the privacy labels to its apps within a week.

However, over two weeks after that statement, the apps have less of a privacy label and more of a warning not to use the app at all.

What you need to know

• Google has released an update to Gmail on iOS and iPadOS that adds a new widget.
• The widget can be added to the Today View on iOS and iPadOS or to your iPhone's Home Screen.
• It offers shortcuts for searching your email, composing an email, and viewing unread emails.

Reported by MacRumors, Google has released an update to the Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad. The new update introduces a widget that can be added to the Today center on both the iPhone and iPad as well as the Home Screen on the iPhone,

Version 6.0.201101 seems to be all about the widget as that is the only new feature listed in the update description.

As pictured above, the Gmail widget seems to offer users three options:

• A shortcut to search your mailbox
• A shortcut to compose an email
• Get notifiied of unread emails and jump right to that part of the app.

Currenly, it appears that the Gmail widget is only offered in the "medium" format. Apple also supports "small" and "large" widgets, so perhaps Google will add those options in the future. According to the report, the widget will not display any sensitive information or allow users to customize it further at this point.

You can download the Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad for free on the App Store.

What you need to know

• Google has highlighted features and apps for the new iPhone 12.
• Highlights include widgets, Apple Watch apps, default apps, and privacy features.
• All of the features and apps highlighted are also available for other iPhone models.

Ahead of tomorrow's iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro release, Google has published a blog post that highlights new features users can enjoy from the company on their new iPhone.

Google has created its own set of widgets for iOS 14 that users will be able to enjoy. The new Google Photos widget will rotate through your memories, while the YouTube Music widget will display your most recently played songs. The Google Search widget gives you quick access to search by the camera, voice, and more.

The company is also pointing out that Google Maps and YouTube Music are now on the Apple Watch. The Google Maps app will give route estimates and step-by-step directions, while the YouTube Music app will act as a remote to the music playing on your iPhone.

The company is also pointing out that, due to iOS 14, users can now choose to set Chrome and Gmail as their default browser and mail app.

The last feature that Google mentions is Privacy Screen, which allows you to require the use of Touch ID or Face ID each time you open the Google Drive app.

All of these features and apps are available now and would be a great addition for new iPhone 12 owners if you are deep in the Google ecosystem.

What you need to know

• Google has added default mail app support for Gmail.
• The feature allows you to set Gmail as your default mail app on iPhone and iPad.
• Default mail and browser support rolled out with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 last week.

As many have hoped and expected, Google has rolled out a new update for the Gmail app that lets you make it your default mail app on an iPhone and iPad running iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.

The new update, Version 6.0.200825, adds support for Gmail to be the default mail app. Apple announced the ability to set default mail apps, as well as default browsers, back at WWDC in June. The new feature rolled out with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 last week when both released to the public, but support for Gmail was missing.

Thankfully, it only took a week for Google to roll out support for the feature. According to the update, not only can you set Gmail as the default mail app through the Settings app, but the Gmail app will prompt you in the app as well.

Users can update the app to get support for the new feature now or download Gmail from the App Store. Keep in mind that iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 still contain a bug that messes with this feature. Restarting your iPhone currently removes the default mail and browser choices on iOS 14 and changes them back to Apple's own Mail and Safari app. For the mail issue, in particular, you can get around this issue by deleting the Mail app. This is, of course, only useful if you don't need the Mail app and only need the Gmail app.

What you need to know

• There's a new Mac email app in town and it's designed for Gmail.
• The app is developed by a former Apple engineer.
• The app is native and written in Swift using AppKit and SwiftUI.

Apple's Mail app does support Gmail but the experience can be clunky at best. There are also plenty of third-party email apps out there that support Gmail, but many of them try to over-complicate matters by adding their own features. Mimestream is a new email app that tries to bridge the gap – it looks similar to Mail, but is built especially for Gmail.

Unlike most other Gmail apps, Mimestream connects directly to Google's servers as well – your data doesn't go anywhere other than your computer, and Google. That's a win for privacy-focused users right there.

The app itself is built using AppKit and SwiftUI and runs as a native Mac app. It's actually being developed by Neil Jhaveri, a former Apple engineer who worked on the Mail app that lives in macOS. That might be why Mimestream looks similar. But with native Gmail features like labels, advanced search, and even synced aliases this is definitely not Mail.

New features are planned for the future as well, with Google Drive support on the list. Right now Mimestream is Mac-only, but an iPhone and iPad version of the app is planned.

Mimestream is free right now while it's in beta form, but it'll be a paid app once development is complete. I'd already heard some good things about Mimestream before MacRumors reminded me about it – and I can't wait to check it out. Especially once there are some mobile apps to go with it.

Download Mimestream now and try it for yourself.

What you need to know

• Google has added support for Split View to Gmail on iPad.
• No, we aren't living in a parallel universe.
• Yes, it took five years to happen.

If you're reading this you probably just picked yourself up off the floor after reading that headline and are probably still in disbelief. But let me tell you, reader, that it's true. Gmail for iPad now supports Split View.

Five years after Apple added support for it.

