Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me Google?
In case you missed it Google’s Gmail rolled out IMAP yesterday to the rejoicing of Geeks worldwide. I even wrote a picture guide for setting up Gmail on your Windows Mobile 6 device. I finally had the service added to my main account this evening and quickly went about downloading the last 3 days worth of mail.
Much to my dismay many of my messages were coming up blank! After checking that the messages were in fact not blank I hit up Pdaphonehome to see if others were having the same problem. Indeed the problem of blank messages when checking Gmail via IMAP is widespread.
I was so excited to finally have this basic and overdue functionality on my Gmail account. After all of the resources Google has poured into the cell phone market and the favor shown to the iPhone with this IMAP announcement, I am saddened by the lack of support for Windows Mobile. It didn’t bother me so much once I saw the IMAP announcement because IMAP has standards and I thought that this meant something. You can’t tell me that Nobody at Google has a Windows Mobile 6 phone.
Even if the issue sits in the Windows Mobile 6 messaging client wanting some “optional” part of the encoding I have to place the blame on not adding this bit to the IMAP service, since the devices have been out there and in use.
I am going to be looking for a way to use IMAP on WM6 devices to check Gmail and I will report back if a solution is found.
In conclusion I understand that Gmail is free, without obligation to me, I can get IMAP from other places, but I am selfish and I want this to work.
Does anyone have an email or support request page? The best I can find is Google groups and Suggest a feature. I guess I could Suggest that Google not deliver me blank emails but I am thinking this email would be better sent elsewhere.
How To Check Gmail by IMAP on Windows Mobile
UPDATE: If you are getting blank messages when checking over IMAP read my latest post for some more information. In short it appears Google’s implementation of IMAP is not utilizing all of the fields it could use and Windows Mobile Messaging is not handling the lack of these optional fields well.
UPDATE 2: If Gmail fails to send your messages check out this fix.
Google just announced that they are rolling out IMAP support for Google’s Gmail service. The feature will be appearign in different accounts over the next several days. If you are currently using POP3 to get your gmail to a Windows Mobile client or even a desktop client IMAP is a huge improvement. IMAP allows the status to be updated between all of your viewing areas (more on IMAP v. POP3). This means that if you read an email on your Windows Mobile 6 device, when you login to gmail.com the mail will show as read, etc etc for the majority of the functions relating to mail management.
Google Provides a handy list of what Gmail actions correspond to actions on your mobile device.
| Action on mobile device/client (e.g. iPhone/Outlook) | Result in Gmail on the web |
|---|---|
| Open a message | Mark a message as read |
| Flag a message | Apply a star to the message |
| Move a message to a folder | Apply a label to the message |
| Move a message to a folder within a folder* | Apply a label showing folder hierarchy (‘MainFolder/SubFolder’)* |
| Create a folder | Create a label |
| Move a message to [Gmail]/Spam | Report a message as spam |
| Move a message to [Gmail]/Trash | Move a message to Trash |
| Send a message | Store message in Sent Mail |
| Delete a message | Remove label from the message, or delete the message permanently if the message is already in the Spam or Trash label |
Find the walkthrough after the Jump.
Samsung SCH-i760 Released and On The Way
Friday morning welcomed the release of the Samsung SCH-i760 which I have been coveting for the past year. The Windows Mobile 6 phone includes a 1.3 MP camera and a landscape sliding keyboard. The i760 also packs in Wifi and EVDO into a package just about half as thick as my current i730. You can find out more information about the Samsung SCH-i760 on my resource page.
I ordered mine on Friday morning for $99 plus tax. This is down from the retail price of $519. A two year agreement will drop the price to $399 and if you can use your New Every 2 and the online discount the price is dropped to $199. Take note that some users are having trouble getting the NE2 and Online Discount to combine! If you are a user of Verizon’s data package you can get the ADD discount dropping the phone to $99. You may or may not be able to use the mail in rebate to get your price down to $49 for a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone.
Samsung SCH-i760 on Verizon Wireless
Samsung SCH-i760 gets Dated..Agian
Well after following the Samsung SCH-i760 scene for 9-10 months now and sitting through so many dates we could be considered a couple, a real date is surfacing in many locations. At this point it is still a rumor but October 19th looks to be the release date for B2B and internet sales of the SCH-i760. This date has been kicked around the pdaphonehome.com Samsung i760 rumor thread, which was so long it had to be split into two threads, for the last week.
