Using gmail

• Works in any browser• User experience better in some browsers than others• I use Google’s Chrome browser

• FAST!!• Get the most screen real estate for content• REALLY FAST!!!!• Drag tabs in or out of window• REALLY, it’s FAST!!• Duplicate tabs

Google Apps vs GoogleApps

• Google calls an “application” a “product”• gmail is a Google App• Not to be confused with GoogleApps• GoogleApps is a bundling of

• gmail• calendar• sites• docs• AND it uses your DNS Domain (NOT @gmail.com)

More than just mail

• email • contacts • calendar• tasks• chat• video chat• sms• buzz• search engine• quick links• phone calls

Customize

A comparison

PROS• Accessible anywhere• Search capabilities• Excellent SPAM filter• Mobile device integration• LOTS of space• Labels• Filters• Stars• Free

CONS• Privacy• Mail is not under your control• Must be connected • 24 hour lockdowns• Only one gmail acct at a time

(except for GoogleApps)

Philosophy

• No folders• Mailbox is “flat”

• New labs feature allows hierarchical labels• Messages are “tagged”

• System• User

• Messages are threaded

Gmail basics

• Conversation view• Labels instead of folders• Archive instead of delete• Chat & video chat

Conversation View

• Back and forth conversations are kept together• Reply(s) use same subject• To change Subject, you must Forward

Labels

• Labels are used instead of folders• Labels do everything a folder does… and more• Messages can have more than 1 label• You can simply “label” conversations or• “Move” conversations into a label• Labels can be colored so your mail stands out• Labels are ordered alphabetically in inbox

Archive

• Removes from your “inbox”• Keeps your inbox clean

gmail Limitations

• web client does not support• return receipt header• priority mail header

• Will not display web page (HTML) correctly if it uses internal or external style sheets. Must use inline styles.

Priority Inbox

• Think “opposite of spam”

Settings

Filters

• Define actions how gmail handles incoming messages• Star email from important people• Label certain email messages as they come in• Forward email from a specific user to another mailbox• Delete mail based on specified criteria• Think of filters as rules

Chats

• Automatic history• Built into gmail• GoogleTalk is not necessary

Searching

• from:• to:• subject:• OR• -• “ “• ( )

• filename:• in:anywhere• in:inbox• in:trash• in:spam• is:starred• is:unread• is:read

• after:• before:yyyy/mm/dd

• is:chat• deliveredto:• label:• has:attachment• list:• cc:• bcc:

Your gmail address

• younda@gmail.com• younda+alias@gmail.com• younda+hike@gmail.com

Mail Clients

• Any POP3 client• Any IMAP client• Outlook

Multiple logins

• Where you’re logged in

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Shift ? – Show all shortcuts• # - Delete• e – Archive• j, k – next, previous message

Vacation

• Nice control of auto replies• Also auto-disables itself on specified end date

References

• http://inboxzero.com/video/• http://www.43folders.com/