Amazingly, this update isn't new and as 9to5Google points out, it's been around for around three weeks. Google didn't think it was worth mentioning in the release notes, though, and instead announced the change today. Because people haven't been crying out for Split View support for the last few years.

Oh, wait. They have.

Anyway, it's here now and as they say, it's better late than never. Right?

What you need to know

• Dark Mode for Gmail is finally here.
• You can now switch between light and dark on iOS 13 on iPhone or iPad.
• You can also match Gmail to your system default if you keep Dark Mode on a timer.

Google has updated its Gmail app for iPad and iPhone, finally bringing official Dark Mode support to the platform.

In the latest software update the release notes state:

As MacRumors notes, the feature has been subject to "delay and inconsistent functionality". Dark Mode was announced for Gmail way back in September of last year. Whether people have had access to Dark Mode, or whether it works has seemingly been something of a lottery. Now, officially listed in the latest update release notes, it looks like Dark Mode is here to stay.

You can activate Dark Mode within Gmail through the Menu section of the app, located in the top left-hand corner of the screen (three-line icon). From there select 'Settings' and then 'Theme' to select either 'Light', 'Dark' or 'System Default'. The first two settings are constant, whereas the latter means Dark Mode in Gmail will default to whatever your iOS device is set to, this is the best option if you like your Dark Mode on a timer.

Over the last couple of months, Gmail has added a couple of exciting new features to its Gmail app for iOS, including support for Siri shortcuts when sending emails, and adding attachments to emails from the iOS files app.

The latest version is available to download here.

What you need to know

• Gmail is reportedly getting support for the Files app on iOS.
• Users will be able to attach anything from the Files app.
• The feature is rolling out now.

Google is rolling out support for the Files app to Gmail. But you might not be able to enjoy the new feature just yet.

A new Gmail blog post says Google is adding support for attaching files directly from the Files app, with search and multiple file selection also part of the deal.

That's the good news. But this being Google, there's a caveat. The blog post notes that this is a rollout that may take a while to reach everyone. It should be available to all users within the next couple of weeks, but your mileage may vary there.

There's also no mention of when dark mode will be available to everyone, either. That's also been rolling out to users, but it seems to have been happening for a long time at this point.

You can download the free Gmail app from the App Store, now.

What you need to know

• Images in emails allow senders to track whether an email was opened.
• By preventing images from loading, Gmail also prevents the tracking.
• The option wasn't previously available to iPhone and iPad users.

Google has updated its iPhone and iPad Gmail app to allow users to prevent it from automatically loading remote images inside emails. Remote images are often used as a method of tracking whether an email is opened and, in some circumstances, where that action took place.

A long, long time ago people realized that by adding a remote image to an email they could then track whether that image had been accessed. If it had, then they knew the email had been opened. That can be valuable information for marketers but it's a horrible idea in terms of privacy.

Many email apps already provide options to prevent the loading of remote images, but this is the first time that Gmail has done so on iPhone and iPad. The updated app is now available for download from the App Store. A new "Ask before displaying external images" option can be found in your account's settings once the update is installed.

Unfortunately, this only appears to apply to personal accounts and not those attached to GSuite. Whether that's an oversight or something administrators for GSuite setups need to apply isn't yet clear, however.

Not surprisingly, I spend a lot of time of my time each day in front of a computer. A great deal of that time is spent going through my various inboxes separating and responding to email, and prepping articles for iMore through Google Docs. For both, I'm a heavy user of Kiwi for G Suite, which is packed full of excellent keyboard shortcuts.

Freely available in the Mac App Store, Kiwi for Gmail brings your favorite email client as one centralized app. From here, you can take advantage of the traditional Gmail interface that provides quick access to all G Suite applications and documents, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Admittingly, until recently I largely ignored Kiwi's keyboard shortcuts. Once I spent some time learning more about them, I became hooked. They have ever-so-slightly boosted my productivity and almost certainly have shaved a few work minutes off of my day. Better still, I'm not alternating as much between my mouse and keyboard when I'm using my MacBook Pro with a desktop monitor. Less mouse usage can reduce the risk of Repetitive Syndrome Injury or R.S.I.

As you can see above, Kiwi's keyboard shortcuts are available for Mac and Windows, although there are many more for macOS users. These include shortcuts for zoom in/zoom out, composing a message, find in page, and others.

Initially introduced as a Kickstarter project, Kiwi for Gmail supports up to six Gmail accounts simultaneously and allows you to open documents in separate windows. Files available for opening include gsheet, gform, gdoc, gslides, gdraw, glink, and gnote.

You can download Kiwi for Gmail from the Mac App Store and through the Kiwi website.

Read more comics from The Pixel Project.

Gmail is Google's email service. With over 1 billion active users, it's one of the most popular email platforms in the world. What makes Gmail stand out from the rest and why would you use it over other platforms?

Here's everything you need to know!

What's new with Gmail?

Gmail is currently testing a new design for Gmail on the web to bring it more inline with the Gmail mobile app.

The new design includes a few features that were originally introduced for Google's Inbox app including smart replies and snooze.

Smart replies gives you the option of quickly replying to emails with pre-made suggestions, while the snooze features enables you to tempoairly remove emails from your inbox until a certain time.

