Filed under: Business, Internet, Windows Mobile, E-mail, Productivity, Google, IBM, Freeware, How-Tos
How to run Gmail locally on a Pocket PC
Pocket PC users are kind of screwed when it comes to mobility software. Although our devices are far more capable than modern phones, almost all online mobility software caters to the phone using contingent. Consider Gmail Mobile - although it's a nice pared-down interface for mobile phone users, on a Pocket PC it's horrendous to use, particularly if you don't happen to have a Windows Mobile powered phone. Google Reader Mobile is similar - so pared down that Bloglines kicks its ass on a Pocket PC. So I was pretty disappointed when Google released a new downloadable client for mobile phones that makes using Gmail a lot faster and more enjoyable on mobile devices, since Google's definition of mobile devices appears to be "mobile phones". And this got me to thinking, since the new downloadable Gmail Mobile client is written in Java, shouldn't there be some way to run a Java virtual machine on my Pocket PC 2003 Dell Axim X50v? And it turns out, there is!
A little bit of Google-fu later, and I had found this forum post that describes a way to download a Java virtual machine for Pocket PCs - exactly what I had been looking for. Since the application is from IBM, it involves jumping through a ton of account registration pages, which is a bit of a pain, and then downloading the ridiculous 45 MB installer, to install a 3 MB file on your Pocket PC. Yeah, I know - but it's Java and it's from IBM, so I'm sure there are all sorts of ridiculous reasons why this thing had to be that big. Note, it can be confusing looking at the list of available downloads. I clicked through to the HTTP download option, and chose "WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment 5.7.2 - MIDP 2.0 for Windows Mobile 2003 2nd Edition".
Anyway, once it's installed (and you've done a soft-boot of your Pocket PC, this is important), it's a simple matter of visiting http://gmail.com/apps on your mobile device, and clicking on the link at the top that says "Get faster Gmail". Now this is the tricky part - you need to visit that link after logging out of Gmail Mobile, if you had previously been logged in. Otherwise you'll just be very confused at this point, like I was.
Okay, now you're almost there. Clicking the link above will launch the IBM MIDlet List application, and allow you to install the Gmail java application. Click Yes and OK on the dialog buttons as they appear, and quickly you'll be looking at a login dialog for Gmail. This is another tricky part - when you tap into the username field, you'll get a full-page editor that will come up. Don't be daunted, just put in your Gmail username, then tap to hide your soft keyboard, and choose the Done button hiding at the bottom. It works the same way for your password field.
You'll likely run into a few security dialogs as it logs in, where it asks if it can use your airtime to download your Gmail. Since you're doing this on a Pocket PC, ostensibly via Wifi, Bob's your uncle, go nuts. (In other words, click OK).
And now you're in there. You'll notice what everyone has been saying about this little application is true - it's fast! For me there are only a couple of frustrations - one, it's not particularly readable on my Pocket PC as it doesn't take advantage of native text rendering, but I'm willing to overlook that. The other point is more annoying, but likely an artifact of the hackey way we've made this work; if you have the same experience I do, you'll find that the application won't allow itself to be restarted later. You'll have to uninstall and reinstall it every time you want use it to view your Gmail. I simply left the downloaded .jar file on my Pocket PC, and uninstall and reinstall it via the MIDlet List application whenever I want to use it. It installs so quickly that it's hardly an issue. Maybe you'll have better luck in that respect.
And that's it - enjoy!
Anyway, once it's installed (and you've done a soft-boot of your Pocket PC, this is important), it's a simple matter of visiting http://gmail.com/apps on your mobile device, and clicking on the link at the top that says "Get faster Gmail". Now this is the tricky part - you need to visit that link after logging out of Gmail Mobile, if you had previously been logged in. Otherwise you'll just be very confused at this point, like I was.
Okay, now you're almost there. Clicking the link above will launch the IBM MIDlet List application, and allow you to install the Gmail java application. Click Yes and OK on the dialog buttons as they appear, and quickly you'll be looking at a login dialog for Gmail. This is another tricky part - when you tap into the username field, you'll get a full-page editor that will come up. Don't be daunted, just put in your Gmail username, then tap to hide your soft keyboard, and choose the Done button hiding at the bottom. It works the same way for your password field.
