Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Aside of the fact that the app displayed an error message at first launch ("Notification error" - "no valid 'aps-environment' entitlement string found for application" - how did this pass review?), it a) doesn't support multiple accounts, b) is very laggy to use when you compare this to, say, the android version and c) feels like another one of these "let's embed the website above a little native toolbar"-apps

Because Safari gets to JIT-compile JavaScript and UIWebView embedded into apps can't, this actually feels slower than the website (~0.5 seconds between clicking on a message and seeing it load? really?)

I really think I'll move back to using their Exchange-Sync for push together with the standard web shortcut for mail management as this is faster and supports multiple accounts.

(edit) On a related note: Doing these "let's add a native toolbar to my website and publish this in the AppStore"-apps feels nearly as stupid as when everybody felt the need to add flash intros to their website. There's next to no additional value (especially with the currently broken push) provided by such a half-assed pseudo-native app.

This does nothing but hurt both native development (by leaving a bad impression on what's possible with native apps) and the open web (by making people believe that a website is not good enough)

Re: Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

#6

Post by scottschulthess » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 4:46 PM UTC

I don't see it in the app store, unfortunately.

Edit: for me, the only way to get it is to download in iTunes and then sync

Re: Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

#7

Post by doomie » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 4:49 PM UTC

Incredibly, this app is slower than using their mobile website. Nicely done!

Re: Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

#8

Post by phoboslab » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 4:49 PM UTC

Apparently not available in Germany.

The AppStore search function only finds third party apps and the AppStore link from the blog post opens the AppStore and shows the unhelpful error message "Your request could not be completed".

Re: Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

#9

Post by coob » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 4:50 PM UTC

pilif wrote: post #5

Aside of the fact that the app displayed an error message at first launch ("Notification error" - "no valid 'aps-environment' entitlement string found for application" - how did this pass review?), it a) doesn't support multiple accounts, b) is very laggy to use when you compare this to, say, the android version and c) feels like another one of these "let's embed the website above a little native toolbar"-apps Becaus…

> Because Safari gets to JIT-compile JavaScript and UIWebView embedded into apps can't

I'm not sure this is still the case in iOS5.

Re: Introducing the Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

#10

Post by cwilson » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 4:52 PM UTC

sidwyn wrote: post #2

Interesting how they decided to copy the sliding panels from Facebook for iPhone. I wonder if it will become a standard on iOS.

I've overheard lots of discussion from iOS developers lately on this becoming a new trend. As certain apps increase in complexity the old Facebook home screen style becomes much less scalable, and this new method seems to be the answer.

My guess is we'll see at least another half dozen popular apps take on this style as well.