Mail App

[GordLawry]

Greetings;

I'm looking for a IMAP/POP mail app that works well on a tablet (Transformer TF700). Think ThunderBird layout...

I've looked at a half dozen, and found some that I can almost live with, but...

I don't want it to run as a service. I don't need it to get mail unless I am on the road, so I want to be able to start and stop it at will.

I also don't want it to store my password. I'm an IT guy, so to me, that's a serious security issue.

Does anyone know of such a mail client?

Thanks

Gord

 

[dvhttn]

I run K9 on a pop account. Not sure about the password 'cos, even though I'm an 'IT' guy, I entered it once and set it to use it automatically. On the sync side, it syncs when I tell it to and no other time. Can't remember which settings specifically but all the clients I've tried have the option to sync manually.

Dave

 

[kevindroid]

i use mail droid pro and it sounds like what you are looking for and more

 

[Dieben]

I run K9 . . .

I second the recommendation on K-9.

Its text editor isn't the best so I compose my emails in a separate text editor and paste them into K-9.

 

[GordLawry]

I run K9 on a pop account. Not sure about the password 'cos, even though I'm an 'IT' guy, I entered it once and set it to use it automatically. On the sync side, it syncs when I tell it to and no other time. Can't remember which settings specifically but all the clients I've tried have the option to sync manually.

Dave

I tried K-9, but it runs as a service. If you kill it, it comes back to life. Would not really call it Tablet friendly either: Designed for the limited space on a phone.

Gord

 

[GordLawry]

i use mail droid pro and it sounds like what you are looking for and more

Just tried it out. Runs as a service and stores your password.

What I am looking for is a mail client that starts when you tell it to, stops when you tell it to, and you have to put in your password every time you open it.

Gord

 

[Crashdamage]

Enhanced Email does not run as a service, but it does save passwords and has no option not to. However, since the password file is not accessible nor are passwords stored in a readable form anyway, even for a security-conscious guy like me I think it's really a non-issue.

I don't think any Android mail clients can always require a password.

 

[GordLawry]

Enhanced Email does not run as a service, but it does save passwords and has no option not to. However, since the password file is not accessible nor are passwords stored in a readable form anyway, even for a security-conscious guy like me I think it's really a non-issue.

I don't think any Android mail clients can always require a password.

Well, it starts up with the OS and gets mail, and I cannot auto kill it, so whether it is a service or not, it acts like it is.

And, ya, I have not found one that does not behave this way, so for me, it's a show stopper. I'll have to use something else on the road.

Gotta say, Android's an interesting toy, but it sure lowers the bar on security...

Gord

 

[Crashdamage]

EE does *not* start with the OS, it is only cached in memory, not running, not doing anything. That's why you can't kill it. No offense, but do you have an understanding of how Android or Linux works?

No one can get at your passwords even if you leave the phone unlocked and lose it so why is it such a problem?

Actually, properly used Android is *very* secure.

 

[dvhttn]

I tried K-9, but it runs as a service. If you kill it, it comes back to life. Would not really call it Tablet friendly either: Designed for the limited space on a phone. ...

Read up on Android and it's memory management (probably find plenty of info. on this site if you search for 'task killers') as I think you're comparing it to Windows here. Just because the app is in memory does not mean it's running.

Dave

 

[GordLawry]

EE does *not* start with the OS, it is only cached in memory, not running, not doing anything. That's why you can't kill it. No offense, but do you have an understanding of how Android or Linux works?

No one can get at your passwords even if you leave the phone unlocked and lose it so why is it such a problem?

Actually, properly used Android is *very* secure.

Hey, it gets the mail without me asking it to.

I work with Linux every day, thanks. I don't generally load things that I don't need or want running. Think of it as an appliance model. Why take up memory or CPU if you don't need to?

Android: Not so much. Bought it knowing it was part tool and part toy, and am fooling with it to find out how much of each it is. Not really interested in knowing it's internals, I just want it to do what I want. I have a lot better things to spend my time on.

I don't want it to have access to my mail unless I am away from my machines that I know are secure. When I get back, I delete the mail from the mobile.

Perhaps my issue with it is the assumption that everyone using it does not want the added security of logging in each time to the mail rather than storing passwords, so it is not even an option. It speaks to the attitude, for example, when I logged into this forum, I tried changing the URL to HTTPS for security, but it redirected back to HTTP.

It's not just reading passwords that is an issue: If the machine is not locked, anyone that can get their hands on it has access to the mail, to any wireless networks I have access to, and anything else I have to store my password for. I don't mind logging into any of these things, but I am not given the option. Again, speaks to the attitude.

I understand that Android is designed primarily as a phone OS, so I understand there will be limitations, though I didn't realize how many when I bought it. I was also a bit peeved at how tethered to Google you are to make it work. But restricting me from adding security seems to be a curious restriction to me.

Having said that, it is a fun toy with some good "in a pinch" tools and resources.

Gord

 

[GordLawry]

Greetings;

I'm looking for a IMAP/POP mail app that works well on a tablet (Transformer TF700). Think ThunderBird layout...

I've looked at a half dozen, and found some that I can almost live with, but...