This has also been supplemented be a posting of more Verizon Phone release dates on the Boy Genius Reports. The list has the i760 at the bottom slated for October 19th and even includes Verizon’s “iPhone killer” due out November 18th.
If you need to whet your appetite more head over to sixftunda’s blog where he has been covering the 760 in great detail after he picked one up during the early release last month. His postings include reviews, accessories, battery life, and some software information. I am quite jealous of him.
Style Guide for Verizon’s “Test Man”
You can’t willy nilly put together one of the most annoying company mascots in advertising today. No, that takes skill, determination, research, customer research, customer studies, focus groups. Wait unless your Verizon, then all it takes is a style guide. The Style guide for the “Test Man” is humourous and sad at the same time. Come to think of it “Test Man” sounds so beta, maybe even alpha, as if the good ol’ V would replace us users if the “Test Man” pans out!
The consumerist has the whole style guide but I have hand picked some of my favorites.
- He line should always be used in its entirety. No partial line and no use of “Can you hear me now?” without “Good!” to follow.
- Well of course he won’t say bad but can’t we throw in a Great! now and then?
- “Can you hear me now? Good!” can only be used to represent Test Man and his testing of our Network. It cannot be associated with any other activity.
- Why am I envisioning the “Test Man” re-enacting Lumberg’s sex scene from Office Space?
- Locations and situations should be varied when possible, including interior and exterior scenes. He should not appear in any location where you have not confirmed coverage. A location that is remote in nature (i.e. a desert) needs to be approved by HQ legal council before use. Also, Test Man should appear in geography that doesn’t necessarily represents your Area in order to give further credibility to the fact that he tests our network Nationwide.
- God forbid you show him in a house or office, you know a location Verizon’s CEO thinks cell coverage is un-important!
- “Test Man” cannot appear in any activity where he is not testing the network (i.e. sitting in a hot tub)
- How’s “Test Man” supposed to get any ladies? “I got the biggest network” just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Finally I thoroughly enjoyed the “Test Man” descriptors below.
Test man is:
25-35 years old
Entertaining
The embodiment of Verizon Wireless employees
Relentless in his mission
Friendly
Every day guy
A bit quirky
A little obsessive and compulsive
Likeable character
Appealing to all ethnicities
Test Man is not:
Annoying
Goofy
Easily distracted
Aloof
Stupid
Too “pretty”
Well Verizon, you are quirky and relentless, but it seems you are also annoying, aloof, stupid and too focused on being “pretty”.
Photo: Jeff Veen
Samsung i760 starts trickling out at Verizon
The PdaPhoneHome forum is up and down right now but several users have been able to purchase and receive the Samsung SCH i760. It looks like they are getting the device at a few prices but the common one is below.
$499
-$100 NE2
-$100 ADD
———–
$299 and an additional $50 Mail in Rebate.
Video of the device.
You can check the forum out here if it is up.
Official Iphone Tool!
If you have had the misfortune of needing to send your iPhone in for srervice already you may have had it come back with a “Official iPhone Tool” I cannot believe the official version of this isn’t white! I could understand Belkin’s version being gray but the Apple one. This is is sure to set of fires in fanboy hearts nationwide.
Thank fully you can get a white iPhone tool at most local office supply stores. Someone must have hit the jackpot. I am guessing these will go on eBay for quite a pretty penny.
It never occurred to me that without a stylus reseting an iPhone could prove problematic.
Via EngadgetMobile
3D View of Verizon Branded Samsung i760
Yesterday had some biggish news for the Samsung SCH-i760 on both Howardforums and PDAphonehome. A user on Howard Forum found a 3D flash file of the Samsung i760 on Verizon’s site much like those you can view for other Verizon phones. You can check out the picture, or view the 3D view of the Samsung i760 yourself.
Another user found an entry for the i760 on Samsung’s site with a link to the default Samsung software, all pointing towards a release in the near future. Samsung i760 software.
If you look at the image to the right you will see a Get Applications section. This is likely the reason for the delay, as Verizon has added Get it Now and VCast services to the 760. This could be a great addition or a boon depending on the implementation and whether users can remove the option if they so desire.
Many of the other posters are confirming that we should have some solid news or a release by July 20th, though this is still a rumor right now.
Stay tuned for the latest consolidation of updates from theInternet specifically HowardForums and PDAPhoneHome,
Josh Smith is a blogger, database manager and adjunct professor of business and technology. 
