Xm2Rss is a small program that lets a user of Gmail check his/her mail without having to be logged in through their Web browser. The program sits in the bottom right hand corner of the user's screen and constantly checks to see whether the user has new mail or not. If they do, the user can then click on the tab that tells them how many new messages they have and it will automatically log them into their Gmail account.

Version 0.1.2.4 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Editor's review of Xm2Rss Lite

The publisher bills this program as a Gmail notifier replacement. While we admire its bravery in taking on Google with a little slingshot of an application, Xm2Rss Lite doesn't bring down the Internet giant. The interface is simple enough; just enter your Gmail log-in info and the program sits on your system tray to alert you to new mail.

Sounds familiar, right? It is. Xm2Rss Lite is designed to eliminate the need to log in through a browser. You also can review the number of messages you have and immediately go to your in-box. Ditto for Google's version. They're both free. The only difference is that you can tell right off the bat what the Gmail notifier does. Xm2Rss Lite sounds so very Web 2.0, but we'd nearly always pick clarity over cleverness if we had to choose.

You won't find Xm2Rss Lite to be better than its Google counterpart, nor is it worse. Gmail users looking for an upgrade to the Gmail notifier should pass on this program; it's a lateral move at best. If you don't have a desktop notifier for your Google e-mail account, it's probably better to stick with the name brand.