Email has become one of the most important forms of communication. Like everything else, though, it has its limitations. Above anything else, it works strictly from the internet. Certain programs (like Outlook) allow you to work in offline mode, but that is not an option if you have a Chromebook, as you would need to install a full program. Plus, some of us prefer sticking to the browser. If you find yourself searching for a good solution to this dilemma, there is no better option than Gmail Offline.
It pretty much does what the name entails. One can use Gmail offline… to a certain extent. It may be a bit limiting compared to its online counterpart, but you will be surprised to see how much can be done with this nifty app. One can read emails, reply, manage folders, use multiple accounts, archive/delete threads and even set a vacation responder. All without even using the web!
Of course, without internet there is no communication. Gmail Offline works by saving all the details to the computer, only to update all the changes as soon as internet access is restored. Sometimes it will update in the background and sometimes it will update when the app is opened. We wish it could just be done automatically every time the computer connects to the internet, but that seems to depend on multiple factors. The safest way is to open Gmail Offline and let it do its magic for a few seconds.
The app works great. It is simple, fast and it works. In fact, I know of a few Gmail Offline users who prefer this web app over the main Gmail website. It is much cleaner and pleasing to the eye, with easier access to folders and messages. I certainly wouldn’t mind using it on a daily basis if I didn’t have to use Gmail’s extra settings so often.
Take a look at the video for a deeper demonstration of what Gmail Offline can do. You can download Google’s app straight from the Chrome Webstore (link below), so give it a spin. Then come back to the comments section and let us know if you love it as much as we do. Or maybe you have a better alternative? Let us know!
Chrome Web Store: Gmail Offline
