: HOW TOUse GMail offline with Google Gears
Author: saquib khan |
18 June 2010 |
HOW TOUse GMail offline with Google Gears
Gmail
has introduced its latest Labs feature
called offline Gmail to enable e-mail access even when you are not
connected to the Internet.
While this might sound uber geeky, the
concept is simple enough when you actually use it. Oh, and the
“offline” mode is already available in a simpler form if you happen to
use Outlook or any other email client with Gmail POP access.
Gmail
uses its Google Gears open source
web application to enable the
“offline” mode. Currently, Google lists Firefox 2, 3, and the Internet
Explorer 7 in its list of supported browsers. Strangely, there is no
mention of Google’s own, the Chrome! However, it might be because Chrome
support is obvious.
Browse Gmail offline with Google Gears
Browse
Gmail offline with Google Gears
What it does
The feature,
which needs to be enabled from under the “Labs” option under “Settings,”
downloads e-mails onto your computer and allows access even when there
is no Internet connectivity. Users will be able to access most of their
emails, reply to them, and view starred and unread messages, just like
they do when Gmail is online. When you perform an action that needs web
access, Gmail will queue the action and will execute it as soon the
connection is restored. While it might not sound very exciting
initially, I, for once, can realize how useful this might turn out to
be. For many users, Gmail has become a data center, and I suspect that
there are many people out there who would want to have a look at their
mails and archives even when not connected to the Internet. The best
thing is that once this feature is installed, Gmail will be able to go
offline or online by detecting the network status, so you do not need to
switch on/off the Offline mode manually. There is also this “Flaky
Connection Mode” that detects a slow connection and uses the local cache
for accessing data, and only uses the server when Gmail needs web
access – like when hitting the send button.
Not all Gmail
features work, though, in the offline mode. What does work, however, are
the sending and replying to emails, searching your archives, and the
much-needed auto-complete function. You will not be able to add
attachments or add/manage contacts. However, most users will be able to
live with such minor inconveniences.
Issues
As expected of
a Labs feature, this application has been tested internally amongst
20,000 Google employees and has then been made available to the Labs.
Not all users may see this enabled in their accounts, but the feature
should be available to all in the coming days. As for the issues
noticed, I have not seen anything go wrong in the little time that I
have used this. However, CNET does report issues of the local cache
going out of sync, but most issues can be sorted out by disabling and
re-enabling the feature.
Related posts:
1. How to use
Google gears to access GMail offline
2. Add Your Location
Automatically to Your Gmail Signature
3. Google introduces
Video Chat in GMail
4. Google launches their new browser “Google
Chrome”
5. Invisible mode in Gmail
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