George's Technology Blog » gmail

Gmail – Merge Contacts

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:54:10 +0000

Finally, merge all duplicate contacts with one button. I just tried this out and it found and merged several contacts, and now I don't need to do it manually "later" since this one-click and review option was so easy!

How? Go to Gmail > Contacts and look for the "Find Duplicates" button. Press it and follow the directions, and visit the original Gmail blog post (link above) for more detail.

Learn more about merging contacts.

MORE GMAIL

More Gmail Storage
More Gmail Security Tips
Hide Gmail Labels With No New Messages

Gmail Robot – Hey its Android!

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:30:28 +0000

Sometimes a snippett speaks for itself, and this new feature letting you know which of your IM buddies is "online" using their cell phone (hence not really online, but not offline) is one of those cases:

Turn on Green Robot, a new experiment in Gmail Labs, and you'll see a robot icon next to people who are currently using Android phones. In the case below, Shirley is online with Android, Nicolle R. is using regular Gmail chat, and Chris I. is currently away but also on Android. Slatka is not an angry robot — she's online with Android but currently busy.

- Gmail Blog: New in Labs: Green Robot Icon

Click the link above for a small screenshot and more detail (if the snippett above wasn't enough for you).

Gmail more storage for less

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:08:25 +0000

On Nov 10, 2009 the Gmail blog announced lower pricing for extra storage, specifically the price for 20GB is only $5/year. Here's some extra info on that:

This extra storage acts as an overflow that you only start using when you reach the limit of your free storage, and is shared for use between Gmail and Picasa Web Albums.

- Gmail Blog

Read Gmail Post: More Extra Storage For Less

Choices in Mice and Messages

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:11:46 +0000

Today Wired.com wrote about the OpenOffice Mouse. Not to be outdone by the Apple's 1-button design, or 2 or 3 button mice for the PC, OpenOffice has created and 18 button OOMouse. OpenOffice users, Photoshop users, and gamers may really be happy about this new 18 button mouse - and gamers especially so if they prefer mouse+keyboard instead of a joystick and play one of the currently supported games.

In the middle of last week, Gmail posted Choose which messages get downloaded for offline use so I guess the theme for the week is CHOICE.

I am a fan of (FREE) OpenOffice, but I don't know if I'll be giving that mouse a shot or not. Of course, it could become the next hot PC accessory, who knows!? And about choosing which messages to download for offline, I may give that one a try.

So you are reading about this stuff, what do YOU think?

Gmail Mobile on iPhone and Android – Faster, Better

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:04:46 +0000

Gmail for Mobile has been re-designed with speed, usability and basic offline support for iPhone and Andriod devices. For example, smart links take long URLs and use names instead of the link text. So instead of something like http://www.example.com/2009/10/01/using-artichokes-as-paper-weights/ you could change the link to say Using Atrtichokes as Paper Weights.

Android allows developers to make their own apps for Android devices, but also allows Google to roll out features and improvements more quickly. The screenshot below is taken from the original Google post (What's new with Gmail on iPhone and Android). See also video below.

YouTube Video: Gmail on iPhone and Android

Click here to view the embedded video.

More Gmail Security Tips

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:16:18 +0000

The Gmail blog today posted another security-related article as part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Of the 5 security tips in their Gmail account security tips the only one that causes me any pause is tip 3, Enable "Always use HTTPS." Any of my friends would tell you that I'm a "Google Freak" and this blog will backs that up pretty well.

Here's my issue with the Enable "Always use HTTPS" feature, just take a trip to Gmail Help's "Enabling the HTTPS setting" and read the yellow warning box at top. Call me spoiled, but I don't want any problems with Gmail Notifier (patch available here), Gmail for Mobile application (if you have a new enough version a workaround is posted here, at the cost of speed), or my Google Toolbar (a minor issue you can read about here).

With that one exception I heartily recommend the security tips, and in case you missed the link, you should read Gmail account security tips for all 5 tips!

MORE GMAIL RESOURCES

Getting Started
Gmail Support
Known Issues
Suggest a Feature

Gmail – Wrong Bob and Gmail on-the-go

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:49:48 +0000

Wrong Bob

In Gmail's New in Labs: Got the wrong Bob? post they reveal the updated, renamed release of Suggest More Recipients. The name has changed to Don't Forget Bob and now if you've emailed at least 2 people in a "known" group of 3+ people you will get a reminder if any of the 3 are not in that "known group".

Gmail On-The-Go

Gmail posted a reminder that you don't need to have a special cell phone to get Gmail. Sure, a cool smart phone with a touchscreen and all the latest gadgets is great but so long as you have a phone with a data plan and a browser you have the minimum requirements!

Gmail Links

Wrong Bob
Gmail on Your Phone

Hide Gmail Labels Not Containing New Messages

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:32:10 +0000

Organize your Inbox with a new gmail feature. Now you can hide labels that have no new messages in them! If you have many labels and get lots of email you may find this new feature paticularly useful.

To turn this new feature on just login to Gmail then click Settings > Labs > Hide Read Labels. Now you may have to get used to using your inbox differently, because each label that has no unread messages in it is only available via the "More" link under your labels, or through searches.

Play Google Voice voicemails in Gmail

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:24:01 +0000

Not only can you listen to your Google Voice voicemail messages in Gmail, but they are also delivered with automated voice-to-text transcription so you can preview your voicemail before listening.

For those of you who already use Google Voice, you're probably used to receiving voicemail notifications via email. A couple of minutes after someone leaves a voicemail on your Google Voice number, you'll receive an email showing who called, an automated transcript of the voicemail, and a link to play the message. You can click the link to listen to the message right from your computer.

- Gmail Blog Post

MORE GOOGLE VOICE
Check out Google Voice

VIDEO

Click here to view the embedded video.

More Gmail Themes

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:45:40 +0000

4 new themes and I jumped all over the green one. Gmail has added these themes just in time, because I was getting a little tired of the last one and I was READY for something new. I'm glad they even care enough to add themes because I'd hate to have to learn to skinning Gmail myself, I'd rather just choose from pre-selected options with awesome pictures and so far I like many of them, so more kudos to Gmail!

Original Gmail Themes Post.
Old Gmail Themes Post.
Gmail Themes Help.