New versions of several popular iOS applications have been released over the past few days and weeks, including an improved Gmail application for iOS.
The most significant change here is allowing users to maximize the iPhone 5’s 4-inch screen instead of having the extra real estate appear as black bars on top and at the bottom of the Gmail app itself. No, it’s not an Apple Maps fix or the return of Google Maps for iOS users, but if it’s any consolation, it’s a new version of one of Google’s most popular apps optimized for the larger iPhone 5 display.
Many feel this update has been long overdue, as Gmail is arguably more popular than apps like Google Drive and Google Chrome. But the important thing is that, despite the update taking a while to complete, this could possibly result in the best Gmail for iOS ever.
The last version of Gmail which ran on iOS 6 (the only Apple platform compatible with the iPhone 5) was quite buggy, so we’re relieved things appear to be looking stable on this new, improved version. Indeed, Google’s come a long way since that even buggier initial version released for iOS back in the day.
There are still some features, though, that we wish Google could add in future updates. Multiple account support would be nice; what about those who have separate Gmail accounts for business and personal needs?
And as Google had recently acquired iOS mail client Sparrow, we’d like to see it integrated into Gmail for iOS. For the meantime, maximizing the 4-inch display is just about enough to ask for on one update.