No exactly release date is known as of yet, but the updated design should be rolling out in the next few weeks.

First off, how much does Gmail cost?

Free! Gmail is completely free to use. You can, of course, pay for premium features, like more inbox storage and that sort of thing, but if you don't need that, then you're good to go!

There is, however a paid version, which lets you choose a custom email domain, like your company name, and you get unlimited group email addresses, 99.9% guaranteed uptime, twice the storage of personal Gmail (30GB), no ads, 24/7 support, Microsoft Exchange support, and more.

So if you're switching to Gmail with business in mind, you'd probably want to opt for the paid version.

Prices start at $5 per month, per user.

Does it work just like my current email service?

Yes and no. Gmail is incredibly Google and works in a very Google-like way, which is why it benefits from so many features. Google does make Gmail accessible via traditional POP and IMAP protocols as well, though, if that's your bag. (Also via Exchange, if you opt for the business version.)

You can head to google.com and sign in there or you can download the iOS or Android app.

You can send text emails, attach files, photos, and videos, Cc, Bcc, etc. — it's a full-featured email client.

Do I need to switch to Android to be able to use it fully?

Absolutely not. The iOS app is robust and was recently overhauled to look and work in almost the same way the Android app does. You get every feature, including the ability to delete emails from your lock screen. If you want a Gmail account but prefer the iOS Mail app, you can easily add your Gmail account and get all your email that way.

Can I migrate my existing email?

Yep! Google has some migration tools you can use to make the whole process easy and efficient.

Can I have multiple email addresses?

You bet! Using your original Gmail ID, you can create up to 30 email aliases. Sick of receiving mail on one of those aliases? Just delete it and the spam stops!

Does anything else come with a Gmail account?

And how! Signing up for Gmail doesn't just get you an excellent email client; you get access to the entire "G Suite", which is Google's suite of cloud apps, including Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, and more.

These apps don't cost you a thing, and you can access them from just about any device, via the web or the corresponding app. Docs is a great word processor; sheets is a spreadsheet app á la Excel; Drive is where you can store all of your files (up to 15GB of storage for free); and Calendar lets you keep track of all of your events and reminders.

Do I have to use all of those apps?

Nope, not if you don't want to. Google includes G Suite in order to complete your user experience. That way, you sign in once, and you have access to everything you need, be it your notes, spreadsheets, slideshows, whatever. If you prefer Microsoft Office or whatever you're already using, you never have to touch anything but your actually email if you don't want to. Just know that it's always there if you need it.

Is it secure?

Gmail is quite secure, and if you're unsure, it supports two-factor authentication, so you can rest assured that if your password's ever figured out by those who would do harm to your account, they would still need the six-digit code to sign in.

You can also enable S/MIME protocols to encrypt your emails in transit.

Is it private?

Google is an advertising company. As such, it's algorithms do scan mail so Google can display ads that are as relevant as possible to your interests. That way you're less likely to be annoyed and more likely to click or tap on those ads.

All that data is anonymized and kept secure by Google, and isn't sold off to any unsavory marketing types.

You're going to have to decide if that's fair payment for the mail service.

Should I switch?

If you're perfectly happy with your current email client, then there's really no reason — it's all up to personal preference at the end of the day. However, if you are considering switching, then Gmail is easily one of the best email clients around because you get so much more than email.

Any other questions about Gmail?

Let us know in the comments below!

My first smartphone was the iPhone 5. After some frustration, I switched to Android for a bit, and then came back for the iPhone 7. One thing I truly loved about Android was its Google Apps experience. The Gmail app for Android is intuitive, laid out nicely, and ultimately easy and convenient.

Returning to iOS with much of my data tied up in Google Drive, I downloaded the Gmail app and immediately felt cold, alone, and like Bambi watching his mother being shot (OK, that might be a bit dramatic).

The Gmail app for iPhone just wasn't a good time. Until now!

Everyone loves a comeback

OK, the Gmail app never really went anywhere, but my iPhone-using friends with Google accounts weren't using it. That's because it felt stilted and far less intuitive than its native counterpart. I mean, come on — swiping to delete might be its best feature! The lack of features was, to put it lightly, lame.

Remember Space Jam, when all the Looney Tunes get together and "spit shine" that gym until it's gorgeous? That's what Google did in the latest Gmail app update. It's a Google app, on an iPhone, that actually feels like a Google app, and I love it.

Hey, ma, look what I can do!

The latest update doesn't just come with a facelift; the iOS Gmail app has a few new tricks up its sleeve.

There's nothing more annoying than having to select emails, one by one, and then tapping to delete, or selecting them all and tapping to delete. Just like in the Mail app, you can now swipe to either archive or delete email (you can change the action in the account's settings within the app).

Searching was a major pain in the ass before, too. Now you can search much faster, and live search options will populate as you type, so if you're in the mood for productivity, the Gmail app now saves you time when you're looking for old email.

