Mailplane Gives Gmail a Nice Lift

Gmail may not be the prettiest email program in the world. Yahoo Mail is easier on the eye. Microsoft's Outlook online has a clean and modern appeal. Nevertheless, many of us use Gmail -- warts and all -- so any app that adds utility to the Google offering can be worthwhile. Mailplane has been around for six years, but its developers have given it a makeover in this latest edition. That's not to say they've drifted away from the program's essential mission: enabling you to access your Gmail accounts without opening your Web browser.