Gmail - Now use it Offline

Gmail recently released the 0.1 version of “Offline” which lets you read your Gmail messages, even when you are not connected to the internet. It uses Google Gears, a browser plugin that is compatible with several different browsers, which processes and syncronizes your email messages from your computer to the Google mail servers. Currently it is in its early stages, so it is developed under Google Labs for now. Later it is expected to be streamlined within Gmail.

When you are using offline Gmail and you send an email, it cues your message in Google Gears and then sends the next time your are connected to the internet. The best part is that it runs directly from your web browser and there is no software to install. This has been a long awaited feature and I’m glad Google has decided to take this on.
Here’s how to use it:

1. Login to Gmail
2. Click on Settings > then Labs (or just follow this link if you are already logged in: http://mail.google.com/mail/#settings/labs)
   
3. On the “Offline” Lab, click Enable

It may ask you to install Gears (You can install it here: http://gears.google.com/). After this, a link at the top of your browser near the settings link will appear. When you click that, it should syncronize your Gmail messages with your computer and you will be able to access them offline.

Installing Google Offline

Gmail Message Sync

I’ve had Gmail for a long time (I got an invite when it was in earlier stages) and I have been really satisfied with it. I think web developers and designers appreciate Gmail more because of its ability to customize and how it works in general – Its quick and runs on ajax. If you aren’t using Gmail currently, you should make the switch.