Gmail and 'leave on server' problem

[bbarker]

I have searched the archives and I can't find a discussion that addresses my complete question.

I decided to replace my regular POP3 email account with Gmail, which works fine with Outlook 2003 on my PC. So I set it up on my PPC (Windows Mobile 2003SE) as well.

But there's a serious problem.

When I download emails to my PPC they're no longer available to download in Outlook on my PC. I check email on my PPC when I'm away from my office but I still want to get it on my PC later. With my other POP3 account it works fine.

I discovered this in Gmail's help system:
Please note, Gmail doesn't support 'leave on server' configurations or configurations that download the first portion of a message only. Because of this, it can take a long time and use up a lot of storage to retrieve your Gmail messages via POP.
So apparently it won't work the way I need it to work. Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

[Menneisyys]

I have searched the archives and I can't find a discussion that addresses my complete question.

I decided to replace my regular POP3 email account with Gmail, which works fine with Outlook 2003 on my PC. So I set it up on my PPC (Windows Mobile 2003SE) as well.

But there's a serious problem.

When I download emails to my PPC they're no longer available to download in Outlook on my PC. I check email on my PPC when I'm away from my office but I still want to get it on my PC later. With my other POP3 account it works fine.

I discovered this in Gmail's help system:
Please note, Gmail doesn't support 'leave on server' configurations or configurations that download the first portion of a message only. Because of this, it can take a long time and use up a lot of storage to retrieve your Gmail messages via POP.
So apparently it won't work the way I need it to work. Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

Not sure if it'll work or not (haven't had the time to test it myself): try the 999k trick described at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=235293

[bbarker]

The 999k trick solves the problem, sort of. Thank you for pointed me to it; I may never have found it on my own. The problem is that I end up downloading large emails, even if I don't want to look at them on my PPC, rather than just short headers. This takes up RAM.

It is looking like I won't be able to use Gmail as my main POP3 account. Too bad.

[Menneisyys]

The 999k trick solves the problem, sort of. Thank you for pointed me to it; I may never have found it on my own.

You're welcome :)

The problem is that I end up downloading large emails, even if I don't want to look at them on my PPC, rather than just short headers. This takes up RAM.

It is looking like I won't be able to use Gmail as my main POP3 account. Too bad.

You can. Just use an e-mail client that doesn't hide mail that have the "read" flag on the POP3 server. I've thoroughly elaborated on these questions in my mailer-related articles and in my forum / newsgroups posts.

I recommend either FlexMail 2007 or Qmail; please see the Mailer Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=569&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) for more info.

[salem]

An alternative is to use Gmail Mobile (http://m.gmail.com ) . I've now abondoned downloading any email via pop3 client now. Just leave all emails on the gmail server, and read the plain text version through GPRS and i'm really satisifed with it now.

[bbarker]

I tried testing http://m.gmail.com on my desktop computer and it wouldn't open. Is it available only via GPRS?

[Menneisyys]

I tried testing http://m.gmail.com on my desktop computer and it wouldn't open. Is it available only via GPRS?

Nope, it's a WAP site, this is why it doesn't open from a non-WAP-capable desktop browser like IE. It will, however, work in both Opera and Firefox / Mozilla, as will in the PPC PIE / NetFront. (Also see http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=483&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 for more info on PPC WAP q's)

[bbarker]

If I use the WAP Gmail Mobile, will my desktop computer still be able to download the messages via POP3? That's my goal here: to use GMail as a POP3 account on my desktop computer, but also be able to check my email when I'm out. I want emails I check on my PPC to still download to my desktop computer, as with my other POP3 accounts.

[salem]

If I use the WAP Gmail Mobile, will my desktop computer still be able to download the messages via POP3? That's my goal here: to use GMail as a POP3 account on my desktop computer, but also be able to check my email when I'm out. I want emails I check on my PPC to still download to my desktop computer, as with my other POP3 accounts.

oh, sure you can do it.

Go to Gmail.com, click [settings] --> [Forwarding and Pop] -->
2. When messages are accessed with POP, choose [Keep Gmail's Copy in inbox]

That's what i did before, but as time goes by, you'll be annoyed with keeping up all emails at local, and leave everything on the server.

[Menneisyys]

Also see Also see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=290662

[Menneisyys]

Another quick hack: When you set up Outlook, in the Username field (where you'd type "[email protected]", enter it as "recent:[email protected]". This will only bring up the newer headers. Works OK for me.