GMail Users can Now Send Files Upto 10 GB with Google Drive Integration

Few days back, Google has announced a new feature in Gmail that allows users to send larger files easily via emails. Earlier, users were only able to send attachments up to 25 GB in an email. But users can now send files up tp 10 GB easily via emails.

This features is only available with new compose window launched few weeks back. Sending larger files can be done with the help of Google Drive. Users can easily share file stored in their Google Drive account via emails. Now they do not need to send link of the file. They can directly attach a file in email with a Google Drive icon in compose window.

“Have you ever tried to attach a file to an email only to find out it’s too large to send? Now with Drive, you can insert files up to 10GB — 400 times larger than what you can send as a traditional attachment. Also, because you’re sending a file stored in the cloud, all your recipients will have access to the same, most-up-to-date version,” Gmail said in a post.

After this, more users will use Google Drive and it will also affect Dropbox and box business. When you are about to send a file stored in Google Drive, it will ask to give other user a permission to access the file and share the file publicly.

If you want to use this new feature, switch to newer compose. If you are already on newer compose and not able to see the drive icon in compose window, you need to wait for few day. This feature is being rolling outl slowly.

How to Get Back Older Compose in Gmail

Few days back, Google has rolled out new compose windows in GMail. This compose window pop ups like Gmail chat and allows users to compose multiple emails simultaneously. If you think that older compose windows is not cool, you can switch back to older compose window.

Follow these steps to go back on older compose window

• First of all, login to Gmail account.
• Click on Compose button and open the popup compose window.
• Now see the drop arrow icon at the bottom right corner of the window and click on this to open more options.
  
• In this new window, click on "Switch back to old compose" to switch back on older compose.
• Now, it will reload the page and you will see older compose window.

Although, Gmail has given an option to switch back to older compose, I will recommend people to stay on the new Compose in GMail. It is easy and fast.

Gmail SMS in India now Supports All Mobile Operators

Gmail has finally launched its free SMS service in India with the support of all mobile operators. By using this service, Gmail users can use their Gmail chat box to send free SMS to their contacts. If someone replies to their messeges from mobile phone, it will appear as replies in Gmail chat. The whole conversation will also be stored into the Gmail Chat history.

This feature is available for both regular GMail user and Google Apps user. But this service is not available Gtalk. It means you can not send Chat messages to mobile phone with Google Talk messenger.

Initially, users will get only 50 credits for free.Gmail will deduct 1 credit for 1 SMS. There is a nice way to earn credits for free. If you get a reply to your SMS sent from Gmail, Gmail will give you 5 credits. So send SMS to your own mobile phone and reply to it. Thus you can earn more credit.

If you are the regular reader of this blog, you already know how to send SMS from Gmail. If you are new, then 

Read: how to send free SMS using Gmail.

If someone is creating trouble for you by sending SMS from this free Gmail sms service, you can simply block SMS from Gmail.

Read: How to block SMS from Gmail

SMS Chat Commands

There are few SMS chat commands:

• HELP: Text this command to any Gmail SMS number and you'll get a response reminding you of some of the basics of SMS and a refresher of some of the other useful commands
• STOP: This command will block all SMS messages from Gmail
• START: Re-enables you to receive SMS messages from Gmail if you're currently blocking them
• BLOCK: Send to the code number for a particular contact to block messages from that specific person
• UNBLOCK: Allows a blocked contact to send you SMS messages in the future

Write Emails in your Local Language in Gmail

English is the global language so we need to know English for global communication and using online service. But it does not mean that we can not express our thoughts in our own language. In Gmail, you can do it. Suppose in India, if you want to send email in your local language such as Hindi, Marathi  bangla or any other, you can do it easily. Gmail allows users to write emails in their local language with support for virtual keyboards to make writing easier.

To enable this feature, Follow these steps,

Step 1: Go to settings and then in General tab.
Step 2: In Language section, tick on "enable input tools"

Step 3: Now Save changes.
Step 4: Now click on Compose button to compose a new mail. 
Step 5: Now find language option at the left side of gear icon. To get your local language, click on Input Tools Settings.

Step 6: Here you can select your language from the list and click on right arrow key. Then click on save. You can also set the order of languages selected by up and down arrow key at the right side of the dialog box. 

