Google held an event at Mobile World Congress to demo several of its latest technologies, including Maps for the Palm Pre and offline Gmail for the iPhone. The Maps webapp is coded completely in HTML5 and uses the integrated WebKit engine instead of working as a native app, while retaining the same functionality, according to Pre Community. The interface supports multitouch input and offers the standard features of the desktop-browser variant. Google demonstrated a webapp for the iPhone 3G that provides offline functionality for Gmail, according to iPhonebuzz. Users can access all of their messages while outside of cellular networks or in airplane mode. The app uses AppCache and Database to keep a local backup of the software and user data. Messages can be labeled while offline and a floating toolbar tracks e-mail browsing. Good job Google!
-Ray
February 19, 2009
Apple News