Google promised to add features at a higher pace in
the new version of Gmail. The latest addition is label colors: you can now set a different color for each label so you can identify messages easier. Not all Gmail accounts have the new feature, but it will probably be enabled for everyone soon.
It's also easier to find related messages and to remove a label without using the drop-down.
The feature was previously available as
a Greasemonkey script. I wonder if
all scripts written by Mihai Parparita will become Gmail features.
{ via
Blogoscoped Forum }
Update.
The post from Gmail's blog that announces this feature says something interesting: "
We actually kinda like folders. In fact, we're doing some work to add some folder-y-ish functionality. Stay tuned." It will probably involve some drag-and-drop.
Update 2. Gmail seems to have fixed the performance issues and doesn't cache messages so aggressively.
Labels: Gmail
Peregrino said on December 3, 2007 3:48 PM PDT:
At last! I've been waiting fo this for a long time! Is a really useful function, hope it gets soon to my inbox ;)
I wonder if they'll ever implement some kind of hierarchy in the labels system. That way you could have some "rootlables" and depending "sublabels", instead of a never ending label list...
;) Peregrino
What link or menu is it under?
It's in the label box on the left of the page above or under the chatbox.
gods.geek said on December 3, 2007 5:44 PM PDT:
I don't know if this is new or if I just missed it before, but there is also an "x" next to the label name in the detail view (see screenshot in original article) that allows you to remove a label from a message. I like the new features, keep them coming Gmail team!
gods.geek said on December 3, 2007 5:49 PM PDT:
D'oh! Never mind. I just re-read the post and saw that it was mentioned there. Great new feature, I just need to learn to read better :)
This is one "feature" I could do without. I do not like it at all and I can't get rid of it. You cannot select the text colors and background colors independently. I do not want a box around the label--it is obtrusive--but if I select the only label with the same background color as the inbox, then I am forced to accept a bright blue label. It would be better if they gave us the option to not display the labels in the inbox view.
i48998 said on December 3, 2007 6:13 PM PDT:
Mindless and very Useless features, and as always, you can't get rid of 'em if you want to.
BillyG said on December 3, 2007 7:11 PM PDT:
I'm still using the old version because I don't receive all the images whenever I get big msgs, they don't all forward when I forward them, my hyperlink just shows the code vs. the link in the signature, and worst of all, Firefox freezes up on me EVERYTIME I go back and see if any of those things are fixed!
James said on December 3, 2007 10:31 PM PDT:
This is cool. I've had similar with Better Gmail. I can't wait to get it on Gmail. Would be nice if I could get the new version of Gmail. (Google Apps for my Domain user.)
said on December 3, 2007 11:53 PM PDT:
Would be nice if I could get the new version of Gmail. (Google Apps for my Domain user.)
How long we have to wait?
said on December 4, 2007 1:06 AM PDT:
I wish my Gmail would upgrade! aaaah! help! still on v1.0 even in the latest browsers.
said on December 4, 2007 1:40 AM PDT:
Are they simply abandoning Safari?
They still don't support Safari 3. Anybody knows if they are working on it?
Just because you don't see the new version in your browser doesn't mean Gmail stopped supporting it.
Proof
Mapperz said on December 4, 2007 2:01 AM PDT:
Switched from [English, UK] to [English US] Enabled the Colour (ok now Color) Labels.
Mapperz
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/
themis said on December 4, 2007 3:35 AM PDT:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that they have also added the "edit subject" link next to "Add Cc, Add Bcc" links when you reply to a message. Small, but useful change :)
Andris said on December 4, 2007 4:03 AM PDT:
Would be much more interesting/useful to label contacts, not only messages. Labelling all family-related, work-related, etc-related contacts would mark all work related mail with one label & color. Contact groups are not that useful - they can't be used with filtering. What do you think?
said on December 4, 2007 7:22 AM PDT:
Andris,
You're exactly right. The first things I did was make a "Family" label and color it red. It would be nice if they "auto-filled" the email addresses when you were creating filters.
This is a handy way to give some emails a priority. I really like it.
said on December 4, 2007 10:12 AM PDT:
Thomas, I was wondering the same thing. We GAFYD are still second class citizens, at best.
I think GApps users (or GAFYD, whatever you like) should be grateful they don't get a buggy version of Gmail, like the rest of the people. I've already noticed some performance improvements, so in a few weeks everyone should enjoy Gmail 2.0 (and the long list of features that will be added until then).
Jake said on December 4, 2007 1:01 PM PDT:
Ionut,
Truth be told, I wish I could choose that for my own domain...
* Be on the cutting edge
o use the stable stuff as long as possible
Just a little option like that :).
said on December 4, 2007 1:51 PM PDT:
@John David
you can remove the feature from each tag by, clicking following the same steps as to apply a color. But, hitting remove color in replacement for that last step.
i48998 said on December 4, 2007 4:03 PM PDT:
@Ionut Alex Chitu, wrote: Well, you can. Just select "remove color" for each label.
You have a good point, but the reason I find the colors useless is because I archive all of my emails with filters by skipping inbox, and I don't ever visit All Mail section, so the drop down arrow next to the label and little more line spacing is useless for me.
said on December 5, 2007 3:30 AM PDT:
I send my best regards to G.MAIL teem engneers and disgners ,who spent long time of thier duties to istablish this high preformance , 'm waiting for this new upgrade and not wondring gmail wens last year the top 100 products , good luck to u all , thx
said on December 7, 2007 3:20 AM PDT:
am i stupid, i have the latest browser but my gmail won't show any new features? do they randomly select who gets the new interface???
If you're having trouble seeing it even now, try switching your settings in GMail to "English (US)".
said on May 1, 2008 9:04 AM PDT:
Still no labels for me. :(
Stefan said on June 20, 2008 4:10 AM PDT:
Good Job!: )
