Google Gmail App For iPhone, iPad Sidelined By Bug
On Wednesday afternoon, Google launched the free Gmail app for iOS devices like Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The launch comes just days after Google unveiled a revamped version of Gmail.
"We've combined your favorite features from the Gmail mobile Web app and iOS into one app so you can be more productive on the go. It's designed to be fast, efficient and take full advantage of the touchscreen and notification capabilities of your device. And it’s one more reason to switch to Gmail," Google Product Manager Matthew Izatt wrote in a blog post unveiling the app.
But just hours later, the app was no longer available in the Apple App Store. As of Thursday morning, the Gmail app had yet to resurface.
"Earlier today we launched a new Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately, it contained a bug which broke notifications and caused users to see an error message when first opening the app. We've removed the app while we correct the problem, and we're working to bring you a new version soon. Everyone who's already installed the app can continue to use it," Google wrote in an update late Wednesday.
Via its Gmail Twitter feed, Google added: "The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications. We have pulled the app to fix the problem. Sorry we messed up."
The Gmail app for iOS promises speedy access to Gmail e-mail messages. It adds push notifications and sounds, inbox searching, e-mail address auto-complete, photo uploads and on the iPad it let users navigate the inbox and read e-mail at the same time with a split view.
The new Gmail app was also designed to organize inboxes, Google said, and featured Priority Inbox to push important messages to the top; threaded conversations to scan e-mails on the same subject; and the ability to organize mail by archiving, labeling, starring, deleting and reporting spam.
And because the Gmail app was optimized for touchscreen devices, Google said it offered the ability to quickly pull down and refresh the inbox, it added a right swipe option to view labels without leaving the inbox and built in new scrolling capabilities with a finger slide.
It was unclear Thursday when the revised version of the Gmail app will be returned to the App Store.
Gmail and iOS device users had longed for a Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad, which had long been rumored to be in the works. And those same users were peeved that the app didn't perform as expected.
"Wow, not only did it take you entirely too long to produce this app, you botched the launch? Terrible," one disgruntled user commented on Google's Gmail blog.
Another user added: "Sorry Google ... How can you guys release a broken app is beyond my comprehension! What a colossal piece of ..."