NEW DELHI: Google completed the rollout of the new Gmail app to iPhone and Android
users on Thursday, nearly two days after it had started the process.
The new app is part of the company's efforts to bring segregated inboxes
to Gmail. It follows the tabbed inbox that Google had introduced on the
regular Gmail on the web a few days ago.
The new Gmail on phones is a major change from the earlier app and users will have to learn a few new tricks to deal with as efficiently as they dealt with the old Gmail.
The biggest change with the new Gmail app is the introduction of menu that slides out. The swipe from left edge to right brings up a panel that shows the labels and new inboxes. (Or you can tap the Gmail logo on the top of the app screen for the same effect). It's classic Holo UI, which Google wants developers to use on Android devices. Earlier these labels were accessed via a click on the Labels button on the bottom of the app. The inboxes are organized according to the tabs that you have set in the new Gmail on the web. If you haven't set any tabs, then you will see the normal inbox and the priority inbox. By clicking on separate tabs you can switch between your primary and social inboxes.
The second big change is that the app is more colourful now. It displays a picture of the sender (if the person has a picture in his or her Google profile) in front of each mail. If no picture is available then the first alphabet of the sender's name is displayed in a colourful box. Some people may like the more colourful nature of the app but others may find it distracting. Users can tap on the picture (or the coloured box) to select the mail for further actions. This is a bit confusing and in the beginning you may struggle with it. The older way to select a mail by clicking on the empty checkbox was more intuitive.
The most controversial change, however, is the relocation of buttons that allow a user to delete mails, mark them as unread and search the mailbox. These buttons have been moved to the top of the app. In the older app, they were at the bottom. Given the most Android phones nowadays have a screen size of nearly 5 inches, reaching these buttons when you are using the device with single hand is likely to be a problem. This may create usability issues.
Google has also removed refresh button from the mail. Instead, it has implemented the "pull-to-refresh" found on various apps (most common example is the official Twitter app). However, at least on Android, the feature has been implemented in a haphazard manner. When you pull down the list of mails and release them to refresh the inbox, there is no bounce-back or rubber-band effect. This is very confusing and unintuitive.
The reaction to the new app has been mixed. While some people liked the app, and the way it allows them to sort their emails under various tabs, a few others hit out at the changes.
The biggest change with the new Gmail app is the introduction of menu that slides out. The swipe from left edge to right brings up a panel that shows the labels and new inboxes. (Or you can tap the Gmail logo on the top of the app screen for the same effect). It's classic Holo UI, which Google wants developers to use on Android devices. Earlier these labels were accessed via a click on the Labels button on the bottom of the app. The inboxes are organized according to the tabs that you have set in the new Gmail on the web. If you haven't set any tabs, then you will see the normal inbox and the priority inbox. By clicking on separate tabs you can switch between your primary and social inboxes.
The second big change is that the app is more colourful now. It displays a picture of the sender (if the person has a picture in his or her Google profile) in front of each mail. If no picture is available then the first alphabet of the sender's name is displayed in a colourful box. Some people may like the more colourful nature of the app but others may find it distracting. Users can tap on the picture (or the coloured box) to select the mail for further actions. This is a bit confusing and in the beginning you may struggle with it. The older way to select a mail by clicking on the empty checkbox was more intuitive.
The most controversial change, however, is the relocation of buttons that allow a user to delete mails, mark them as unread and search the mailbox. These buttons have been moved to the top of the app. In the older app, they were at the bottom. Given the most Android phones nowadays have a screen size of nearly 5 inches, reaching these buttons when you are using the device with single hand is likely to be a problem. This may create usability issues.
Google has also removed refresh button from the mail. Instead, it has implemented the "pull-to-refresh" found on various apps (most common example is the official Twitter app). However, at least on Android, the feature has been implemented in a haphazard manner. When you pull down the list of mails and release them to refresh the inbox, there is no bounce-back or rubber-band effect. This is very confusing and unintuitive.
The reaction to the new app has been mixed. While some people liked the app, and the way it allows them to sort their emails under various tabs, a few others hit out at the changes.
Raju PP, a blogger who runs a tech website called techpp.com, said that
he liked the new app. "It looks pretty and smart labels (tabs) are
helpful," he said "I also love the swipe to delete or archive." But he
added that "I don't like the buttons going on top." Vikas SN, a media
professional, too disliked the relocation of buttons.
Sathya Bhat, an IT professional liked the app. "With the new update, the tabbed approach on Gmail web simplifies it and make it better. The android update also mimics the Gmail features on the web, allowing for the easy access to these categorized mail," he said.
Mitzi D'Silva, a marketing graduate, was not impressed with the colourful boxes in front of the mails. "I think the boxes next to the each email with random colours stating the first letter of the sender is unnecessary. I found the previous version to be more practical; e.g. it was easier to delete an email. The little boxes that you could select (which would then get a tick on them) on the previous version was much faster especially when you wanted delete a handful of emails at the same time," she said.
Reaction from Gmail users on social media sites was similar. Sarah Williams, who tweets with account on @sawcat, said on Twitter, "Dear Gmail the new Android app is not an improvement. You took away features to add giant colour letters?"
Matan Uberstein who tweets from @matanube liked the app. "I'm loving the new Gmail app interface, was a pleasant surprise when I checked my mail this morning," he wrote.
SOURCE : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/services-apps/39787379_1_new-app-android-devices-google-profile
Sathya Bhat, an IT professional liked the app. "With the new update, the tabbed approach on Gmail web simplifies it and make it better. The android update also mimics the Gmail features on the web, allowing for the easy access to these categorized mail," he said.
Mitzi D'Silva, a marketing graduate, was not impressed with the colourful boxes in front of the mails. "I think the boxes next to the each email with random colours stating the first letter of the sender is unnecessary. I found the previous version to be more practical; e.g. it was easier to delete an email. The little boxes that you could select (which would then get a tick on them) on the previous version was much faster especially when you wanted delete a handful of emails at the same time," she said.
Reaction from Gmail users on social media sites was similar. Sarah Williams, who tweets with account on @sawcat, said on Twitter, "Dear Gmail the new Android app is not an improvement. You took away features to add giant colour letters?"
Matan Uberstein who tweets from @matanube liked the app. "I'm loving the new Gmail app interface, was a pleasant surprise when I checked my mail this morning," he wrote.
SOURCE : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/services-apps/39787379_1_new-app-android-devices-google-profile
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