Gmail adds offline attachments

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 25 Nov 2009 at 08:33

Gmail has added a new feature which allows users to clip attachments to sent messages, even when offline.

Gmail uses Google Gears to cache a version of the inbox locally, providing access to both sent and received messages even if an internet connection isn't available.

This latest feature is a further attempt by Google to turn the webmail service into an all-encompassing email client.

"If you have Offline Gmail enabled, you'll notice that all your mail now goes through the outbox, regardless of whether you're online or offline," says Google engineer Andy Palay on the Gmail blog. "This allows Gmail to capture all attachments, even if you suddenly get disconnected from network. If you're online, your mail will quickly be sent along to its destination."

Gmail will, of course, be the email client of choice for Google's Chrome OS, which is entirely dependent on web apps. Although Chrome OS stores all user data in the cloud, applications such as Gmail will be able to cache data locally to allow them to be used offline.