It looks like search engine giant Google intends to make its Gmail app a one-stop email shop, starting with Android devices. The company has upgraded its app to allow users to see mail even from non-Gmail accounts.
On March 30, Software Engineer Régis Décamps, made an announcement on the Gmail Blog that the latest improvements to the Gmail app for Android will make managing all mail from different accounts, such as Yahoo and @outlook, an easily accomplished task while you are on the go.
Gmail app can be used as a standalone application not only on Android, but also on iOS devices among others. It has also improved aesthetically from a black and white looking app to a more colorful experience on Android phones.
Quick, Practical, Colorful
TheFuseJoplin noted that the compose button is red, whereas other colors are used in other functions as well. The Gmail app is designed to extremely functional, offering instant search and support to several accounts via a simple interface. And while there is no calendar integration, it is integrated with Google Drive, making it easy to add an attachment from the Drive itself.
Uncomplicated And User Friendly
With all the basic features in place, the app for the Android device remains straight forward. The Inbox is the default view will show you the messages along with the sender's name and the subject line. Unread messages will appear in bold until read. There is a timestamp for mail delivered on the current day, with a date provided for older ones.
In addition, it shows the related labels in the preview list. Threads are displayed in a conventional way. If a profile picture has been uploaded, it will show up along with the contact's name; otherwise, users will see a circle with the initials of the person in different colors.
Swiping Action
Users can archive mail simply by swiping to the left or to the right. If a message is archived by mistake, there is an Undo button that appears for a few seconds after the action. Also, there is a menu on the left side that is collapsible. It enables users to go to another account, as the app supports various accounts with any other webmail.
Other Settings
For accessing help or for feedback, settings can be found at the bottom, along with a link. The settings offer options for a vacation responder feature, customizing your signature and turning on the notifications. The search feature can sweep the entire mailbox and not just the current open folder, like the Inbox.
Material Design
The design concept is unified and enhances the artistic taste of the app along with usability. Users can compose new mail without a hitch and easily switch between the personal, the social and the promotional tabs, along with easily switching from one account to another. Moreover, the speed and responsiveness of the interface is exceptional. The push notification enables users to quickly read or respond to a conversation, search an email and so on.
Out Of Office
Termed as a message for out of office, the Vacation Responder is very useful for setting up a default email response in case you are on vacation on those dates. The features are extremely useful on a mobile phone.
Basically, the Google Mail app for Android devices is a straightforward application and an excellent app that sports a very simple user interface.
