Leopard : Apple Mail + Gmail + IMAP (video)
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Google just added IMAP support to GMail a few days ago. My personal account was upgraded but I am still waiting for my Google for your domain account to upgrade. Right after I installed leopard, I setup my Apple Mail to connect to my Gmail account using IMAP (setup instructions)
[If you can’t see the video, click here]
The good thing about this setup is that my tasks and notes are synced with my gmail account. It is not a perfect sync, since they just show up as messages in my “All Mail” folder labeled with Apple-specific labels.
One thing that bothered me, is the constant sync message that keeps popping up as I worked on notes and/or tasks. I am not sure what’s going on here… any ideas?
I have always used Microsoft Outlook on my PC because everything is integrated in one place, calendar, tasks, email, contacts and notes. Initially, I contemplated moving over to an all-apple (and Gmail) solution, but until they figure out all these sync messages and when Gmail adds true support for tasks and notes, I am going to have to wait. Plus, Entourage 2008 beta is looking really good(screenshots).
[updated]
Here is a quick video that shows you how to properly associate your trash, spam, drafts and sent folders with the correct Gmail folders when using IMAP
[If you can’t see the video, click here]
Question: why isn’t Apple Mail called iMail?
Josh Pyles | Oct 27, 2007 | Reply
There’s a lot more to it then that…
Set the IMAP prefix to [Gmail] in settings
Click on the Spam folder under Gmail and choose (finder menu) Mailbox -> Use this mailbox for: -> Junk
Do this for all the folders that make sense (Drafts to drafts—that one might automatically set, not sure) Sent Mail to Sent Messages.
Be careful though, an incorrect setup can lead to sending your message every one minute while you’re typing it, that happened to me.
Josh Pyles | Oct 27, 2007 | Reply
Well now that i’ve seen your last video it looks like you actually figured that last part out. Still change your prefix though, it will take away that [Gmail] thing
Emad | Oct 27, 2007 | Reply
Thanks Josh, it’s working good now. I also got it working on my iphone as well.
My Google for your domain account has been upgraded and IMAP is working on my iphone great. I love it.
Jack | Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
I am having problems with Notes showing up multiple times. The only fix I could find is disable storing notes on the server from the preference screen. It’s not ideal but having every note show up multiple times is annoying.
Any better solutions out there?
David Johnston | Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
In answer to Jack’s question…
I was having the same problem Jack. The notes work by simply e-mailing yourself. Now I use a comma separated list of e-mail addresses in the “Address” field when setting up my account. When I made a note, Mail was sending these out to all of the addresses listed, which for me meant that they all landed back in the one place resulting in multiple copies. The fix was to only have one email address for that account. Sucks I know…
David Johnston | Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
You know I thought I had the problem worked out. As soon as I clicked on all mail I’d be presented with multiple copies of the note again.
I also found that the previous versions of notes and older notes would be forever in my GMail account only visible in “All Mail” I had a massive thread in there called “New Note”.
As long as I didn’t click on “All Mail” it appears to work.
Something’s really broken.
Peter | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Josh,
The problem with having your prefix as [Gmail] is that you no longer see your labels. I have filters for my labels on gmail and that allows me to have filters in one place.
On the minus side. Mail seems to not retrieve messages as soon as they come in. I had a smoother response time with Thunderbird, however, I prefer using mail. Give and take I gues.