Gmail for iOS updated with new look, Kindle app expands X-Ray feature
Google on Tuesday released a major update to its Gmail iOS app, with a new look and several new features headlined by multiple-account support. Amazon also rolled out a new version of its Kindle app, which sports deeper integration of its touted X-Ray feature.
Gmail 2.0
In a post on Googleâs Official Gmail Blog, Product Manager Matthew Izatt said his team began rebuilding the Gmail for iOS application six months ago. The goal was to create what he called a "faster, sleeker, and easier experience on iOS."
The result is Gmail 2.0, which hit the App Store on Tuesday. The new version comes with a design overhaul that bears more than a passing resemblance to Sparrow, the Apple-oriented email client acquired by Google in July.
The applications leo adds support for multiple accounts, enabling users to add up to five Gmail addresses. The full list of features included in the updated application are:
- Multiple account support
- App redesigned with a new, cleaner look
- Search predictions as you type
- Infinite scrolling inbox
- Respond to Google Calendar invites inline
- Interactive Google+ posts support
- New welcome experience
Kindle 3.5
Amazon also unveiled a significant update Tuesday for its popular Kindle for iOS. Amazon's competitor to Apple's iBooks has added deeper integration of its X-Ray for Books technology, which was previously exclusive to textbooks. Now, with version 3.5, it has been extended to all books.
X-Ray allows readers to explore "the bones of a book" â that is, tapping on pages will produce more information about "notable characters, places and phrases."
The Kindle 3.5 update also includes improvements to Manga images.
23 Comments
X-Ray allows readers to explore "the bones of a book" ? that is, tapping on pages will produce more information about "notable characters, places and phrases."
Sounds like a glossary. Sounds exactly like a glossary. Does it really need a fancy name?
Sounds like a glossary. Sounds exactly like a glossary. Does it really need a fancy name?
Take a look at the screenshot on the left in the story. Those little blue bars show all the instances of the selected phrase throughout the book. For example, you can see at a glance that first character show appears in the beginning and the end of the book, but hardly at all in the middle. On the other hand, the third from the bottom is much more significant showing up throughout the book. I don't know that the X-ray name is a good one, but it does way beyond a glossary.
And still no YouTube app for the iPad...
Take a look at the screenshot on the left in the story. Those little blue bars show all the instances of the selected phrase throughout the book.
Oh! A visual glossarindex, then. That's sort of neat. I wish Apple would incorporate that into iBooks Author. Oh! I'd love also if when you add a word to the glossary, the application would automatically go through and link back all other instances of that word to the same glossary reference. That way I wouldn't have to go through and do it manually. Because that's ridiculous.
Sounds like a glossary. Sounds exactly like a glossary. Does it really need a fancy name?
It is and it isn't. On the one hand, its main use is in defining terms (more than dictionary definitions--it also has information on characters and sometimes terms specific to a book, which can be very useful), but on the other, it also shows instances of where a term pops up in the book. It's nice, but unessential.
I'm looking forward to trying out the new Gmail app when I get home. I love Sparrow, but now that it's certain it will never get push support, hopefully the Gmail app becomes as good as it is.