Gmail for Android Moves to 4.2, adds more features
Gmail, along with other Google services, is a core part of the company's Android operating system for phones and tablets. Today the popular email service got a much needed update with a host of new features coming along for the ride. Version 4.2.1 features improvements for archiving, picture viewing and a whole lot more.
Before we get to the feature updates, it's worth noting one important fact here -- Gmail version 4.2 requires your device to be running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or newer. That will include all of the latest products, but many older ones have become stuck at version 2.3 (Gingerbread). With that said, anyone using version 2.2 or newer can benefit from some bug fixes and performance enhancements included in the update.
So what is so special about this humble little update? Plenty. Let'stake a look.
Android 4.0+
• Auto-fit messages to screen and message zooming
• Swipe messages to archive or delete
• Attach photos and videos from within Gmail
• Larger photo previews and gallery view for photo attachments
• Bug fixes and performance improvements
Android 2.2+
• New Labels API for 3rd-party app developers
• Performance improvements
The new swipe feature contains custom setup, allowing users to choose if they would like to have it "have no effect", "delete or archive"or "delete only".
You can also zoom in and out on messages, but you will need to enable this feature in the Settings. In addition, you no longer need to launch the gallery to attach photos and videos.
This is a slew of features to be contained in one update. Version 4.2.1 will also likely take care of many of the most user-requested features for the Gmail app. The email service is an integral part of Google's mobile operating system, making it a key product needed to satisfy users and keep the platform moving forward. Today was a nice step into that future.
Advertisement
A major concern that you didn’t mention: what if two people use the same filename? I assume this will simply overwrite the earlier file, rather than adding an incremental number or using some other method to avoid overwriting.
To avoid that, you have to “add ingredients” using the big blue plus sign in the “File Name” area when setting up the Dropbox section of the recipe. I had mine use sender address, time received, AND file name (in case someone sends the same filename twice and I want both copies, which could happen if they use some boilerplate name like “NewDocument1”).
Is not Dropbox using copies of files automatically in this case? But good point, need to investigate this.
I have tested it, only on Google Drive but still. Same name attachments are stored as well. You end up with several same name files in the same folder structure but that is okay I guess.
They are poor variations of cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft’s OneDrive.) because they have specific limitations which do not make them idea as a cloud storage even for personal use. They don’t allow executable files (EXE, COM, BAT) to be uploaded or saved on their servers. I have purchase a few programs from online sources and want to save them in a cloud for easy access on the go. “Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft’s OneDrive.”, do not allow executable files so aren’t really a good choice for cloud storage or drop box option.
So MediaFire or Firedrive to the rescue. Both allow executable files uploaded, saved and shared (Mediafire checks copyrights of the files shared). Plus for programmers, who need to allow a few individuals to download a specific file or folder to beta test a program, Mediafire and Firedrive are great resources. Firedrive allows online chat and messaging between Dropbox and shared file users. But as they are based in UK their download speed is not consistent for all Canada/USA users.
I’ve never seen that limitation on Dropbox – I’ve been storing dozens of .exe and .bat files there for years. I thought maybe you were referring only to the web uploader (I never use it – my files are all uploaded from synchronized folders), but I just tested it and it works. Maybe you should give Dropbox another look.
Another limitation: it apparently can only pull in one attachment. I usually wouldn’t have a use for this, but right now I am accepting job applications via email, so I was excited to try it out. I’ve received two so far, and both used multiple attachments for cover letter, resume, and references. In both cases, only one attachment made it into Dropbox. The recipe “ingredient” in IFTTT is “FirstAttachmentPrivateURL”, and there are no options other than “First…”.
Of course, if you are asking people to send attachments, you could always specify to include just one file per email.
They could also pack multiple files into a single archive.
Because of this, I chose to have IFTTT just save all attachments instead of filtering to a specific sender or label. Multiple attachments worked just fine after that, though of course now I have various other attachments mixed in.
I know this is an old comment, but it seems this solution should be mentioned.
My main issue is that it doesn’t have the option of overwriting the old file, which puts a roadblock in my automation, as updated files must have a consistent name. Likely adding yet another online service to the mix to remedy that.
@Martin: While a too-technical step for many people, asking for a zipped file might be a really nice test of computer literacy if hiring for a very technical job.
“You can change the folder path where those files are transferred to however”
Do you just change one or more?
File URL
File name
Dropbox folder path
My dropbox folder name for example is John Smith……………however the path to get there is John Work/Clients/Jane Client