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Just switched from Hotmail to Gmail...does anyone else find Hotmail better on iPhone?

T

TH55

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 5, 2011
3,328
152
I switched to Gmail once Hotmail switched to the dreadful new Outlook format. I generally like Gmail better on the desktop but does anyone else think that Hotmail looks and works better in the iPhone's Mail app?

Gmail seems way more complicated, there are now 9 folders rather than 5. Can someone explain to me how this is necessary or better? It seems very cluttered and excessive. Additionally, I now can no longer simply "delete" emails, but am forced to either archive, move or mark them. If I do want to delete them, I have to go through a seemingly unnecessary additional step of clicking "moving" them to the trash folder. Again, can someone please help me understand how this is better or more functional?

I hope that these changes will bring improved functionality and quality to my emailing experience once I get used to them, but somehow I can't see that happening. What has your experience been? Thanks.
 
TH55 said:
I switched to Gmail once Hotmail switched to the dreadful new Outlook format. I generally like Gmail better on the desktop but does anyone else think that Hotmail looks and works better in the iPhone's Mail app?

Gmail seems way more complicated, there are now 9 folders rather than 5. Can someone explain to me how this is necessary or better? It seems very cluttered and excessive. Additionally, I now can no longer simply "delete" emails, but am forced to either archive, move or mark them. If I do want to delete them, I have to go through a seemingly unnecessary additional step of clicking "moving" them to the trash folder. Again, can someone please help me understand how this is better or more functional?

I hope that these changes will bring improved functionality and quality to my emailing experience once I get used to them, but somehow I can't see that happening. What has your experience been? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Get mailbox for iPhone and worry no more.
 
Bacong said:
Get mailbox for iPhone and worry no more.
Click to expand...

This, or download the Gmail app from the App Store. I think the Gmail app is really nice for the iPhone. I did have the Gmail going through the phone but after downloading the app, I removed it and just left my @me.com e-mail address on the phone itself.

Mailbox is a really good app especially if you have multiple e-mail accounts.
 
Bacong said:
Get mailbox for iPhone and worry no more.
Click to expand...



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Boogsephine said:
This, or download the Gmail app from the App Store. I think the Gmail app is really nice for the iPhone. I did have the Gmail going through the phone but after downloading the app, I removed it and just left my @me.com e-mail address on the phone itself.

Mailbox is a really good app especially if you have multiple e-mail accounts.
Click to expand...



So you guys agree that Gmail is inferior and more difficult to use than Hotmail in the native mail app?
 
I just use the Gmail app, which is fantastic and IMO far superior to the iPhone's mail app.
 
TH55 said:
So you guys agree that Gmail is inferior and more difficult to use than Hotmail in the native mail app?
Click to expand...

I don't think it is more difficult to use than the native mail app since I use the regular app for my @me.com e-mail address. The only thing I changed on Gmail when I was using the native app was allowing me to delete the e-mail rather than archiving the message. I didn't want junk messages being in the 'All Mail' folder so that was the only thing I really didn't like.


Like Luuthian said, the Gmail app is really good and simple to use as well. You can also have multiple accounts signed in at once just like on the web based version.
 
TH55 said:
Why does it have such poor ratings?
Click to expand...

I used to use the gmail app, then it stopped working. Disconnects ect are probably why it has low ratings. The mail app works fine with gmail. You just need to get used to it. gmail > hotmail in every day.
 
Small White Car said:
It's much more 'web-like' than 'native-app-like.'

I frankly can't stand it. I'm surprised to see so much praise here.
Click to expand...

Yeah I just downloaded it, I'm definitely deleting this....I much prefer the Mail app

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TedM said:
I used to use the gmail app, then it stopped working. Disconnects ect are probably why it has low ratings. The mail app works fine with gmail. You just need to get used to it. gmail > hotmail in every day.
Click to expand...

Can you address my concerns regarding the extra folders and inability to delete?
 
TH55 said:
Gmail seems way more complicated, there are now 9 folders rather than 5. Can someone explain to me how this is necessary or better? It seems very cluttered and excessive. Additionally, I now can no longer simply "delete" emails, but am forced to either archive, move or mark them. If I do want to delete them, I have to go through a seemingly unnecessary additional step of clicking "moving" them to the trash folder. Again, can someone please help me understand how this is better or more functional?
Click to expand...
First off, my experience with Hotmail spam filtering is that it sucks. My experience with gmails is that about one or two a MONTH show up in my inbox. When it happens, it's pretty surprising.

