Google isn’t developing Gmail or anything else for Windows 8

A Google executive has confirmed that it will not develop any apps for Microsoft's Windows 8 platform.

Less than two months after the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft continues to bolster its app store for its brand new platform. However, one crucial company has already declared that it will not be on board. On Wednesday, Google announced that it doesn’t plan to develop any apps for Windows 8, including its widely popular email provider Gmail.

Due to lack of interest in the platform, Google is deciding to pass on creating applications for Microsoft’s new software. Clay Bavor, Google’s product management director for Google Apps, said that the search engine giant is “very careful” about where it invests its time and resources. As Slash Gear reports, Google said it only plans to go where the users are, and users “are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8.”

Although Google hasn’t expressed interest in developing for Windows 8 at the moment, the company could change its mind if its user base grows, Bavor said. Much of Google’s time and resources are put toward improving its existing Android and iOS products, and the company is expected to further that notion come 2013. Bavor said that the new year will mark a time when Google makes “big investments” in its mobile properties. Bavor also added that the company’s current apps are merely “first versions” of what’s to come.

While Windows 8 users will still be able to access Gmail and other Google apps through their Web browser, they will not get the same user experience that comes with a native application. Windows 8 sales haven’t been phenomenal thus far, as Microsoft analyst Paul Thurrott has written that some of his sources said the new OS isn’t hitting Redmond’s targets. According to the Windows aficionado, Microsoft is putting some blame on the OEMs for not delivering more inspiring hardware for its new platform.

Microsoft’s Surface tablet hasn’t exactly been flying off the shelves either. Earlier in December, brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton estimated that sales of the company’s first self-branded tablet would fall below one million units this quarter. Windows Phone 8 may be seeing the most positive reception of Microsoft’s recently launched platforms. Analysts predict that by 2016, Microsoft’s mobile platform will account for 11.4 percent of the mobile market - a major jump from its current 2.6 percent ownership in the market. This is a 71.3 percent increase, and the projected percentage only falls a few numbers below Apple’s iOS standings at 18.8 percent.

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Gmail 2.0 for iOS hands on: It’s not perfect, but it’s getting there

Gmail has finally made the jump to version 2.0 on iOS, much to the joy of users of the Google-made email service. A whole new look and some much-needed feature additions like multiple account support make this a worthy upgrade for most, though power users may find the navigation troublesome.

Google has been making it a point to show its apps some more love these days. After an update to Gmail on its native OS of Android, Google decided to give iOS users a gift of a major update to its mobile mail client. The previous versions of the app on Apple devices left a lot to be desired and led to a lot of third party solutions, one of the best of which being Sparrow, which is now owned by Google. After six months of reworking its in-house offering, it’s clear Google made something worth using – as long as you don’t compare it to it’s Android equivalent.

After getting the update to the new look Gmail app, the first thing users will notice is an entire redesign to the interface. The previous theme of Gmail included dark colors and somewhat boring, rounded corners, and so-so fonts. Now bright colors, crisp texts, and sharp boxes. Even pulling down the menus to refresh or loading a message displays a multi-colored, animated ball that offers just a second of extra brightness to the experience. 

It’s not a deal-making feature or anything, but it’s just a nice little touch that adds a bit of class to browsing mundane emails. That or it’s a very clever cover up for some in-app lag, in which case it worked because it’s distracting.

The threaded message view now includes a nice icon, subject, sender, and message information taking up all available space. There’s a bit more in the iPad version, taking advantage of the extra screen space, but on the iPhone it’s a little sparse. It’s also a bit more difficult to collapse an expanded thread on the iPhone. This is just the start of issues with message movement. You have to back out of each message and re-navigate your inbox to go to the next message. It seems like a little thing, but it really does change your browsing experience – especially if you’re used to Sparrow or other major third party options.

Integration with other Google products like Google+ and Calendar are welcome improvements that make things a lot easier. Direct replying to events with Calendar is great for creating a more universal Google experience. Seeing Google+ notifications right in your Gmail inbox is also nice, especially if you’re a heavy user of the social network that, with the bigger push by Google through other tools like Gmail, now seems like an inevitably perpetual presence than a forgotten option.

A heavily requested feature that has finally made an appearance in Gmail 2.0 is the ability to include multiple accounts in the app. You can link up to five Gmail identities to the Gmail app and switch between them. It’s nice, but if you’re a power user it probably still isn’t quite what you’re looking for. Changing between accounts is a multi-tap process. It’s not painful or anything, but it’s a little cumbersome and less than efficient – more just required to get to where you need to go. Perhaps we should just be glad it’s here but when you’re used to things like Sparrow, it’s hard to accept less.

