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Alternative Email Client Sparrow Acquired by Google

Razeus said:
But I'm sure it'll end up in the gmail app....:rolleyes: Just take the Sparrow app, put on push notifications, update the Gmail iOS app. Done deal.
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I'd rather not see that. Also, I use other accounts with the iOS Sparrow app - not that I can do this with the GMail app.

not a done deal, just broken everything else but what I use with Google.
 
I imagine Google is going to release Sparrow as the Gmail client and their new Map app alongside Apple's iOS 6 release. Wonder what else they have up their sleeve?
 
I used Sparrow for a while
It was kinda nice, but went back to Mail
I have no problems using Apple Mail, even with my Gmail

Hopefully Google will benefit from the new blood in their system
I love my Apple products, but I love my Google products as well
 
**** it! Why can't I make an app that gets bought out for millions?! Instagram, now Sparrow. Pfft. :p

[So this will mean Google will use Sparrow as its Gmail client replacement for their devices?]
 
So sad... Sparrow was my favorite email client... Both on Mac and on iPhone. I had hoped they would push apple to allow users to select alternative default email and browser apps, an iPad client, and mainly push notifications.
 
For me, the reason I mainly use Apple's products over Google are the differences between Google's and Apple's business strategies. We are not Google’s Customers, we are a product to them. They track our usage and our habits in order to sell advertisements. That’s why they give everything away. The truth is they don’t really care about you, they care about their advertisers. That’s where their business comes from. That’s why they push out a product go get users and often abandon them. And that’s fine, it’s their business model. I use their search and I use gmail for my non-personal mail. Their search is by far the best out there, and Gmail is not horrible. But look other products; Google Plus, google wave, froogle, coupons, iGoogle (which they are killing off). Even Android; According to Google's own statistics, close to 90% of android users aren’t even on Ice Cream Sandwich, and they just pushed out Jelly Bean. With Apple on the other hand, WE are their customers, that’s why we pay for what we use, and they look to make sure we have a great product. They may not always accomplish that, but at least I feel they care (somewhat) about me and my apple products.

Apple customers are the people who buy their products, Googles are the advertisers, not you.
 
outphase said:
How can they be any closer if they're already your email provider?
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Remember that Sparrow can connect to other IMAP servers - some servers that Apple's mail client has trouble with. I can't use my work's IMAP server with the iOS mail app, but it works in Sparrow. Sorry to see it go.
 
Well, I'm back to the Mail app. Not as pretty as the Sparrow app, but at least Mail does push notifications and handles multiple email providers just as well.
 
So, if this can be made.....


mail2.jpg



http://www.vanschneider.com/work/mail/

:D:D:D
 
ppc_michael said:
There was a time not too long ago when those who frequented the MacRumors forum would get all creamy when they thought about Apple and Google joining forces. Then Steve Jobs said something snarky about them and the masses "turned" on Google (while still using Google Search, Gmail, and maybe even Chrome) because their Dear Leader hinted at it.

I just think you're all very silly.
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I have no problem with Google buying sparrow other than it just killed both apps.

I thinks its good that google appreciated their talent but, it sucks for us users that the app just got killed by it.
 
Meh, I could care less. I downloaded Sparrow and immediately found it chewing through an inordinate amount of processor usage. I'm using Mail to connect to a work Exchange account, Gmail, and two other IMAP accounts and it *still* taxes my machine less than the "lightweight" Sparrow. Oh, and using Sparrow I can see about ten messages listed on my screen without scrolling, vs. three times that may with Mail or Gmail's web interface. Sorry, but I just don't get the hype about Sparrow.
 
Razeus said:
What's the alternative to Sparrow? Since it won't get push notifications or other updates ever, I have to get rid of it (and probably should have a long time ago, but I loved the style of the app). Perhaps once, the Gmail app gets Sparrow's code, I'll use the GMail app, but for now, I need an alternative. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
It's boring, and not pretty, but the non-free postbox (based upon Thunderbird and currently on sale for US$10) seems to have all of the major features of sparrow and more:

  • Conversation view
  • Support for facebook, twitter, and linkedin.
  • Support for gmail labels
  • Support for gmail archiving. You can even "archive" IMAP accounts, where "archived" messages get refiled to a specified folder.
  • Can send attachments via dropbox links.
  • Support for omnifocus, evernote, things, and growl.
  • Quick replies
  • Can view only images in a folder.
  • One addon gives you access to a calendar, and another addon syncs the calendar with google calendar.
If you're a power user, postbox is it.
 
avanpelt said:
One of the things that turned me off about Sparrow was not the fact that it didn't have push notifications; but the fact that the developers of Sparrow acted like spoiled children who cried and whined because Apple wouldn't give them access to the APIs they wanted to make push happen on Sparrow's terms.

