7 Innovative Gmail Labs Features You Should Try Out
Google has a track record of providing high quality online applications and services. Gmail was a revolution in the field of web-based mail services. Until today it continues to set the standards by introducing new features and improving the user experience.
We have previously covered Google Labs features for Gmail. Here are 7 more innovative Gmail labs features that should not escape your awareness.
To enable Gmail Labs features, log into your Gmail account, go to >Settings >Labs, browse all experimental features and check enable for the ones you would like to use, then finally save your changes. As will be described below, some features require further settings to come into effect.
Signature Tweaks
No one wants to scroll through pages of quoted text to find contact information in the signature, right?
Signature Tweaks is one of the most simple features, taking care of this signature dilemma.
It tweaks your signature so that it will appear above the quoted text, rather than below it, which would be the default behavior. Simple, but cool.
Location in Signature
If you travel a lot, Location in Signature could be a fun feature or simply an easy way to share with your friends where you currently are.
To make your location appear in your signature, you need to enable this feature, have a signature (>Settings >General) and check “Append your location to the signature” below the signature box.
If you’re sneaky you could of course cheat a little and change your location manually. I wonder whether anyone has sent eMails from Mars, yet. April Fools Day anyone?
Superstars
Superstars gives you several more “stars” to star or visually tag your mail.
You can edit your superstars by going to >Settings >General and dragging icons from “not in use” to “in use” and vice versa.
Personally, I would love to see an even bigger variety of icons, for example gif images to draw extra attention and smileys.
Previews In Mail For Yelp, Picasa, Flickr & YouTube
Here we have one of the newer set of features added in mid March. It’s actually four individual features, but the essence is the same. If someone shares a Yelp review, a Picasa, Flickr or YouTube link, you no longer have to open the URL in a new browser tab. You can view the preview right in your mail.
Multiple Inboxes
Gmail supports filters, but filters can too easily drag mail from your attention, by silently moving them into the target folders. With Multiple Inboxes you can move important mail back into your field of vision. It gives you five extra panels that will appear in a custom location next, above or below your inbox.
Once the Multiple Inboxes feature is enabled, you can go to >Settings >Multiple Inboxes and add search queries for messages you always want have handy.
Here is how that will look like. On the left is my inbox, on the right you see the extra panels, which are starred messages, drafts and eMails from Twine.
Mail Goggles
This one will keep you from sending stupid mails in the middle of the night by making you solve math problems before being able to send an eMail.
Per default it is active Friday and Saturday between 10pm and 4am, but you can manually adjust days, times and difficulty level under >Settings >Generals.
Undo Send
Despite any precautions, accidents happen. So if you still send the wrong mail to the wrong person, you may be delighted to learn that Google has just recently implemented a feature that allows you to call your mail back.
Unfortunately, the undo feature will only work for a few seconds right after the message was sent. So you have to quickly realize your mistake!
What novel features would you like to see in Gmail Labs?
(By) Tina has been writing for MakeUseOf since late 2007. In her other lifes she is a researcher, scientific writer, senior customer service representative or blogger. Tina is also an experienced host with CouchSurfing.
Thanks for the tips! I have to laugh out loud at the Mail Goggles. I’m picturing uses for those people who like to email after a few drinks.
I’m definitely going to use the multiple inboxes feature on my webtop. Too often emails go straight through my filters and I forget to scroll down to read them. Of course they’re usually my important emails!
I’d just like to be able to put in rich-text signatures without GreaseMonkey or other extensions.
this is my take on how you can use use Gmail multiple inboxes.
it has substantially improved my email management.
I have noticed an issue with the multiple inbox feature. If you set up multiple inboxes (with label search etc) and choose to show them below your regular inbox then every time you open your mail, the focus goes to the bottom of the page.
I could imagine that this is intentional, so that you don’t overlook new mail in your sub-inboxes. If it’s a feature rather than a bug, it would be good if it could be disabled.
(Comments wont nest below this level)Undo send will be very useful one to try.
One simple feature lacking from Gmail, is the ability to show at once all your unread emails like you can show all the stared emails at once. Otherwise a great product continuously creating features I hadn’t realized I needed.
you can see all your unread mails by typing “is: unread” in the search box and hitting the search button.
Thanks. All except signature are new to me. SO really enjoyed the post.
With Best Regards,
Sangam
I’m very glad to hear that Sangam.
Thank you for taking the time to comment everybody!