journalweblogthing

I’m not usually one to use a web-based email client- Mail.app on my Mac handles my various accounts from one location and stores everything offline. I use Gmail because of the huge amount of storage it gives (essentially I keep my entire email library backed up) and the fact that it synce wherever I go with whatever interface I use- my Mac or my iPhone, or the occasional need for web access.

Google Gears has been out for a while with Gmail and other web applications. I have it installed for this Wordpress Blog, for example. It’s awesome to see that Google have used Gears to create an offline version of Gmail which works in exactly the same way as the online version. When a connection is unavailable it will cache any changes or emails to be sent out and as soon as a connection is made it syncs everything up. This could also be useful where the Internet connection is a bit sketchy. Gmail has lots of ajaxy goodness and so it’s designed not to 404 and lose the email you carefully finished writing for the last hour. (Unline some…) But it’s great to be able to finish it and send it into the queue, leaving you able to get on and read/send the next.

Google Gears Gmail on Youtube (Watch in HD)