Google on Tuesday unveiled a standalone version of its Gmail app that will not be tied to the Android operating system. It also added a limited version of its Priority Inbox to the mobile app.
Removing the app from Android means that Google can roll out updates for the Gmail app whenever it wants - not just when the wireless carriers release an updated version of Android.
"Now you can get new Gmail stuff faster without having to wait for system updates," Google said in a blog post.
Google took advantage of this option immediately, adding a few updates to the Gmail app, one of which incorporates its new Priority Inbox feature. Last month, Google added a feature to Gmail that will place your most important messages on the top of your Gmail inbox. A limited version of this Priority Inbox is now available via the Android app.
"If you've enabled Priority Inbox via the desktop version of Gmail, you'll see an 'Important' label that shows all messages flagged as important," Google said. "You can even add a shortcut to 'Important' to your home screen."
The company also added improved message reply. As you scroll through an e-mail on your phone, a bar with the option to star, reply, or go back will remain at the top of the screen, so you don't have to scroll all the way back up to the top to make your next move.
"Your most important message actions will now stick to the top of the screen, one click away, no matter how long the e-mail is," Google said.
Google also added the "show quoted text" link found in the desktop version of Gmail to its mobile app so users can more easily view previous message content.
The app is avaiable now in the Android Market. The updates are available for phones running Android 2.2 Froyo, so for now, it will work on the Nexus One, the HTC EVO 4G, the Droid, Droid 2, and - starting Wednesday - the Droid X.
Google later said there is a known issue where the headers don't stick properly on some HTC phones like the EVO 4G and Droid Incredible, but the company is "working to address this."
