Help Gmail Headaches

[sara12rara]

Let me start by admitting that this is my first Android phone so I am still an Android greenhorn. I have been on windows mobile for years and switched to this phone from the HTC Touch Pro 2. (Pausing for laughter now)

Anyway, I am very disappointed with the gmail app that I am using and don't know if there's an easy fix. I currently have 2 gmail accounts - 1 personal and 1 for work. (I am about to pick up a 3rd gmail account in a couple weeks too for another work client.) On winmo I easily set up my 2 gmail accts and had quick easy access to both of them.

On my epic touch the gmail access and notifications are not user friendly! I don't have a widget for either of them, just a shortcut. Also, there is no notification with the shortcut telling me how many new emails I have in each mailbox without opening the shortcut.

Does anyone know a widget or app that would give me what I want? Ideally I would like something with unread email numbers at first glance even a preview without having to open something first. I email a lot for business with my phone and this is one of the most important functions of my phone!

 

[Gavisann]

When you get a new email, you should see a red "M" in your notification bar. Pull the bar down and click the M and it will take you to your new message. Once the app is loaded and your read that message, press the menu soft key, tap accounts and you can see a list of your accounts, and next to that you can see the number of unread messages.

 

[sara12rara]

When you get a new email, you should see a red "M" in your notification bar. Pull the bar down and click the M and it will take you to your new message. Once the app is loaded and your read that message, press the menu soft key, tap accounts and you can see a list of your accounts, and next to that you can see the number of unread messages.

The screen after tapping accounts is fine but I really wish I had instant access to it. It just seems like everything is set up to go the long way around. Not only is it user unfriendly to check for new emails, but its also not convenient enough to access the new message composer.

The ideal setup would be having a full page widget for quick access.

 

[Sycobob]

It's not clear exactly what you're after. Multiple account access in GMail seems quite straightforward for me. True there's no built in widget, but I'm sure there are GMail widgets on the Market. I know LauncherPro has one built in.

Your issue with notifications is common for new Android users. I had the same concerns when I picked up my first Android device. Notifications don't appear directly on shortcuts like in other OSs. There's a dedicated area at the top of the screen for notifications. New emails show up there. At first I didn't like this either and searched for a way to add the notification bubbles back to shortcuts, but after a few weeks I got used to it and actually began liking it more as it offers more information at a glance. When you drag the notification bar down it shows you which accounts have new mail and how many new emails there are in each. If you only have one new email it shows the sender and subject.

Tapping the notification takes you straight to the accounts page in GMail if you have new mail in multiple accounts. This page also shows how many new emails in each account and takes you straight to the new ones when tapped. If you only have new mail in one account, the accounts screen is skipped.

When you're looking at any given account, you can just tap the email address in the top right to go back to the accounts screen.

Composing new messages is as easy as Menu > Compose New.

From what you've asked, it seems like the GMail app address all of your concerns. If you're set on notification bubbles there are a few options (note these probably won't distinguish between accounts). SMS Unread Count, Missed It!, and GMail Unread Count 2.0 spring to mind.

 

[sara12rara]

It's not clear exactly what you're after. Multiple account access in GMail seems quite straightforward for me. True there's no built in widget, but I'm sure there are GMail widgets on the Market. I know LauncherPro has one built in.

Your issue with notifications is common for new Android users. I had the same concerns when I picked up my first Android device. Notifications don't appear directly on shortcuts like in other OSs. There's a dedicated area at the top of the screen for notifications. New emails show up there. At first I didn't like this either and searched for a way to add the notification bubbles back to shortcuts, but after a few weeks I got used to it and actually began liking it more as it offers more information at a glance. When you drag the notification bar down it shows you which accounts have new mail and how many new emails there are in each. If you only have one new email it shows the sender and subject.

Tapping the notification takes you straight to the accounts page in GMail if you have new mail in multiple accounts. This page also shows how many new emails in each account and takes you straight to the new ones when tapped. If you only have new mail in one account, the accounts screen is skipped.

When you're looking at any given account, you can just tap the email address in the top right to go back to the accounts screen.

Composing new messages is as easy as Menu > Compose New.

From what you've asked, it seems like the GMail app address all of your concerns. If you're set on notification bubbles there are a few options (note these probably won't distinguish between accounts). SMS Unread Count, Missed It!, and GMail Unread Count 2.0 spring to mind.

Thanks for taking the time to address my questions so thoroughly. Maybe I will get used to the notification setup with android soon. Right now I really miss the notification bubbles because I only had to glance to know what emails I had. I must learn to accept change

As far as the widget, I can't seem to find a working 1 at all. From what I am reading the gmail widgets are all non-working since some recent google update. If you know of one that actually works, please point me in the right direction.

 

[Sycobob]

I've never tested any, but one that stood out since it specifically mentions handling multiple account is https://market.android.com/details?id=com.pdac.gmailwidget.lite I haven't tried it though, and I've also read a few comments in passing about Google messing up their GMail API.

As far as the notifications, I think you'll learn to like them. With the bubbles you have to be able to see the shortcut, which means you'll only see the alert on a specific screen. With notifications you'll be able to tell you have new mail from anywhere outside of an application. Also, with bubbles you can only see a total count of new mail, where the notifications will show how many in each account. Of course it's all a matter of preference at the end of the day, but I started out thinking the same way and now I prefer notifications.

 

[sara12rara]

I've never tested any, but one that stood out since it specifically mentions handling multiple account is https://market.android.com/details?id=com.pdac.gmailwidget.lite I haven't tried it though, and I've also read a few comments in passing about Google messing up their GMail API.

As far as the notifications, I think you'll learn to like them. With the bubbles you have to be able to see the shortcut, which means you'll only see the alert on a specific screen. With notifications you'll be able to tell you have new mail from anywhere outside of an application. Also, with bubbles you can only see a total count of new mail, where the notifications will show how many in each account. Of course it's all a matter of preference at the end of the day, but I started out thinking the same way and now I prefer notifications.

You do have an excellent point about the notifications...it is nice to be able to access it from anywhere.

I am nervous about all the bad reviews of that gmail widget. I may try executive assistant. It looks like it may have the functionality that I am looking for and it has pretty decent reviews.