Few languages are supported by inline translation. But for few, it supports a virtual keyboard.

See virtual keyboard for "Bangla" language below

With this feature, you can compose new email in your local language easily.

How to access Gmail account without having internet connected

Gmail is the Google's popular free email service which is being used by millions of users around the globe. last month, Google also claimed that Gmail now has more users than Hotmail. Gmail offers many nice feature which attracts users. To access your emails in Gmail, you need to login with your Google account. And the most important thing that you need to have an internet connection for accessing your Gmail account. In case you lost your internet connection or you are in no network zone, you can not access your emails.
Gmail app for Tablets, Smartphones and featured phones offers email offline. So users can read older emails and reply those emails offline. But desktop users have no option for this.
If you also think that desktop users do not have this option, you need to know that you can also access your Gmail account offline on desktop. Few days back Google had launched Gmail Offile which is a browser plugin that allows users to read, respond to, and search mail even when there's no Internet connection. You can use most basic functions but its useful while you do not have internet connection.



Follow these steps to setup your offile Gmail
1. Go to the link: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ejidjjhkpiempkbhmpbfngldlkglhimk

2. Then add this extension to Google Chrome.

3. It will ask to allow you to offline mail storage. 

This browser plugin is only available to Google chrome. So you need to have Google chrome for using your Gmail offline.


But this Offline Gmail app can store email messages for three to seven days only. If you want to delete offline inbox open chrome://settings/cookies and press Enter and delete all the cookies.

How To Add Your Own Background Images To Your Gmail

Few days back, Gmail has announced that users can now customize their Gmail with cutom background images. Gmail has added two new custom themes which allows users to add theit own images as background of Gmail account.


Follow these steps to add an image to Gmail background.


Login to your Gmail account.
Click the gear in the top-right corner, click “Themes” and scroll until you see "Custom Themes."

Pick any of the theme listed in cusom theme option and you will see a popup image uploader. Here you will have few options  Featured photos, your photos from Picasa, photos from your phone (assuming you use the Google+ app), uploading photos or adding a URL.

Here, click on Upload photos and browse an image from your system.

But there are few things missing in this feature. You cannot adjust the image to fit better on Gmail’s end. You will need to do that before uploading by adjusting size of image.

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Batch Reply for Gmail: Send The Same Reply To Selected Emails At Once

Some times we need to send same reply to some emails. For this, we wish to have a reply to all button to reply selected emails at once. Although this feature is not available officially. But Gmail users can enjoy this nice feature on Google Chrome web browser.


Batch Reply for Gmail is a nice Google Chrome extension which allow Gmail users to reply same message at once. You do not need to open and reply separately.
You only need to select the conversations on which you want to reply and then click on reply button. You will see a new compose window populated with the multiple email addresses from all the selected conversations. 


First of all Follow the link and install this extension in your Google Chrome web browser. Now login to your Gmail account. Now select all conversation to which you want to send same reply. After selecting all emails, click on reply button at the top of inbox mails. 

Now you will see a new compose email window with email addresses from the selected conversation in the to field. Now write your reply and send the message to all.


This extension is relly nice for bloggers and editors which usually gets same kind of emails. Now they can answer all those emails at once.


Add to Google Chrome

Unsubscribe From Unwanted Mailing Lists with Unroll.me

If you get daily countless unwanted email subscriptions and want to get rid of it, unroll.me will do it for you. This service batch unsubscribe all mailing lists in a few minutes.


This service is in beta and only works for subscriptions delivered to Gmail or Yahoo accounts. It is  also looking to add more soon.


When you open the website, it asks for the email service you use. Simply select Gmail from drop down and press go. Now it asks for permission to access your Google account data. Click on allow button.

After this, you will see a new page which scans and your Gmail and show the lst of services which sends you subscription emails. You will also see two icons in front of each service. Minus icon is to unsubscribe and reoad icon is to go back to the inbox. See the list and unsubcribe individually.

This service is safe to use. You do need to worry about your private data.

Add Gmail to Windows 7 Taskbar

If you want to get instant notification from Gmail, you can setup for desktop notification. This works nice if you use Google Chrome browser. But for this, you must be logged in into your Gmail account.

