Previously Gmail users used Gmail redesigned GreaseMonkey based scripts to improve the looks of their Gmail inbox, but later on, with the introduction of ‘Themes’ in Gmail, many users using Gmail Redesigned scripts left it over and migrated to themes option as it was officially being provided by Google. And now, many Google reader users demanded Google for ‘themes’ option in Google reader as well.
Though there’s no official support to redesign the looks of Google reader, Globex Designs have launched Google redesigned add-on for firefox users that would help you redesign not only Google reader but Gmail and Google calendar as well. 🙂
As this is a firefox compatible add-on you will have to install firefox first and then head into this page and install Google Redesigned add-on.
Here are some screenshots on how Google products would look after installing this cool add-on
After reading the title of this post, you must be surely thinking that the author of this post has gone crazy! Though I haven’t yet, but I am sure this offer by Verizon mobile is going to make me crazy for sure. 😉 This hard to believe offer (Buy one get one free) is a reality and has been introduced by the famous wireless network – Verizon.
You will be shocked to know that, this offer is not only for the old out dated models of blackberry, but also for the recently released Blackberry storm that’s creating a lot of hype among mobile phone users across the world. If you are excited to know the exact pricing and other details, including the terms and conditions of this offer, then head over to this page by the Boy Genius reports.
If you remember, recently I made a post about an awesome Gmail labs feature: Offline Gmail. Using these features, you can work on Gmail (now on Calendar too) even if you are disconnected from the Internet or if your connection is down. Once these offline features are activated, it keeps on syncing your online data with the data stored locally on your PC.
To activate this feature, you need to first log into Google Calendar, in the upper right hand corner, click on the ‘Offline Beta’ button to start the synchronization process. If you are yet to view ‘Offline Beta’ tab, then just wait as Google is in the process of rolling out this feature phase wise.
Another blog post says, “it’s surprising to see that Google Apps users, who usually received the updates later than Google Accounts users, get the offline Calendar earlier”. So, if you are using Google apps too in your own domain and have activated Google calendar, then you can atleast view this new feature inside your account.
Just came across an official post by Google which claims to create awareness amongst Indians about the use of Internet. According to this project (named – Internet Bus Project), Google’s bus will move across parts of the country with, computer systems with working Internet connections fitted in it. Currently this project will cover most of the south Indian cities only and may be, later on Google may consider to expand this project to other Indian cities as well.
If you are not from somewhere in the southern part of India and excited to view some pics of the Google Internet bus, then here are some quick pics. You may also wish to visit the Picasa Web Album of Google – Internet Bus Project.
Hope this innovative project by Google turns out to be a grand success and will be rolled out to other Cities and Countries as well. 🙂
Gmail have added a new labs feature that would enable you to view multiple inbox as soon you log into your Gmail account. This feature could be used to show multiple inbox if you categorize your mails according to drafts, starred, labels, etc.
As an example to use this new feature, lets consider, I have filtered all my e-bills that will be treated specially as soon they reaches my inbox. They are filtered in a manner that will skip from my inbox and will be labeled as ‘BILLS’ automatically. In this case I can create another inbox apart from my primary inbox that will display all the mails under category ‘BILLS’. In the same manner you can also create inbox for your drafts, starred items, or any other labels.
Here is how this lab feature will look once activated
You can try it out yourself by enabling “Multiple Inboxes” feature inside ‘Labs’ tab. Once activated, you will need to customize multiple inboxes by clicking Settings-> Multiple Inboxes. Though I am yet to explore this feature a lot, but as of now I found that, this feature is clashing with other Labs feature like right side chat and labels, etc. Hope, they will be improved too, with the passage of time. 🙂
Yesterday evening, while watching a YouTube video, I found it to be bit different. In a single glimpse I could not figure out what exactly were the changes on the video, but I didn’t find it to be looking as usual. Later on I figured out that, there were some kind of ratings on the video with the video title on top of it. For a moment I was confused, thinking that the video must have those text and stars, but later on I was confirmed about a new feature in YouTube when I read a blog post.
