(you can follow the author on twitter: twitter.com/benjezzy)
Most people using Gmail have set Nokia Messaging to access their account since the built in email software is just plain horrible: not only is it slow & doesn’t always update on time, it has no html support and no kinetic scrolling- or scrolling whatsoever while the UI is just ….primitive. It just isn’t reliable on a day-to-day basis.
The Nokia Messaging software is a step forward, its good but not “wow!”. I’m sure we all have been subject to Nokia Messaging’s shortages, where our emails were just not pushed through anymore, for as long as several days at a time. NM has promised to fixes all these bugs and add kinetic scrolling in their next update.
All of the above was to simply introduce the new Gmail application. Its a java application, which explains why it has a very pixelated icon
Seeing as I’m in a good mood, I did some research and found the same application with a modified (read bigger and better) icon.
You can see here the difference:
The software itself will start up in, what I call, “Nokia Java Compatibility Mode”, which means that navigation keys will be added in on the screen, resulting in less screen space for the program itself. This mode is supposedly helpful for most applications that only input keyboard strokes and not screen strokes. Let’s also not forget that Nokia 5800 users do not have a physical keyboard, hence greatly limiting their input options.
I will soon soon make a post on how to disable this “Nokia Java Compatibility Mode”, till then I’ll give you a quick rundown:
-install the icon-modified version.
- go to “Settings”, then “Application mgr, then “Installed apps”.
-find the program called “Gmail”.
-Click on “options” then on “Suite settings”.
-Now you can customise the settings as you like or just mimic mine
(make sure the “On-screen keyboard” field has the value “No”).
That’s how to get your new Gmail application full screen will look like:
This is the “Compose section”:
As you can see, all of the screen is used. It has a clean, simple interface.
You have the option of adding CCs and BCCs if needed. You can also save your draft for futur sending.
Options from the main screen:
You can access your “Outbox”, “Drafts”(the ones made on the phone) and your Gmail Contacts!
Most of GMail’s basic features are available, “Mark as Read”, “Add star”, “Report Spam”
Useful feature: You can manage more than 1 Gmail account
Contact layout example:
All the details found on the desktop version will be available here too.
Search menu:
This is the result of a search with the keyword “Twitter”, as seen on the title bar….
Settings menu:
A little tweaking never hurts….
This is what it looks like with a large font
Pros:
- Clean, easy to use, fullscreen interface
- Ability to manage more than 1 Gmail account
- Contacts, filters and groups are available to use
Cons:
- No notification of new emails
- No homescreen widgets
- No filters
Conclusion: Great alternative to the bundled apllications, if Google can find a way to implement a homescreen widget and add notifications, they will have a winner. Maybe they could add themes, like in Opera mini?
Download HERE (with modified icon)
or alternatively, check out HERE for the version with the original icon
If you have any questions or comments, please post them in the comments section below. Alternatively, post them on twitter at twitter.com/benjezzy
Related Articles:
- Get Gmail, Hotmail, Facebook Messages, Corporate Email, etc. On Your Nokia N97 With Emoze
- Email On The N97 Part 1: Nokia Messaging
- N97 Facebook Application: Video Demonstration
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