A collective sigh of relief swept over Googledom when Google introduced the Undo Send feature for desktop. You can now do it in the iOS app, so if you've sent an email riddled with typos, or you accidentally called the boss Mom, you can quickly undo sending the email and no one will know. (I mean, you'll know, and you'll have to live with that for the rest of your life. But no one else will know. Well, Google might. But no one else.)

Google plays nice

Is this a gesture of good faith by Google toward iPhone users? Who knows? Either way, it's a smart move on Google's part, especially if it actually want folks using its apps.

Will this sway anyone at this point? Perhaps not. I set up Outlook a while back and getting into a new email app can be a bit tedious. That being said, the Gmail app recognizes the Google accounts on your iPhone and has them ready to go when you launch the app, so it wouldn't be all that difficult.

I think that the best thing this update has going for it is that it makes it that much easier for Android users to transition to iPhone, which might make them want to stick around a little longer. To be fair, Google's apps are great to use — on Android devices. Making them more Google-y for iOS is a smart move.

Maybe it was everyone saying that the Pixel is Google's iPhone!

Calendar gets some love too!

Google didn't just overhaul the Gmail app; it added some shiny new features to Calendar to make things more Google-y as well!

You now have Month view and week view in landscape. How you have a calendar app with no month view, I don't know, but Google finally added it. Rejoice and enjoy.

Spotlight search support is now a thing! You can search for Google Calendar events, reminders, and more!

The iOS Google Calendar app now supports alternate calendars, so anyone looking for dates on non-Gregorian calendars can find what they want.

Are Google and Apple buddy buddy now?

No, presumably not, but Google sprucing up its apps to function like they're supposed to is a boon to those coming from Android or those who just like the look and feel of Google apps. Is it a bit late in the game to attract new users to these apps? Probably, but as folks constantly switch teams, this is a positive step for Google, and a wonderful change for anyone on iOS looking for a decent email app and having to use Google Calendar.

Your thoughts?

Do you use the Gmail app now? Will you make the switch now that it's awesome? Do you use Google Calendar? Let us know in the comments below!

Actionable notifications allow you to quickly decide what to do with a message. When you swipe left on a notification, you'll be able to choose either to archive the message or reply to it. Selecting reply will open Gmail and start a reply message for you.

The share extension allows you to share photos and files through Gmail using any app that supports the iOS 8 share sheet. After you activate the extension, selecting Gmail from the share sheet will open a new message pane with your attachment inside, ready to fill out and send.

This update also brings a new attachment viewer, allowing you to open email attachments in any compatible application. You can download Gmail 4.0 for iPhone and iPad from the App Store now.

• Free - Download Now

Google has released its Inbox app for iPad. The invite-only email client for tablets is already available for Android, promising to provide a new way for consumers to interact with incoming mail. It's not for everyone, but should you be on the hunt for a new client on iOS, the new Google Inbox may be worth checking out.

The app listing itself isn't new (since it's already out for iPhone), but the company has bumped it to version 1.2, offering an optimized interface for iPad users. It's an interesting way to use email for sure, having Google sort through email and prioritize messages the service feels are more important to you.

• Free - Download Now

Via: TechCrunch

If you have yet to receive an invite to try out Inbox, you could get one very quickly later this evening. Google will accept all requests to try out their Gmail-based email management app from 3-4 pm Pacific Time (6-7 PM Eastern Time) today.

All you have to do is email inbox@google.com sometime in that 60 minute time period and Google claims you will get your Inbox invite by 5 pm Pacific (8 pm Eastern). If you are unsure if you want to try out Inbox, Android Central's editor-in-chief Phil Nickinson wrote some of his hands-on impressions of the app a few days ago.

• Free - Download now

Source: Inbox (Twitter)

Behold, users of the Gmail for iOS app, your salvation is here: today's update brings proper support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. No longer will you have to deal with blurry display-zoomed text and hilariously-large status bar icons, no more will your loved ones have to cope with your disdain for the misused screen real estate. Today, Gmail for iPhone properly supports the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and all is right in the world.

• Free — Download Now

If you have a Gmail or Google apps account that has two-step verification enabled, the process of linking your account to your iPhone or iPad is slightly different, as you may have found out if you attempted to sign in and got an incorrect password error. This is because you'll need to generate an app-specific password for your iPhone or iPad in order to securely link them to your Gmail or Google Apps account.

How to use Google app-specific passwords for mail, contacts, and calendars in iOS

1. Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad and go to security.google.com.
2. Log in to your Gmail or Google apps account as you normally would — you may be required to complete two-step verification.
3. Once logged in, tap on Settings under App Passwords.
4. Choose Mail in the first dropdown and iPhone or iPad in the second dropdown.
5. Tap on Generate.
6. Copy the app-specific password that is generated to your clipboard.
7. Press your Home button to return to the Home screen.
8. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
9. Tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
10. Tap on your Google account under the Accounts section — or add a new one if you haven't yet added it.
11. Paste the app-specific password you copied into the password field instead of your regular password.

Your Gmail or Google Apps account should now start functioning normally again and not output password errors any longer. If you set up your account as new, you are ready to use it.