As you can view on the image above, there are ratings with 5 stars along with the title of the video. You too don’t get confused thinking the video contains those text. 😉 It is actually, a new feature in YouTube, though it is yet to be rolled on all the videos.
Way back Google launched a Phone Search – Voice search feature for two major Indian cities – Hyderabad & Delhi using which, a resident of that city was able to search for some local hang outs like restaurants, theaters, flight status etc by dialing a Toll Free Number (1800 419 99999).
Today Google has extended this feature to two other Indian Metropolis – Mumbai & Bangalore. Those who are yet not aware how it works, here are the details…
While using Phone search feature, a user first needs to dial the toll free number – 1800-41-999-999 and follow the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system and get the details of their city on the go! Google says:
Google Phone Search gives you the power of Google Search while you are on the go. This service is completely free of charge, bringing you the information you need, right when you need it the most. It can be reached from any phone number – landline or mobile in Hyderabad and Delhi (Now for Mumbai & Bangalore).
So if you are from the above cities, then just explore the power of Google on the go with your phone and importantly for free. 😉
Google Latitude is now live, a new service from Google that allows you to locate you and your friends on Google Maps and share it with others (not available on iPhone yet, but its coming soon). 🙂
Google’s features are pretty simple. Along with a person’s location, the person’s picture will show up on the map (if it’s being set during account creation). The service uses cell-phone tower triangulation, GPS or Wi-Fi to find your current location. As of now, it works on RIM’s Blackberrys, Symbian devices and Windows Mobile, and the T-Mobile G1. About iPhone it will be supported soon. The service goes live in the U.S. and 26 other countries.
Here is a quick video to make you understand about Google Latitude:
As a Gmail user, you must have noticed some new changes to Gmail interface recently. Here is our analysis on these changes. At the end you will find workaround for now missing “Search The Web” button from Gmail interface.
1. Assigning Labels is easier now
As highlighted in below screenshot, you can now search, create and assign multiple labels easily. Moreover, while searching you can enjoy auto-completion now.
Those who are new to Gmail or its labeling concept, sometimes wonder where are folders in Gmail. You can think of labels as special folder. You can move emails to these labels easily now.
Move to and Labels may seem similar but there is a difference. If you assign labels, conversation still remains in the inbox but when you move it, it gets archived automatically.
3. Better “More Actions” menu
More actions menu group together some less frequently used actions and places them in separate menu. Also its position is less obstructive.
Only thing could be done better is adding “Create a document” option into more actions menu. If enabled, “Create a document” option show up on extreme right side which go unnoticed because of ads.
4. Missing Search the web button
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Gmail used to have “Search The Web” button which is now removed in this new interface. Our reader Vish is disappointed as…
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this (“Search The Web” button) helped us not to open a browser window and type www.google.com. for the search. It also gave the luxury or not going for CTRL+T/ CTRL+N for opening a new window
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Update: Gmail brought “Search the web” button back now. (05 March, 2009)
Personally I never used that button but those who were using it can now, use CTRL+K (only Firefox) to directly switch focus to browser’s search box. You don’t need to open any window/tab, neither do you need to use mouse!
Above shortcut is for Firefox only. Figure out similar shortcut for your browser. You can also check top 10 Firefox shortcuts.
In the scene, Emraan Hashmi, the lead actor, performs an online search while looking for some information. Unlike the Hollywood smarties, who might have used Google search instead, our desi hero uses Microsoft’s Live search. You can see the following screenshot (at 57 mins 02 secs) captured from the movie below:
(click on image to enlarge it)
As you can notice from the URL highlighted in the above screenshot, he uses Live search with cashback. Cashback search results show only products and not information from the web unlike normal search engines.
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Now it’s hard to believe that while shooting for a film, the actor wanted to earn some cashback by using the live search. Looks like Microsoft paid some bucks to the movie producer to keep Google out of the scene.
This is not a new trend in Bollywood movies. In the past, many Bollywood movies have exclusively showcased many sponsored products. The only thing that surprised me was the way Live search has been blended into the scene. It looks completely natural.
If you have more time to kill, just check search results for query, “tum ashudh ho – david cooper”, from Live Cashback search, normal Live search and Google. 🙂
