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8 Gmail Labs features you should be using
Did you know that Google has a Labs feature where they test out changes and enchancements to Gmail before making them a permanent part of their classic email platform?
Unfortunately, calling them Labs features doesn’t really do them justice. Some of these Labs are, to me, an essential and required part of Gmail. I highlight my 9 favorite Labs below.
So, how do YOU enable these features? Easy. Just log into Gmail, click the little gear icon in the top right hand corner, and choose Labs. Then, tick the Enable circle next to the features you want to enable and click Save Changes. That’s it! Gmail will reload with all of these new features in tow.
What Gmail Labs do you consider a requirement? Let us know!
More details regarding Windows 8
Microsoft’s Build conference hasn’t failed to disappoint, revealing lots of new information regarding Windows 8. Engadget has a great list already compiled so we’ll just quote them:
- All Windows 7 applications will run natively on Windows 8
- Security update notifications have been minimized to the lower right of the log-in screen
- Refreshed Windows Task Manager suspends apps when they’re not running on-screen
- New “Reset and Refresh PC” functions enable simplified system wipe and restore
- HyperV virtualization software comes pre-loaded on Windows 8
- Multi-monitor support now enables a single background across screens, as well as monitor-specific task bars
- Multi-touch support enabled for Internet Explorer 10
- Magnifier function enhanced for desktop manipulation
- Optional thumb-by-thumb input mode
- SkyDrive storage support integrated into all cloud-based apps
- Metro-style refresh for Mail, Photos, Calendar and People apps with Windows Live ID
- Settings roam allows for preferences to sync across a user’s Windows 8 devices
- Continued update support for Windows 8 Developer Preview Beta
- Even a Lenovo S10 (first-gen Atom + 1GB of RAM) can “run” Windows 8
- There’s “no overlays” with Windows 8; Metro-style goodness is baked into the core
- Both Metro-style and conventional Win32 apps will be sold in the Windows Store
- Windows 8 devices equipped with an NFC chip will be able to use a tap-to-share feature to either send content from one device to another, or simply receive content from something like an NFC-equipped card.
- Logins will use a photo-based system
- Apps will be able to natively connect and understand one another (if written as such)
- Built-in antivirus software will ship in Windows 8
- There will not be a different edition of Windows 8 for tablets, and presumably, not for Media Centers either
- It’s unclear how many “editions” (Home, Professional, Ultimate, etc.) of Windows 8 there will be
- ARM devices will be supported, but not in the developer preview
Some items on this list are certainly way closer to the techie side of things but one line from this list really stands out:
Even a Lenovo S10 (first-gen Atom + 1GB of RAM) can “run” Windows 8
The Lenovo S10 is a tablet PC and tablets, to keep their size down and heat to a minimum, usually run slower processors. This means that you can buy a PC today and it’ll be able to run Windows 8 when it comes out sometime next year. Or maybe you’re thinking of going the tablet route and are considering Windows 8? No problem. For3 can help you find the right kind of tablet that will run Windows 7 now and Windows 8 later.
Get in touch with us, we can help! You can see some screenshots of the developer build of Windows 8 below:
Use Gmail, Calendar and Docs without an Internet connection
Today Google has (re)unveiled offline access for Gmail, Calendar and (coming soon) Docs (check out the image in this post for a glimpse of the Gmail app.) This means that you can use these products without an Internet connection.
To use the offline versions of these popular Google products, you’ll need four things:
- Google Chrome – Google’s free and awesome web browser. Get it here.
- Offline Gmail Chrome app – a special app that syncs Gmail to your computer for offline use. Get it here.
- Google Calendar Chrome app – this app will sync your Google Calendar entries to your computer for offline use. Get it here.
- Offline Docs Chrome app – this app isn’t out yet but, when it is, we’ll update with a link to it. It should be available within a week.