Keep in mind that app-specific passwords are exactly that, app specific. So you'll need to generate one for each app you're going to use your Google account with. Because of the way iOS is set up, you don't need a separate one for contacts, calendars, and mail, but you will need a separate one for every iOS device you own. This applies to any other mobile device or desktop client you link with your Gmail or Google Apps account.

See also:

• How to use and manage app-specific passwords for iCloud

Earlier today, Google announced and introduced new APIs for Gmail. These new APIs will help developers create apps that go beyond the limitations of IMAP. At least that's what Google is hoping for with today's announcement.

Google praises IMAP for connecting email clients to email servers in a standard way, which it was designed to do. But there are features in Gmail that are held back by the limitations of IMAP. That's why we're looking at new APIs, designe to be a standard Google API.

These new APIs will give developers RESTful access to a user's mailbox under OAuth 2.0 authentication. CRUD operations are supported for true Gmail datatypes such as messages, threads, labels and drafts. Hit up the source links below to knock your socks off with all the tech behind the new Gmail APIs.

The end result? Devs can create apps that give users better control over how their email is accessed. Some practical applications that result from the new APIs include:

• Read-only mail extraction, indexing, and backup
• Label management (add/remove labels)
• Automated or programmatic message sending

Interesting stuff and we can't wait to see future apps built by devs using these new APIs. What sort of features do you want to see come out of the new Gmail APIs?

Source: Google, Gmail API documentation

Google recently made some changes to Gmail and Google+ that lets anyone that has you on Google+ send you an email, even if they don't know your email address. While some of us may be okay with this, some of us may find it to be an invasion of privacy and quite frankly, a little creepy. Luckily, Google does give you a way to disable it. Here's how:

1. Launch a web browser and go to www.gmail.com. You can do this from an iPhone or iPad in Safari or from any computer. If you're doing it from an iPhone or iPad, make sure you aren't using the mobile version of Gmail.
2. Log in to the Gmail account you use with Google+.
3. In the upper right hand corner, click on the gear icon and then click on Settings in the dropdown menu.
4. Under the General tab find the Email via Google+ section. This is where you can change the setting for who can email you via Google+. Change it here to the preference you want and then click Save at the bottom of the Settings page.

That's all there is to it. Even though Google says no one sees your actual email unless you respond, it may just be more of an issue of privacy for many. Do you plan on turning off the feature or does it not bother you? Let us know in the comments!

Google has never had anything approximating what you could call a normal IMAP implementation for Gmail. However, under Mail in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and previous versions, many of us learned to work around and otherwise live with it. No longer! OS X 10.9 Mavericks changes the way the Mail app works, and in doing so, is less forgiving of Gmail's idiosyncrasies than ever before. Joe Kissel on TidBITS:

Gmail in Mail over IMAP has always been a pain for me. I never hid All Mail, so that's not a problem now, but it uses a ton of disk space and up until recently kept generating simultaneous connection and bandwidth usage errors.

I have a paid Google Apps account, so on iOS I simply use Exchange for Gmail via Google Sync, which works much, much better, and faster. Sadly, Google doesn't seem to allow for Exchange connections on OS X.

So, unless and until Apple changes Mail for Gmail's sake, or Google figures out how to better serve IMAP, we'll stay caught, painfully, in the middle.

Check out Joe's article for some small amount of relief, and if you're struggling with Gmail in Mail.app, let me know how it's going for you.

Source: TidBITS

If you have multiple Gmail accounts set up in the Gmail app for iPhone and iPad, you may not need to receive push notifications for new messages for every single account. Luckily with the Gmail app, your options aren't all or nothing. You can easily choose what accounts you'd like to receive notifications for.

Here's how:

1. Launch the Gmail app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the upper left hand corner.
3. In the menu that slides out from the left side, tap on the Settings icon in the upper right. It looks like a gear.
4. Under the Notifications section, you can choose to receive notifications for that particular account for all mail, primary inbox only, or none. Select the option you'd like for that specific account.

That's all there is to it. That specific Gmail account will obey your notification settings. Now just repeat this process with each Gmail account that you have configured specifying what notifications, if any, you'd like to receive for that account.

If you use Gmail and have labels set up for sorting messages, you can easily access them directly from your iPhone and iPad too. Not only do labels show up so you can view messages tagged with them, but you can add existing labels to new messages right from the app.

Here's how:

1. Launch the Gmail app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap into the email message that you'd like to add a label to.
3. In the top menu, tap on the **dropdown arrow*.
4. Now tap on Label in the menu that appears.
5. From here you can choose the label (or multiple labels) that you'd like to apply to that message. When you're finished, tap on Apply in the upper right hand corner.

That's all there is to it. The message should now be categorized with the label, or labels, you've selected. You can do this for multiple messages at a time as well by checking them off in the main message view and then following the steps above.

If all your email accounts happen to be Gmail accounts, the Gmail app for iOS is a great alternative email client for your iPhone or iPad if you aren't happy with the native one. You can even add multiple Gmail accounts to the Gmail app.

Here's how:

1. Launch the Gmail app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on the menu button in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
3. Next to your current account info, tap the arrow to collapse back to the main menu.
4. Now tap on the plus sign in order to add a new account.
5. Enter your Gmail account info and sign in.

