Mailplane update uses latest WebKit to enable rich text editing

Since we last mentioned Mailplane, the Gmail client that integrates with Mac OS X, it's received a series of minor updates that have fixed bugs and added a few features. The most recent update, however, has added some significant new features such as a 'Mail PDF with Mailplane' print dialog plugin, customizable toolbar, clickable Growl notifications that take you to the specific message and - to my personal delight - simple instructions for enabling rich text editing when composing messages. This is big news because Mailplane uses WebKit - the same open source web rendering engine Safari is based on - to interact with Gmail, which means Mailplane is also limited by WebKit's inability to provide rich text editing features like bold, justification, colors, etc.

Fortunately, turning on rich text editing is as simple as downloading the latest nightly app build of WebKit and telling Mailplane where you put it. This won't overwrite Safari or interfere with it in any other way, so this process is pretty low-risk for gaining rich text editing, but seemingly only in Gmail (either in Mailplane or using WebKit itself as a browser). I tried surfing to a few other sites and couldn't get rich text widgets to appear in any of them.

Either way, this is great news for Mailplane users who want to join the rest of the internet in using some text formatting goodness when composing their messages. If you need a refresher on what Mailplane is all about, check our previous post and photo gallery for a brief tour, or head over to the Mailplane site to read more and sign up for the private beta.

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Source: http://mailplaneapp.com/

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Software Productivity Internet Tools Beta Beat

Since we last mentioned Mailplane, the Gmail client that integrates with Mac OS X, it's received a series of minor updates that have fixed...

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fussball

@ Sam: Not everyone reads this blog every day, and I missed the first mailplane discussion. This program is something I've been hoping for since I got a Gmail account 2.5 years ago. I'm happy to hear about closed Betas! If you remember, Gmail was a closed beta for quite a long time, and I'm sure you heard plenty about that.

@ Ruben: Looks like an awesome app and I cannot wait to try the Beta! Thank you!

April 05 2007 at 10:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Biffo

Good to know, thanks Ruben!

April 05 2007 at 6:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ruben

I heard you :-). Over the last 3 weeks about 700 people got invited. I like to speed things up a bit: Starting today, I will send (at least) 100 beta invitations each day. The waiting list will be processed in chronological order.
HTH and thanks for your patience!
Ruben (Mailplane author)

April 05 2007 at 4:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Biffo

Bit harsh Sam, but I do agree that this is very frustrating, I signed up ages ago, and haven't even had an email confirming I'm on the list...

April 05 2007 at 3:57 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sam

Once again you are spamming the mass of your readers with information about a program that almost none of them have access to.

Closed betas are lame, but repeatedly publicizing information about a closed beta is even more lame.

April 05 2007 at 1:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David Chartier

#3: Woops! Thanks; I forgot the 'app' part of mailplaneapp.com. Fixed!

April 04 2007 at 4:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Definitely a cool looking app. Can't wait to try it out. I'd pay money if it's as good as it seems it could be.

April 04 2007 at 4:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ultim8fury

Your second mailplane link appears to point to some kind of banking site.

April 04 2007 at 4:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Matthew

I signed up for the Beta program the last time TUAW wrote about Mailplane, and I still haven't heard a thing. I can't wait to try it out.

April 04 2007 at 4:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply