Gmail Push frequency question, not getting email immediately

[jetspeedz]

I'm a little baffled here, I was under the impression Gmail on android is push email. I come from the blackberry world where emails are almost instant. I have checked the account setting and Sync is turned on. I sent myself a test email and it showed up on my desktop instantly. On the new S6 edge with gmail app open in the background it did nothing until I manually Synced the phone than it showed up.

Is there a setting or something i can change to make sure it is pushed from google servers immediately?

thanks

 

[maildroiddev]

The Gmail app is using true push technology and usually works well, but there are times when it just fails for days. Many users have had this issue over the years. You can download our app, MailDroid which uses Idle push technology for Gmail and could be an alternative option if you continue to have issues with Gmail or just want a more powerful client.

 

[jetspeedz]

Does MailDroid rely on google servers? If so i don't see how it can be any different than using the Gmail app relying on the same servers, now if you offered your own mail server @xxx than I can see it being a huge plus in terms of push advantage. I'll take a look at the app but I'm more concerned with understanding why the delay even occurs. I guess that is one of the tradeoffs between blackberry and android ill have to deal with.

With that said the default email app which is part of the ROM how much more reliable is that than Gmail app, I assume it also relies on gmail for push rather than pull and polling intervals?

thanks

 

[maildroiddev]

Gmail though as an IMAP server (it also can use POP) has 2 forms of connectivity. True Push and Idle Push. So although they both speak to the same server, the connection to get mail is different. With True Push, like Blackberry PINS you will have a PIN and connection is based on that, but the PIN can and sometimes does get messed up on the Google side. With Idle Push, it sends a network ping to basically say 'I am alive', if you have mail, 'push me new mail'. This is how IMAP Idle works. So that is why it works with Idle and may fail with the pin.

 

[Crashdamage]

Gmail 'true' push service is supposed to be superior to IMAP IDLE 'faux' push service. Quicker and more reliable. In practice - no.

I get quick, reliable notifications using IMAP IDLE with Gmail and AquaMail. No problems. I would expect Maildroid, K-9 and most other popular email clients would give fine results like AquaMail.

Android since v1.0. Linux user since 2001.

 

[jetspeedz]

Thanks guys, i'll miss the true push from blackberry devices even on OS10 but this idle push is less then desirable so far. Without a doubt i never had any delivery issues with blackberry and email.

With regards to the email program that comes with the phone, is it safe to say the only difference is the interface between gmail, aquamail, maildroid, k-9 etc. B/c with android unless it is pop all IMAP is idle. Seems regardless off the interface I'm still at the mercy of google and IMAP idle

 

[jetspeedz]

With Idle Push, it sends a network ping to basically say 'I am alive', if you have mail, 'push me new mail'. This is how IMAP Idle works.

Can you explain to me the frequency of the phone sending this ping command. The issue i see here over and over again with tests I'm performing is that the emails are not instant, takes minutes and if i manually sync it comes right in. At least with BB you can set the sync interval but this is not available as far as i can see on the lolipop menus unless im missing something?

 

[maildroiddev]

They all use Idle, but it is a matter of how it is implemented, all of us are implemented differently. In addition, you'd have to consider other features you want that maybe MailDroid has that one of the others do not or vice-versa.

 

[maildroiddev]

Most users see Idle as basically instant...unless of course you have no network connectivity at all (which would be a problem anyway with the Gmail app).

 

[jetspeedz]

Got it thanks, i'll check out maildroid and others, I'm sitting here with my phone on the charger and getting emails showing up on my desktop but the phone is not making any notification sounds even though i have it set to notify on every new message. odd

 

[Crashdamage]

I have no problems with IMAP IDLE. I've used it for a long time and it's been reliable and usually sends notifications in seconds. Once you settle on an email client you're happy with, I doubt you'll miss BB mail.

Android since v1.0. Linux user since 2001.

 

[jetspeedz]

I hope you are right, BB email in my opinion is the pinnacle of how it should work. It was better when gmail supported EAS but it is what it is now a days.

 

[anon8380037]

This should be a Stickie, or expanded in to a guide.

 

[jetspeedz]

I'm sure the topic has been beaten to death but if there was an email sticky it would be helpful for new folks like myself.

 

[atrixfll]

Maildroid is great and fast.. but its missing a MAJOR convenience...

when you get a notification it opens up the email in the app..

it does not have functions to reply/delete from the notification

 

[jetspeedz]

Good info, my wife has used k9, aqua and didn't like the interface compared to gmail but i'm going to give them all a shoot, the lack of the notification function is big i use it all the time on gmail now.

 

[maildroiddev]

Yep, we are aware and plan to address it in a version coming soon.