Google greatly enhanced the browser-based version of Gmail for the iPhone and smartphones powered by its Android platform last spring. As part of its ongoing effort to update the mobile edition of Gmail with one or two improvements at a time, Google today introduced a new feature called auto-expanding compose boxes.

Previously, Gmail sported a fixed-size compose box that restricted the number of lines of visible text you could see on an iPhone display. The new auto-expanding compose box promises to make creating longer messages easier, as it allows you to see more of the text you've typed at a time. Simply type until you get close to the bottom of the Gmail compose box, whereupon the compose box will automatically by a few lines, as if by magic.

 

For iPhoners, Google's auto-expanding compose box also takes away the need to press and hold to scroll with the magnifying glass. Instead, according to the Google Mobile Blog, you can do that by flicking with your finger on the display to scroll.

To try out the new auto-expanding compose box by visiting gmail.com in Safari on your iPhone or iPod touch.

  Create a home screen link for easy access.

Here's how to do that:

1. In Safari, go to Gmail (be sure you've signed in)
2. Tap the + at the bottom of the screen
3. Select Add to Home Screen
4. Tap Add to confirm
5. A new Gmail icon appears on your home screen