User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

Monday, 13 September 2010 15:51

Written by Ced Kurtz

The sprites at Google have been busy.

The search giant recently announced two enhancements to its free e-mail service, Gmail, and one to its search. TechMan has been using all of them and has found them slick and helpful -- and free. But by using them, he hands more of his life over to Google.

Actually, the least sexy of the three -- Gmail priority inbox -- may be the most important. Priority inbox seeks to remedy the deluge of e-mail and the numerous decisions required to sort it.

Google has come up with a way to allow your inbox to make some decisions for you. Using algorithms (programming rules), Google sorts your e-mail and puts what it considers your most important unopened e-mail into a special section at the top of your inbox, your priority inbox.

Items appear there on the basis of which senders' mail you always open and which you frequently reply to.

The rest of your inbox is divided into starred mail and everything else. If you want to open a piece of mail in your priority box but keep it at hand, you can star it and it goes in a special section just under the priority mail section.

Priority inbox "learns" and improves sorting over time, and you can "train" it by using buttons to mark e-mails important or not important. More information is at mail.google.com/mail/help/priority-inbox.html.

Why do I think this is important? Because e-mail overload is a big problem. Spam filters have helped, but "smart" inboxes that can sort your mail based on your past behavior will make life at the office much easier.

It looks like Google is aiming at convergence for your Gmail screen. First it added a link to Buzz, Google's social media network, and now there is an option labeled "call phones" as part of Google chat. The call phones tool is a way to make calls to any domestic landline or mobile phone for free from the Gmail screen.

It requires a small download, and to receive calls you must join Google Voice and pick a phone number.

Unlike some Internet calling, the recipient does not have to be online, you just ring his phone. You will need a microphone. Go to "Gmail settings," "chat" and make sure your microphone is selected. Then click call phones at the left of your Gmail screen and a dialer appears at the lower right. Enter the number and click call.

But there are other features such as the ability to have your voice mails turned into text and sent to your e-mail inbox. Convergence. With call screening, you can send a caller to voice mail and then listen to the message and decide to pick up or let the message complete.

If you are using Google's Chrome browser, you can click on a phone number online and have Google dial it for you.

All domestic and Canadian calls are free until the end of the year and international calls start at 2 cents per minute and go up from there depending on the country called. We'll have to wait and see if domestic calls remain free.

Call phones is for desktop only, and more information is at gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/call-phones-from-gmail.html.

The third new Google feature, instant search, comes about because the search engine operator has decided that typing in a search term and clicking is too slow.

Instant search shows you search results below the search box as you type. Type more letters or pick a choice from the drop-down suggestion box and search results change instantly.

After you use instant search for a while, its advantages become evident. Or it can be just irritating. You can turn it off.

Instant search may not be available to everyone yet. More information is available at google.com/instant.

Comments (5)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by kleon24, September 20, 2010 - 02:53 AM

I received my registration email and I wish to thank you for posting my password for all to see.
I read your article concerning streaming video, etc. My question concerns dishnetwork and whether or not you can view computer content on your tv??

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bestbatteryshops, November 12, 2010 - 02:17 AM

I received my registration email and I wish to thank you for posting my password for all to see http://www.batterylaptoppower....dv3000.htm .
I read your article concerning streaming video, etc. My question concerns dishnetwork and whether or not you can view computer http://www.batterylaptoppower.com/dell/d620.htm content on your tv??

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by battery and charger, June 01, 2011 - 03:19 AM

Shop to provide quality professional value of the trust-level digital camera battery charger
Online sales cheap digital camera batteries and charger company's global delivery of quality value of the letter lazy ~!
digital camera battery charger
jvc battery charger
panasonic battery charger
nikon battery charger

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by a guest, August 15, 2011 - 02:48 AM

In computer popular today, believe that daily life can't computer, natural cannot leave Keyboard.
Keyboard
Laptop Keyboard
Acer Laptop Keyboard
Apple Laptop Keyboard

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bestbatteryshops, August 15, 2011 - 09:44 PM

Großhändler und Distributor von hohe www.akkuschnell.de - Qualität Dell Laptop Akkus, Toshiba Laptop Akkus, HP Laptop Akkus, Acer Laptop Akkus, Asus Laptop Akkus. Sony Laptop Akkus. HP Laptop AC adpaters. Alle Batterien und Laptop AC Adapters sind 1 Jahr Garantie und Customer Service Commitment!

Hp Pavilion DV7 akku
Hp Pavilion DV2000 akku
Sony VGP-BPL2 akku

• 
• +1
• 
•