• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

HTML Formatted Email on Android Phones?

zenbudda

Lurker
Aug 16, 2010
3
0
As of Andriod 2.1, does the default email app display HTML email? If so how? Also, does it allow you to create HTML email? If so, how?

I am reading mixed messages that seem to be different for each phone (obviously, I have a Samsung Captivate). If any of your responses require that I root or somehow modify the phone outside of the app store, could you please clarify if you are suggesting to do so?

Thanks!
 
I don't use the stock app as I prefer the enhanced functionality of K-9, which is effectively a souped-up version of the stock app. So I can only comment on K-9.

I can tell you though that K-9 will display HTML emails just fine, if you choose to receive them. As far as composing them, however... that evil deed is not one I wish to subject my friends and family to, the same way they have the decency not to do it to me.

The only HTML emails I deal with are the ones that get auto-sent to me by companies that are too brain-dead to offer the option to turn the crummy things off and just send proper text emails.
 
Upvote 0
I understand your feelings about HTML formatted messages. However, in a business environment, it is very possible to have the need to view and send HTML emails. My main issue is that an HTML formatted message contains a copy/paste of a segment of an Excel report. Displaying it would not a problem if I switch to K-9 it seems. However, what if I need to forward that message to someone else from my cell phone? It will convert the email to plain text, screwing up all the formatting of the email. Hopefully that need makes sense. I don't care about "creating" an HTML email. I do care about the email maintaining it's HTML attribute so that everyone else can continue seeing the email as HTML.

I will give K-9 a browse.
 
Upvote 0
This is why if you have content that is not plain text, it should be included as an attached file. That's what it's there for.

Email file attachments, unlike the ugly hack which is "HTML email", are widely supported across clients on countless platforms and survive forwarding intact just fine, without any mangling by the email clients.

If they're trying to have an Excel spreadsheet survive receipt and forwarding, they need to simply attach an Excel file to the email. That which Microsoft Office applications output as "HTML" bears little resemblance to actual HTML and is not supported well by non-Microsoft software.

It never ceases to amaze me how the presumably educated people in "business environments" can be so inept at using tools in the proper way (this is not directed at you, but instead at these people you're forced to deal with). I feel no sympathy or need to accommodate someone who insists on using a screwdriver to hammer nails simply because they're in a "business environment" and I should deal with their idiocy.

Sorry for the rant...
 
Upvote 0
This is why if you have content that is not plain text, it should be included as an attached file. That's what it's there for.

Email file attachments, unlike the ugly hack which is "HTML email", are widely supported across clients on countless platforms and survive forwarding intact just fine, without any mangling by the email clients.

If they're trying to have an Excel spreadsheet survive receipt and forwarding, they need to simply attach an Excel file to the email. That which Microsoft Office applications output as "HTML" bears little resemblance to actual HTML and is not supported well by non-Microsoft software.

It never ceases to amaze me how the presumably educated people in "business environments" can be so inept at using tools in the proper way (this is not directed at you, but instead at these people you're forced to deal with). I feel no sympathy or need to accommodate someone who insists on using a screwdriver to hammer nails simply because they're in a "business environment" and I should deal with their idiocy.

Sorry for the rant...

Unfortunetly though most phones will not open a .eml file. Communicating between people on the road a lot gets very difficult.

I hate to compare but the iDiot phone fowards with full HTML.
 
Upvote 0
Unfortunetly though most phones will not open a .eml file.
.EML isn't an Excel file. EML is an Outlook email message. If you have an attachment to an email that is an EML file, they've attached an email to another email. While admittedly an issue (EML is a proprietary Microsoft format), this doesn't have anything to HTML emails.

An Excel attachment will be either .xls or .xlsx depending on the version of Excel and can be opened by Quickoffice on the Captivate (which is free).
 
Upvote 0
This is why if you have content that is not plain text, it should be included as an attached file. That's what it's there for.

I have to chime in and add a voice that says HTML email is probably the worst thing ever pushed onto the masses. Shame on the providers and shame too on the users for not being aware of the risk. As an infosec professional, there is probably no greater threat out there than the malware, phishing and spam that comes in via HTML email. This is not to mention the inordinate amount of bandwidth absorbed by it. Please, by all means, refrain from sending HTML email. Consider yourself and your colleagues blessed if your mobile devices insist on plain text. Seriously, before trying to compose any argument to the contrary, read up on the subject. HTML email is the equivalent of sending friends and neighbors nitro-glycerin.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones