Tag: Gmail

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Redesign Google Reader with Google Redesigned for Firefox!

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

Google Reader:
greader_redesigned

Google Calendar:
gcal_redesigned

Gmail:
gmail_redesigned

Link: Google Redesigned | Firefox

[Via Life Hacker]

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News

New in Gmail Labs: Multiple Inbox View!

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

multiple_inboxes

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. 🙂

[Via Official Google Blog]

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News

Gmail’s New ‘Labels’ & ‘Move to’ options with auto-completion

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.

Gmail New Labels Feature

You may also want to use colored-labels feature of Gmail. You can also use labels to auto-filter emails as per your preference.

2. Moving emails also become easier…

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.

Gmail Move To Feature

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

Gmail More Actions-1 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.

Link: Official Gmail Blog post

Related: Use Advance Search Operators in Gmail Search

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Tips

Things you may not know Gmail can do!

gmail-logo1 Gmail is a power packed email client which not only allows you to send normal emails but you can do many more things with it. Though only in its beta phase it performs much better than the regular emails services and clients. Recently, Gmail developers integrated video chat along side the normal text chat system which has taken Gmail to a whole new level. In this post lets explore the uncharted features you can use for both personal and professional benefits.

  • Gmail Themes: This is surely one of the exciting features that you would love to work with. Gmail recently unveiled  set of 30 fresh and new themes for users to choose that can totally revamp the looks of your Gmail inbox. For computer geeks it has a digitized green background while for an education evangelist it has a light brown book theme. To explore themes of you interest simply go to the themes tab of Gmail or read this detailed article about Gmail Themes.
    gmail-themes
  • Gmail Any Gadget Import: Whether you are techie or researcher or a professional blogger. Gmail ‘Add Any Gadget’ is one of the best features you would like to use. Now you don’t need to use iGoogle or other things, you can have maximum functionality in one Gmail page. Say you like twitter, but it is blocked in office or you don’t have time to access separate twitter login. No worries Just import Twitter Gadget. Voila! Twitter is in Gmail. 🙂 Another important Gmail gadget you may like to use is URL shortening gadget that will help you shorten long URL from within Gmail Inbox.
    gmail_adding_gadgets_2
  • Gmail Tasks Manager: Launched just few days back in Dec, 2008 by Google team, this application of task management has taken Gmail to an exemplary level. The light weight task manager is a killer application which may fail thousands of to do list managers. With a single key you can set your tasks to be done as well set a ‘to-do list’ for emails. To use it, just go to settings then march towards ‘labs’ tab. Enable ‘Tasks’ to help you keep track of what you need to do and what you’ve already done. Here is a complete guide on Gmail tasks.
    gmail_adding_gadgets_1

Added by Editor: Except the above mentioned 3 best unexplored features of Gmail, there are several other advantages that keeps other Email service providers behind in the race. Some of the other unique Gmail features that you may not be aware of, are – Mail Filtering Options, Labels, Sending mails using your official identity/ Company’s identity, Forwarding all incoming mails, automatically forwarding selected mails using filter options,  embedded chat option, automatically saving all your chat sessions, etc.

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Tips

Is Expected Mail not Present in Gmail Inbox? Find it on Spam Folder!

gmail-logo1Sounds wired, isn’t it? But its a fact that, something has gone wrong with Gmail, as such, many important mails are being automatically treated as spam and being moved into the spam folder of Gmail account. Do not get shocked by this statement, the Gmail team itself, has given confirmation on this. Here is what they say:

This morning there was a problem with the implementation of Google’s malware filters. Gmail’s spam engine uses those filters (among hundreds of other signals) to help protect our users from malware, and so between 6:00 a.m. PST and 8:00 a.m. PST, we mistakenly sent some legitimate mail to people’s spam folders.

These trouble were being faced by many Gmail users yesterday, and Gmail now says that they have fixed the issue and have moved all the messages, that it mistakenly treated as spam, back to inbox, but you may still find some emails on your spam folder too.

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Tips

Compose Gmails in the Fastest & Easiest Way using GCompose!

gmail-logo1 Being a Gmail fan, I always keep googling about various new tips and tricks to increase productivity of my E-mail sending and receiving experience. This time I chanced upon a LifeHacker article which not only reduces clutters and loading time of your Gmail inbox but also saves a lot of time. 🙂

If you are addicted to sending a lot of mails everyday, just have a look on this tweak that loads ‘mail compose window’ within seconds without chat window or any other installed gadgets’ window and also takes care of auto-complete while filling e-mail address in ‘To’ ‘CC’ ‘BCC’ field. To get the concept clearly, you may have a look on the video underneath. Detailed procedure on using this tweak is mentioned here.

Link: Fastest Way to Send Gmails – Gcompose Bookmarklet

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News

Check Gmails Without Internet Connection [New Feature]

gmail labs Recently released, Gmail labs feature lets you check you mails in offline mode or without internet connection making email clients like Microsoft Outlook and Thunderbird obsolete to some extent. As Gmail, infact Google, has a practice of launching all its new products and experimental services under ‘labs’ tags, this time too Gmail has followed this way.

To start using this new lab feature, you need to enable ‘Offline Gmail’ option in Gmail Settings-> Labs tab. You will then need to install gears (if you don’t have it) and then you can start using Offline Gmail option. This feature is yet to be rolled out for every Gmail user (even mine) so don’t worry, soon the feature will be rolled on your profile too. 🙂 As this feature is yet to be rolled on to my account too, so I cannot say you much about it. I will try reviewing this good feature once I practically try it out. Till then keep viewing this official video by Gmail.

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Link: Official Release | Google Gears

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News

Now View Videos in Gmail Chat Window [New Feature]

gmail-logo1 In  one of my recent post, I was talking about some Gmail features that may launch in the upcoming days, and it was also mentioned about some improvements and enhancement in video chatting  feature. Though, this feature I am talking about today, is not related to chatting but it is quite similar to sharing and viewing videos in Gmail chat easily.

gmail_videos in chat

Just by having a glimpse on the image above, you can easily understand the exact use of the feature just released by Gmail. While chatting in Gmail window, as soon you enter any video URL, a small thumbnail of it will be generated inside the chat screen and you can click on it and view the video right within the chat window. If you are wondering, whether only YouTube videos will work this way, then its not so. You can use any video link to make it work as usual. Also, for your information, this new feature will only be available if you are using chat from within your browser, and not from Gtalk or any other messenger.

Link: Official Release

Related: Gmail to Improve Further | Now use Gmail for Voice and Video Chat

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News

Calendar Gadget for Google Desktop released!

Earlier, Gmail gadget for Google Desktop users was launched wherein a quite simple and user friendly interface to access and view your Gmail was present. Now Google has attempted one more step to make its products and services more popular, easy to use and user friendly.

Google has just announced the launch of a calendar gadget for Google desktop users, which can be easily used right from the desktop to manage all your appointments and schedules that would sync with your Google calendar. The Gmail gadget launched previously was said to work only for windows users, but this time it is not the same. This calendar gadget can be used in any OS, doesn’t matter whether it is Mac, Linux or Windows 🙂

Here are some screenshots of this gadget.

calendar_gadget_views calendar_gadget_add_event

Links: Calendar Gadget | Gmail Gadget | Google Desktop

Related: Beware Google Desktop Users

(Via Official Gmail Blog)

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News

Gmail to Improve Further, cnet Reports!

gmail-logo1 Google’s Mail service – Gmail is about 4 year old and still Google hasn’t decided to lift the ‘beta’ tags from Gmail. The reason may be because Gmail team has many more plans to improve it.

Recently cnet team got an opportunity to have talks with the product manager of Gmail – Todd Jackson, who gives a few hints on the upcoming features and also points that this is not all, there are even better things they are working on.

A quick highlights on the upcoming features in Gmail as reported by cnet are here:

  • Addition of more themes into the existing Gmail theme library and also ability to create your own theme.
  • Improved Gmail Video Chat with higher clarity.
  • Better contacts manager.
  • Ability to send bigger size files via attachments.

Among all the upcoming features discussed above, customizable theme by user option, as in Twitter has, would be great!! Here is the detailed discussion of cnet team with Gmail’s product manager.

Link: cnet report