The good folks over at the Gmail Blog announced this a few days ago:

“that gmail users can choose which labels to sync in IMAP — useful if you find your mail client choking on a big [Gmail]/All Mail folder”

In plain English, I now get to choose which labels show up on my mobile device. This is significant for folks that utilize filters to manage their email.

Filters are marvelous little features that allow you to keep up with email easier. Like most email clients, Gmail allows users to set up rules that automatically move emails out of the Inbox and into a pre-determined bucket.

A filter system makes it easier to avoid what I like to call, “Noise”.  Filters save time. Filters cut down distractions.

What does this mean for the iPhone?

Since I have many filters setup on Gmail, what ends up on the iPhone is a large and cumbersome mail folder structure. The announcement today from Gmail removes one big frustration.

Now I can choose which labels stay in the cloud and which end up on the iPhone. This allows the important emails to get through…….and results in much less noise when I’m mobile. Thank you Gmail.

Have a good week.

Regards ~ JB

Google has addressed a large shortcoming in its web-based email platform tonight. An update to the Gmail contacts feature is circulating.

The new feature updates the contact functionality. Specifically, My Contacts has changed. It is intended to become the landing page for all ‘real’ contacts in Gmail. The other significant list is the Suggested Contacts group. It consists of anyone that has been emailed and is not in your primary list. Moving contacts between the two lists is much simpler.

This is a signal tighter integration between the iPhone and Gmail is coming. A good sync option (preferably free) between Address Book & Gmail would be helpful. Any suggestions?

Contact management was a weak spot for Gmail. This update indicates that Contact management is getting some Google love. It may even convince a few more disgruntled Exchange refugees to jump the gap and come to the free, virtual, and increasingly robust web-based Gmail platform.  Below is a screenshot.