Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

[Stupiud]

Official Google Mobile Blog: Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

"Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 8:00 AM

Earlier this year, we launched Google Sync which allows you to synchronize your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar with your iPhone, Windows Mobile, and S60 devices. Today, we're adding Gmail support to Google Sync for iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile devices.

Using Google Sync, you can now get your Gmail messages pushed directly to your phone. Having an over-the-air, always-on connection means that your inbox is up to date, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Sync works with your phone's native email application so there's no additional software needed. Only interested in syncing your Gmail, but not your Calendar? Google Sync allows you to sync just your Contacts, Calendar, or Gmail, or any combination of the three.


To try Google Sync, visit m.google.com/sync from your computer. If you're already using Google Sync, learn how to enable Gmail sync. Since push Gmail has been a popular request on our Product Ideas page and Help Forum, we look forward to hearing your feedback, so drop us a line and let us know how it's working or what you'd like to see next.

Douglas Gresham, Software Engineer, Google Mobile"

[Gamer03]

Good deal. My brand new HTC Touch Pro2 should be arriving tomorrow. I will try this out tomorrow.

[viewfly]

As anxiously as I have waited for google to provide push mail, it is a little late. I like GPush notification application for the iPhone much better. It uses less battery juice and displays the content of the email like an SMS. Besides I have push exchange running also, but I only turn that on when I'm not near my work PC.

But it certainly is progress.

[bobolito]

GPush is nice because of the SMS style pop up notification. The problem with GPush is that it only supports one Gmail account, plus it only notifies about items that arrive in your inbox. I organize my gmail in labels so my incoming email comes directly to the labels or the inbox depending on the sender.

The new gmail sync uses the MS Exchange protocol so not only notifies me of items that arrive at my inbox, it also push-notifies me of items that arrive in my labels. In addition, I can sync my calendar and contacts without relying on iTunes. The limitation being that it only supports one Exchange email account, but that's an iPhone limitation, not gmail's.

That being said, I am on my way to uninstall GPush from my iPhone.

For those interested in setting up gmail sync on their iPhone, you can visit this link for instructions:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile...40&topic=14252

[spleck]

The advantage of Google's EAS support is that you don't need to give Tiverias your email address and password to store on their servers and you're not relying on them continuing to provide the service. The app doesn't really do anything but give you a way to send them your username/password.

I didn't really like the idea of asking someone else to check my mail all the time and then let me know when something new comes in.

[viewfly]

Originally Posted by bobolito

GPush is nice because of the SMS style pop up notification. The problem with GPush is that it only supports one Gmail account, plus it only notifies about items that arrive in your inbox. I organize my gmail in labels so my incoming email comes directly to the labels or the inbox depending on the sender.

The new gmail sync uses the MS Exchange protocol so not only notifies me of items that arrive at my inbox, it also push-notifies me of items that arrive in my labels. In addition, I can sync my calendar and contacts without relying on iTunes. The limitation being that it only supports one Exchange email account, but that's an iPhone limitation, not gmail's.

That being said, I am on my way to uninstall GPush from my iPhone.

For those interested in setting up gmail sync on their iPhone, you can visit this link for instructions:
Google Sync : Set Up Your iPhone or iPod Touch - Mobile Help

Yep, even one has different needs. There is a new 'premium' version of Gpush coming that will support multiple gmail, plus AOL, etc, etc.

My one coupon for exchanged is already used up and that is where I also synch up my contacts and calendar.

Let us know how it works out!

[viewfly]

Originally Posted by spleck

The advantage of Google's EAS support is that you don't need to give Tiverias your email address and password to store on their servers and you're not relying on them continuing to provide the service. The app doesn't really do anything but give you a way to send them your username/password.

I didn't really like the idea of asking someone else to check my mail all the time and then let me know when something new comes in.

I'm not really concerned. An encrypted password is passed along to Google directly and Tiverias can't really read your password anymore then google can tell you what your password is...you can only reset it. It is pretty unusable by them directly.

Not much different than giving Blackberry, mobileme or even google your password for getting your email. Or typing your password into a web browser for transmission over the internet. Just think about it for a moment.

From Tiverias:
"We are using multiple levels of encryption including SSL, obfuscation, and cipher-based encryption. SSL ensures that your credentials can be transported securely. Your login credentials are encrypted using an encryption scheme that has never been cryptographically broken, with a different 'secret key' for each user. To test these security measures, penetration tests were ran on the server with no information accessed."

[spleck]

Originally Posted by viewfly

I'm not really concerned. An encrypted password is passed along to Google directly and Tiverias can't really read your password anymore then google can tell you what your password is...you can only reset it. It is pretty unusable by them directly.

Not much different than giving Blackberry, mobileme or even google your password for getting your email. Or typing your password into a web browser for transmission over the internet. Just think about it for a moment.

From Tiverias:
"We are using multiple levels of encryption including SSL, obfuscation, and cipher-based encryption. SSL ensures that your credentials can be transported securely. Your login credentials are encrypted using an encryption scheme that has never been cryptographically broken, with a different 'secret key' for each user. To test these security measures, penetration tests were ran on the server with no information accessed."

