Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Gmail for iOS Updated for the First Time in Three Months

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,503
39,345


After neglecting the app for several months, Google today finally updated Gmail on the App Store for the first time in exactly three months.

gmail-updated.jpg


Today's update, version 6.0.210124, says it includes "Bug fixes and performance improvements," but it is a notable update given it's the first one the app has seen in months. Alongside Gmail, Google Meet, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Calander, and Google Tasks have also received app updates today, with Google Tasks adding new iOS 14 widgets.

As with nearly all Google apps on the App Store, Gmail had remained without a proper app update for months. Initial speculation was that Google was holding back app updates as a way to delay having to disclose to users its privacy practices. Updates for Google's more popular apps have started rolling out over the past few weeks, and Gmail is certainly one of the most high-profile ones to finally see an update.

Announced at WWDC 2020 and rolled out officially in December, Apple's privacy "nutrition labels" require developers to provide users detailed information about what data they collect and whether they share that data with third parties. As of early December, developers must provide this privacy information before a new or updated app can be made available on the App Store.

Google updated Gmail with privacy labels just over a week ago, but the app itself was not updated until today.



Article Link: Gmail for iOS Updated for the First Time in Three Months
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/01/gmail-ios-updated/
Does the privacy nutrition label list things that Will be taken from the user or things that can Potentially be taken through user consent? It’s confusing.
And does using the stock Mail app actually help keep things more ‘private’?
 
  • Like
Reactions: dk001
I mean, we know Google apps would have egregious privacy policy. So why delay the inevitable?

While App Privacy and allowing users to preventing apps from using advertising identifier are great steps, I would like Apple to extend their efforts by:
  • Contacts. Like Photos, I should be able to specify which set of contacts app can access.
  • Calendar and Reminders. New add only permission. Most apps should not be able to read my existing calendar events.
  • Local Network: A separate setting to allow AirPlay while blocking other local network activities.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lazy, haruhiko, parasight and 8 others
Antes said:
Does the privacy nutrition label list things that Will be taken from the user or things that can Potentially be taken through user consent? It’s confusing.
And does using the stock Mail app actually help keep things more ‘private’?
Click to expand...

No. This is all stuff the Gmail service already collects. They must disclose it since it's the official app. Using the stock app with Gmail won't change any of it.

nutmac said:
I mean, we know Google apps would have egregious privacy policy. So why delay the inevitable?

While App Privacy and allowing users to preventing apps from using advertising identifier are great steps, I would like Apple to extend their efforts by:
  • Contacts. Like Photos, I should be able to specify which set of contacts app can access.
  • Calendar and Reminders. New add only permission. Most apps should not be able to read my existing calendar events.
  • Local Network: A separate setting to allow AirPlay while blocking other local network activities.
Click to expand...

There was no delay. They updated the app's privacy label a week or 2 (or more?) ago without updating it. It was already there.
 
Osxguy said:
Alright .. teach me.. Why would you use the google app (knowing google uses your data to make money) compared to the Apple iOS app. What are the benefits. Is it faster? Does it save battery? I just really want to know why this app is being downloaded?.
Click to expand...
Push notification. Google got rid of Exchange Server several years ago. Apple Mail can access Gmail via IMAP, which is very inefficient (uses a lot of CPU). So Apple Mail defaults to "Automatically" fetch setting where IMAP email accounts are synched only your phone is plugged in or when you open Mail app. You can change the setting to every 15, 30, or 60 minutes, but at the expense of battery life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hammerd, michaelnugent, quaresma and 9 others
nutmac said:
Push notification. Google got rid of Exchange Server several years ago. Apple Mail can access Gmail via IMAP, which is very inefficient (uses a lot of CPU). So Apple Mail defaults to "Automatically" fetch setting where IMAP email accounts are synched only your phone is plugged in or when you open Mail app. You can change the setting to every 15, 30, or 60 minutes, but at the expense of battery life.
Click to expand...

Also all of the Gmail features- snooze, schedule send, multiple categories/labels, auto-predict, etc etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: michaelnugent, quaresma, dcingie and 4 others
At least Google promised a few years ago that they wouldn't be scanning emails for data to deliver ads. Not sure if that was rescinded.
 
Now can they fix Chrome on iOS. There are some weird bugs that make using it a horrible experience.
 
Never mind said:
I use Gmail for years now with no issues nor concerns That bother me at all. Some you you guys go way overboard sometimes
Click to expand...
Exactly you do you and everyone should do them. Listening to what other people think is silly. This app label is not some new revelation of how Google operates their business.

There are 1.8 BILLION Gmail users without Google allowed in China. There are 7.67 billion in the world and 1.4 billion in China. So 1.8 billion accounts for 6.27 billion people, which includes yug kids who may not have email.

Basically, 25% of the adult world give or take.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dk001 and makr
So now it's out there, no more hiding what's getting collected. Problem is, now what? To be honest, it's hard to weigh what it means for that data to be collected vs the value I get from the apps... so I'm sure most of us will use them anyway...
 
  • Like
Reactions: brucemr
johnalan said:
WGAF.

Add PIP to YouTube ffs.
Click to expand...
I removed the YT app and use Safari instead. This offers free PiP. And no more ads if you have an Ad Blocker.
You can easily add an app icon to the website on your iOS home page and call it a day.

iapplelove said:
I have zero issues with gmail. I mean who uses email for important stuff anyways
Click to expand...
That remark makes zero sense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lazy, tharitm, joy.757 and 2 others
Osxguy said:
Alright .. teach me.. Why would you use the google app (knowing google uses your data to make money) compared to the Apple iOS app. What are the benefits. Is it faster? Does it save battery? I just really want to know why this app is being downloaded?.
Click to expand...
I use it for multiple Google mail accounts and it works like the web interface but with everything in one package. You can also integrate non-Google mail accounts. Consistency is important. Switching between accounts is quick and handling mail is efficient.

It's been a while since I've used Apple's Mail app, but it was such a mess and didn't do anything as expected. Maybe, it's great now, but I don't care to switch at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: one more, Okasian, jk1221 and 1 other person
Never mind said:
I use Gmail for years now with no issues nor concerns That bother me at all. Some you you guys go way overboard sometimes
Click to expand...

Nope, Google was even reading your emails in the beginning in order to glean information about you. Due to pressure, they stopped doing that, but that is a good example of the length they will go to put their business ahead of their customers.

Google products and services are super reliable, so they earn a lot of respect based on that. But don't mistake reliability for honourability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lazy, infinitejest, Nütztjanix and 3 others
The User privacy blurb was finally lawyer approved.

(and apparently some bugs were fixed)
 
  • Like
Reactions: dk001
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back