PC World - Gmail Update Draws Gripes

PC World - Gmail Update Draws Gripes

Earlier this month, Google has been slowly rolling out an upgrade to its popular e-mail client, Gmail 2.o. Sadly, many users are reporting problems with this latest version. The most common complaint is Gmail 2.0 works very slowly. Google is aware of the problems and are working hard to correct it. Many users, frustrated with the new upgrade, have returned to the old Gmail 1.0.

Official Google Blog: We're expecting

Official Google Blog: We're expecting

As many of you know, Google acquired Writely, an online word processor service, and combined it with Google Spreadsheet to create Google's Docs and Spreadsheet. Now, there is news that Google will add a presentation module to Google's Docs and Spreadsheet. It looks like Google is creating an online clone of Microsoft Office. Google's CEO Eric Schmidt denies that Google is trying to compete with Microsoft Office. For one thing, Google Docs and Spreadsheet does not nearly have the same features as Microsoft Office. I am not entirely convinced. Earlier this week, Google announced that it had worked out a deal to buy DoubleClick for an astounding $3.1 billion USD. Google's cash cow is its online advertisement business. With its purchase of DoubleClick, Google has firmly cemented it dominance in online advertisement. Microsoft had high hopes to increase its presence in the online advertisement industry but that hope has evaporated. Unlike Google, Microsoft's cash cow is in its software products. With the exception of its Windows operating system software, Microsoft Office brings in the greatest revenue. Should Google be able to offer a viable free alternative to Microsoft Office, Microsoft can see its revenue from its software products evaporate as well.

Google Pack Gets Updated

Google Pack

Google Pack has been updated. In response to users' comments, Google has made some changes to the free software programs that make up Google Pack. Previously, Google Pack contained a special version of Symantec Antivirus program, which offered free updates for 6 months. After 6 months, the program will alert users that, in order to continue receiving signature updates, they had to purchase a license. However, in this latest edition of Google Pack, Symantec offers unlimited signature updates. Also, Google has add a special version of Spyware Doctor - Spyware Doctor Starter Kit - to the latest edition. This starter kit version only offers limited real time protection - only OnGuard and File protection - but it is still an awesome addition to the pack. The Google Pack still includes: Picasa, Google Earth, Google Desktop and the other programs found in the previous edition.

Save cached copies of your favorite webpages to your Gmail account for online and offline browsing

Save cached copies of your favorite webpages to your Gmail account for online and offline browsing

There are no shortages of good social bookmarking services on the Internet. Personally, I use Del.icio.us, Digg and Yahoo! My Web. I have a preference for Yahoo! My Web because I have the option to save cached copies of any webpages. This comes in handy if, for whatever reason, the webpage disappears. Yes, you can use a permalink but not all websites offer them. In addition, with cached copies, you can instantly view them without having to go to the originating websites.

Today, I will describe how to save cached copies of webpages to Gmail, Google’s online e-mail service. Gmail offers an astounding 2.8+ GB of storage. You can use this space to hold all your saved webpages. You can tag and label all of your webpages for easy retrieval. Using Gmail’s sophisticated search options, you can generate a list of webpages which match your search query. In addition, you can setup your desktop e-mail client to download all these webpages and have them available for offline browsing.

For this to work, you will need a Gmail Account. Sign up for one at Gmail’s website. Jot down your new e-mail address and go toread.cc website. Enter your gmail address and click [start menu]. The website will send an e-mail message to your gmail address. Return to your Gmail account and open the new message. The message will contain a link to register your toread account. Click on it to go to your account. On this new webpage, you will see 2 links, [toread] and [toread +]. Both are bookmarklets which you can drag and drop on to your toolbar. You will use [toread+] because it allows you to add a comment to your bookmark. Simply, drag and drop the link on to your toolbar. If you are using Internet Explorer, right click on the link > select Add to Favorites > select Links > [Add]. If you get a warning message, ignore it; [toread] uses javascript to bookmark webpages, which IE flags as a potential security risk.

Now, you are ready to save your favorite webpages. When you come across a webpage you want to save, click on the [toread+] bookmarklet. A new window will appear. Under comment, enter tags which will identify this webpage; separate each tag with a blank space. For example, for the Mozilla’s homepage, I enter the following tags: “mozilla opensource firefox browser freeware” (without the quotation marks). The webpage and tags are then sent to your Gmail address. The body of the message will contain a copy of the website. The tags will appear on the subject line and info.toread.cc. appears in the from field.

You can use Gmail sophisticated search options to easily find and sort your saved webpages. Open your Gmail account. To the left of the search box, click on Show Search Options. You can search by tags by entering the tag(s) on the Subject Line. You can search by content on a webpage by using Has the Words as well as search by date. Of course, you can use any combinations of these filters. You can also add labels to the messages to further sort your messages. For example, I use labels like “to do” or “important.” Now, you have a database of all your favorite webpages with an outstanding search tool to find and sort them. You can use your desktop e-mail client to download Gmail messages to browse your favorite webpages offline.

