creative|mixed|media » Google Apps

Gmail Labels

Neil — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:52:39 +0000

I have found that email has developed into my main mode of communication for work and for my personal life, but keeping track of it all can be difficult. I have been going through the process of slowly moving everything over to my Gmail account because from there I can manage everything and keep it all in order.

If you have come to Gmail from another program you may not be familiar with the concept of labels and how much help they can give in organising your emails. Drag and drop functionality makes this even more powerful. Gmail doesn’t use folders like some email programs because, although the folder concept can be an easy idea to get your head around, it has built in limitations. How many times have you tried to file things in one place but struggle because they should be in 2 or 3 places really. By using labels, individual emails can be associated with more than one subject or filed in more than one place – in reality there is still only one copy. If you combine this with the automatic ‘filing’ capabilities of filters you have a great way of organising your mail and restoring some sanity to your online life.

Google Apps for all sizes

Neil — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:05:17 +0000

We are realising the benefits of Google Apps more and more. For many of our clients, cloud computing makes a great deal of sense. But, it isn’t just for SME’s, huge global companies are using its power to make efficiencies.

Watch JohnsonDiversey’s IT director discuss the switch from Lotus Notes to Google Apps.

Two useful tools in Google Docs Gmail Window

Neil — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:15:28 +0000

It probably isn’t the best practice, because it is a source of constant distraction, but I seem to have my Gmail interface open most of the time when I am on line. One of the slight ‘niggles’ that I have with Google Apps is the need to have different browser pages open for different functions; one for mail, one for your calendar and one for docs etc. This minor irritation can be alleviated to some extent by using 2 useful Google Labs features. Before we go into that, I know that you can have your own customised Google Start Page in Apps or iGoogle and I used these for a time, but I usually found myself back at the Gmail Browser Window waiting to be distracted by the next e-mail to arrive.

Now there are 2 new Google Labs Gadgets that make ‘living’ in the Gmail Browser Window an easier thing to do. Google Labs Gadgets are found in the settings tab in the top right of the Gmail window.

They add enhancements to the Google Apps/Docs workflow and there are many handy gadgets there, some of which I will be going through in the future.

The Labs gadgets are experimental though and do come with a health warning:

“Mail Labs is a testing ground for experimental features that aren’t quite ready for primetime. They may change,break or disappear at any time. If (when) a Labs feature breaks and you’re having trouble loading your inbox, there’s an escape hatch. Use https://mail.google.com/a/creativemixedmedia.com/?labs=0.”

If you scroll down to the bottom of the window, nearly reaching the bottom of the list (at the time of writing, no doubt Google will have added loads more shortly) you will find the Google Calendar gadget and Google Docs gadget. Click the enable button on each and then click the save settings button.

The Gmail window should now reload and you will have the Google Calendar and Google Docs gadgets appear to the left of your emails.

I have found these really useful gadgets to have giving instant access to my diary and the ability to launch an new Google Document without leaving the Gmail window.

I will be writing more about Google Apps/Docs in the future so if you have any queries about these or other gadgets send me an email or leave a comment. If you want to start using the power of Google Apps for your business especially in conjunction with WordPress get in contact with us.