For two hours this afternoon, if you were quick on the draw you could download the official Gmail app for iOS. Of course, if you didn't get to install the app you really didn't miss much. Google pulled the app because of "a bug with notifications," but there's plenty about the app that isn't working properly. The app is basically just the Gmail web app with a wrapper around it and offline functionality, though it does have some nice tweaks like a left-side drawer that slides out to show labels and an easy way to attach photos from your camera roll. Of course, the bugs handily outnumber the features — you can't save an attachment from the app itself, it's often unresponsive, and the app doesn't yet index your device's address book. The app is native for iPad and iPhone / iPod touch, and we're hoping the two hours of terrible feedback the app got will help Google get the re-release right. (That, or we'll just wait for Sparrow's iOS app.)
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Comments
Wish I had this :(
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 6:57 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
No you don’t
BAZINGA!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:52 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wow, you incorporated reader comments into the video review! Very nice!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:01 PM EDT reply Recommend (40) Flag actions
LOVE! the addition of user comments in this video!
Great way to give the community some props and use community feedback in a valuable way!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:03 PM EDT reply Recommend (14) Flag actions
+1. And I love this StoryStream feature. It’s very intuitive. (And cool-looking..)
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:37 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Seriously I don’t think this site can get any better, crazily enough I know it will.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:06 PM EDT reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
Totally. The videos on are blowing my mind!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:07 PM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
I agree with you all.
Recommends all around!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:12 PM EDT reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Yeah, the comments in the video are awesome. This whole site is really, really well done.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:40 PM EDT reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
The quality of videos on this site is amazing. The added comments make it even better.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:22 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Love the addition as well. Very slick. I was also very disappointed with the app, I even put my original mail app in a folder but now it must come back out :(
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:30 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
how did they do that? is it live?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
No offence, but I don’t want to see your or any else’s comments in videos. I want to see the video. There doesn’t seem to be any way to turn them off either, which is somewhat souring my impression of the Verge.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:15 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Cannot wait to get the Android ICS edition of Gmail.
The swipe action looks nice though. Is it part of the ICS version?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:02 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Been using a (admittely buggy) ICS beta version, with enough meat to be a daily driver, but for my work needs wouldn’t cut it. Having said that, the gmail app in ICS is miles ahead the actual Gingerbread app. Even the generic Email app got a lot of love too (including pinch to zoom in HTML emails, a first in Android stock).
Sadly, on the gmail app I tried, the pinch wasn’t there. Altho if you’re a gmail abuser like me, the ICS version will fulfill your needs completely. Simpler, faster, gesture-based simplicity. ‘Me Gusta’
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Issues with the video player in full screen mode on Mac OS X 10.6.8, using the latest stable version of Chrome.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think it’s because it’s HTML5. Youtube HTML5 full screen mode is bad compared to the flash version as well.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:05 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
HTML5 sadly does not do complete full screen yet. The closest you can get is clicking the “fullscreen” button and making the window full-screen.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I understand the Gmail experience will always be better on Android, but this release was terrible.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:03 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
If I have two gmail accounts, can I make it so I’m viewing both of the accounts mail at once like I can with the iPhone mail app?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:04 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
seriously? you’re asking for multiple account support? have you read the article or the comments or seen the video?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:21 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The best part about this video may be The Verge app sitting on the dock.
Also, great style using user comments. I love this site.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:07 PM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
That was the first thing I noticed when I watched the video. I want it on my iPhone!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:05 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
They probably have an app in the works, but you can get the icon by creating a safari home screen shortcut and it will look like that.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:42 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Yea I noticed that too. They should make an app and if they don’t I’m gonna be pissed. iPad first, than iPhone than everything else app.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
So why the review of a free app that anyone can download (at least before it was pulled)? Getting reviews of new gadgets is valuable, so we don’t have to pay for them, but a free app? Isn’t it easier just to download it and check it out?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:09 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think the video was great. I downloaded the app but had not done much with it yet since the app was pulled. This video showed me that I didn’t miss anything.
Also, the quality of the videos on this site are great. I would probably even watch a Verge video about a bada app.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
its funny how even in the end, david says “web app.”
google really needs to start making quality apps on the iphone, especially the google+ app.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:11 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
While I’m sure Google isn’t intentionally alienating iOS customers, it’s clear that iOS customers aren’t it’s main focus.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:16 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Last words of the video: “And that’s the GMail web app.” haha
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:41 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
what was the first app to have this slider thing… the first time i used it was the new facebook app… is there others, its kinda nice and ipad like
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think it was the Facebook app. I really like the feature too.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:12 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It was actually Twitter for iPhone (originally named Tweetie)
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:17 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
EDIT: Nevermind. Didn’t realize you meant the slider on the side, not the pull to refresh. Though I think Twitter for iPad had it first.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
True, but both Facebook and Gmail look a bit different from how Twitter did it (like hiding it by default). Nevertheless, I’m pro giving Twitter credit for things over Facebook, so Twitter!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:20 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah, it’s definitely the Facebook app. It’s an interesting UI, but with these big names using it, wouldn’t be surprised to see it elsewhere very soon,
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:20 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Isn’t it just a web view in a “native” app?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:12 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s what it seems to be, which is unfortunate. I’m glad there will be offline support, but I would have loved a truly native experience. Google really needs to stop devaluing their iOS offerings.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thats sad to hear, I was excited to use it..
