GeekSugar

Open Gmail Compose Window When Clicking Email Links in Chrome

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:39:34 PST

Gmail and Chrome are becoming even closer friends, especially when it comes to email. Google released an update this week that allows you to open a Gmail compose window every time you click an email address within Chrome. When you log in to Gmail, you should see the below banner, asking if you'd like to allow Gmail to open all email links. After you accept this, anytime you click on an email address while in your Chrome browser (say, you need to email the support team for your Internet service or the returns department for some online shopping gone wrong), instead of Outlook or Mail popping up, you'll get a Gmail compose box instead. So easy.

Craving a few more basic Gmail tips and tricks? Then just keep reading.

Make voice calls - You can easily make voice calls in Gmail on the cheap. In the "Chat" section, just click the "Call Phone" button and enter the digits. You'll then be able to make free calls to landlines the US and Canada, and for supercheap, you can call cell phones and landlines worldwide.
Search with options - If you haven't discovered the "Show Search Options" link to the right of the Gmail search bar, you're in for a treat. Clicking it reveals a host of helpful options, including the ability to search by sender, date, attachment, subject, and more. It's extremely helpful if you are less than diligent about labeling and filing emails in your inbox.
Send email from different addresses in Gmail - If you're like me, you probably have multiple accounts that you use for different reasons. Did you know you can write all of your emails within Gmail using different external addresses if you so choose? First sign in to Gmail and head over to "Settings" and select the "Account and Import" tab. In the "Send mail as" section, click on the "Send from another address" button, where you can add and verify all of your external addresses. When you compose a message within Gmail, you'll then be able to select which email address you want to use in the "From" drop-down menu.

See a few more tips after the break.

5 Extensions to Add to Your Chrome Browser

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:11:08 PST

New to Chrome? Here's a handy tip that might save you some time. Rather than manually typing in the web address to your most frequently used sites in the Chrome web browser, you can opt to download the extensions instead. Extensions are little icons to the right of the web address bar. Clicking the extension icon sends you to the site directly or allows you to quickly review the latest updates without having to visit the site directly. Below, a breakdown of some apps new Chrome users should consider downloading.

News: Stay up-to-date with a reliable news source like CNN, especially the tech section.
Mail: Google Mail Checker extension shows new email notifications and will send you directly to your mailbox when clicked.
Social media: Use Facebook Notifications extension to preview any unseen notifications, which include likes, comments, invites, friend requests, and new messages.
Productivity aid: Fun websites and social media can be a distracting thing, so if you are looking to calculate the stats of your browsing history (i.e. time spent on your top 10 sites), check out the History Trends extension. It pulls info from your web history to show you charts and figures that will help you better delegate your time and resist the urge to go on Facebook throughout the day.
Explore the web: For when you have time to leisurely browse the web or come across a webpage you would love to share, do both with ease using the StumbleUpon extension.

Have any favorites of your own? Share them with us in the comments!

Chrome Niko: Serious Bag For Serious Business

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:30:05 PST

The holidays are a perfect time to get cozy with your camera. The lights, the food, the weather, all of it makes for an awesome shot at a moment's notice. And if you need a bag that's going to stand the test of time, there's none better than the Chrome Niko Camera Bag ($95) to do the job. Chrome was kind enough to send me this bag to test out, and so far, I don't want to give it up. At first glance the Niko may not seem so "female-friendly," but on the contrary, it has no problem fitting smaller frames, and best of all, it's not too bulky.

Made of tough military grade nylon, this bag can take a beating and come out the other side looking shiny and new. Cyclists and bikers will love the Niko since it's lightweight and compact, but offers amazing protection for your gear thanks to its padded interior and water-resistant zippers. The signature Chrome seat-belt chest strap offers a satisfying click when closed (which also doubles as a bottle opener for those beer-fueled hikes), and the waist straps help it stay snugly in place. I have worried that someone (or something) will accidentally hit the center closure and send my gear falling to the ground, which is a scary thought if you're toting an expensive camera. I will say that ladies with a larger chest may not find this bag desirable. The padded chest strap is wide, so it could cause an unpleasant and uncomfortable "separation of the girls" if you know what I mean.

