Integration with other Google Services
This newsletter is about Gmail but I could also write newsletters about Google Calendar, Google Readers, Google Spreadsheets and Docs, and Google Talk (among others). I'm not going to go into these now, but Gmail integrates amazingly well with these other tools. For example, if the content of an email contains an event, even in natural text like "Hey Mark, let's grab lunch at noon next Thursday," Gmail will ask if him if he wants to add the event "lunch" on Thursday, February 7th at 12:00pm. One click and the event is in his Google Calendar.
Same thing with Google Maps. Any address information in an email will ask if you want to view a Google Map of the address in the content. Pretty darn efficient.
Google Talk
I sympathize with those of you who resist Instant Messaging. I adopted IM kicking and screaming. I just didn't want to be bleeped at all day. But just like all these newfangled modes of communication, Instant Messaging is the right tool for the right job at the right time. Once I adjusted to IM I saw how helpful it can be. If used properly (and sparingly) it is a way to avoid interruption and delay rather than adding to it. For example, if someone really does need to ask me something, and their progress is dependent on my response, IM can be the perfect tool. If I'm on the phone or at my home office a quick IM can be responded to much easier than a phone call, a personal intrusion, or email that might not be checked right away. IM allows me to provide a quick and timely answer, improving the efficiency of our team.
Here's a golden tip if you're thinking of using IM: Most IM clients, including Google Talk, allow you to set your availability status. Always leave it green or "available" even when you're not. That way people can never tell if you're actually available or if you just left the "available" setting on. This provides plausible deniability of any particular IM. If you really can't be bothered with a particular IM, you can just ignore it. Warning: this tactic does not work in the office when people can see you at your desk. Then you need to feign unconsciousness.
Gmail seamlessly integrates with Google Talk. Every IM conversation is saved in Gmail just like emails. You can search past IMs in the same way that you can search for emails. And by viewing past chats in Gmail, the calendar and map links work the same way as with email.
Hi Eric. You sold me. I have been using Yahoo email from the inception, but I am tired of the lousy spam filters...
You really sold me on the fact that I have many websites and many emails and I have been looking (unsuccessfully) how to manage all those email inboxes. I think GMail has a solution so you say.
I will give them a try. Thanks. Nice article.
What about the issue of Gmail archiving email?
Ostesnibly because they are planning some type of targeted advertising based on the content of the email.
The archiving is supposed to be anonymous, but if/when the storm troopers show up at their door, I think many people may find out that things weren't so anonymous after all.
And as many media stars and politicians have found out, even the most innocent statements can be taken out of context and used against you.
I do personally will not conduct business with people over Gmail and also tell my clients not to.
Actually, they have added a 'Delete' button a long time ago.
However, I don't think that this conspiracy theory about Google collecting data for future marketing campaigns holds much water.
First, it applies to ANY web-based email - including MSN Hotmail!, Yahoo! Mail, AOL, and so on.
Not only that, but it ALSO applies to offline mail. For example, ISPs could archive all the mail that goes through their servers.
Public companies are now required to archive emails for many years for legal purposes, and it's possible they'd sell those email databases off to spammers and data miners if they went out of business.
So, the truth is that if you don't want your email to be archived and used for marketing purposes, you'd better just stop using email! Or, only use encrypted email.
I think the privacy concern is at least valid, especially considering that Google didn't exactly inspire the privacy cognoscenti with confidence after their dealings with the Chinese government. However, I am hopeful that as U.S. government policy begins to solidify in regard to issues of online privacy, Google will fall in line.
On that note, here's a link to an article discussing former Democratic candidate Chris Dodd's challenge to Google to be leaders in privacy.
I also noticed today that if you receive an email that refers to a shipment and tracking number, Gmail will display a link to track that package in the sidebar (see below):
Curse you, Eric! You persuaded me to use del.icio.us. Then you lured me into trying Google docs. Now...I'm...being...compelled...to...evaluate...Gmail. Can't...resist.
I've been using GMail (or 'GoogleMail' as we have to say in the UK. Sigh.) for about six months and I think it's great, too.
Interested to hear that you don't use Labels, Eric; that you just archive or delete. Hmm...
With my poor Teflon brain ('nothing sticks' :-) ) I could come a cropper there. But I can see how just archiving some emails would be an advantage.
So I don't think I'll be going back to Mail or trying Entourage.
Don't get on with Google Docs so much, though.
Eric, I'm a web designer and needed to locate details about Gmail for a client. Although, I've had my Gmail account for a few years, I had no idea how effeciently it allows you to manage your business.
I love the search feature and archive features.
Great article. We pulled together a list of undocumented advanced search operators that we thought you might find interesting:
http://www.letterbar.com/3-undocumented-gmail-filters/
I think gmail is having very big problems at the moment. My mails are deleted insantly with having no posibility of reading them.
For eg. In inbox there is 14 emails, I am checking one of them then there is written that it is deleted, and all those 13 mails are deleted too.
And whats more, I even can not get a good costumer support. FUC this.