Whether working online, blogging, or simply reading our email, one thing most of us are looking for is a way to streamline our time online. We all want to get more done in less time, and if you use Google's Gmail, you should know about gadgets.
Gadgets (check them out here) are widgets you can add to your Gmail sidebar. You might be familiar with gadgets if you use an iGoogle start page, which I like, but often don't take time to check. Now I can tack my favorite gadgets right in the sidebar and never have to leave my mail.
Some useful gadgets include:
- Tasks: Puts a "to do" list in your sidebar
- Twitter: Update your status, check your friends' timelines, read replies and DMs
- Weather Forecast: A quick glimpse at your local weather
Unfortunately, some of gadgets (like "Deal or No Deal," one of my faves) won't fit in the sidebar without forcing left-right scrolling, which makes them tough to use. ReadWriteWeb has a good article with links to several gadgets and an explanation of how to enable them.
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I put my g-mail gadget right on my front igoogle page. Makes it pretty easy for me. I also have my google reader gadget, google calendar gadget, and a notes gadget!
That works, too, Rachel. It gives you a quick glimpse at your incoming, current mail. But you still have to leave iGoogle to reply to messages, right? I usually have 50-100 emails in my inbox that I often need to refer to, so putting my gadgets in my Gmail is preferable for me.