Gmail 2.0 Launches for iOS

Are you an iPhone user that uses the Gmail app? If so, you might want to check out the “Updates” section of the App Store.  And if you don’t use the app, you may want to consider it starting now.

Google has launched the next version of its Gmail application today, and the app sports a new look, right down to its icon. Along with the makeover, you’ll notice speed and navigation improvements, and a couple of added features.

Let’s take a look at what Gmail 2.0 has to offer.

One of the big additions to the app is one that users have sought since Gmail first launched on the iPhone last year: support for multiple accounts. Up until this point, you’ve either had to add additional Gmail accounts through the iOS Mail app, pipe them in through another third-party app, or leave them off of your device altogether. With the addition of this feature, you can have up to five Gmail accounts tied to the native Gmail app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

Dig a bit deeper into the updated app, and you’ll also find that user profile pictures are included in message threads (for those who have uploaded one, mind you), search auto-complete, and the ability to accept event invitations and interact with Google+ posts (+1 or comment) without having to leave the Gmail app. If you have a large backlog of emails, you can also make use of the infinite scrolling feature to load up past emails instantly.

I’m digging the new look quite a bit. It has a clean, streamlined feel to it. It reminds me a little of the Google+ app in terms of physical appearance, though I’m not sure I’d call the Google+ app “minimalist.” It would definitely benefit Google to make such a look consistent across all of its apps on all devices, though I have to say that Google needs to get app features in line before it worries about syncing up appearances. Case in point: it appears that I can print from the Gmail iOS app using Cloud Print, but a similar feature is nowhere to be found in the Android version of Gmail (which, by the way, looks a bit more ugly now sitting next to its new iOS counterpart).

Are you liking the new look and features of the Gmail app? Anything you were hoping to see that didn’t make it into this version? We’d love to hear from you — sound off in the comments section.