Quest. about the Gmail App

[kristalsoldier]

Hi...

I have an Android phone and a tablet. This question is about the tablet (Acer A500). I live on Gmail and I personally think that the Gmail app for Android tabs is very good. The only thing I find odd is that I can't seem to apply themes to the app - like what one can do to the online Gmail interface.

Am I missing something or is this not possible with the Gmail app? Would it be difficult for Google to implement something like this for the Gmail app (at least for the tablets - I guess after ICS is released widely, it won't matter!)?

Thanks

 

[chanchan05]

As far as I can tell the Gmail app doesn't have themes.

 

[Fafafooey]

Hi...

I have an Android phone and a tablet. This question is about the tablet (Acer A500). I live on Gmail and I personally think that the Gmail app for Android tabs is very good. The only thing I find odd is that I can't seem to apply themes to the app - like what one can do to the online Gmail interface.

Am I missing something or is this not possible with the Gmail app? Would it be difficult for Google to implement something like this for the Gmail app (at least for the tablets - I guess after ICS is released widely, it won't matter!)?

Thanks

I don't think that the gmail app allows for themes. Having said that, I'm not a fan of their themes on the desktop version. Their 'old look' is compact and very functional. IMHO.

On a somewhat related note, does this app allow for push email without draining the heck out of a droid's battery? Thanks.

 

[kristalsoldier]

I don't think that the gmail app allows for themes. Having said that, I'm not a fan of their themes on the desktop version. Twheir 'old look' is compact and very functional. IMHO.

On a somewhat related note, does this app allow for push email without draining the heck out of a droid's battery? Thanks.

Well, if by push you mean if it keeps sync'ing via either wifi or tethered to a 3G connection, then yes it does and I don't see it eating up the battery. I only sync my phone when i am in a wifi zone sine for me having my tab sync'ed is more important.

Edit: About the Gmail app...I find the background too bright, which is what I basically want to change.

 

[Fafafooey]

Well, if by push you mean if it keeps sync'ing via either wifi or tethered to a 3G connection, then yes it does and I don't see it eating up the battery. I only sync my phone when i am in a wifi zone sine for me having my tab sync'ed is more important.

Edit: About the Gmail app...I find the background too bright, which is what I basically want to change.

Yes, this is the type of syncing I am referring to...

Isn't syncing another form of polling? I would think that both use up CPU resources (and therefore battery power), so keeping sync on all the time could drain the battery.

 

[kristalsoldier]

Yes, this is the type of syncing I am referring to...

Isn't syncing another form of polling? I would think that both use up CPU resources (and therefore battery power), so keeping sync on all the time could drain the battery.

well, it does use the battery, but then I have not found it materially affecting the usability of my tab. Here is an example.

I charged my tab overnight (I was watching some movies on battery and so drained it down to almost 20%).

In the morning, when I disconnected the tab from the mains the battery was fully charged.

Since then I have had the tab on continuously. At home it is permanently linked to my home wifi connection and when I am out it is on 3G. Today, for example, the tab was on 3G for about 5 hours. The rest of the time, it was on wifi. So, this means the Gmail app was always polling for updates. I was also on the web for most of the time. Period of inactivity (with the tab) - maybe around 3 hours).

As of now, the total time the tab has been running on battery has been 13 hrs and 40 mins and the battery percentage stands at 47%.

I think my usage today can be classified as "heavy". By that count, the tab has performed admirably and the battery drainage caused by the Gmail app has been minimal.

Edit: I am not sure my droid phone would handle that kind of usage. It was down to about 60% by around 2:00pm (this is with 3G on - sync off; screen at around 20%; wifi off; a couple of short phone conversations, no messaging, and listening to music for about 1 hr).