We’ve known about the improvements to GMail in the latest version of the GAPPS package for a while now, but it’s found its way onto the net as an installable .apk file for anyone with an Android 2.2 phone to install – no root required (it actually surfaced at the time of our reporting, but no one thought to actually look inside the flashable .zip file). You can read about the new changes in our earlier report here, but check this link out for the new download.
[XDA via Good and EVO]
Popularity: 5% [?]
We’ve already seen the latest and greatest that Google’s GAPPS package has to offer with current custom ROMs such as CyanogenMod, but the one being shipped with the T-Mobile G2 holds an even bigger punch: a new Google Voice widget. The build was found within the same firmware we saw leaked the other day for the yet-to-be-released device and flashed smoothly right over the latest CyanogenMod6 nightly build (approach with caution on other ROMs and other versions of CM6).
While it may be quite small in scope (it’s just a gateway to the same Google Voice app we know and love now), it’s still pretty cool. At a glance, it shows you how much money you have in your Google Voice account to use for cheap international calls. It also gives you a set of 4 buttons to access various features within the app.
Other goodies include the ability to customize the buttons next to the application drawer buttons (ala LauncherPro or ADW Launcher), but we aren’t hearing reports of anything else new at this time. Anyone out there tried this out on their phones yet?
[via DroidDog]
[thanks jdog!]
Popularity: 2% [?]
If you’re on a rooted device with the latest version of CyanogenMod and the newest GAPPS distribution package, you probably already know that Google’s been working on improving that already-decent GMail client of theirs. There are two very notable changes to be had: you now have floating reply controls no matter where you are in the message and you can now select text within an email.
I tried these out on my CM6 RC2-laden EVO 4G and the few features it does bring are lifesavers for me. The floating reply controls gives you the ability to star a message, add the message sender to your contacts, and reply to the message (reply, reply to all, or forward) regardless of where you’re scrolled to. This eliminates the need to scroll through the entire message just to get to response controls (which is a pain if you keep up long conversation chains).
Another feature that has been hidden under the “More” menu is the ability to select text to copy in an email – something I know I’ve been dying to see ever since I was on Android 1.1. It works just like it does in the stock browser application where you just thumb from the beginning to the end of the text you want to copy and lift your finger for it to be added to your clipboard.
We’re not sure when or how Google will deploy the new version of GAPPS – and I’m not entirely sure on what else is new in the latest version of GMail (or if any other GAPPS – like Google Talk or YouTube – have any new features) – but I hope they get everyone upgraded soon because these are features that’ll make life easier for everyone. Have you tried out the new GAPPS on CyanogenMod’s latest? If you haven’t, give this download link a try and flash it on top of your current or new installation of the latest CM6.
[Note]: Other ROMs for other devices may or may not support the latest GAPPS. Check with your community and/or ROM developer of choice to see if this is something you can flash without an issue. These changes appear to be only for Froyo.
[Update]: As I don’t dive deep into GMail’s settings often, I couldn’t tell if there was anything new from the previous version, but after checking on another Android-based device, there are definitely some new goodies to be had here, as well. Nothing as huge here, but cool nonetheless.
[via Android Central]
Popularity: 2% [?]
