Filed under: E-mail, Google, Web
Higher res video chat, larger file attachments coming to Gmail
Google may be busy shuttering services like Google Notebook and Google Video, but Gmail isn't going anywhere. In fact, CNet caught up with Gmail Product Manager Todd Jackson and found out that the Gmail team has a couple of new things planned for the company's web mail offering.First up, Google is reportedly working on a way to allow users to send files that are larger than 20MB. It's not clear at the moment whether this means you'll be able to attach 30MB or 50MB files directly to an email or if Google is going to allocate some of its massive storage space to file hosting allowing users to send download links for files a la YouSendIt.
The company is also planning to to allow higher resolution, 640 x 480 pixel video chat in Gmail. And a better contact manager is on its way which will make it easier to detect and remove duplicate entries.
Finally, Google plans to offer additional themes for Gmail, including themes designed by users.
Of course, there's no information on when we can expect any of these changes. But at least we know that Google won't be closing its ad-supported email service anytime soon.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iamnotjamesh said 6:20PM on 1-18-2009
with millions of users, and good chunk of the email industry, they will definitely not remove gmail, its not even out of beta yet! well, it always seems nothing can get past beta in google. FIRST!!!
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rudy said 6:20PM on 1-18-2009
ad-supported ... I guess that 's the keyword ... but loves gmail!
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Mysterius said 7:15PM on 1-18-2009
It's obvious that Gmail's eternal "Beta" is an in-joke; Google treats it as a very mature product.
As for these upcoming features, they can't come fast enough. Bring it on!
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samuel said 8:15PM on 1-18-2009
The GMail team spoil us, of course they have these things going on. SMS for free in the EU would be nice, just attach an advert or something.
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Karel Novák said 12:06PM on 1-19-2009
Please, no more adverts. I wanna pay those few cents for SMS, but I want to consume as little junk as possible.
Saravanan said 8:33AM on 1-19-2009
Video chat for linux would be nice.
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mewithafez said 12:53PM on 1-19-2009
Aye, there was buzz about 2 months ago on the google group about an alpha/beta test of the online plugin for linux, which leads to a form where you can register for it when it comes out: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pYZOS6WEwfd2dhlZI2m_bRQ
No response for a while, but we'll see if their chrome for linux in 2009 has it built in.
mewithafez said 12:56PM on 1-19-2009
Also you could try this:
http://alex.eftimie.ro/2008/11/18/howto-gmail-voice-and-video-chat-on-ubuntu-linux/
Uses wine, but it works.
Quikboy said 8:31AM on 1-20-2009
Do we really need to send attachments in e-mails? Wouldn't it just be easier to store it on a online storage site (like SkyDrive) and give the link to our friends? That way I don't clutter up an inbox if they don't want to see, and I could always access those files whenever I need to, if I don't have my computer with me.
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