See who I think the Niko is perfect for, and the one thing I wished it came with after the break.

Chrome Honors Jolly Ol' London in New Bag Series

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:11:00 PDT

Cheerio, cycling chaps! Chrome Industries introduced a new city series, giving two of their most popular bags a makeover that embodies that culture of the selected city. With London as the first destination, the Citizen messenger bag ($160) and Yalta backpack ($140) are updated to reflect the "punk, bikes, royalty and tweed" of the British capital.

The traditional exterior fabric of each bag is replaced with a double-coated herringbone tweed outer shell and nubuck leather panel. The interior fabric sports a cheeky Victorian cycling print from wallpaper producer Flavor Paper. Both bags boast plenty of room for laptop storage; and, the Yalta features side access to get gadgets in a flash. Look out for more cities to receive the Chrome treatment in 2012; but, we can think of no better combination than bikes and tweed.

5 Helpful Google Chrome Tips and Tricks

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:41:55 PDT

The newly redesigned Google Chrome browser recently celebrated its second birthday, and is already making moves by taking a big chunk of the browser market share. Are you using Chrome these days? If so, check out these five handy plug-ins, tips, and extensions that will make browsing easier.

Download of the Day: MuteTab

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:21:01 PDT

If you're the type to have multiple tabs open on your Chrome browser (and who isn't?), then you're going to want to download this free extension right away. Called MuteTab, this extension helps you find the tabs that are making noise - whether it be from music, an autoplay video, or an annoying ad ("Congratulations, you've won!") - and lets you shut them down with the click of your mouse. You can even automatically mute all background tabs, so you can enjoy browsing in silence. Finally.

Got an awesome app you want to share? Tell us about it in our Download of the Day group or our Facebook page, and it could be featured on the GeekSugar home page!

Sights From the 2011 Google I/O Developers Conference

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 May 2011 01:21:44 PDT

It was my first time attending the Google I/O conference here in SF, and I was definitely surprised at the interactivity that Google brought to Moscone West. There were apps to try, games to play, and comfy areas to sit and work. There was even a candy bar! Check out some of the interesting and fun stuff I found while cruising the premises.

Google Launching Two Chromebooks on June 15

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:58:26 PDT

At today's I/O keynote, Google announced two new Chromebooks coming from Samsung and Acer on June 15. These new laptops were born from last year's CR-48 beta edition, and have now evolved into consumer-ready machines with some nice cloud features.

Both Chromebooks boot in eight seconds, have built-in WiFi and are 3G-ready (from Verizon), feature automatic updates, and secure log-ins for multiple users. You can customize your Chrome experience with web apps, sync your bookmarks, and get your documents, photos, and settings on any computer thanks to its cloud-based operating system. Check out more photos and details from both the Samsung and Acer laptops (including size, weight, and battery life) in the slideshow. When you're done, head over to our Facebook page and vote on our Google Chromebooks poll!

Angry Birds Gets Chrome Exclusive Content, Plays Offline

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:22:34 PDT

During today's Google I/O keynote, Rovio announced that it would be bringing Angry Birds to the web.

An exclusive Chrome edition will be available soon in the Chrome web store (which includes Chrome-themed levels), but the best part is - you can play Angry Birds in its entirety offline. Now you'll never get any work done in the office or on the plane.

Charming Google Chrome Ad Shows "the Web Is What You Make It"

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:45:58 PDT

Mother's Day is on Sunday, but I can't help but share this adorable and charming ad for Google Chrome. Passed on to me by Sugar member Calamari, this ad shows that you can use Chrome, Picasa, and Gmail to create a 21st century baby book that your kids can (safely!) read when they're older. Check it out below!