Android/iOS apps - offline access

hitoriangasu · 13 Jan 2019, 02:46 AM

I'm disappointed to see that the updates to the apps are, from a user perspective, primarily cosmetic. Perhaps this isn't important to everyone, but not having offline access to a cached collection of emails is a significant limitation. I travel a lot for business - which means long hours spent on planes - and I otherwise often do not have internet access (for example when I am inside buildings or underground). My emails are therefore, at least when I am using the FastMail apps, inaccessible.

The lack of this feature means that people are potentially being pushed towards potentially dubious third-party apps. While I think that the third-party email app that I have come to rely on is fine, I would prefer to be able to access my email from within the FastMail ecosystem - that's the ecosystem that I trust.

I see a lot of email users on Android (where the native email apps are often dire) extolling the virtues of many email apps which I would never use - mail.ru being one - or apps which, while probably safe enough for a casual user, store emails on their own servers prior to delivering them to the user's phone. I would have expected that FastMail users, especially business users, would not have to rely on a potentially risky third-party app when FastMail makes a feature of having its own apps.

It's a shame as FastMail is otherwise excellent.

Berenburger · 13 Jan 2019, 06:58 AM

They are working on it since 2015: http://www.emaildiscussions.com/show...28&postcount=5
Someday it's coming.

EricG · 14 Jan 2019, 08:57 AM

We really need some EMD FAQs! This topic keeps coming up.

There is a built-in IMAP/EAS email program in Android (gmail) and iOS. I can't remember how configurable IMAP folder sync is on Android. I use EAS with outlook.com and folders can be selected. It's all documented by fastmail.

hitoriangasu · 15 Jan 2019, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricG

We really need some EMD FAQs! This topic keeps coming up.

There is a built-in IMAP/EAS email program in Android (gmail) and iOS. I can't remember how configurable IMAP folder sync is on Android. I use EAS with outlook.com and folders can be selected. It's all documented by fastmail.

I'm glad you've found a solution to your needs, but the Gmail App on Android is pretty primitive and doesn't support multiple identities. It's a good basic option, but not a full-featured solution for my needs.

TenFour · 14 Feb 2023, 09:56 PM

I suspect FairEmail would be ideal for what you want to do. Has just about every option you could imagine. https://email.faircode.eu/

13 Jan 2019, 02:46 AM	#1
hitoriangasu Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 21	Android/iOS apps - offline access I'm disappointed to see that the updates to the apps are, from a user perspective, primarily cosmetic. Perhaps this isn't important to everyone, but not having offline access to a cached collection of emails is a significant limitation. I travel a lot for business - which means long hours spent on planes - and I otherwise often do not have internet access (for example when I am inside buildings or underground). My emails are therefore, at least when I am using the FastMail apps, inaccessible. The lack of this feature means that people are potentially being pushed towards potentially dubious third-party apps. While I think that the third-party email app that I have come to rely on is fine, I would prefer to be able to access my email from within the FastMail ecosystem - that's the ecosystem that I trust. I see a lot of email users on Android (where the native email apps are often dire) extolling the virtues of many email apps which I would never use - mail.ru being one - or apps which, while probably safe enough for a casual user, store emails on their own servers prior to delivering them to the user's phone. I would have expected that FastMail users, especially business users, would not have to rely on a potentially risky third-party app when FastMail makes a feature of having its own apps. It's a shame as FastMail is otherwise excellent. Last edited by hitoriangasu : 13 Jan 2019 at 02:52 AM.

13 Jan 2019, 06:58 AM	#2
Berenburger The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,905	They are working on it since 2015: http://www.emaildiscussions.com/show...28&postcount=5 Someday it's coming.

14 Jan 2019, 08:57 AM	#3
EricG Essential Contributor Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 296	We really need some EMD FAQs! This topic keeps coming up. There is a built-in IMAP/EAS email program in Android (gmail) and iOS. I can't remember how configurable IMAP folder sync is on Android. I use EAS with outlook.com and folders can be selected. It's all documented by fastmail.

14 Feb 2023, 09:56 PM	#5
TenFour Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 1,722	I suspect FairEmail would be ideal for what you want to do. Has just about every option you could imagine. https://email.faircode.eu/