Spark for iPhone and iPad - The Ultimate Guide to The Most Interesting Email Client

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We have already talked about Spark on the Lifehacker pages. Then the application worked only on the iPhone and Apple Watch, but just yesterday the developers released an update that adds support for the iPad and iPad Pro. This will surely pique the interest of new users, so we have prepared a great guide covering all the nuances of using Spark.

Adding a new account

The account setup screen is displayed at the first start, but if you need to add several additional accounts, you can call it from the "Settings" → "Accounts" → "Add account" section. Spark supports Google, Exchange, Yahoo, iCloud, Outlook, and regular IMAP accounts.

Integration with 1Password

If you store your passwords in 1Password, adding accounts is easy. Instead of entering your username and password, you should click on the keyhole icon in the upper right corner and select the desired account from 1Password.

iCloud-sync settings and accounts

Synchronization with iCloud appeared in the latest update. A very handy thing that allows you to set up Spark on a new device in a few seconds. The corresponding toggle switch is in the settings. For security reasons, after enabling synchronization, you need to log in to at least one of the added accounts.

Selecting the main address

All new messages are sent from your default email address. If you have several of them, you can choose any of them as the main one. This is done in the settings section: "Settings" → "Accounts" → "E-mail by default". Of course, you can change the default mailbox at any time.

Receiving incoming

Spark supports push notifications for new messages even for Gmail, so all new mail goes to your Inbox instantly. But if necessary, you can forcibly update all accounts by pulling the list of letters down with the usual gesture.

Using Smart Inbox

The Smart Filter is one of the coolest features of Spark. When using it, all messages in your inbox are sorted by category and importance, from correspondence with your contacts to notifications from social networks and mailings.

Viewing detailed information about a message

By default, the preview pane displays brief information about the message and its sender, but if you click on the header, you can see all the details in the drop-down menu, including the sender's address, time and message type.

Additional actions in the information menu

You can interact with the message directly from the drop-down menu with detailed information. For example, if you click on the sender's address, the buttons for copying, new letter, adding to contacts and saving will appear.

Changing the message type

There are three types of messages in Spark: personal, notifications, mailings. The application automatically determines the type for each incoming message, but if an error occurs somewhere, the type can be set manually by clicking on the line of the same name.

Composing a new letter

It is very easy to create a new message. You just need to click on the floating button in the lower right corner of the screen.

Collapse drafts

When creating a draft, the cross in the corner of the window is responsible for more than just deleting it. The draft can also be saved and collapsed using this button.

Fast switching between letters

When processing a large number of letters, it is very convenient to use swipe gestures to switch between letters. However, they are immediately marked as read.

Pin messages

In Spark, important messages can be pinned by clicking on the pushpin icon, after which they will be displayed at the very top of the Smart Inbox, as well as in a separate tab on the panel.

Postponing letters

If you do not have time to process a message at the moment, or if it contains information that will be useful to you after some time, it is convenient to postpone such messages using the clock icon.

Setting snooze intervals

The snooze drop-down menu displays five different intervals that are easy to customize to suit your daily routine and preferences.

Using gestures

Gesture lovers should appreciate the wide range of actions that can be performed with them. In addition to traditional ones, such as marking as read / unread, deleting and archiving, Spark has gestures for moving, postponing, sending to various services, and many others.

Customizing gestures

Four customizable gestures are available at the same time: short and long swipes left and right. The action for each of them is set in the settings ("Settings" → "Personalization" → "Swipes").

Customized notification settings

When using multiple accounts, for each of them, you can set separate notification settings by enabling them for all emails, only important ones, or disabling them altogether. To do this, go to "Settings" → "Accounts" and, having selected the desired one, indicate the desired mode.

Signature settings

In Spark, you can create several signatures at once (with HTML support) and link them to different accounts ("Settings" → "Signatures").

Choosing a signature in a letter

When composing a letter, the signature associated with this account by default is automatically substituted. Clicking on it allows you to select any other from the list of ready-made signatures.

Badge settings

The display of the number of messages on the desktop icon is also configurable. You can specify which messages will be counted (new or all), as well as from which accounts ("Settings" → "Badges").

Attaching a photo

You can attach a photo to any message by clicking on the corresponding icon on the top panel. When choosing, there is sorting by albums and the ability to take a new photo.

Attaching files

Next to the photo icon there is a paperclip icon that is responsible for attaching files. ICloud, Dropbox and other cloud storages are available as sources.