Second off, it's google's philosophy that you don't delete old emails, you archive them. If you don't like that behavior on your iPhone, go into Settings > Mails, Contacts, Calendars > <your gmail account> > and turn off the Archive Messages option. Then it deletes like how you want.

As for the number of folders showing up, you can control that via the web interface of gmail, at least if you're using the IMAP protocol. Go into Settings > Labels and select/deselect the "Show in IMAP" option.
 
aristobrat said:
First off, my experience with Hotmail spam filtering is that it sucks. My experience with gmails is that about one or two a MONTH show up in my inbox. When it happens, it's pretty surprising.

Second off, it's google's philosophy that you don't delete old emails, you archive them. If you don't like that behavior on your iPhone, go into Settings > Mails, Contacts, Calendars > <your gmail account> > and turn off the Archive Messages option. Then it deletes like normal.

As for the number of folders showing up, you can control that via the web interface of gmail.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks. Do you think all of those folders are necessary?
 
TH55 said:
Great, thanks. Do you think all of those folders are necessary?
Click to expand...
For most, probably not.

Over the years, I have read blogs about some pretty cool workflows people with lots of email use <using those folders> to help them manage a high volume.

Horses for courses, I guess. :)
 
aristobrat said:
For most, probably not.

Over the years, I have read blogs about some pretty cool workflows people with lots of email use <using those folders> to help them manage a high volume.

Horses for courses, I guess. :)
Click to expand...
Why is that the default then?
 
I prefer the Gmail app to the Mail app, I've just gotten bored of the Mail app, the look hasn't changed since iOS 1.0.

More importantly I can mark emails as spam, and the search function works way better in Gmail.
 
Why do I get the feeling that the OP is just fishing for an answer like, "I think gmail is terrible on the iPhone and the large number of folders are unnecessary and cumbersome"? If you don't like it, don't use it. I am not sure why you are looking for people to back your opinion here.

Personally, I have been using gmail for over a decade, and as such have no interest in changing my email as I would have to update everyone, not all of whom are in my contacts list. I don't ever look at folder view, so it's not really a problem for me.
 
lordofthereef said:
Why do I get the feeling that the OP is just fishing for an answer like, "I think gmail is terrible on the iPhone and the large number of folders are unnecessary and cumbersome"? If you don't like it, don't use it. I am not sure why you are looking for people to back your opinion here.

Personally, I have been using gmail for over a decade, and as such have no interest in changing my email as I would have to update everyone, not all of whom are in my contacts list. I don't ever look at folder view, so it's not really a problem for me.
Click to expand...

No I'm not just fishing for support, I was pretty clear about my exact objective in my OP. I wanted to know what the reasons were for these differences.
 
TH55 said:
No I'm not just fishing for support, I was pretty clear about my exact objective in my OP. I wanted to know what the reasons were for these differences.
Click to expand...

If you have used Gmail at all, I assume you notice that it is different in the way it manages labels/folders etc. The web version has an archive feature that is different than how Hotmail works. I'm not sure why a few extra folders matter anyway. If you use the iOS Mail app, it will work basically the same as Hotmail. If you want a Gmail specific way of handling your email use the Gmail app.

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Bacong said:
Get mailbox for iPhone and worry no more.
Click to expand...

I guess if you don't use labels/folders, you only use one device to read your email, and you need a scheduler to help you manage your emails, then mailbox is great. But for me, it is the least useful mail app I have ever used. I am constantly checking my mail from different devices and I rely on labels and filters to manage my mail. I can't see a way to make mailbox effective.
 
TH55 said:
No I'm not just fishing for support, I was pretty clear about my exact objective in my OP. I wanted to know what the reasons were for these differences.
Click to expand...

I based my statement on subsequent responses, by you. Multiple times you asked if people agree with you. Strange.

And in case you are wondering what the heck I am referring to...

TH55 said:
So you guys agree that Gmail is inferior and more difficult to use than Hotmail in the native mail app?
Click to expand...

TH55 said:
But you think Gmail is poorly implemented in Mail?
Click to expand...

TH55 said:
Why does it have such poor ratings?
Click to expand...

TH55 said:
Great, thanks. Do you think all of those folders are necessary?
Click to expand...

TH55 said:
Why is that the default then?
Click to expand...
 
lordofthereef said:
I based my statement on subsequent responses, by you. Multiple times you asked if people agree with you. Strange.

And in case you are wondering what the heck I am referring to...
Click to expand...
Oh ok yeah I suppose I see that
 
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