You'll likely run into a few security dialogs as it logs in, where it asks if it can use your airtime to download your Gmail. Since you're doing this on a Pocket PC, ostensibly via Wifi, Bob's your uncle, go nuts. (In other words, click OK).
And now you're in there. You'll notice what everyone has been saying about this little application is true - it's fast! For me there are only a couple of frustrations - one, it's not particularly readable on my Pocket PC as it doesn't take advantage of native text rendering, but I'm willing to overlook that. The other point is more annoying, but likely an artifact of the hackey way we've made this work; if you have the same experience I do, you'll find that the application won't allow itself to be restarted later. You'll have to uninstall and reinstall it every time you want use it to view your Gmail. I simply left the downloaded .jar file on my Pocket PC, and uninstall and reinstall it via the MIDlet List application whenever I want to use it. It installs so quickly that it's hardly an issue. Maybe you'll have better luck in that respect.
And that's it - enjoy!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Hansen said 1:35PM on 11-06-2006
Rather than go through all of those hoops, I just got the POP working for GMail in the native Pocket PC mail app. Works fine and doesn't take up more precious memory.
Reply
Shawn said 2:52PM on 11-06-2006
Or you can get this midlet manager (the intent manager): ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Wizard/Misc/Intent_MIDlet_manager.cab
Its small, a cab file you can copy straight over, and is faster than the IBM version.
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Shawn said 2:53PM on 11-06-2006
Or you can get this midlet manager (the intent manager):
ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Wizard/Misc/Intent_MIDlet_manager.cab
-- It's small, a cab file you can drag over to your PPC and is faster than the IBM version.
Shawn
Reply
Shawn said 2:45PM on 11-06-2006
Or you can get this midlet manager (the intent manager): ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Wizard/Misc/Intent_MIDlet_manager.cab
Its small, a cab file you can copy straight over, and is faster than the IBM version.
Reply
Shawn said 2:53PM on 11-06-2006
I should also mention using a midlet manager lets you use other programs like Google Maps and Opera Mini.
Shawn
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Ted said 12:24AM on 11-07-2006
You shouldn't have to reinstall it each time.
IBM's program also works for Google Maps.
Although I like the Gmail interface, I prefer Emoze since it checks all my Gmail accounts at once automatically.
Reply
Zoltan said 12:48PM on 11-07-2006
Wow, I thought MS or Sun would have ported Java to WindowsCE/Mobile a while ago - but then I guess MS/Sun are still not on great terms all these years later.
I used to use intent back when I was doing apps for the AmigaDE platform (basically some custom libraries on top of intent) and I heard they had a great Java VM (along with some excellent technology in intent), glad to hear they're still going.
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Andy said 7:36PM on 11-07-2006
Google should just make a program for pocket PC's. I have windows mobile 5.0 and I am shocked by how little good programs there are.
Reply
Brad said 1:56PM on 11-15-2006
Has anyone successfully done this on a Motorola Q?
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xakep said 5:01PM on 11-18-2006
IBM's program works for Google Maps.
Reply
Laddy said 11:10PM on 11-23-2006
Could someone provide some info on how to get Maps Mobile to work using the IBM Java virtual machine on WM 5.0. I have Gmail working but for some reason can't get Maps to work. Thanks in advance.
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Yaron said 11:02AM on 12-11-2006
I spent a lot of time futzing with this and came to the conclusion that it's really not worth it. I've found the best option is to set up a free account at www.mail2web.com, set your gmail to forward (not via POP) your e-mails to your mail2web address, then use ActiveSync to autosync with the mail2web exchange server (the settings for this are in the mail2web KB). Then voila, gmail autopush on your PPC. It works great, and doesn't require any installs or emulators or shitty text rendering. The only downside so far is that outgoing mail comes from your mail2web address, not your gmail. If anybody finds a work around for that, let me know!
Also, forget Google Maps for mobile. Get the new Windows Live Mobile Beta search. It's faster and feels like an app app, as opposed to a web app. Also has handy traffic indicators.
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