A while back, we compared the BlackBerry Gmail application to pushing your Gmail. Plenty of discussion ensued. Seven months have passed, though, so I think it’s time to take another look at this topic. To start things off, I’ve completely ditched the Gmail application, and never plan to turn back. Not that it’s bad; it just doesn’t fit my current Berrying needs.
First off, due to installing countless applications on my Berry for review, I don’t have a ton of free space. Something always has to go. Most times it’s the last application I’ve reviewed. Other times, though, I wind up really using the app, and have to delete something else. The Gmail application fits the bill perfectly. I get my Gmail through IMAP, so why the need for the application?
Plus, it takes a while for the Gmail app to pick up on new messages, or at least it used to. After you set up your Berry with Gmail’s IMAP instructions, messages are pushed instantly. In fact, they’ll sometimes appear on my BlackBerry before they load on my laptop.
The downside remains that when I read an item on my Gmail, it is still marked as unread on my BlackBerry. If Google could remedy this one tiny issue, I’d be ecstatic. Yeah, searching through your labels can be a plus, but for the way I use Gmail on my BlackBerry, it’s doesn’t warrant enough consideration.
Does anyone use the Gmail application instead of the IMAP push? If so, what’s your rationale behind it?
