Gmail for iOS Updated for the First Time in Three Months

Monday March 1, 2021 10:29 am PST by Sami Fathi

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

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.

Tags: App Store, Gmail, Google

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Top Rated Comments

sir1963nz

75 months ago

I use Apple Mail for all my email needs.
I will not have google, Amazon, Facebook Apps on my devices.

Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nutmac

75 months ago

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?.

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.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nutmac

75 months ago

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.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

johnalan

75 months ago

WGAF.

Add PIP to YouTube ffs.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

jk1221

75 months ago

Search history and location? Seriously???

I'm just puzzled at this point.

Yes. ROUGH location (the privacy card even says rough) using your IP to verify that you are in fact you logging into your account. A security feature that my app like banking apps use. The app has no GPS permissions. That is why it pops are is this you in this city logging in- it uses your IP address.

And search history of your email searches. That is how it has your prior search terms if you want to go back and do the same search again.

This is the problem with Apple's cards. There is not enough detail to explain to people what is actually going on. Most people have no idea what rough location is for instance.

And since we live in the conspiracy theory era now, more needs to be explained.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)