New Delhi: The new redesigned Gmail 5.0 is finally here and it now features auto-updating email threads, support for non-Gmail.
With version 5.0, Gmail for Android becomes a full-fledged general-purpose email client which also means that you'll no longer need to use two separate apps to access your email. Certainly, incorporating access to other accounts would improve the effectiveness and popularity of Gmail's mobile app.
In this new app, Google is offering a retooled navigation interface and the material design that Google has developed for Android apps meaning you will see much more color (i.e. red) in the interface than before. This also means the app will fit in perfectly on Android Lollipop. The mailbox pane, for instance, lives in a restyled slide-out “drawer,” and the message viewer has a new, cleaner look.
In terms of navigational improvements, the updated app features a new compose button, located in the lower right of the screen, in addition to a reply button at the bottom.
The app supports Microsoft Exchange, as well as POP and IMAP email accounts (think Yahoo Mail, iCloud, email from your ISP), so you no longer have to use two different apps to check all your email.
Gmail 5.0 will be available for devices running on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above, but Android Lollipop users will get an additional feature allowing them to hide sensitive lockscreen notifications.
Though Gmail version 5 is far from reinvention, the update seems to be a good move which could potentially save you time in accepting other account types.
