Top 5 Gmail Projects

By Sean Percival on October 9th, 2008

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Google Labs is always in development mode. That’s because that is what they do – literally. Almost every product, service or enhancement that Google has hit the web with was first developed inside the control of the ultra-top-secret Google Labs. OK, they really aren’t all that top secret, as you can see from the current list of projects they are working on found here. Some of the more recent additions to hit the net lately consist of enhancements to their online e-mail program, Gmail. So, without further ado, I present for you my picks for the top five Google Labs projects currently for Gmail. With these enhancements activated, you will surely be able to master your inbox once and for all.

#5 – Right Side Labels

Finally! I can now put those labels where they belong. While some of you may like the left-side labels, there are many of us in the users who enjoy a more right-handed approach to menu items – like labels. This simple little lab feature rectifies this problem once and for all and gives me back control of my layout, at least somewhat. I had to include it on the list, just for that reason alone.

#4 – Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

Didn’t know this was available, did you? Yes, that’s right – once again the power has been given back to the people. Sometimes keyboard shortcuts overlap between programs that you may have running, which can cause errors or perhaps just cause the shortcuts not to function at all. This little labs feature remedies the problem by providing an additional options tab where you can set up your own customized keyboard shortcuts. No more shortcut conflicts and no more confusion.

#3 – Forgotten Attachment Detector

Have you ever sent an e-mail, only to realize you included an attachment that you meant to leave behind? Perhaps it was a forward from your boss with confidential information in an attachment, but the body of the e-mail was benign. Unfortunately, because the e-mail contained a joke you thought was funny, you just sent the company’s third quarter results to “all”. Nice knowing you. However, with this feature from Gmail Labs you will get a warning alerting you to the fact that said attachment is still on the outbound e-mail, allowing you to not make such a completely boneheaded move.

#2 – Old Snakey

Ha! I couldn’t pass this one up. Anyone here remember the snake game? It used to be on all the old school cell phones. This is a great little addition to your Gmail setup that is sure to provide hours of entertainment. Just too cool to leave out! Two thumbs up for Old Snakey. Thanks to Dave C. and Gmail for not letting us forget something like this.

#1 – Mail Goggles

Coming in at number one is a tool that will be more valuable at saving your rear than the Forgotten Attachment Detector – Mail Goggles. Developed by Jon P. this one will prevent you from sending unintentional mail during late-night hours that you specify. Remember that time you came home from the club and decided to write an e-mail to your ex? Or how about that time you got all worked up over that missed promotion after hours and decided to let the boss have it? Did you regret those less-than-sane (or sober) moments? Well, this additional feature will require you to solve some math problems before allowing you to send e-mail. Granted, they may not be the hardest ones to solve (and you will be using a computer, hence easy access to the calculator program), but that’s not really the point. The idea is to trigger your brain enough to make you realize what you are about to do and whether or not it will be the equivalent of an electronic hang-over in the morning!

OK, so there you have my list of the top 5 Google Labs projects for Gmail. Oh, there is one caveat, from Gmail’s Lab tab:

“None of these features are really ready for prime time yet, so they may change, break or disappear at any time.”