Playing with the Gmail Java app

I was checking out the Gmail Java app on my N73 today. I use the WAP version of Gmail quite a bit and really like it.

The UI is pretty slick (reminiscent of the Gmaps Java app – did you make this one, too, Gummi?). One thing that bugs me with the WAP version is that it’s hard to traverse a single conversation. It’s doable, but multi-step. In the Java app, messages are organized, similar to the way it is done in the desktop browser. Really nice.

The app also uses nifty long key presses as quick commands. But, it doesn’t look like they are using the same key presses as in the WAP version. Hey, Google, harmonize the menu key presses as much as you can.

One interaction I kinda expected was a left-right navigation through messages. Eh, they didn’t implement it. It is something that the Java app could do that the WAP version can’t. So, like the WAP version, you need to dip into individual messages and then pop back up to the main menu to go to the next message (there isn’t even a menu item to do it from within the menu).

Another thing I noticed is that by default, the app downloads unread messages. It really speeds up interaction, but, of course, can potentially waste data (i.e. money, for some). You can turn it off, though. And it really doesn’t look like the app uses more data than the WAP version when you take this into account.

Hmm, might this be also helpful as an offline mode? But, it’s not far off from the Google Maps Java app I used which used gobs of data. I think Google is ignoring data price at the moment. And why not?

One more thing I want to bring up is that when you open a link in the email, it still seems to go through the Google transcoder. Geez.

The last thing I want to comment on is: why a Java app for a smartphone?

Carlo at MobHappy doesn’t see much use on a smartphone with a fuller-featured client (see link below). Yeah, you miss some of the integration into contacts and sending. But, based on my experience setting Gmail up on my phone, it was way easier to use the Java app (I had no luck with POP and Gmail and gave up a long time ago).

Gmail is just catering to the whole range of users – those with browsers, those with Java, and those with fuller-featured POP clients. But, also, it’s a continuum of experience, simpler in the browser and more integrated on the smartphone POP client. The Java app fits in that continuum and fits well, providing a richer, if still not integrated, mobile email experience.

Well done, Google.

Link: Google Drops Gmail Mobile App at MobHappy

But it’s doubtful this is intended to replace the relatively full-featured email clients on smartphones, or push email apps, or be the best solution for heavy mobile email users. However, for featurephones, this looks pretty slick.