If you do not want to open Google Chrome just to receive desktop notification, there is one more way to receive desktop notification of Gmail. If you are windows 7 user, you can add Gmail to your taskbar. It will show notification each time you will receive a new email and lets you see the message right on the Windows 7 taskbar thumbnail preview.

To add Gmail in task bar, download Kwerty Gmail Notifier and install in your system. After installation, login with your Gmail credentials. After that, you will see a Gmail envelop like icon in task bar. The number on the icon denotes the number of unread messages in your Gmail inbox.

When you take your mouse pointer over the icon, you will be able to read the messages right there in the thumbnail pop up box. You may use the arrows (left and right) to navigate through all messages. To read the full email, click on the icon between the arrows. It will open the email in your default browser.

This application also allows users to customize few settings. You can choose a sound or deactivate it completely as a desktop alert. You can also set an interval (in minutes between 1 and 60) for auto updating.

This is really a nice tool for windows users. But it asks for users' Gmail login credentials. This may be a bit risky. Although, there is no security breach have been reported, But we cannot guarantee anything though.

How to Block SMS from Gmail

Few days, back i wrote about sending free SMS from Gmail. Anyone having you in contact list in Gmail can send Free SMS in your mobile phone from Gmail if you are using supported operator mobile phone. In india, only few mobile operator supports Gmail SMS. See list of operators.


If you are receiving SMS from Gmail from your mobile phone and do not want to receive those SMS, Gmail have easy options to block SMS.


If you have recevied SMS and want to block future messages from the sender. Just reply to the message with the world 'BLOCK'. After this, you will never receive any kind of Gmail SMS from that sender.


If you have changed your mind and want to unblock the sender, just send the phrase 'UNBLOCK' to the phone number from which the message was sent .

How Email Works, Story By Google

We all use Email to send files and messages to our friend. This is a very popular communication tool and billions of email have been sent daily by internet users.  



Do you really know how this email works? There are many technical steps in this. But Google has relased an animated story which will tell you how an email travells between sender and receiver.

Google explains how your email travells from your ISP to Google Data center. It also explains the security measures it takes to keep its data centres secure. Google also tells that it tries its best to be energy efficient.

See animated story here

http://www.google.com/green/storyofsend/desktop/

How to Create Custom Gmail Shortcuts

In my last post, i have posted all the keyboard shortcuts ofGmail. All those keyboard shortcuts are given by Google. But it also allow users to create their own custom shortcuts as per their choice. You can set keyboard showrtcut of your choice. I think this is a better idea. We will be fast in keyboard shortcuts which we will decide.

Follow these steps to create your custom keyboard shortcuts

1. Click on Gear icon, and then click on settings.
2. In settings page, click on Labs.
3. In search box, type "Custom keyboard shortcuts"
4. Now find the gadget below saying "Custom keyboard shortcuts" and click on enable.
   
5. Now click on "Save Changes"
6. Now again click go to "Settings"
7. Now go to "Keyboard Shortcuts" tab.
8. Here set your desired keyboard shortcuts and then click on save.

To disable your custom keyboard shortcuts, go to the custom keyboard shortcut and click the Restore Defaults link at the bottom of the Keyboard Shortcuts pane. You can also disable the Custom keyboard shortcuts lab from the Labs page.

List of Keyboard Shortcuts for Gmail

Gmail is the popular free email service by search giant Google. Its web interface is really easy to use and fast to navigate. But we can make it faster by using keyboard shortcuts.

By Deafult, keyboard shortcuts are off and you need to enable it from the settings. To enable keyboard shortcuts for your Gmail follow these steps:

1. Click the gear icon, in the upper right, then select Settings.
2. Choose the option next to "Keyboard shortcuts" to turn them on. You can also enable shortcuts automatically by going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?kbd=1

