Recently iLegendSoft updated two apps that I have recently reviewed – Gmail Push and their Mercury Browser. Of those two, one is a worthy upgrade, and the other I had deleted before the day was over so I could reinstall the older version.
First, the good news: Gmail Push has more than just a cosmetic update with a new, yet slightly unflattering, icon. These major changes include:
- now you can now access your Gmail in landscape mode;
- customize the push notification to include or exclude a badge and the elements of your choice – sender, mail subject, and preview;
- the integration of a web browser that allows multiple tabs (Mercury Browser I assume). That means not only can you navigate around Gmail, any link in an email will take you directly to the website without opening Safari. There are 6 unobtrusive navigation buttons (Forward, Back, Home – which brings you back to the email that contained the links to begin with, Compose Mail – a handy feature, Settings, and Display Tabs) that might bother left-handed scrollers since they are justified left at the bottom;
- for those concerned with the privacy of giving out your Google credentials, there is now a Forward Mode which allows you to receive mail notifications (see instructions).
Now the bad news: Mercury Browser 2.0 didn’t even make it a full day on my iPhone before being removed.
What was touted in the upgrade was a “redesign in user UI, and download files management.” What was actually added was a splash screen (see top), a Stop loading popup box, and different navigation buttons images, one useful “Full Screen” toggle, and one useless “all-about-Mercury-Browser-Pro” in the bottom right corner (see above).
I have to agree with several of the latest reviews that stated that the free version removed certain functions (such as Private Browsing) and migrated it to a Pro- version that is currently unavailable in the App Store (and at the time of this writing, a 404 link on iLegendSoft’s website). Maybe I would have changed my mind with a little more time – since I never utilized the Download Management feature – but I was so irritated with the changes that I wanted my old version back.
If you never knew what you were missing, version 2.0 is still a step up over Safari. But if you upgraded and are as disappointed (or not), let us know!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I installed the pro version a few days ago, and it's buggy I emailed the author about the issues. It is available in the app store under the cheesy name A+ mercury browser
Thanks – I think? – for how to locate the "pro" version. If it's buggy and has the same dysfunctional GUI I encountered with the free version, it's an unfortunate release before the app is ready.
Just changed the icon of my Gmail Push to Ilumine's Gmail icon, which looks a lot better. For reference, you've got to rename the file "Gmail Push.png
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