Google snags e-mail genius Sparrow

By Phil Nickinson  | Jul 20 2012 | 12:07 pm  | 25 Comments

Sparrow and Google

Those of you dreaming of a better Android e-mail client might one day get your wish -- Google has acquired Sparrow. Sparrow's been an iOS/OSX staple, and we can only hope it'll bring its talents to Android, along with Gmail at large. 

Writes Sparrow:

We care a lot about how people communicate, and we did our best to provide you with the most intuitive and pleasurable mailing experience.

Now we're joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google.

We’d like to extend a special thanks to all of our users who have supported us, advised us, given us priceless feedback and allowed us to build a better mail application. While we’ll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users.

We're still way early into this one, but this much is clear: This is nothing but good for Gmail, and here's to hoping Android gets a boost as well.

Update: Our pals at iMore.com, who have a good bit more experience with Sparrow, have penned a few thoughts. Read them here.

Source: Sparrow

Phil Nickinson Editor in Chief

"Phil is a recovering print journalist, editor of Android Central, subtitles and street signs."

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There are 25 comments. Add yours.

dwd3885 says:

This is terrific

frankspin says:

Sparrow is a really well done and simple email client. The iOS app is actually really solid with some good use of swipe for managing and navigating. Looking forward to hopefully seeing some of those features in upcoming Gmail releases on Android.

NexusKoolaid says:

Sparrow + Google = Spoogle??!!!

Great News!

etnpnys says:

I had no idea what Sparrow was, so I followed the links provided above and came to this comment: "Sparrow for iPhone is an email client that offers many more features than Apple's built in Mail app such as the ability to add attachments when composing a message."

hahahahahaha The built-in app doesn't even let you ADD ATTACHMENTS!? Wow. I almost expected it to follow that up with "...and type text into the body of your email."

Android FTW.

bplewis24 says:

I know right? This makes me laugh, but then it also frustrates me when I hear ignorance about how iOS is "superior" to Android. It is so incredibly, god-awfully inferior that it makes my brain hurt to think about it. And with Jelly Bean, Android is now just as fast as well.

Game over.

icebike says:

Its even sadder when you realize the sheep over on iMore are polling, and the largest group of them are voting to switch back to something else JUST because it was bought by Google.

Hear Only Apple. See Only Apple

ugaco07 says:

Why is that so hard to believe? There are a lot of people that dislike Google as much as many here dislike Apple.

Shadowriver says:

Before you start spreading this mythology.... It's not like iOS mail client dont have adding attachments at all. Because each application is closed to is own file system where they keep documents and other files and there no central file system avable to the user, developer of a app that contains a file, need to make email attaching. + iOS mail client can normaly attach images in photo libery.

maurid says:

Loool. Just when iOS users were starting to love the app and replace them as their main Email.app :O

coolbreeze says:

This is interesting considering how much Apple users enjoy this app. Hope Apple doesn't buy SwiftKey to strike back lol

Richard Devine says:

Sparrow desktop app on Mac is absolutely fantastic, this is only going to be great news for GMail

stoney73 says:

Just read the same announcement over at the verge,where instead of the calm considered comments that are here, the ios fanboys are having a cryfest. It looks like the same cretins that made the fuss when instagram released an android app...Some really over the top reactions...

frankspin says:

The "cryfest" is over the comments that they will not be adding any new features going forward. I would say that is a fair reason to be upset.

bplewis24 says:

F**k them.

xstex_ says:

Yet if it was the opposite you would be pissed.

ugaco07 says:

Especially since it is a paid app across the board.

_X_ says:

"cryfest" LOL never heard it before but works so well!

jimijames8050 says:

Awesome! Maybe someone from sparrow can finally show the google guys how to do zooming in HTML emails.

DrDoppio says:

Lol, the pod people are gonna be butthurt. It's not much unlike Apple acquiring Chomp and then discontinuing the Android version. Payback is a bitch.

demiles says:

EF you Google delete!

ugaco07 says:

My guess is that this will ultimately lead to 1.) a better Gmail app on iOS and 2.) a stand alone Gmail app for OS X.

Shadowriver says:

Hmmmm i don't think so, thru they got seperate app for Android they tend to prefer users to use there web UI via chrome app system :p But who knows

kamiller42 says:

I hope this means a better email client and not solely a better GMail client.

Raadius says:

So what does that mean for Gmail (Android)? I heard current app will not have any new features added...

quinnten83 says:

I dont understand the iOutcry from iOS users. Contrary to Apple, Google makes it's products available to all platforms.
Every platform will end up getting an app that will have the same user experience as sparrow. If not the same app, then something similar and probably for free.
iOs users dont get this because Apple is not in the habit of sharing.