14 DAY TRIAL // Google has finally re-enabled offline access for Gmail as well as Docs and Calendar. It's been working on the functionality for more than a year and it said more than three months ago that the features were just about ready and coming 'this summer.'
It waited until the very last day of summer to roll out the feature, but at least it's finally here. However, it's not quite what you'd expect, the functionality is rather limited.
"Gmail offline will be available today, and offline for Google Calendar and Google Docs will be rolling out over the next week, starting today," Benoît de Boursetty, product manager at Google, wrote.
That sounds promising, but what Google has done, at least for Gmail, is a bit disappointing, especially after the long wait.
Google has debuted a Google Chrome application which will enable users to access their emails even without an internet connection.
However, they won't be able to use Gmail itself, the site, offline. Rather, the app is based on the tablet version of the site, with a two-pane view and large buttons.
Functionality wise, it has pretty much everything that the regular, desktop Gmail has, but it's not quite the same.
With the app, which obviously only works on Chrome, users will be able to read and create new emails even without internet access.
"After you install the Gmail Offline app from the Chrome Web Store, you can continue using Gmail when you lose your connection by clicking the Gmail Offline icon on Chrome’s 'new tab' page," Google said.
For Google Docs and Calendar, the functionality is even more limited. Offline support for the two Google apps is not yet available to all, but will be rolled out over the next few days.
When enabled, users will have the option of enabling offline mode for the sites. They'll be able to switch between the two modes. When offline, documents, spreadsheets and so on are available only for viewing, editing is not supported yet. Calendar users can view their schedule and RSVP for events.