Techstravaganza

Gmail on the iPhone and iPad, Techstravaganza 2.0 for Thursday, Dec 11, 2025

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Gmail app navigation and interface

Siena and Ali demonstrated the basic navigation of the Gmail app interface.

  • Details
    • Siena: Showed the navigation menu, compose button, and search field at the top of the screen
    • Siena: Explained that multiple email accounts can be added to the Gmail app
    • Siena: Pointed out the Gemini AI integration within the Gmail app
    • Ivy: Mentioned she has a different layout with compose and search at the bottom of her screen
    • Siena: Clarified that Ivy was likely using the native Mail app rather than the Gmail app
    • Conclusion
      • The Gmail app has a consistent layout with navigation menu, search field, and compose button at the top
      • The app supports multiple email accounts and includes Gemini AI integration
        • Reading emails in Gmail

        The presenters demonstrated how to read individual emails in the Gmail app.

        • Details
          • Siena: Showed how to open an email by double-tapping on it
          • Siena: Demonstrated the email reading interface with options like close, archive, delete, and mark as unread at the top
          • Siena: Explained how to navigate through the email content by swiping right with one finger
          • Siena: Showed how to close an email using the close button at the top
          • Siena: Demonstrated using VoiceOver’s action menu to manage emails from the inbox view
          • Conclusion
            • The Gmail app provides a straightforward interface for reading emails
            • Users can easily navigate through email content using VoiceOver gestures
            • Email management actions are available both within the email and from the inbox view
              • Navigating conversation threads

              A significant portion of the session focused on navigating conversation threads (email chains) in the Gmail app.

              • Details
                • Siena: Demonstrated how to identify and open conversation threads
                • Siena: Showed that Gmail displays the number of emails in a conversation
                • Siena: Explained that Gmail shows threads in chronological order (oldest first)
                • Ali: Demonstrated how to expand and collapse individual messages within a thread
                • Siena: Showed how to navigate between messages using headings or form controls in VoiceOver
                • Ivy: Asked about the difference between using headings and form controls for navigation
                • Conclusion
                  • Gmail app displays conversation threads in chronological order (oldest first), unlike the Mail app
                  • Users can expand or collapse individual messages within a thread
                  • VoiceOver users can navigate between messages using either headings or form controls
                    • Replying to emails

                    Ali demonstrated how to reply to specific messages within conversation threads.

                    • Details
                      • Ali: Showed how to select a specific message within a thread to reply to
                      • Ali: Demonstrated that when the reply button is activated, it replies to the currently selected message
                      • Ali: Compared this to the Mail app’s approach to replying to messages in threads
                      • Siena: Noted that Gmail makes it clearer which message you’re replying to
                      • Conclusion
                        • The Gmail app makes it easier to identify which message you’re replying to within a thread
                        • Users can select specific messages within a thread to reply to them directly
                          • Composing emails

                          Ali demonstrated how to compose new emails in the Gmail app.

                          • Details
                            • Ali: Showed how to access the compose button
                            • Ali: Demonstrated adding recipients in the To and CC fields
                            • Ali: Showed how to add a subject and message body
                            • Ali: Demonstrated using dictation for message composition
                            • Ali: Showed options for discarding drafts and sending messages
                            • Conclusion
                              • The Gmail app provides a straightforward interface for composing new emails
                              • Users can easily add recipients, subject, and message content
                              • The app supports dictation for message composition
                                • Gmail app settings and customization

                                The presenters explored various settings and customization options in the Gmail app.

                                • Details
                                  • Ali: Demonstrated how to access settings through the navigation menu
                                  • Ali: Showed how to customize mail swipe actions
                                  • Ali: Explained signature settings and how they sync with web signatures
                                  • Siena: Noted that Gmail synchronizes signatures across devices, unlike the native Mail app
                                  • Ivy: Asked about how to establish and manage signatures
                                  • Conclusion
                                    • Gmail app offers various customization options through settings
                                    • Users can customize swipe actions to personalize email management
                                    • Signatures can be synchronized across devices when using the web signature option
                                      • Advantages of Gmail app over native Mail app

                                      Throughout the session, several advantages of the Gmail app over the native Mail app were highlighted.

                                      • Details
                                        • Siena: Mentioned that Gmail delivers notifications more promptly than the native Mail app
                                        • Siena: Noted that Gmail integrates with Google Calendar for event invitations
                                        • Siena: Explained that Gmail’s thread navigation is more intuitive
                                        • Ali: Demonstrated that Gmail synchronizes signatures across devices
                                        • Siena: Pointed out that Gmail allows collapsing and expanding individual messages in threads
                                        • Conclusion
                                          • Gmail app offers better notification delivery and calendar integration
                                          • The app provides more intuitive thread navigation and management
                                          • Gmail synchronizes settings like signatures across devices

                                            • Next week is our annual Zoom tutorial, on Wednesday, Dec 17. Depending on what time allows, there will possibly be a follow up on the evening of Dec 18, more information nearer to the day.

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                                            TechstravaganzaBy Ali Moosa, Macara Slobodian, and Siena Trigiani