That's all there is to it. You should now have both accounts linked to the Gmail app. Collapse and expand them like you did earlier to toggle between each one.

As part of their "Winter Cleanup", Google announced today that they'll be deprecating support for Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts over Exchange ActiveSync, or GoogleSync as they call it. According to Google:

Apple led the development of the open source CalDAV and CardDAV protocols, expressly to be alternatives to Microsoft's Exchange dominance. I don't sync Google Contacts, or use them at all because I've historically found them to be both overly promiscuous (they continually fill with junk I didn't explicitly add) and unreliable. I do sync Gmail and Google Calendar, however, and so I'm not looking forward to not being able to add them via ActiveSync on future devices.

That's entirely because Google's IMAP service has always been shoddy. It throws up "exceeded bandwidth" and "too many simultaneous connection" errors that are downright embarrassing coming from the world's largest Internet company.

I have both a Google Apps account for work, and a Gmail account for personal use, so it looks like I'll get to keep EAS support on one of them but not the other, which creates a very inconsistent user experience.

I love the new Gmail app, but I prefer having all my email in one, unified app. I want to see everything in my inbox all at once. And as a user, I shouldn't have to care which pipe my communications are coming through, they should just show up in my interface. Having to go to separate app just for Gmail breaks that experience as well.

Overall, this feels like Apple ditching Google data from iOS 6 Maps, but at an even more problematic level: Microsoft can't just release an app of their own to fix it.

Source: Google

Gmail for iPhone and iPad has been updated with a completely new design and, multiple account support, and more. This update comes only 5 months since Google's acquisition of Sparrow and it's pretty clear that the Sparrow guys have been hard at work with Gmail's new app. For the first time, I'm able to say that the official Gmail app for iPhone and iPad is really great.

The highlights of Gmail 2.0 for iPhone and iPad include the new beautiful interface with hidden sidebar, gestures, and the perfect amount of animations, the ability to easily attach photos and scribbles with a tap of the paperclip icon when creating emails, support for up to 5 accounts, push notifications, threaded conversations, and separate signatures for each account with the option to use the desktop signatures you've already created.

The search in Gmail is also more sophisticated with autocomplete predictions as you type and you can RSVP to Google Calendar invites and +1 and comment on Google+ posts directly from the Gmail app.

Navigating around the Gmail app is great experience. The team behind this new app took great care in making sure everything was perfectly polished. I have not experienced any lagging while scrolling, switching quickly between screens, searching, or anything. Honestly, I hope Apple and Jony Ive are taking notes, because the overall design of Gmail's app is much better than Apple's Mail app.

The good

• Beautiful new interface with tasteful animations and gestures
• Easily attach photos and scribbles when creating emails
• Support for up to 5 accounts
• Push notification support
• Separate signatures for each account with option to use the desktop signatures you've already created
• Sophisticated search with live predictions
• Threaded conversations with profile pictures
• Auto-complete contact names
• Respond to Google Calendar invites
• Read and respond to Google+ posts
• Organize mail by archiving, labeling, starring, deleting and reporting spam
• Universal for iPhone and iPad

The bad

• No unified inbox

The conclusion

I'll admit, when I first got wind of a Gmail update for iOS, I was far from thrilled because of Google's track record with the Gmail app. Within moments of downloading it, I realized how very wrong I was. The official Gmail app for iPhone and iPad is now a great app and could very easily replace Apple's built-in mail app for some users.

Personally, I have more that just Gmail accounts, so I will not be using Gmail 2.0 as my go to mail app, but I do plan to use it when I know I'll be spending a significant amount of time in a particular Gmail account (like going through the huge amounts of app review requests I get each day).

What are your thoughts on the new Gmail app? Is anyone planning to replace Apple's built-in mail app on their home screen with Gmail's?

Free - Download now

Source: Gmail

Apparently more Apple users than usual are having trouble with Google's Gmail service over IMAP today, specifically a “mail service imap.gmail.com is not responding" error. Google's aware of the problem and looking into it, and in the meantime have posted some quasi helpful tips on minimizing the chances you Gmail will simply error-out on iOS. Personally, I'd recommend switching to Gmail over Exchange ActiveSync, but if you're a die-hard IMAP lover, you can check them out and hope for the best...

The sad truth is, Gmail's back-end service and Mail.app's front-end client have never worked very well together. Google has incredibly stingy bandwidth and simultaneous connection limits for a provider their size, and Apple is incredibly greedy when it comes to grabbing connections, and downright silly when it comes to re-syncing massive amounts of mail for seemingly no reason.

I've had frequent errors for 3 or 4 years now, and neither company has shown the slightest interest in fixing them. Then, and today, if you use Gmail and have Mail.app open on several machines or set up as IMAP on several iOS devices, you'll have problems. From the likes of Google and Apple, that's simply unacceptable. Gmail needs more reasonable usage limits and Apple needs to be more reasonable about using them.

So while it's all well and good that Google is aware of today's “mail service imap.gmail.com is not responding" problem and are working to fix it, the greater problem needs its fair share of fixing too.

Again, switch to Gmail over Exchange ActiveSync if you can, and if you can't, check out the helpful tips below...

