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.
In a post on Google?s 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:
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" ? 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.
Gmail 2.0
In a post on Google?s 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" ? 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.
Comments
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
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?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
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...
Originally Posted by malax
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
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.
Jasmine is excellent. It's better than the official youtube app on iPhone.
Google voice got an update as well. Now update YouTube for iPhone and all is good.
Waiting for the google maps crowd to wonder when they will release their iOS app.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
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.
I doubt that's something that needs to be part of iBooks Author (although, it perhaps could be). I'm guessing Amazon is just running the text through some sort of auto-index software to generate metadata for X-Ray. Apple could do the same once books are submitted. For textbooks, it seems useful, for other non-fiction perhaps as well. For novels, unless you are really "studying" the book, not as much.
I'd just be happy if the iBooks dictionary had definitions for more of the words in many of the books I've side-loaded into iBooks. Admittedly, some of the words I've tried to look up and not been able to find are a bit archaic (e.g., from the Diary of Samuel Pepys), but still, it is English.
Originally Posted by anonymouse
I doubt that's something that needs to be part of iBooks Author (although, it perhaps could be).
One click bibliographies shouldn't be a part of iBooks Author?
Jasmine is indeed excellent (on the iPad, haven't tried it on the iPhone but no reason to think it would too different). A lot of thought and care has gone into the design/aesthetics/usability. A real pleasure to use.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John.B
And still no YouTube app for the iPad...
Not true. Also updated today with iPad support and iPhone 5 support. For some reason though, only showing up in the Check for Updates part of the App Store.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RogerR32
Not true. Also updated today with iPad support and iPhone 5 support. For some reason though, only showing up in the Check for Updates part of the App Store.
Nice bit of revisionism. It wasn't released when I posted that. (I checked.)
Still, glad that it's finally been updated. AirPlay support is especially nice. Kudos to Google for getting this out. I personally use Jasmine (and will continue to) but my son found that it didn't behave right with certain things like (IIRC) playlists and some types of subscriptions. He'll be a happy camper.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John.B
Nice bit of revisionism. It wasn't released when I posted that. (I checked.)
Still, glad that it's finally been updated. AirPlay support is especially nice. Kudos to Google for getting this out. I personally use Jasmine (and will continue to) but my son found that it didn't behave right with certain things like (IIRC) playlists and some types of subscriptions. He'll be a happy camper.
I wasn't calling you a liar, nor otherwise calling you out. Just pointing out that the youTube app was in fact updated today as well. But feel free to be a dick about it.
At least Youtube also got an update.
I'm pulling the handbrake here. It was a simple error of information; nothing to get upset about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
[...] I wish Apple would incorporate that into iBooks Author.
What's iBooks?
Oh, is that the eReader that the author doesn't let you use on the best of its very own products? Since I use a multi-kilobuck MacBook Pro and not a cheap little consumption device, I am apparently not entitled to use it.
No big deal. I just direct the revenue to Amazon instead.
Originally Posted by v5v
What's iBooks?
Oh, is that the eReader that the author doesn't let you use on the best of its very own products? Since I use a multi-kilobuck MacBook Pro and not a cheap little consumption device, I am apparently not entitled to use it.
No big deal. I just direct the revenue to Amazon instead.
Your point is WHAT, exactly?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Your point is WHAT, exactly?
My point is that comparing Kindle to iBooks is like comparing InDesign to TextEdit.
Originally Posted by v5v
My point is that comparing Kindle to iBooks is like comparing InDesign to TextEdit.
Right, iBooks is InDesign and Kindle is TextEdit. I don't think you're giving Kindle enough credit, though.
Now, iBooks Author compared to… whatever is used to make Kindle books? I dunno. But that's what we're talking about here, see. There was zero reason for you to insert the stuff about not being able to read them on your Mac.