Gmail for iOS Updated With Background Refresh

[C DM]

Again, that's not true. Background refresh has nothing to do with whether the app is closed or suspended ("left open"). If an app enables intelligent background refresh, the OS would run the app in the background on the determined schedule regardless of whether the app is currently suspended or closed.

For example, with this new Gmail update, if you leave background refresh enabled, the app will run in the background every time you receive a Gmail push notification. It doesn't matter if the Gmail app is closed or suspended.

Most apps close automatically throughout the day even without you closing them manually. For the most part, only the last 3 or 4 apps remain suspended in memory (which does not affect battery). They OS closes them as it needs more memory for the app you are currently using.

I'm not completely sure that's true as Apple's own documentation seems to imply that background activities associated with an app would cease when you close it: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4211

 

[BaldiMac]

I'm not completely sure that's true as Apple's own documentation seems to imply that background activities associated with an app would cease when you close it: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4211

That applies to apps that run continuously in the background (music, VOIP, etc.). It does not apply to Background Refresh.

 

[C DM]

That applies to apps that run continuously in the background (music, VOIP, etc.). It does not apply to Background Refresh.

Yet for some reason it seems to be in the section that talks about background refresh specifically.

 

[BaldiMac]

Yet for some reason it seems to be in the section that talks about background refresh specifically.

No, it's in a section that discussing "Multitasking and background-app refresh" and specifically mentions the cases that I referred to.

You can try it yourself. Close the Gmail app. Send yourself a few emails. Wait a little while (I'm not sure how long it takes for the background refresh to kick in.) Turn on airplane mode. When you open the app, the emails have already been downloaded.

 

[malcom-chakery]

Gmail Push Notifications

Does anyone know if gmail in iOS7 offers push notifications? - Malcom Chakery

 

[C DM]

Does anyone know if gmail in iOS7 offers push notifications? - Malcom Chakery

The Gmail app does (in iOS 7 and earlier).

 

[Menel]

2 weeks have passed. It has sat on my dock, and earned that covetted spot ever since and I have only ever so mild yearnings for the old mail app. This update finally made it viable.

I do miss swipe to leave an email.

 

[DomC]

How about giving users the option to NOT have multi line previews on the lock screen notifications? Yeah I really want everyone who might glance at my phone to see the first lines of my emails.

"Dear Mr Biff: your test for chlamydia has come back and is shown to be..."

I want to know I received an email, I don't want to see the content or subject.
I see this happening with other apps too. Either Apple should have a system-wide pref beyond their own apps, or require developers to add an option to turn off previews.