Gmail has long been dominating the email game and the number of its users just keeps growing. It’s currently around the number of 1.5 billion users and we’re certain it’s not stopping there. This email service has been developed by Google. It is known for its practicality and constant updates which keep making it better. This is why Gmail users are often surprised with cool updates and new features which bring positive changes into the entire Gmail experience. Here you can also check ways to improve employee email communications.
Some of the features may pass unnoticed while others make a huge difference in the way we perceive email writing. Whether you use Gmail for personal correspondence or business inquiries and communication, these changes will affect the way you compose your emails.
Take a look at the 4 new features in Gmail which will definitely influence the way you write your emails.
1. Confidential Mode
The first update we’ll discuss might just be the coolest one.
It’s called the “confidential mode” and it’s bringing something rather useful and unique to all Gmail users. Let’s break it down and see what it’s all about.
Gmail’s confidential mode for composing messages is designed to help people protect their emails and the content, attachments, and files they may be sending within. Do you want to convert OST to PDF file? Then check it here.
In order for a user to feel safe and protected from any unwanted readers, the confidential mode enables them to send emails under specific conditions.
Here’s how it works:
- Disabled recipient options
The person who receives the email will be able to open it and read the content. However, in terms of the content, they won’t be able to:
- forward
- copy
- download
- Expiration:
You can set an expiration date for your confidential email. This means that the recipient won’t be able to access the content of the email once they hit the expiration date.
The cool thing about this is that the expiration date can be changed. If you suddenly want the email to be inaccessible before the expiration date, here’s what you should do:
- go to your Sent folder in Gmail
- find the email in question
- click Remove access
- Passcode
There are two options to choose between when it comes to passcode:
- No Passcode- The recipient can open the email directly.
- SMS Passcode- You enter the recipient’s phone number and they receive a passcode via SMS. They need to use it in order to access the email.
The confidential mode is all about security and protecting the content of the email. It’s easy to use and rather practical.
2. Undo/Redo
Happiness is in the small things, and Gmail seems to have recognized this philosophy.
They’ve recently added the undo/redo feature to their service, and people are loving it.
If you go to Compose and open your new draft window, you’ll see this new feature at the beginning of the formatting menu, on the bottom left side:
This feature makes the whole composing process much easier.
- In case you accidentally delete something, you can simply redo the action using the arrow pointing to the right. It will bring your content back with just one click.
- If you type out something you don’t really want to keep, just use the arrow pointing to the left, and undo what you did.
The simplicity of this feature is what makes it so useful and welcomed. It helps you fix your mistakes in a more convenient, faster and overall efficient manner.
3. The Apps Sidebar
Google is definitely walking the extra mile for its users, constantly finding new ways of making their entire experience with Google maximally efficient and productive.
This is why they added the Google Apps Sidebar to Gmail. Let’s dig a little deeper and see how can you use this sidebar and make the best out of it.
“The sidebar is designed to help you stay organized and focused at all times. It connects your Gmail account with Google apps you might find useful or essential to keep things in order” says Tracy Sullivan, a freelance writer.
The sidebar comes with apps such as:
- Google Calendar
This app helps you keep track of your reservations, bookings and major events with the option of automatically adding information from your Gmail inbox. - Google Keep
You can take notes and keep them in one place to remind of your daily or monthly responsibilities. - Google Tasks
Add tasks to your sidebar app to make sure you complete each one of them on time.
In addition to these apps, you can add your own apps and add-ons which work with Google and create your own personalized Gmail experience.
4. Gmail Offline
When you’re working on a busy schedule and every moment of your time counts, it’s very important that you’re not constrained or held back.
Gmail is recognizing the need of its users to use this email service even when there’s no internet connection. Therefore, they’ve made it possible for their users to use Gmail even when they’re not connected and here’s what the users can look forward to. Also, check the export email to PST exchange 2013/2010.
The offline mode implies:
- Inbox Accessibility
If you’re using Gmail offline, you’ll be able to open your old messages and search your inbox looking for a specific email. You can read it and look at the attachments. - Drafting New Messages
Regardless of the fact you have no internet access, you can still compose a new email and save it as a draft for when you do manage to find a connection. This saves you a lot of time since you’ll have your email ready for sending.
The offline feature lets you stay productive even when you’re stuck somewhere with no internet and helps you get on with your daily tasks as efficiently as possible.
Conclusion
Using Gmail is such an enjoyable experience which never stops being so fantastic. The creators are working around the clock to make their users feel like they’re in the right hands. The updates and new features are there to make Gmail the best possible email service you can find.
The above-mentioned features are simple yet effective. They brought positive changes which influenced the way we write and send our emails and we’re excited to see what’s coming up next.