I didn't see anywhere in that FAQ that they don't have access to your password. You type your password into their app so their code gets your password in the clear. I don't believe Google has anything set up to support a secure intermediary. And obviously, they have access to your email account since they're the ones sending you the notifications with you email information.

I'm not saying their aren't doing their best to protect your information, but leaks happen. Heck, Google messed up on some student emails a while back and students had full access to another person's email account for a few days.

[viewfly]

Originally Posted by spleck

I didn't see anywhere in that FAQ that they don't have access to your password. You type your password into their app so their code gets your password in the clear. I don't believe Google has anything set up to support a secure intermediary. And obviously, they have access to your email account since they're the ones sending you the notifications with you email information.

I'm not saying their aren't doing their best to protect your information, but leaks happen. Heck, Google messed up on some student emails a while back and students had full access to another person's email account for a few days.

I believe it is Apple's notification server that is at work. It is a centralized system that is part of the new iPhone feature. Also Google's push server is involved with Gpush.

As far as the Google error, where there you go. Can't trust anything.

Somewhere on Apple's page there was a good explanation on how this worked and the disposable keys used. But from Gpush's web page:

"GPush does not require a desktop client to forward your messages to
your phone
GPush communicates directly with Google's push server and Apple's notification server, making GPush the fastest push email solution for
the iPhone
GPush is the most secure push email service"

[spleck]

Originally Posted by viewfly

I believe it is Apple's notification server that is at work. It is a centralized system that is part of the new iPhone feature. Also Google's push server is involved with Gpush.

It is the responsibility of the app developer to maintain and pay for the computing infrastructure to provide push notifications. Tiverias' servers receive the notification (or poll, it's not clear on this and I'm not aware of a "Google push server" before EAS) from Google, then grab your message info and relay that to the notification system to be sent to your phone.

Here's an example of that dependency:
On Saturday August 8, 2009 GPush made it into the App store. We are currently experiencing a server issue and have temporarily pulled the app from the store while we work on the problem. This is an issue with our servers not the application and we will not need to go through the approval process again. If you have already downloaded the application, please know we are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

EDIT: I assume "Google Push Server" means IMAP idle.

[Gamer03]

Wirelessly posted (HTC Touch Pro2: XV6875 Opera/9.50 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en))

For some reason even though my contacts names are filed as first name then last name they are being reversed when synced through google. From what I have read on google there is a known bug that causes this. Other than that, the emails come in right when they are received.

[Stupiud]

Originally Posted by Gamer03

Wirelessly posted (HTC Touch Pro2: XV6875 Opera/9.50 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en))

For some reason even though my contacts names are filed as first name then last name they are being reversed when synced through google. From what I have read on google there is a known bug that causes this. Other than that, the emails come in right when they are received.

Yea, it's frustrating at first, but then I realize i don't even scroll to search anyhow. When searching, you can just punch in the name for a fast search.

[viewfly]

Originally Posted by spleck

It is the responsibility of the app developer to maintain and pay for the computing infrastructure to provide push notifications. Tiverias' servers receive the notification (or poll, it's not clear on this and I'm not aware of a "Google push server" before EAS) from Google, then grab your message info and relay that to the notification system to be sent to your phone.

Here's an example of that dependency:
On Saturday August 8, 2009 GPush made it into the App store. We are currently experiencing a server issue and have temporarily pulled the app from the store while we work on the problem. This is an issue with our servers not the application and we will not need to go through the approval process again. If you have already downloaded the application, please know we are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

EDIT: I assume "Google Push Server" means IMAP idle.

You should use whatever email system you feel comfortable with. I have no problem with Gpush. I already feel that Google can read my mail anytime they wish, so I am careful. But qutie frankly, they will be bored to tears.
There is another 'push' application that basically asks you to forward your email to their servers and then alerts you. I didn't like that one at all, but it works with multiple accounts.

Regarding security when selling an old iPhone, I posted what I did on another thread in WA here: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/ap...tml#post542628 (iPhone security while selling iphone)

[bobolito]

So far Yahoo push mail is far more reliable than Gmail sync on the iPhone. It's both faster and more predictable. many times when I open the email app, my gmail account either fails to update, takes forever to update, sometimes the messages are there but they won't download, the push takes a few minutes to alert me, or it will just fail to work entirely. Yahoo rarely fails, and when it does, a restart of the email app fixes the issue.

[Stupiud]

Originally Posted by bobolito

So far Yahoo push mail is far more reliable than Gmail sync on the iPhone. It's both faster and more predictable. many times when I open the email app, my gmail account either fails to update, takes forever to update, sometimes the messages are there but they won't download, the push takes a few minutes to alert me, or it will just fail to work entirely. Yahoo rarely fails, and when it does, a restart of the email app fixes the issue.

Google has acknowledged they are facing issues on their push servers and are currently working on the problem.

It's unclear if it's capacity issues or something in the back end...

I personally seem to lose connection with the gpush servers every 2-3 days and have to force a resync and the problems magically go away. Annoying yes, but to much of my life is on Google already.

[bobolito]

Understood.... I just thought that since they are using the tried and tested MS Exchange protocol there wasn't going to be issues like that.