Google obviously already has the infrastructure in place to push notifications within the confines of Apple's set parameters. They're doing it today with the Gmail app. My guess is that Google will add push notifications to the Sparrow app in fairly short order if they keep Sparrow around as a separate app from the Gmail app.
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The developers acted like any rational person would. Apple has no technical reason to not allow Sparrow to act on the VOIP API other than they simply didn't want Sparrow around.

Second, Google is in a position to offer push for gmail accounts, not email accounts in general. Sparrow was an IMAP client, not a gmail client.
 
twosee said:
For me, the reason I mainly use Apple's products over Google are the differences between Google's and Apple's business strategies. We are not Google’s Customers, we are a product to them. They track our usage and our habits in order to sell advertisements. That’s why they give everything away. The truth is they don’t really care about you, they care about their advertisers. That’s where their business comes from. That’s why they push out a product go get users and often abandon them. And that’s fine, it’s their business model. I use their search and I use gmail for my non-personal mail. Their search is by far the best out there, and Gmail is not horrible. But look other products; Google Plus, google wave, froogle, coupons, iGoogle (which they are killing off). Even Android; According to Google's own statistics, close to 90% of android users aren’t even on Ice Cream Sandwich, and they just pushed out Jelly Bean. With Apple on the other hand, WE are their customers, that’s why we pay for what we use, and they look to make sure we have a great product. They may not always accomplish that, but at least I feel they care (somewhat) about me and my apple products.

Apple customers are the people who buy their products, Googles are the advertisers, not you.
Click to expand...

What a load of old tosh. Apple care about money. So does Google and every other big corp...they really couldn't give a rats ass about the customer, they just want a positive brand image as that generates more income.

As for Google killing off products I really dont think you can use that as an argument given how Apple is notorious for failed web-based ventures which result in them being closed due to Apple's inability to successfully build and/or run web applications that last more than a couple of years. Ping, .Mac, Mobile Me, and most likely iCloud in a year or two.

Dont paint Google to be any worse than Apple here, as they really aren't. They are both big corporations, both with a lot of money and are both only interested in more money. It really is as simple as that.

(Happy Mac user and Gmail user but not hopelessly drooling over either company)
 
twosee said:
For me, the reason I mainly use Apple's products over Google are the differences between Google's and Apple's business strategies. We are not Google’s Customers, we are a product to them. They track our usage and our habits in order to sell advertisements. That’s why they give everything away. The truth is they don’t really care about you, they care about their advertisers. That’s where their business comes from. That’s why they push out a product go get users and often abandon them. And that’s fine, it’s their business model. I use their search and I use gmail for my non-personal mail. Their search is by far the best out there, and Gmail is not horrible. But look other products; Google Plus, google wave, froogle, coupons, iGoogle (which they are killing off). Even Android; According to Google's own statistics, close to 90% of android users aren’t even on Ice Cream Sandwich, and they just pushed out Jelly Bean. With Apple on the other hand, WE are their customers, that’s why we pay for what we use, and they look to make sure we have a great product. They may not always accomplish that, but at least I feel they care (somewhat) about me and my apple products.

Apple customers are the people who buy their products, Googles are the advertisers, not you.
Click to expand...

the only part of you Apple (and pretty much all corporations) cares about is your money
 
ppc_michael said:
There was a time not too long ago when those who frequented the MacRumors forum would get all creamy when they thought about Apple and Google joining forces. Then Steve Jobs said something snarky about them and the masses "turned" on Google (while still using Google Search, Gmail, and maybe even Chrome) because their Dear Leader hinted at it.

I just think you're all very silly.
Click to expand...

Never liked Google.

They became arrogant long before that Steve Jobs quote.

bigjnyc said:
because Mail.app is an absolute catastrophe when it comes to handling gmail.... Sparrow did Gmail perfectly.
Click to expand...

Have you even used it? I never had a problem with it (nor did anyone I know that uses Gmail + Mail.app).
 
This is brilliant news IMO now android will have a great mail client which will make apple compete hopefully :)

:apple:
 
nlr said:
This is brilliant news IMO now android will have a great mail client which will make apple compete hopefully :)

:apple:
Click to expand...

Apple had their chance to improve Mail in OS X 10.8 and iOS 6. I don't think they will. I haven't seen anything as simple as Sparrow on the market for OS X.
 
Flitzy said:
Never liked Google.

They became arrogant long before that Steve Jobs quote.



Have you even used it? I never had a problem with it (nor did anyone I know that uses Gmail + Mail.app).
Click to expand...

And Apple's sense of 'we know whats best for you so we offer no choices' doesn't come off as arrogant either?

I wish apple and google would cooperate more - I am one of those people.

----------
twosee said:
Yes, but it's MY money they care about, that's why they work on making a product that benefits ME, not the advertisers.
Click to expand...

Well, google cares about your money too. They just want you to buy their customer's products. Different roads can lead to the same place.
 
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