Source: Gmail support via AllThingsD

• Don't store draft messages on the server. In Apple Mail, go to Preferences > Accounts > Mailbox Behaviors and make sure to uncheck "Store draft messages on the server".
• Avoid syncing all your mail to more than one mail program
• Avoid removing and re-adding your Gmail IMAP account to a program, causing your mail archive to be synced multiple times
• Avoid uploading a lot of messages to Gmail, for example by dragging-and-dropping messages from your local disk into a Gmail folder
• Avoid telling your mail program to save a copy of sent mail on the server, and then sending a lot of mail
• Check whether you have granted access to your Gmail account to any third-party software that could be downloading mail on your behalf. Check your account activity for any unrecognized activity. You may be able to revoke this access in your Google Accounts settings. If you gave these sites your Google password, you might have to change it to prevent them from logging into your account.

Yesterday it was announced that Google had acquired Mac and iPhone Gmail app Sparrow, and that the Sparrow team would be joining the Gmail team, and Sparrow would be receiving no further updates.

Some users were really disappointed, and expressed as much here on iMore, on Twitter, and through various other mediums.

And that led to some push back from some developers. Matt Gemmell best framed the push-back, so not to single him out, but to provide context for the discussion, I'll link to his framing. Here's a brief excerpt of what he posted on mattgemmell.com, but do go read the whole thing before continuing here:

This is one of the most classic blunders in customer relationship management. No, not "never get involved in a land war in Asia...", but "never take up an equal and oppositely wrong headed, egocentric position in an argument".

The crux of this argument is that Sparrow doesn't owe users anything. Users paid, got the version of the app they paid for, the transaction was one-time and completed. And that users have no right to complain now.

The first few points are completely accurate. The last one, that users have no right to complain, is flabbergasting. (Yes, as someone who worked in software marketing for years, my gasts are literally flabbered.)

Certainly there's a segment of the user base that is outrageously entitled. There are those who believe that they shouldn't have to pay for software, even though they themselves get paid for their work, or who run beta operating systems or jailbreak and then leave negative reviews for apps they themselves broke, or that once they buy one version of an app, they're forever owed all future versions, for free. All of which is nonsense.

However, there's also a segment of the developer community that's just as outrageously entitled. That believe their success is detached from their user base. That they can act anyway they like, and that any negative reaction by their user base should be dismissed at best, attacked at worst. All of which is also nonsense.

Both beliefs do a disservice to the developer-user relationship, a relationship that can be powerfully beneficial for all parties involved.

There's a middle ground here. We can be thrilled for the Sparrow team's success and thrilled for Google for acquiring their talent. We can look forward to everything they'll bring us in the future. But we can also mourn for Sparrow,for an app we enjoyed and recommended highly, that we made part of our workflow and may soon need to replace, that now has no future.

A developer is no more obliged to keep updating an app in perpetuity, for any reason, than a user is obliged to purchase every update a developer ever releases, forever. Apple can stop making iWork and I can stop buying iWork updates. Adobe can stop making Photoshop and I can stop buying Photoshop updates.

If something happens beyond a developer's control, however, and they can no longer sell their app -- if it's rejected or removed from the App Store, if an API they depend on is threatened or denied them, if they're copied by the platform owner - they have every right to be pissed, or sad, or to complain about it. (Just look at the complaints about sandboxing and Twitter uncertainty) -- all well justified.)

And by the same token, if something happens beyond a user's control, and a they can no longer buy an app -- if it's removed from sale due to litigation, if it's discontinued, if an intermediary like Apple refuses to sell it -- they have just as much right to be pissed, sad, and complain.

A passionate customer base should be humbly nurtured, never taken for granted, or worse, arrogantly dismissed. If you're a developer, understanding that can be the difference between amazing customer relationship wins and detrimental public relations gaffs.

The reaction to Sparrow is no different than than the reaction to Tweetie being replaced by the new Twitter for iPhone. It's no different than the reaction to Firefly being canceled.

Humans become invested in what we enjoy. We feel connected to it. We share pride in its successes and take issue with its failures. The benefit to those who develop or produce such things is enormous -- continued revenue, powerful word-of-mouth advertising, popularity, and support.

Our passion for products is infectious -- we tell our friends, our families, and our colleagues, and we spread word on Twitter, Facebook, forums, and more. We recommend what we love and we feel responsible for what we recommend.

And the flip side of that passion, the reaction to it being lost, the price paid when it is taken away, is that we voice our displeasure just as loudly, in just as many mediums. We mourn. And then we move on.

If you break up any relationship out of the blue, own it. Anticipate the reaction. Plan for it and handle it with grace and respect. The Sparrow team did just that. They sympathize, thanked, acknowledge, and used the opportunity to build even stronger support for the future.

But whatever you do, don't ever tell users -- customers -- that they don't have the right to complain, because then you're turning them into opponents. And how much opportunity does that future hold?

Response to: Matt Gemmell

Probably like many of you, I received my new Google Privacy Policy via email this week, and while couched in language about creating a more "beautiful" experience for us, the users -- read: products -- it's also clearly about Google leveraging their popular services like Search and Gmail to help their new services, like Google+, become competitive with Facebook and Twitter.

