Yahoo's new version of web mail is, without a doubt, one of the coolest and most fluid Ajax applications we've seen to date. For the average user it offers every major feature that you can find in Outlook or Thunderbird, and it does it with style. But that isn't all, the Yahoo team also took the time to layer the app with embedded tricks, hacks, and shortcuts that makes the whole experience that much sweeter.With that in mind, here are the top 11 tricks that I use everyday with the new Yahoo Mail Beta:
1. Trick: Instant Address Book Add - Drag a message onto the Contacts link and you'll see the icon change to a plus sign which means you can add that contact to your address book in one easy step.2. Trick: Navigate your inbox the quick way - Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow or Down Arrow let you jump to messages in the same folder that have the same subject line. You can hit Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Up Arrow lets you choose another factor to filter on (such as flag) when using Ctrl + Shift to navigate.
3. Easter Egg: When composing a message just hit the Subject: button to cycle through a collection of random (often humorous) subject lines. A lot of real gems in here including:
- The brain has been polished professor.
- All your platypus are belong to us.
- I believe those were mouse droppings.
- The twins just turned 2 and 4 this month!
- How about never? Is never good for you?
- Care for a foam apple?
5. Tip: Select Multiple Messages - Hold shift after selecting a message to select multiple messages. Hold Ctrl to add specific messages to the list. Hit Crtl-A to select all messages in a folder or search results. This is a great way to select everything in your inbox and move it to an archive folder.
6. Tip: Read Messages Now - Go to Options link in the upper right hand corner and then select Mail Options. Find the item labeled mark messages as read and select immediately. This way when you scroll through messages you no longer have to pause one each one to have it marked as read.7. Tip: Hide/Show Viewing Pane - Just hit the letter V on your keyboard to have more space to organize your folder. Hit V again to reopen the message preview.
8. Tip: Quick Compose - Type the letter N to start a new message or R to reply to a selected message.
9. Trick: Find Text within your message - Hit Crtl + F after selecting a message to find text within a that message. Hitting the enter key lets your scroll through each instance of the word within the message.10. Trick: Scroll through folder without reading - Holding Crtl lets you scroll through a folder messages using the arrow keys without selecting each individual message.
11. Tip: Send Message Now - By using the Crtl + Enter Key you can send a message you are composing instantly. No more hunting for the send button.
That's it! There are quite a few more shortcuts document in the help section but these are the one's I've found most valuable. Leave a comment and share your Yahoo Mail tips.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-16-2007 @ 4:35PM
Kevin Trotter said...
To number 8 you can also add: press A to Reply All.
Also, here is a list of search shortcuts that come in really handy: http://updates.mail.yahoo.com/blog/search-shortcuts/
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3-16-2007 @ 5:19PM
Jeff said...
Finally - someone highlights the power of Yahoo Mail! Thank you! I know Google is great... but I think the average to rookie user will be more comfortable with Yahoo and it's linking to all it's other services.
And this article shows that the above average user will enjoy Yahoo's capability as well!
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3-16-2007 @ 7:24PM
John said...
I wonder how this will compete with Gmail???
http://www.DCguide.com
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3-16-2007 @ 8:04PM
Ian D. Miller said...
Actually, the Ctrl+Enter (and a couple other keyboard shortcuts) are why I prefer the Yahoo Mail app to Gmail. The interface in general is a lot more usable and easy on the eyes. I'm very often fooled into thinking I'm using Thunderbird or some other application and I Alt+Tab "back to my browser" from mail which messes me up pretty badly =^) Yahoo Mail is the most robust and un-webpage like application I've ever used. I really wish they'd intercept the ctrl+r event though, because I often use that thinking I'm replying in Thunderbird and it just reloads the whole page =^(
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3-16-2007 @ 10:47PM
marc said...
anyone else having trouble with the Beta version in Firefox?
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3-17-2007 @ 3:09AM
Betty L said...
Also unable to run the beta in Firefox. Tabs are covered with a "curtain" and selections above them don't exist. Runs fine in IE 7. It's extremely nice and IMHO more useful than gmail. But not possible in Firefox, so run the old version of Yahoo Mail.
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3-17-2007 @ 3:35AM
netster007x said...
1)I use it in Firefox, it is officially compatible in Fx, it works well (although not quite as fast as in IE) in Fx. If you have trouble with this, try updating, clearing your cache, and running in safe mode. Extensions and old extension pieces can be problematic.
2)For an odd reason, Plus users as well as ISP users (me) do NOT have the click-able random "subject" button.
***One BIG shortcut that's hard to discover on your own is the ability to drag a message's tab straight to a folder when the message is open in a new tab. I believe this is the most useful, most easy to miss trick Yahoo! mail beta offers!
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3-17-2007 @ 3:52AM
Ryan said...
Thanks Ian! This is a great writeup.