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:16 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The “native” Gmail app for iOS is really a half arsed attempt by Google, they should have at least tested this internally before putting it out there. I have to think Apple approved it knowing it would embarrass Google because that issue right from starting it up before logging in would make it ripe for disapproval right? I think the best hope will be a Sparrow iOS app for Gmail users and not this garbage.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:17 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Incorporating reader comments in the video is a great touch! The attention to detail on The Verge is astounding, it’s hard to believe this just launched.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You know, after seeing it in action, I do have to say that Googles UI on the iPhone is better than the UI on Android.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:20 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Agreed. I looks way nicer than Gmail for Android.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:29 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Everyone seems to be complaining how slow the app is. But if it’s faster than the web version, why would you complain? I would say it’s defiantly worthwhile.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:23 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Just FYI, I haven’t been able to get any of the videos to play on The Verge so far. I’m in Ubuntu if that matters.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:24 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re missing out.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Was excited to get it but missed out seeing as it was around 3AM in Australia. Sounds like I’m not missing out on much, but I’d always wanted a Gmail iOS App with labels and stars
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:25 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wow the Verge comments are slick. Only problem is they get in the way sometimes.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:25 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re missing out
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The comments stream on the video is somewhat distracting at the current size, but I LIKE it!
I want that slide out feature for my Android Gmail app too. =(
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:25 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I also hope that next time they find comments that are negative and comments that are positive. This video made Google look unreasonably bad.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:28 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
are the drop-down menus working for you guys fine? the bloody things jump down and cover the play button in the middle of the video player… i have to press the other play button on the lower left-hand corner. This site is buggy as heck.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I hope Google bounces back and re-releases soon sans-bugs. I was happy to see that they improved Google Voice considerably in the last update. Its actually usable now.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
And I don’t know why the videos here on The Verge are being flagged/blocked as for Adult/Pornographic by our company’s web security tool. I didn’t have any problems playing the video reviews in TIMN. Well, got to work, will just check the videos when I get home.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
wow…your workplace must be runned by Mormons lol
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:29 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
nope. they just want us to really work, instead of watching video reviews. makes sense though.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:30 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Uhg… the comments going across the video…. although it was a cool idea it is actually quite annoying and distracting.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:31 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
yup it takes up way too much space
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Am I the only one that’s dying to get that Wallpaper ? :P:P
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vladsavov/6291108384/ BOOM.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:33 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Thankkkkk Youuuuuu !!!!!!!!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:29 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I have it too, it works great. The only bug I see so far is only the notification system. It should be easy to fix.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:35 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m not very impressed. Not that that was the goal or anything but I’m not. I can kinda dig the drawer they added. Maybe they’ll incorporate that into the Android GMail app!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:35 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
When I see 3 The Verge logos at the beginning of the video, the words ‘over-marketing’ come to mind.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:38 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
well, at least iOS+ Gmail user are seeing the hope we’ve been craving.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s some bulgy shit. Yes I just neologised there.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 7:51 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I was wondering where this went when I couldn’t find it in the app store after hearing it was released. That bad, huh? Hopefully Sparrow will be good!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m not surprised at some of the deficiencies of the app (bugs aside) because Google wants all of us to use Android. The Google Voice app pales in comparison to the GV Mobile + app. What surprises me more is that no one else has made an app better than this already.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:09 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I still have the app loaded on my iPhone.. It seems to work good for me. Other than the notifications not working properly. I am also starting to hate that Apple wont let me delete there apps I hate tucking them away in another folder.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:29 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
For whatever it’s worth, this magical HTML5 video, while beautifully shot refuses to play cleanly on my 2011 refresh i7 Macbook Air in the latest versions of firefox, safari, chrome canary, or regular chrome. And I’m on a 21.1 MBPS downstream (just checked) university wireless connection. If you verge masters can fix this the site might just be perfect .
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I would like to have an alternative email client for iOS. Sadly, that just isn’t in the cards right now, it seems.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I like the ability to attach photos like in a real email instead of having to go into Photos first with built-in client. Once bugs are fixed, it may be usable, though I still think iOS mail client seems faster to use day to day.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Installed the app to my iPad 2 the moment it came out. I was immediately greeted with an error message on first launch. Removed it less than a minute after. It’s just the mobile site with a custom but buggy wrapper.
Google did the right thing pulling the app because it felt like an alpha app.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 8:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Gmail. Web app. I mean honestly. Those two things don’t work well together. Gmail is a great service and system… but the web app just doesn’t hold itself to those same standards.
