Updates to GMail (Rooted and Froyo Only) Brings Floating Controls and Text Selection
If you’re on a rooted device with the latest version of CyanogenMod and the newest GAPPS distribution package, you probably already know that Google’s been working on improving that already-decent GMail client of theirs. There are two very notable changes to be had: you now have floating reply controls no matter where you are in the message and you can now select text within an email.
I tried these out on my CM6 RC2-laden EVO 4G and the few features it does bring are lifesavers for me. The floating reply controls gives you the ability to star a message, add the message sender to your contacts, and reply to the message (reply, reply to all, or forward) regardless of where you’re scrolled to. This eliminates the need to scroll through the entire message just to get to response controls (which is a pain if you keep up long conversation chains).
Another feature that has been hidden under the “More” menu is the ability to select text to copy in an email – something I know I’ve been dying to see ever since I was on Android 1.1. It works just like it does in the stock browser application where you just thumb from the beginning to the end of the text you want to copy and lift your finger for it to be added to your clipboard.
We’re not sure when or how Google will deploy the new version of GAPPS – and I’m not entirely sure on what else is new in the latest version of GMail (or if any other GAPPS – like Google Talk or YouTube – have any new features) – but I hope they get everyone upgraded soon because these are features that’ll make life easier for everyone. Have you tried out the new GAPPS on CyanogenMod’s latest? If you haven’t, give this download link a try and flash it on top of your current or new installation of the latest CM6.
[Note]: Other ROMs for other devices may or may not support the latest GAPPS. Check with your community and/or ROM developer of choice to see if this is something you can flash without an issue. These changes appear to be only for Froyo.
[Update]: As I don’t dive deep into GMail’s settings often, I couldn’t tell if there was anything new from the previous version, but after checking on another Android-based device, there are definitely some new goodies to be had here, as well. Nothing as huge here, but cool nonetheless.
[via Android Central]