UNI TECH BLOG I

Gmail just got new. The search giant Google’s free email service has got a slew of new features. Numbering as many as nine, they promise more security, storage and simplicity.

Presently, third in global email marketshare, Gmail is striving hard to increase its turf. So here’s looking into all the new features that Gmail has added in the recent past in its endeavour to climb up the ranking ladder.

HTTPS by default

Google recently introduced a mandatory secure encryption for all users of its free email service Gmail, which will make it more difficult for hackers to break into the email accounts.

Gmail will now be accessible through what is known as the hypertext transfer protocol secure or HTTPS on internet, instead of the HTTP protocol which it was using earlier. Rival email service providers, including Yahoo and Hotmail, are expected to follow suit.

Under the new protocol, email data traveling between a user’s browser and Google computer server will be encrypted, making it tougher for the hackers sitting on unprotected Wi-Fi to break into the user’s accounts.

For users, the new encryption would result in higher level of security, similar to an online banking transaction. Hackers would also find it more challenging to steal credit card and bank statements stored by Gmail users in their mailboxes. The connection will be routed through an encrypted route, which will make it difficult for hackers to decode it. Users who do not want their data to travel through the encryption because of slower speed, have the option of turning the HTTPS off.

More storage

For users who require more space space, Google has introduced 20 GB of storage for only $5 a year. Extra storage is shared between Google Mail and Picasa Web Albums and acts as an overflow if a users uses up his free storage.

Send sms from gmail

Google labs now enables users to send free SMSes to any mobile number. But, hold on, so far it is limited to US only

Presently, users can only send SMS to US numbers. Here’s hoping that Google soon takes the feature global.

“Got the wrong Bob?” and “Don’t forget Bob”

Google has added an embarrassment-avoidance tool that catches misdirected Gmail messages before they are fired off by users of the Google’s email service. Called “Got the wrong Bob?”, it is designed to warn people if it appears they may be about to send a Gmail message to an unintended recipient.

The feature identifies groups of people that a Gmail user most often sends messages to, and then alerts the sender when they deviate from patterns. Google engineers Ari Leichtberg and Yossi Matias wrote in a joint blog post, “Gmail will try to identify when you’ve accidentally included the wrong person, before it’s too late.”

The new feature from Google Labs can be turned on by enabling the respective feature in Gmail Settings. Similarly, it is not uncommon to realise that you have left someone important after having sent a email? Or to keep on thinking who all, from your long list of contacts need to be sent this email? Gmail Labs new feature termed ‘Suggest more recipients’ (recently renamed ‘Don’t forget Bob’) intends to help you do just that.

Once enabled, the Google labs feature suggests the user a list of recipients while composing a message. The recipient list suggested is based on contacts that a user might want to include based on the group of people they email often.

Four more themes

Make Gmail look like a calm patch of grass or an old school video game. Can’t decide? Choose “Random” and cycle through a different theme each day. Check out all available themes from the Themes tab under Settings.

Message translation

Turn on “Message translation” from the Labs tab under Settings, and whenever you receive an email in a language other than your own, Google Mail will automatically translate it into a language you can understand with just one click.

To-do list

Available in Google Mail, Google Calendar, iGoogle and on your mobile phone, Tasks is the simple to-do list that’s with you everywhere you go. Click “Tasks” above your chat list to get started.

Drag and drop labels

You can now drag labels onto messages and messages into labels, just like folders. The labels you use most often are easier to access right above your chat list. The rest are hidden but still accessible under “more”. Customise which labels you see from the Labels tab under Settings.

YouTube, Picasa, Flickr, and Yelp previews

Instead of just links, see previews of photos, videos, and reviews right in your email. Turn on these and other experimental features from the Labs tab under Settings.

Tasks mobile

Take your to-do list everywhere you go. Just go to mail.google.com/tasks from your mobile browser.

Indiatimes Infotech

Tags: email, Flickr, Gmail, Google, Picasa, Technology, Yelp, YouTube

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