When Google first comes out with Labs for Gmail, I was excited as it brings much more functionality to the other Google services. Unfortunately, when it first came out, it was only limited to the public Gmail, and not Google Apps of which my company is on. Finally, today, I’ve notice that the Google Labs has been enabled for Google Apps. I now can change my theme and install all the much needed functions into the Gmail window to make the Google Apps much more appealing. Here are the few features which i am currently using and like (in no particular order):
Offline – This feature enables your browser to download your mail box and makes it available offline. Before this feature was available, I can only access my mailbox while I am online and I am forced to use third party mail client such as Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, etc. I’ve tried them all and end up using the gmail web interface for performance and I have also got used to the way the mails are being group together.
Tasks – This is the one feature that I have been waiting for. Before this, i have to use “Remember The Milk” through Firefox with addon. The thing with Firefox is that it is slower than Chrome, and it has been bugging me for quite some time. Now the labs are enabled on Google Apps, I have start to use back Chrome as my primary browser.
Message Translation – Now, this is one feature that I don’t really need it, but for the occasions that I receive mails from our China CM or Japanese customers, this pay prove to be handy. It has yet to prove its worth, for now, I am enabling it to try it out.
Advance IMAP Controls – This is another feature that I seldom use, this is because I seldom access mail with Outlook. The one particular feature that I like with this advance Imap control is the ability to choose which label to be shown through Imap. This will help to reduce the load speed. I usually only use Outlook to download mails to local drive to be archived in PST format.
Forgotten Attachment Detector – This is one important feature to have. I have many occasions forgot to attach documents only to resend the same mail with attachment immediately. This feature will help me to avoid such embarrassment in the future.
Custom Label Colors – Immediately when I started to use Labels, I was craving for this feature. The colors provided were fairly limited and was hard to find enough contrast of likeable colors to fill the mail box. With this feature, I can customize my own colors, and enable me to fill my mail box with my own gordy colors instead of those created by someone else.
Send & Archive – This is another productivity tool where it helps to reduce one step after I response to the mail, archive it. I usually have to use the keyboard shot-cut to archive, now this helps me to save one step.
Undo Send – Not that often, I have to recall mails due to no attachments, and due to some error of information. This helps, if I notice that I should not send out the mail just yet within seconds of sending it. I am trying out this feature to see if it is effective in saving me face..
Inserting images – This is one feature that elevates one primary frustration with gmail, that is the ability to attach pictures into the mail to illustrate important points. Now I can explain better through mail.
Google Calendar Gadget – This helps to put my day in a single window and without having to open the calendar in a different tab. This feature brings Google Apps – Gmail to be close to what Outlook offers, thought it could not match it, but atleast it put more functionality into gmail.
Now I feel more complete with Gmail like never before and I can start to be more effective and manage my work more effectively. Goodbye third party apps.
