Gmail app for iOS launched and pulled from App Store
Google blames a notification bug
By Ben Camm-Jones | Macworld UK | Published: 09:50, 03 November 2011
Google's official Gmail app for iOS briefly hit Apple's App Store before it was pulled with the company blaming a notifications bug.
Google announced the issue of the Gmail app on its blog. It's free to download and is compatible with any device running iOS 4 or later.
"We've combined your favorite features from the Gmail mobile web app and iOS into one app so you can be more productive on the go. It's designed to be fast, efficient and take full advantage of the touchscreen and notification capabilities of your device. And it's one more reason to switch to Gmail," wrote Matthew Izatt, a Google product manager.
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Some of the features included in the Gmail iOS app are push notifications and a split view for the iPad which lets you see messages in your Inbox and an email preview at the same time.
However, it's what's been left out that has sparked a wave of criticism for the app. Blogger Robert Scoble wrote on Twitter: "The Gmail app is really a piece of crud. Not worth loading. Very disappointed."
Others agreed. "First impressions of Gmail for iOS are not good. No multiple accounts. Notifications not working. Mainly a web view," wrote Federico Viticci, editor of MacStories.net.
"Countless complaints about the new Gmail iOS app... was it a joke? is the real one going to hit the store soon?" another Twitter member asked.
As complaints mounted the app was been pulled from the App Store by Google, apparently because of a notifications bug.
"The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications. We have pulled the app to fix the problem. Sorry we messed up," a message posted on the offical Gmail Twitter app reads.