I don't want it to run as a service. I don't need it to get mail unless I am on the road, so I want to be able to start and stop it at will.

I also don't want it to store my password. I'm an IT guy, so to me, that's a serious security issue.

Does anyone know of such a mail client?

Thanks

Gord

I'm going to assume that the answer is no then.

Thanks

Gord

 

[Crashdamage]

Hey, it gets the mail without me asking it to.

So change the settings. Simple fix.

I work with Linux every day, thanks. I don't generally load things that I don't need or want running. Think of it as an appliance model. Why take up memory or CPU if you don't need to?

Then you know that with Linux, unused memory is considered wasted memory. And stuff cached in memory uses no CPU cycles. And that Android leaves stuff cached in memory for faster, smoother operation.

If the machine is not locked, anyone that can get their hands on it has access to the mail, to any wireless networks I have access to, and anything else I have to store my password for.

So lock it with a password or pattern. Anyway, like I said, passwords are not kept in an accessible file or readable format.

I didn't realize how many when I bought it. I was also a bit peeved at how tethered to Google you are to make it work.

If you want access to the Google Play store, yes you do need a Google account. You are not 'tethered' to Google. You don't *have* to use Google for anything else. You can even skip the Play store and get apps from Amazon or other sources.

Like Linux, Android is by design secure, at least as secure as any other mobile OS. Properly used you have extremely low security risk.

 

[hstroph]

["I'm looking for a IMAP/POP mail app ..."] ... It's not just reading passwords that is an issue: ...

The other points you raise are well-taken, believe me, but of course you realize that neither IMAP nor POP (ports 143 and 110) are secure? As a UNIX network administrator I can't tell you how many times I've used a network sniffer in an airport, library, coffee shop etc. and have seen people passing their usernames and passwords "in the clear" using those two protocols.

So even if you want to manually input such info each time you check mail, you're still going to be making the info available to anyone on the network segment who wants to know it.

Far better to use a mail server (and client) that's capable of IMAPs and/or POP3s ("s" for "secure") employing TLS/SSL (transport-layer security/secure socket layer). I believe all clients mentioned by others in this thread (corrections welcomed ) are TLS/SSL capable, as is almost every modern mail service.

I both appreciate and admire what many call "paranoia", but it seems that the insistence on password security is at odds with your choice of protocols.

 

[GordLawry]

The other points you raise are well-taken, believe me, but of course you realize that neither IMAP nor POP (ports 143 and 110) are secure? As a UNIX network administrator I can't tell you how many times I've used a network sniffer in an airport, library, coffee shop etc. and have seen people passing their usernames and passwords "in the clear" using those two protocols.

So even if you want to manually input such info each time you check mail, you're still going to be making the info available to anyone on the network segment who wants to know it.

Far better to use a mail server (and client) that's capable of IMAPs and/or POP3s ("s" for "secure") employing TLS/SSL (transport-layer security/secure socket layer). I believe all clients mentioned by others in this thread (corrections welcomed ) are TLS/SSL capable, as is almost every modern mail service.

I both appreciate and admire what many call "paranoia", but it seems that the insistence on password security is at odds with your choice of protocols.

Yes: Good point. I did not bother specifying the 's' because I take it as a given.

And in our line of work, we are paid to be paranoid. Hey, I run secure RADIUS at home...

Gord

 

[GordLawry]

So change the settings. Simple fix.


Then you know that with Linux, unused memory is considered wasted memory. And stuff cached in memory uses no CPU cycles. And that Android leaves stuff cached in memory for faster, smoother operation.


So lock it with a password or pattern. Anyway, like I said, passwords are not kept in an accessible file or readable format.


If you want access to the Google Play store, yes you do need a Google account. You are not 'tethered' to Google. You don't *have* to use Google for anything else. You can even skip the Play store and get apps from Amazon or other sources.

Like Linux, Android is by design secure, at least as secure as any other mobile OS. Properly used you have extremely low security risk.

Read the original question. The answer is No.

I was not looking for a workaround, or an argument as to why I wanted these things, or an discussion about semantics, even though I seemed to have allowed myself to be drawn into one: Call it a personal weakness.

Perhaps you should not take it so personally.

Gord

 

[hstroph]

... And in our line of work, we are paid to be paranoid. ...

Roger that ... and since you work with Linux everyday, have you considered installing BusyBox - The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux on your Android device?

Basic tools like lsof, top, ifconfig, sed, find, [e]grep, awk etc. are things that I can't live without when it comes to working any system, and are probably the main reason for my choice of an Android device over others where the user really doesn't have control over the proprietary OS.

 

[GordLawry]

Roger that ... and since you work with Linux everyday, have you considered installing BusyBox - The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux on your Android device?

Basic tools like lsof, top, ifconfig, sed, find, [e]grep, awk etc. are things that I can't live without when it comes to working any system, and are probably the main reason for my choice of an Android device over others where the user really doesn't have control over the proprietary OS.

Thanks: Now that I am aware of it, I will be looking into it. Appreciate it.

Still thinking of it as more a toy than a tool, so "working" with it might be a bit strong... But perhaps BusyBox will change my mind....

Gord