Google updates Gmail for Android with rich formatting and instant RSVP features

[Wireless News]

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yhnb3K5OYEoNKrpJw1PRDQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9ODY7cT03NTt3PT EzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/digital_trends_973/78ba3816c0c64cbc79ac0862d0a59777 (http://news.yahoo.com/google-updates-gmail-android-rich-143900691.html)The formatting tools in the Gmail app for Android have long been a tad shallow, quite frankly. You couldn’t underline phrases or italicize words, for instance, or even change the background color of-text — those tasks had to be performed on the Web. But in news that persnickety writers and English professors-everywhere-will no doubt welcome, that’s changing.-Today, Google-released an updated version of Gmail-that adds the aforementioned rich text editing, in addition to an “instant RSVP” feature. Within the updated version of Gmail, editing the appearance of text couldn’t be simpler.-Once inside Gmail’s compose interface, highlighting-the character, word, or sentence you wish to edit summons a new “format” option.-Tapping on it logically presents you-with new array of transformations-—-bold, underline, italicize, font color, and font background — that can be applied to text new and old. Related:- Gmail joins the billion users club Separately, Gmail for Android’s getting-another feature: instant RSVPs for Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange.-The new Gmail-automatically embeds three RSVP response options, “Yes,” “Maybe,” and “No,” -within emails-that contain calendar invitations. Tapping on the event opens your itinerary for the given day and time, while selecting-“Yes” adds-the event to your calendar. The Gmail enhancements are the latest in a series over the past few months. In January,-Inbox, Google’s task-oriented alternative client for Gmail, gained-an improved-search interface-that quickly surfaces information like-flight numbers, addresses, event times, phone numbers, and bills. In December of last year, Inbox gained-the ability to consolidate-emails related to flights and hotel bookings into convenient, glanceable “Trip Bundles.” And last November, the Inbox team introduced Smart Reply, a feature that uses artificial intelligence to generate appropriate-email replies. Why all the attention? The answer’s simple: critical mass. During Google’s most recent earnings call in early February, CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that Gmail’s reached over a billion-users — a lot of potential eyeballs for the ads which the company serves through email. The new version of Gmail is scheduled to hit the Google Play Store sometime today. Also watch: Apple iPhone 6S Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Please enable Javascript to watch this video



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