All things considered, Gmail 2.0 for iOS is anything but a disappointment. For people using Apple’s Mail app or other free alternatives out there, Gmail is definitely a big enough step up to act as your go-to mail client. It looks great, the ability to manage multiple accounts was much needed, and the overall Google integration is very useful for people that already call other tools from the search giant their defaults. If you spend a lot of your day communicating from inside your inbox, Gmail 2.0 probably still leaves a bit to be desired. Navigating the app can be cumbersome and there’s a bit of a lag issue. It’s too clunky to be as quick and easy as one would want, it’s not quite up to par with Sparrow or the Gmail Android app – technically making Google it’s own biggest competitor no matter how you look at it. Gmail 2.0 is a huge jump from its previous version, but it doesn’t quite land it in the big leagues yet.

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Thanks to Google Drive, Gmail users can now attach and send files up to 10GB

Gmail users can now attach and send up to 10GB of files hosted on Google Drive directly from the Gmail client.

You’ve probably had those moments of frustration because an attachment was too large to send via email. Today Google announced that by using Google Drive, Gmail users can attach and send files as large as 10GB. Yes, 10GB.

Before, Gmail users were only able to send 25MB attachments, making it difficult to send large Powerpoint documents to colleagues and sending us over to services like Dropbox or Box. Now all you have to do is upload and host your documents and files onto Google Drive, and click on a new “Insert files using Google Drive” button that you’ll find on the bottom of your email compose page right next to the paperclip attachment icon.

Note that this feature will only be available in the new compose page, which is a feature that you have to opt into. Otherwise you’re going to be stuck with the 25MBs.

An additional feature that Google is adding into the mix is based off of its “forgotten attachment detector,” which will identify whether the recipients already have access to those files that are being sent. You’ve probably seen the “forgotten attachment detector” in action already when you’ve tried to hit “Send” despite having forgotten to attach a file. Luckily Google had your back and reminded you of the missing attachment. The update to the detector, according to Google Product Manager Phil Sharp, will prompt users with the option to change the file’s sharing settings. This includes Drive links pasted into emails.

Before this, it was possible to attach Google Drive files in the body of emails, but this would have had to been done through Google Drive and not Gmail. When you open up a file in Drive, there’s an option to attach the document through “File” and “Email as attachment.” The update really is about the convenience of a one-click button in Gmail.

Google’s strategy is one that we’ve seen already from Microsoft, which in the past has based SkyDrive features into Hotmail, and now Outlook. Since many companies and individuals are on Gmail already and the update will more tightly integrate Gmail and Drive, this move could spur sales of extra storage space. Right now Google offers just 5GB of free storage space on Drive, which is accessible through Gmail and it’s going to be far more convenient to clock a single button in the compose page to attach large files.

The feature will be rolling out “over the next few days.”

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Dear Berry: How do I stop syncing my gmail contacts on my BlackBerry?

Hello again readers! Dear Berry is here once again with a mailbag full of BlackBerry questions and woes. This week's question comes from one reader who asks:

I don't want to sync my gmail contacts with my BB. How do I turn this feature off? I have checked several postings but nothing worked. Several people suggested going to home page/options/advanced settings. My home page/options doesn't have advanced settings and I don't know what a BIS account is.

Thank you,

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous:

In order to stop syncing your gmail contacts on your BlackBerry you will need to go into your email account settings and turn off synchronization for that feature. 

From the homescreen click on SetupSelect Email Accounts / Email settingsGo to your gmail account, press menu and then EDITScroll to the bottom and press the + next to Synchronization OptionsRemove the check mark next to the contacts optionPress save and exit out of the application.

You can also change these settings by logging into your BlackBerry account through your carrier's BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) website. You can find the URL's for the North American BIS sites by checking out our BIS Email Basics tutorial. From the main screen click on the edit button next to your gmail address, remove the check mark next to Contacts, and save your changes before exiting. 

For more information on BIS be sure to check out our tutorial on the difference between BIS and BES.

Looking for more quick tips for your BlackBerry smartphone? Be sure to hit up our BlackBerry Help page, forums, or the Tips, How To & FAQ forums thread for all your BlackBerry questions.

Have a question about BlackBerry etiquette? Need advice on how to cope with your BlackBerry addiction? Dear Berry has you covered and there's no question too big or problem too small. Submit any of your BlackBerry woes by email to dearberry@crackberry.com or on Twitter @DearBerryCB.

See you next week!

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