[tdawg00]

Does Google have something against messaging counters?? I mean its strange that in ICS there is a counter within the apps like Messages, Gmail and the regular email app, but why cant the option to see that number on the icon like most major mobile OS's?

And I cant just download an app for it because the Gmail icon doesnt work with any of them. The mail icon doesnt work unless you actually download a entire program.

I wish Google would make a message center type notification system like BBberrys.... just saying

[Mooem]

From a UI perspective, message counters on the home screen or app drawer icons would be redundant since all your notifications are visible, counted, and accessible from the status bar and notification tray. Although I think a visible counter for individual notifications on the status bar would be nice so we can remove that extra step in pulling down the notification tray to see how many messages you received.

As far as Gmail is concerned...since the 2.3.5 update, Google has "fixed" permissions in the gmail client that prevents third-party apps from accessing it. Thus any third party widgets or message counters will no longer work with Gmail. They did this, apparently, for "security" reasons.

There are workarounds to the gmail permissions fix but it requires root access.


There are some other notification counter solutions...

You could always try NotifierPro


It gives you a semi-obtrusive banner that works with Gmail, Google Voice, SMS, missed calls, and a host of other apps. It can be positioned at the on-top or right below the status bar, in the middle of the screen, or at the very bottom of the screen. The only thing is that it only displays the latest notification(s) you received one at time a time until you swipe it away to view the next one. It does count as well.

There are other solutions such as lock screen replacements and/or widgets like Executive Assistant (which can work with Gmail).

The only thing is it's pretty pricey for an app. There's a free adware version but you can't use the widget in that one.

I'm sure there are some others out there but I haven't really tried them all.

[Bobaroo]

I would love a message counter type program or app. I loved on my blackberry knowing how many texts, bbm, email, fb notifications, tweets etc I had. I also like how when you pulled down the notification bar everything was sorted by type (i think iOS does this too).

I miss gtalk messages all the time because I don't realize I have more then one message

[TabGuy]

There are hundreds of email apps and email providers. How is it the responsibility of Android to dip into each app, figure out its APIs if there are any, and then extract how many unread messages there are?

.

[tdawg00]

There are hundreds of email apps and email providers. How is it the responsibility of Android to dip into each app, figure out its APIs if there are any, and then extract how many unread messages there are?

.

These are native apps... And I am sure it as simple as adding a API for those apps to read. The messages are only getting stored in one place. APIs come from Google not Developers btw... So I dont understand what you are getting at.

[jakeh0]

There are hundreds of email apps and email providers. How is it the responsibility of Android to dip into each app, figure out its APIs if there are any, and then extract how many unread messages there are?

.

well RIM does it...probably by providing design standards for OS integration

[tdawg00]

From a UI perspective, message counters on the home screen or app drawer icons would be redundant since all your notifications are visible, counted, and accessible from the status bar and notification tray. Although I think a visible counter for individual notifications on the status bar would be nice so we can remove that extra step in pulling down the notification tray to see how many messages you received.

As far as Gmail is concerned...since the 2.3.5 update, Google has "fixed" permissions in the gmail client that prevents third-party apps from accessing it. Thus any third party widgets or message counters will no longer work with Gmail. They did this, apparently, for "security" reasons.

There are workarounds to the gmail permissions fix but it requires root access.


There are some other notification counter solutions...

You could always try NotifierPro


It gives you a semi-obtrusive banner that works with Gmail, Google Voice, SMS, missed calls, and a host of other apps. It can be positioned at the on-top or right below the status bar, in the middle of the screen, or at the very bottom of the screen. The only thing is that it only displays the latest notification(s) you received one at time a time until you swipe it away to view the next one. It does count as well.

There are other solutions such as lock screen replacements and/or widgets like Executive Assistant (which can work with Gmail).

The only thing is it's pretty pricey for an app. There's a free adware version but you can't use the widget in that one.

I'm sure there are some others out there but I haven't really tried them all.

I know there are apps for stuff like this, i am just wondering why Google doesnt have this feature in the first place.

Again, the feature exist within the Gapps themselves but the icons dont show anything. I am stock apps type of guy, I dont like customizing that much unless it comes from Google. That why I have a Nexus and not a Droid with Motoblur...Or HTC sense.

This seems standard to me... I