BetaNews | Google Treads Further on Microsoft's Turf

BetaNews Google Treads Further on Microsoft's Turf

For some time now, many have speculated that Google will release its own online version of Microsoft Office. Today, rumor has become reality as Google released its Google Apps Premier Edition. Google Premier Edition is a fee based version of Google Docs and Spreadsheets for business. In addition to a word processor an spreadsheet, it also provides access to APIs, conference room scheduling for calendar, 10GB of e-mail storage, extended phone support, and mobile access to e-mail on BlackBerry devices. Granted, Google Apps Premier Edition is not on par with Microsoft Office yet, but who is to say what will be the case a year from now.

Google opens Gmail to all | CNET News.com

Google opens Gmail to all CNET News.com

Today, Google officially open Gmail for all who want to open an account. Previously, Gmail was only available by invitation from an existing account holder. Later, Google opened Gmail to those with a mobile cell and students. At present, Gmail provides 2.8+ GB of space and it keeps inching up. Gmail is easy to use with intuitive controls. In place of folders, messages can be sorted with labels. Gmail sports one of the most effective message search feature. Gmail integrated with other Google services, such as: Google Documents and Spreadsheet, Google Maps and Google Calendar. Some users have utilize the hugh amount of storage space available on Gmail to backup files online.

Google's anti-phishing plugin leaked passwords

Google's anti-phishing plugin leaked passwords

Hard to believe but Google's anti phishing plugin for Firefox leaks both e-mail addresses and passwords. The flaw lies in how Google generates its blasklist of phish websites. When a phish website is submitted to Google's server, embedded within the URL are e-mail addresses and passwords. Since this list is public, anyone can view the addresses and password. The flaw was discovered by web security provider Finjan Inc. The company quickly contacted Google about the flaw. Google has since fixed the problem.

GMail Vulnerable To Contact List Hijacking

GMail Vulnerable To Contact List Hijacking

There seems to be a newly discovered security flaw in Gmail, Google's online web service. For the hack to work, the user must already be logged in to Gmail and must visit a site which runs the malicious file. The hack exploits a vulnerability in cross scripting, which is a common weak point for many types of attacks (e.g. phishing scams). At first, many believe that only Firefox was vulnerable to the attack; however, there is some debate as to if Internet Explorer and Opera are vulnerable as well.

Gmail Disaster Causes Mass E-Mail Deletions

Gmail Disaster Causes Mass E-Mail Deletions

For reasons unknown, a number of Gmail users had their e-mails deleted - all of their e-mails. The first signs of trouble began when several Gmail users posted alarming messages on Google Group Forum. Of those affected, many reported they were using Firefox 2.0 when the deletion occurred. In addition, there were rumors that hackers were responsible for the deletions. Google tried to mitigate people fears saying only 60+ Gmail users were affected and that Google was working very hard to correct the problem. Google did not comment if hackers were responsible for the problem. In fact, they haven't said anything about what caused the problem.

7 Google Reader Tips and Tricks

7 Google Reader Tips and Tricks

There are several online and offline RSS aggregators. Personally, there is one RSS aggregator which stands out from the rest. You might have already guessed it. It's Google Reader. Google Reader is still in beta but it works and feels like a polished application. The official Google Reader website has a number of tips and tweaks on how to get the most out of it. Another Google Reader aficionado has taken the time to highlight some of his favorite tips on Google Reader.

MercuryNews.com | 08/19/2006 | What do Google, Yahoo, AOL and Microsoft's MSN know about you?

MercuryNews.com | 08/19/2006 | What do Google, Yahoo, AOL and Microsoft's MSN know about you?

After AOL's debacle of releasing more than 650,000 users' search information, Mercury News investigates what information each of the 4 largest search engines giants (AOL, Google, MSN and Yahoo!) stores and how they use that informaton.

Prevent Google Persistent Search Logging

http://www.freenet.org.nz/misc/google-privacy.html

Google can track your movements on the Internet via their cookie on your web browser. While the latter has some benefits, net users are concern over their privacy on the Internet. Now too long ago, the US federal government ordered several search engine giants to turn over search queries and results. And, more recently, AOL "accidently release personal information on over 600,000 customers. If you are using Firefox, there is a simple way to configure Firefox from storing Google's cookies on your computer, thereby preventing Google from developing a profile of you.

Google Writely/Spreadsheet invites! - Download Squad

Google Writely/Spreadsheet invites! - Download Squad

Ever since Google acquired Writely, only those who already had an account could use it. Now, it appears that Writely is offering a small number of invitations to anyone who wants to open an account. Find how to obtain one of these coveted invitations.