List of Keyboard Shortcuts for Gmail

Shortcut Key	Definition	Action
c	Compose	Allows you to compose a new message. <Shift> + c allows you to compose a message in a new window.
/	Search	Puts your cursor in the search box.
k	Move to newer conversation	Opens or moves your cursor to a more recent conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
j	Move to older conversation	Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
n	Next message	Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
p	Previous message	Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
o or <Enter>	Open	Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.'
u	Return to conversation list	Refreshes your page and returns you to the inbox, or list of conversations.
e	Archive	Archive your conversation from any view.
m	Mute	Archives the conversation, and all future messages skip the Inbox unless sent or cc'd directly to you.
x	Select conversation	Automatically checks and selects a conversation so that you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to that conversation.
s	Star a message or conversation	Adds or removes a star to a message or conversation. Stars allow you to give a message or conversation a special status.
+	Mark as important	Helps Gmail learn what's important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
-	Mark as unimportant	Helps Gmail learn what's not important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
!	Report spam	Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.
r	Reply	Replies to the message sender.<Shift> + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
a	Reply all	Replies to all message recipients.<Shift> +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
f	Forward	Forwards a message. <Shift> + fallows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
<Esc>	Escape from input field	Removes the cursor from your current input field.
<Ctrl> + s	Save draft	Saves the current text as a draft when composing a message. Hold the <Ctrl> key while pressing sand make sure your cursor is in one of the text fields -- either the composition pane, or any of the To, CC, BCC, or Subject fields -- when using this shortcut.
#	Delete	Moves the conversation to Trash.
l	Label	Opens the Labels menu to label a conversation.
v	Move to	Moves the conversation from the inbox to a different label, Spam or Trash.
<Shift> + i	Mark as read	Marks your message as 'read' and skip to the next message.
<Shift> + u	Mark as unread	Marks your message as 'unread' so you can go back to it later.
[	Archive and previous	Removes the current view's label from your conversation and moves to the previous one.
]	Archive and next	Removes the current view's label from your conversation and moves to the next one.
z	Undo	Undoes your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link).
<Shift> + n	Update current conversation	Updates your current conversation when there are new messages.
q	Move cursor to chat search	Moves your cursor directly to the chat search box.
y	Remove from Current View*	Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current view. From 'Inbox,' 'y' meansArchive From 'Starred,' 'y' meansUnstar From 'Trash,' 'y' meansMove to inbox From any label, 'y' meansRemove the label * 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.'
.	Show more actions	Displays the 'More Actions' drop-down menu.
<Ctrl> + <Down arrow>	Opens options in Chat	<Ctrl> + <Down arrow> moves from edit field in your chat window to select the 'Video and more' menu Next, press <Tab> to select the emoticon menu Press <Enter> to open the selected menu
?	Show keyboard shortcuts help	Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on. (Note: Typing ? will display the help menu even if you don't have keyboard shortcuts enabled)
k	Move up a contact	Moves your cursor up in your contact list
j	Move down a contact	Moves your cursor down in your contact list
o or <Enter>	Open	Opens the contact with the cursor next to it.
u	Return to contact list view	Refreshes your page and returns you to the contact list.
e	Remove from Current Group	Removes selected contacts from the group currently being displayed.
x	Select contact	Checks and selects a contact so that you can change group membership or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to the contact.
<Esc>	Escape from input field	Removes the cursor from the current input
#	Delete	Deletes a contact permanently
l	Group membership	Opens the groups button to group contacts
z	Undo	Reverses your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link)
.	Show more actions	Opens the "More actions" drop-down menu.

Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.

Shortcut Key	Definition	Action
<Tab> then <Enter>	Send message	After composing your message, use this combination to send it automatically. (Supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, on Windows.)
y then o	Archive and next	Archives your conversation and moves to the next one.
g then a	Go to 'All Mail'	Takes you to 'All Mail,' the storage site for all mail you've ever sent or received (and have not deleted).
g then s	Go to 'Starred'	Takes you to all conversations you have starred.
g then c	Go to 'Contacts'	Takes you to your Contacts list.
g then d	Go to 'Drafts'	Takes you to all drafts you have saved.
g then l	Go to 'Label'	Takes you to the search box with the "label:" operator filled in for you.
g then i	Go to 'Inbox'	Returns you to the inbox.
g then t	Go to 'Sent Mail'	Takes you to all mail you've sent.
* then a	Select all	Selects all mail.
* then n	Select none	Deselects all mail.
* then r	Select read	Selects all mail you've read.
* then u	Select unread	Selects all unread mail.
* then s	Select starred	Selects all starred mail.
* then t	Select unstarred	Selects all unstarred mail.