We took it because we had to in Safari, Google. But we won’t willfully use it in a native app setting…
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Forget that garbage… I’m waiting for Sparrow. The mac app is EXCELLENT and I wouldn’t expect the iOS version to be any different.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What I’m wondering is if Google actually tested the app on an actual phone. The app errors out as soon as it’s opened. Wouldn’t you catch that after testing the app the first time? I’m sure someone has an iPhone lying around.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:12 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I flat out don’t get the point of this. I really don’t.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I managed to get it and I love it. Bugs didn’t effect me at all.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
My position will not be a popular position but I blame Apple.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thanks for using my comment around 1:14, typos and all!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 9:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Good idea. Bad approach.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:04 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Love the user comments in the video! Oh and yes, Google still hasn’t learned to make a good native app for any device really.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
User comments in the video? Really?! Just when I thought I couldn’t love the Verge more. I so heart you guys.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Video = awesome. App = Unbelievably lame.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
wow. this site is amazing. i was just wondering if anyone had done a review of the app before and got pulled. boom. here it is.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Missed it hopefully it’s back in the app store tomorrow.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 10:45 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
As an ex iphone user, im glad i switched to android. Where i can actually send attachments from my phone and save any type of attachment to my phone, zips, pictures, docs, anything. Its sad to see iphone users so walled off from the internet
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:00 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Your last sentence comes off as patronizing and I don’t think most iPhone users feel as sad about it as you do for them, but there are solutions that mitigate these limitations of iOS.
GoodReader, for example, allows you to save attachments from emails to your phone using the ‘Open in’ dialogue. It also allows you to compose an email with any attachment. It may have been originally conceived as a PDF reader, but it does a great job as traditional file system.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:22 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I use Fileapp to do all these things. Add dropbox, and i’m golden
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:26 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The quality of this video is amazing!
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:09 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wow what a complete joke. As a iOS user that has waiting for a native gmail app on the iPhone since 2007 this app is a slap in the face. Not like it really m atters because even if it did work very well there would be no way to interact with it from other apps like we do now.
I wish google would just concentrate on fixing google sync for iPhone. Giving users the option of delete to trash and make so contacts don’t downgrade to thumbnails when syncing through google sync.
Google stop wasting our time.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Google likes slapping iOS users in the face. They hope they can slap you all the way to the Android platform
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:43 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What about multiple accounts? I want to be able to switch between by Gmail account and a few Google Apps account. Does the app support that?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Was able to download.. Didn’t find it impressive.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:20 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Why does Google have such a hard time developing stuff for iOS? Do they burst into flames while working on it, does there skin start to burn, or do all of there insides boil and they explode?
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Seesms that Facebook do as well. The FB app is the only one I have that regularly crashes.
My tinfoil hat alter-ego suggests a conspiracy to make iOS look bad
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:48 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Especially when that app is essentially just a wrapper for safari to display their existing mobile web mail…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:15 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t see a reason to get the app. Love the comments most are quite funny especially the guy who said he died a little inside after opening the app.
Posted on Nov 02, 2011 | 11:56 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t want to review the (crap) app, just the video: Incorporating comments? Wow, thats fantastic! Way to go Verge team.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:24 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t use Google mail and never will but a friend who does showed me this on his iPad.
WTF Google? and WTF Apple?
This plain doesn’t work.
I can only think Google put out this crap to make iOS dvices look bad and Apple only approved it because they didn’t want to be accused of being anti-competitive.
It is just terrible.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:41 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Google: How can we make Apple look bad? – I know, we’ll create an app so buggy that Apple will deny it from the App Store, and everyone will go crazy about how draconian they are!
Apple: Meh, let Google make themselves look bad.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:00 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Google doesn’t WANT to give a good experience to iOS users, because the great gmail app on Android is something that sets it apart. Why would google ruin that?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:42 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Simple. Numbers.
The more users they get, te more ad revenue they get and, when it comes down to it, they don’t give a damn if it’s Android or iOS as long as they are getting their information from you.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Why are comments run as a lower third in the video? It’s very distracting.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:49 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
To be honest doesn’t really faze me, the standard iOS email client works well enough for me. Checking emails works well on phones, but for anything i need to reply or do anything with, jump on a computer.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:53 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It took them this long to create a UIWebView wrapper around to display web mail, with the only real addition of push and it still has all these bugs? Really? Creating a UIWebView wrapper is fairly trivial – should have taken them all of two hours to do since they already have the web mail working in Safari. Google is the new Microsoft (who was the new IBM). Following the main sequence all the way. Startup aggressively innovating to significant growth to market leader to big bloated company that coasts on their success and leverages their position as much as possible to stay in top while failing to innovate.
This makes me sad.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:14 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I guess I’m the only person in the world who thinks that this app fills a niche. I downloaded it, and used it this morning (dismissing the annoying error message first, of course). The fact is, mail.app is serviceable for Gmail, but just barely. Searching is crap, you can’t assign multiple labels, you can’t star messages, you can’t use Priority Inbox. Yes, the app is basically a wrapper around the web app, but it does add some functionality, including access to the phone’s contact list and a way to add photos to a message that even mail.app doesn’t provide.
I wish the app were better, but it’s not unusable.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:49 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t need gmail improvement. Gmail is personal email for me, so getting rid of spam is the #1 issue. I would love to see some more exchange/Outlook features implemented in ios. Microsoft: your move.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:44 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
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