Because Facebook and Twitter scare the shit out of Google and when companies, like people, are scared they do dumb things.

Google in particular, once the brash, brazen upstart that gave the proverbial middle finger to old, portal-style search sites and promised to always deliver the best results, not just the best Google-owned results, is struggling with their inner demons now. They don't want to be replaced by social search the way their authoritative search replaced Yahoo! and Alta Vistas of old.

I've riffed before that any company sufficiently large is indistinguishable from evil. As they grow, as they face competitive pressures, the interests and agendas of their shareholders, stakeholders, and executives increasingly and more noticeably diverge from the interests of their users. From us.

They, like many of us, become the parents they used to despise.

Why does this matter to me and why am I posting it on iMore, an iPhone and iPad focused site? Because I'm a huge user of Google services and iPhone and iPad users in general are huge users of Google's services. We use Google Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and other services every day. We give Google massive amounts of personal information. We give them our trust. And that absolutely means we have both the right and obligation to hold them to that trust.

According to Sarah Lacey at PandoDaily, Google's new, "don't be don't be evil" direction has become a concern even for many Googlers past and present, and the silence surrounding it is stymying even internal PR.

Good. This shouldn't be easy. It should be messy and public and painful, and if Google wants to keep getting and using our data, they should keep earning that privilege.

Hopefully the rumors of Larry Page not wanting to hear any opposition to their new Google+ strategy are false, and like Apple and Facebook have sometimes done in the past, Google's more unpopular new policies will be reversed, and soon.

Check the source link below for more on the issues surrounding Google's new, more publicly evil direction, and read on for the new privacy policy in full.

More: Page Rage Escalates As Google Cancels Twitter Android Meeting

Dear Google user,

We're getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.

We believe this stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/policies. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.

One policy, one Google experience

Our new policy reflects a single product experience that does what you need, when you want it to. Whether you're reading an email that reminds you to schedule a family get-together or finding a favorite video that you want to share, we want to ensure you can move across Gmail, Calendar, Search, YouTube, or whatever your life calls for with ease.

If you're signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests you've expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We'll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you're searching for and get you those results faster.

When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.

Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, through products like Google Dashboard and Ads Preferences Manager, alongside other tools. Our privacy principles remain unchanged. And we'll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests).

Got questions?

Visit our FAQ at http://www.google.com/policies/faq to read more about the changes. (We figured our users might have a question or twenty-two.)

March 1, 2012 is when the new Privacy Policy and Terms will come into effect. If you choose to keep using Google once the change occurs, you will be doing so under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Please do not reply to this email. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. Also, never enter your Google Account password after following a link in an email or chat to an untrusted site. Instead, go directly to the site, such as mail.google.com or www.google.com/accounts. Google will never email you to ask for your password or other sensitive information.

Google has updated its web app for Gmail with the inclusion of pull down to refresh, new transitions and updated icons to take advantage of the Retina display of the iPhone 4.

• You can now pull down to refresh your message list and conversation on all iOS devices. To refresh, simply touch the message list, drag downwards and release.
• For those of you using Gmail for mobile on an iPhone 4 Retina display, the icons and graphics are now at a higher resolution, making Gmail for mobile sharper.
• When you tap on a conversation, tap back to the inbox, go to the menu or go back, the view will slide left or right. This new transition animation is a quick, small indication that makes the view change feel smoother.

If you do use the Gmail web app for your mail, make sure to take a look at the new features. I personally never use the Web app and have all my mail pushed using Gmail and its Exchange Server functionality.

[The Official Gmail Blog]

Gmail may only be the 3rd most popular email service on the planet (behind Yahoo! and Hotmail) but it ranks first in the hearts of geeks everywhere and can be used in a variety of ways on the iPhone:

• IMAP (or POP if you're really old school) right from the iPhone Mail app. With its prominent place, and huge button, on the Account Setup page, it's a default for many users. While it (still!) doesn't support IMAP-IDLE push, plain old IMAP will keep all your accounts in sync, even if Google's implementation is eccentric to say the least. (Labels mapping to multiple folders, simultaneous connection limitations, etc.)
• GoogleSync right from the iPhone Mail app. It licenses ActiveSync from Microsoft and fills up your lone Exchange slot on the iPhone but it does provide push if that's what you need (even if it's been a tad error prone).
• Gmail Web App from Mobile Safari. It supports all the Gmail goodness like labels and stars and thanks to HTML5 it even has local storage and an almost native app-like feeling to it, even if it's not a snappy as the real thing.
• As a spam-filter for another email account. May sound strange, but some people merely forward their Gmail to a different IMAP or webmail account, using Google's excellent spam filtration but wanting a different service or front end for the actual mail.

Of course, some not doubt wish there was better built-in support for the unique Gmail attributes within iPhone mail, or a separate Gmail app like on Android, but given Apple's App Store policies we don't see that coming any time soon. So, given the choices above, how are you using Gmail on your iPhone? And if you have any pro-level or ninja tips for iPhone Gmail, let us know!