Using language input when searching

Search, like everything else, in Spark is not easy, but smart. It recognizes common words and allows you to search for messages from a specific date, with attachments or photos, as well as from specific senders.

Saving search history

If you often search for certain letters, you can save popular queries for convenience. To do this, just click on the star in the search bar.

Bulk deletion and archiving

When sorting (Smart Inbox) is enabled, letters from groups can be deleted or archived in one motion by pulling the bottom of the panel.

Interacting with multiple messages

To enter the edit mode, which allows you to select several letters for deletion or movement, you need to press and hold the header of any of them.

Using quick replies

When you chat with people in your contact list, a quick replies panel is displayed. They represent something like emoji, allowing you to express certain emotions in one click. More answers are hidden behind the More button.

Setting up quick replies

If the standard list of answers is not enough for you, you can expand it by adding your own options ("Settings" → "Quick answers" → "Add").

Background selection

Even the background can be customized. There are three colors to choose from: dark sky, dark blue, light blue ("Settings" → "Background color").

View actions and default browser

What will happen to the letter after viewing and archiving it is also configurable. If you prefer third-party browsers to Safari, you can open links in them. These options are set in the "Settings" → "View options" section.

Using widgets

Widgets are located as icons on the sidebar and provide access to various Spark features. How - you assign yourself ("Settings" → "Personalization" → "Widgets").

Sidebar customization

By default, the sidebar displays icons for calendar, attachments, and recently viewed emails, but you can change their order, remove or add new items in Settings → Personalization → Sidebar.

Changing the sound theme

Spark has its own sound theme with its own sounds for various events, but if you prefer the standard iOS sounds, you can enable them in the settings ("Settings" → "Sound settings").

Displaying a list of attachments

When viewing one of several email attachments, you can display the entire list by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner. This will be handy for navigating through a large number of attached files.

View attachments from all accounts

Absolutely all attachments can be viewed in the corresponding section on the sidebar (paper clip icon).

Recently viewed emails

You can also quickly find the letter you are working with recently using a separate item on the sidebar, located immediately below the attachments.

Creation of "smart folders"

With smart folders, Spark lets you customize something like Gmail shortcuts. We set the filtering conditions and get certain letters in certain folders (“Settings” → “Personalization” → “Vizets” → “Add”).

Search for messages in Spotlight

Thanks to the integration with iOS, you can search for the letters you want right in Spotlight. Everything is simple here.

Configuring actions for notifications

Spark supports interactive notifications, allowing you to interact with incoming people right from the lock screen. What kind of actions - you can assign yourself in the "Settings" → "Actions from notifications" section.

Integration with services

In addition to the standard Share menu, you can interact with services directly from within Spark itself. The application supports not only cloud storage, but also notes and lazy read services. They are added in the settings ("Settings" → "Connected services").

Using the calendar

Thanks to the built-in calendar, there is no need for separate ones. Using the corresponding widget, you can not only view scheduled events, but also add new ones.

Export to PDF

The Share button also has the option to save the email to PDF. Then the document can be sent to a colleague or opened in iBooks.

Privacy preferences

The settings section of the same name allows you to disable the loading of remote images and actions for interactive notifications.

Read multiple emails

When Smart Inbox is enabled, to save time, you can mark as read a whole group of messages at once, for example, newsletters. To do this, click on the checkbox opposite the group title.

Undoing Actions

Almost everything you do with emails in Spark can be undone. Immediately after performing an action, the corresponding button appears briefly at the bottom of the screen.

Adding aliases

For each account, it is possible to add an alias, that is, another email for forwarding mail. This is done in the section "Settings" → "Accounts" → "Account settings" → "Aliases".

Deleting accounts

If necessary, an account is as easy to delete as it is to add. The settings item of the same name and the big red button are responsible for this.

IPad and iPad Pro multitasking support

Starting from version 1.6 Spark fully supports Apple tablets and the new multitasking features of iOS 9. Managing mail on a large (especially 12, 9-inch) screen is very convenient.

WatchOS 2 support

On Apple Watch, you can do more than just receive notifications about new emails. The updated Spark now has native support and runs completely on the watch, loading and running much faster.

Mac version

At the moment Spark is a purely mobile application, but the next step for Readdle will be the release of the desktop version of Spark. The company is already working on it, and it will be ready a little later this year. Then it will already be possible to say for sure that Spark is perfect in all respects.