Oh here’s a new time-waster for the next little while. Google has updated the iOS version of its Gmail app. Among its new features is one that I have only just realised was missing from any email client/application that I’ve ever used in the past: doodling.
Yes, drawing within an email. Dare I say it isn’t a new idea, surely someone has attempted it before now (researchers—GO!) But why has it never taken off? Probably the pain of having a mouse/keyboard interface, I presume. Fortunately, these days a significant portion of our web experience is via touch interfaces—so it’s much more feasible for the average Joe/Joanne to draw digitally.
It’s pretty easy to use; you just compose a message and hit the squiggle icon at the top of the message. [Note, if you have the Gmail app running, you’ll have to close and reopen it after upgrading for the change to take effect.] You can see some of my handy-work below... shit yeah, graphic design!
Strangely white isn't an option in this app, therefore the logo is rendered in pink
OK, so it’s not intended for those wanting to Photoshop their mate’s face onto the cover of a porno, but at least you’ll be able to communicate visual concepts without the need for a lengthy, hot and steamy text session.
Other improvements include:
=-Nested labels, making them more in-line with the standard webmail version where you can have ‘sub-labels’.
=-Custom signatures, again, making it more in-line with the standard webmail version
=-Out of office for when you’re on vacation holiday
=-A change to the Gmail alert sound (this is nice, now I won’t get confused with other iOS apps)
While it doesn’t enable you to do everything on your iOS device that you can on the web version, the Gmail app is maturing nicely. Next year we can expect more features that bring the mobile experience up to speed with the big boys.
[Update] I just remembered that I bought a stylus when I was on holiday. It's much neater, but sadder because, well, why should I have to carry a stylus around (even though I do)?
