Filed under: Features, Windows, E-mail, Google, Lists
11 useful Windows apps that tie in to your GMail account
by Lee Mathews Aug 28th 2009 at 2:00PM
GBridge sets up a Hamachi-like VPN and offers loads of cool features for your Windows desktop, including file sharing, backup and synchronization, and remote control via VNC. Since the developers added support for Google Apps domains, this has become a great way to keep your office team connected.
GMail Drive is an oldie but a goodie. I've got several of gigs available, and there's no chance I'm going to fill that up with actual email anytime soon. Plug GMail Drive into Windows, and you can drop files into your extra space just like any other folder on your system.
g2peer allows simple file sharing with your friends via your GMail account. Don't need the other features from GBridge? g2peer is a good option. Your pals at the other end don't even need to install the app to get files from you since it supports "command line" interaction via GMail - check the help page to see how it works.
GMail Backup gives you an easy way to save a copy of your precious cloud-based inbox on your local system. This app requires IMAP access to GMail, so make sure you've enabled it in your preferences. GMB also has a restore feature - which makes it a handy way to migrate from one GMail address to another should you ever need to do that.GPhoto Space provides you with one more place you store and share photos online. Why bother? Maybe you don't want to set up a Flickr or Picasa Web album. Maybe you just want a mostly private place to store some photos for personal viewing.
Affixa offers an easy way to tell Windows GMail is your default mail client and to send file attachments right from your desktop. If you'd rather not bother with a desktop email app and IMAP or POP access to GMail, Affixa is a handy way to bridge the gap between your PC and the cloud.
Pidgin, though it doesn't technically provide any straight-up GMail functionality, does let you chat with your GMail contacts who are signed in to chat. The newest version even provides Google Voice and Video support.
Digsby, of course, will let you chat with those people too - you'll just need to use Tokbox if you want voice and video chat. It does, however, support incoming mail notifications. As always, we recommend grabbing the alternate installer.Gmail Notifier Plus (right) makes a slick little addition to your Windows 7 desktop, with jumplist support and the ability to check multiple GMail accounts.
The GMail Reader Gadget is one of the best options available for your Windows 7 or Vista Sidebar - assuming you're into gadgets, of course.
Got another favorite app that plays nicely with GMail? Share it in the comments!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zach said 6:49PM on 8-28-2009
Gladinet too? you can mount your Google Docs/Google Picasa account (gmail id) to Windows Explorer as virtual folders and start drag and drop files in between. You can also setup Google Docs backup task to backup Google Docs to Amazon S3 or Box.net. (http://www.gladinet.com)
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Martin said 5:27PM on 8-28-2009
Doesn't google forbid the usage of a gmail account for file storage à la Gmail Drive?
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Kevin said 7:24PM on 8-28-2009
Yeah I don't want to spread any unnecessary FUD, but I've read that Google has been known to freeze (delete?) accounts that are detected to be using their accounts for storage. I guess the trick is to open a new account and not use your main one..and only store things that aren't critical in case they block access to the account.
emo-boys-sentir said 5:54AM on 8-29-2009
googel
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wcroskeys said 8:12AM on 8-29-2009
Thanks for the head's up re: Gmail Notifer Plus. Love how it is just a"drag and drop" low impact install and integrates with Win 7 so well!
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