Google Apps

Since setting up my domain with Google Apps I've been accessing my email via http://mail.google.com/a/mydomain.com however I'd prefer to access this via http://mail.google.com.

I set up a cname and reconfigured my mail through the GA dashboard, however it simply redirects me to mail.google.com.

Is there any way to mask the url so it stays at mail.mydomain.com? Or will it always have to pass to mail.google.com so authentication can take place via ssl?

No.

Reckon you sorted it out before you posted this.