Ryan Kennedy
Yahoo! Mail
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3-17-2007 @ 8:57AM
Aneesh Aravind said...
The Subject: button is not clickable for me! I tried in both IE and Firefox. I am logged into yahoo mail Beta in the US.
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3-17-2007 @ 8:13PM
Brett said...
I wish there was a folder that only showed Unread mail just like Outlook does. If I had that, I'd be a really happy camper. I have paid for Yahoo! mail premium for years and have never had a problem with it.
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3-17-2007 @ 9:35PM
Betty L said...
Thank you nester. Clearing the cache worked and I can use the beta Yahoo Mail. Did not have to start in safe mode.More interesting is the support call I made to ATT Yahoo!: I was told, after the CSR checked with her supervisor, that Yahoo did not support Firefox.
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3-19-2007 @ 2:12AM
JCP said...
One thing about Yahoo beta...composing to multiple adresses is so annoying! I liked the older version of the addresses folder where you could select multiple addresses and then compose to all selected.
Maybe you can with the new version too - although I haven't seen it there.
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3-20-2007 @ 2:36AM
netster007x said...
Betty) Wow, that's pretty amazing someone told you Y! did not support Firefox. Those people at support are not always as knowledgeable as they should be.
JCP) You CAN select multiple addresses, just use [ctrl] to select individuals, and [shift] to select chunks (and combine the two). If this sounds confusing check out the Y! mail beta overview and click "selecting messages".
http://overview.mail.yahoo.com
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3-21-2007 @ 9:54AM
osmanovic said...
masma
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3-21-2007 @ 9:58AM
osmanovic said...
Can somebady help me how I can find a password for yahoo e-mail. if somebady can track up what password is for this user plesalo@yahoo.co.uk I will be very happy whit thet If you find password pleas send me to my mail elvis_os@hotmail.com
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3-21-2007 @ 10:42AM
Andrew said...
Whenever I put a line between paragraphs in Yahoo Mail (by pressing Enter twice), it appears as 3 lines once its sent. It seems to use the feature where it automatically double spaces after you press Enter for a new line, while it does not double space if you just type continuously. Has anyone else noticed this or know how to turn it off?
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3-21-2007 @ 5:28PM
Tim said...
Something else about search: Ctrl click the go search button. You'll get the shortcuts for search secrets...
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6-01-2007 @ 1:13AM
Nic said...
I am happy to see the checkbox come back but I was REALLY SAD (Mr. Kennedy (wink,wink,nod,nod)) to see the little Spam-Flame go away from the message list headers. It was quicker and more convienient (for me anyways) than the check boxes to get rid of spam in my inbox while still looking at other emails! PLEASE BRING IT BACK!
The only other complaint is that my server farm (us.f570) has yet to be updated to include the chat features, something I've been super eager to check out. I've been a dedicated user since 1998, what does a guy have to do to get some updated contact list messagin lovin???
For would be nice items: an auto-save function for writting emails, too many times has my browser/computer crashed and I've lost long emails; the ability to view a folder and RSS feeds at the same time in different tabs!
Two thumbs up on the ability to slide the right side advertisement out of the way!
Thank you Yahoo!Mail Beta Team, whoever you are!
Keep the improvements coming.
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6-01-2007 @ 1:52AM
Gabriel said...
I've got the integrated chat feature in Yahoo Mail Beta - it's great, BUT only works with other Yahoo messenger/mail users. One of Yahoo's best features is to be able to allow chat between its own messenger users and those using Windows Live Messenger. However, you cannot currently chat with Windows Live Messenger users via Yahoo mail beta. Will this feature be offered in the future?
Many thanks
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6-02-2007 @ 10:09PM
Murali Kavitarkika said...
Dear Sir
When Yahoo started giving 100MB storage space, there were some who could not get 100MB storage. There was trick for changing from 6MB to 100MB:
QUOTE:
======================================================
1. Login to your Yahoo! Mail account
2. If you see only 6MB, go to Mail Options
3. Select Account Information from the left of the screen
4. You'll be asked for your password again. Enter it.
5. You will see the Membership Information page
6. Copy the url of this page into notepad
7. Compare your url with this url:
http://edit.yahoo.com/config/set_intl?.child=&.scrumb=***********&.done=http%3a//edit.yahoo.com/config/_eval_profile%3f.src=%26.intl=us%26.done=http%3a//us.f607.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Options%3fYY=87095%26.scrumb=***********
8. Copy your scrumb code (this should be the last 11 characters of your url) from your url and place it in the two places of my url where the *********** is. Copy this url (which has your scrumb code) back into your browser.
9. Change your settings to English - US
10. Accept the New User Agreement
11. You will be logged out
12. Go to mail.yahoo.com and relogin
======================================================
Is there any trick similar to the above for getting unlimited storage?
Could you please leet me know
Thanks
Murali Kavitarkika
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