Google rolling out new Gmail look and functions &#...

UPDATE: I posted this tip in November of 2011, but many Gmail users didn’t have the new Gmail interface yet, so I’m bringing this back out of the archives since all new accounts and most exiting ones are now in the new format. Starting today, Google is rolling out the option for you to try out there new interface (look and function). You will see an option to try out the system in the lower right hand side of your...

All 45 of my Gmail tips

At today’s local computer users group, I discussed the basics and more of Google’s Gmail. All of the tips and tricks I discussed at the meeting and many more are here for you at HelpMeRick.com. Start by clicking here to see all my articles and tips regarding Gmail. Leave any Gmail related questions you have in the comments! Thanks.

How to use multiple signatures in Gmail without ad...

This week I helped a client start the transition to Gmail from Microsoft Outlook. Turns out that although he used the same email address, he did have different signatures setup for various uses (personal, business, charity, etc). With Gmail, it is possible to setup a separate signature for different email addresses (which not many people do with Gmail), but not choose from different signatures. As I thought about his problem,...

Disable Gmail Web Clips and Important Markers R...

Frequent visitors to this site know that I’m a huge fan of Gmail and recommend it and its web interface. However, every now and then Google introduces some features that perplex me. Some people may like the features, but it is nice to be able to disable them if you don’t use or like the feature. In today’s tip, I explain how to disable the web clips advertising bar at the top of the list of messages and also...

Facebook vs. Google+

For those three of you who haven’t been keeping up with Google’s recent launch, Google+ is the newest in a long line of social networking websites. Like Myspace and Facebook before it, Google+ allows you to add “friends” to your network, share pictures, and meet new people. And while Myspace has fallen into oblivion since 2006, Facebook is, in my opinion, still superior to the newest kid on the social...

Burning CDs with Picasa for Linux

Unfortunately, Google has not updated Picasa for Linux in almost 18 months. However, it remains a solid product for Linux users who want to easily manage their photos. I’ve tried F-Spot, but it just doesn’t seem intuitive or robust enough for everyday use. Anyway, I was helping one of my many clients using Linux Mint as their only operating system, and he needed to know how to burn CDs from Picasa. Here’s...

How to make Gmail & other Google Apps even mo...

I highlighted a little about Google Labs enhancements of Gmail in my award winning 3 part introduction to Gmail, but I felt that the Google Labs needed a tip all its own. Google Labs lets users of their products experiment with Google’s own experiments. Their programmers and engineers work on literally hundreds of projects every day to enhance their online offering of applications. Some of these projects make it into...

Re-thinking my mobile tech

Right now, I carry an iPhone, an Asus EeePC netbook (running Ubuntu 10.04 NBR) on a daily work day basis. When I travel, I carry the iPhone and usually the EeePC. I also own a 13″ Toshiba laptop that I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7, but I only use the Toshiba only for teaching and presentations. My thought process is: Should I sell both the Toshiba and the netbook and get a thinner, lighter laptop? Just sell the...

Picasa – Still the best

I get to see tons of software in my weekly travels, and that includes photo management software. Picasa, from Google, remains my favorite photo management and downloading system for Windows, Macintosh, AND Linux (Ubuntu). It offers: Great flexibility in organizing and tagging photos Easy to use download function Good integration with online photo ordering services Wonderful way to share photos via online albums, Facebook...

Drag & Drop Attachments in Gmail – Vide...

Google rolled out a great new feature for Gmail this week that allows users to drag files from folders directly into an email. It only works with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox at the moment, but it works extremely well and makes attaching files a lot easier. Take a look at the video below to see how it works.

Measure the distance of your walk, run, bike with ...

I’ve been meaning to share this great tool with you for a few years and somehow kept forgetting to do so. The Gmaps Pedometer is an easy to use tool that a runner put together using Google Maps to be able to quickly map out distances on city streets. The creator did a remarkable job of preserving the simplicity of Google while marrying it with a useful set of tools for exercise folks and tourists. I didn’t mention...

Import photos using Picasa 3.5 – Video Tip

Picasa made some nice changes last year with the upgrade to 3.0, then 3.5. My favorite has to be the new streamlined import feature. Admittedly, the previous import wizard was a little clunky and took a few times to become comfortable. Not so with this newest version. To import photos using the newest version of Picasa, follow these steps: Click Import button in the upper left corner of Picasa Make sure the Import from box...

Linux + Gmail = Computing Bliss

Last summer, I wrote an article about a senior citizen client of mine who constantly struggled with her older Windows XP machine. Updates would cause problems, the printer would stop working, security woes plagued her. She turned out to be my poster child for using Linux (in her case Ubuntu 8.10).  Check out the article (by the way, she is still doing fantastic with her computer and Ubuntu). Today, I visited another of my...

How to backup photos using Picasa – Video Ti...

Lately, I have showed many people how easy, not to mention vital, it is to backup your digital photos. When a computer crashes, the first thing the computer user does is panic…unless they have a good backup routine. With photos, there is no easier, safer way to backup than using Picasa. Picasa is a free photo management utility from Google that can be used on any platform; Windows, Mac, or Ubuntu/Linux. You can read...

Students and online apps

My high school daughter ran from the house today in a panic because she was running late and didn’t have to time to print something she needed for school. She uses a MacBook and OpenOffice, but had already shut the computer off and was out the door. Interestingly enough, she uses and is sold on the utility and effectiveness of online apps as well. She uses both Google Docs and Zoho (which she likes better) regularly...