Originally Posted by eyeballer

Ah, yes by adding your google account when you set up the device the gmail app will sync gmail by default. You can change this by either going to settings-accounts-google-click the google account and uncheck mail. Or you can do it in the gmail app under settings for that account.

Yes, each folder will show up in the gallery as a separate "album" automatically

I also recommend setting up Google+ auto-backup so the phone will backup new (and even your old if you want) photos to G+ and then it can auto-create albums from now on too.