New Google Mail Lab: Preview Pane

Ever wish that you could view your list of Gmail messages as well as see the content of an individual message? The Gmail Lab "Preview Pane" provides this functionality; click on the image below for an example. This works especially well when you have lots of screen space.

To enable this lab:

1. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of your Gmail window and choose "Mail settings". 
2. Click on the "Labs" tab and search for "preview pane". 
3. Click the "Enable" radio button to the right and then click the "Save Changes" button at the bottom of the page.

For more information and detailed instructions, visit the Google Enterprise Blog posting.

Try Out the Google Docs New Look

Along with Gmail and Google Calendar, you can now try out the new look for Google Docs. To do this, click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the Google Docs page and select "Try the New Look". 


For more information see the Google Docs blog posting: Try out a new look and keyboard shortcuts for your documents list - Docs Blog

Pivot Tables Now in Google Spreadsheets

Google Docs Spreadsheets now support Pivot Tables. See the video demo below for details.

Source: Official Google Enterprise Blog: Pivot Tables now in Google spreadsheets

Filters Added to Google Spreadsheets

Google Spreadsheets New Filter Tool

Google Spreadsheets now has a filter tool to enable you to select and view subsets of your spreadsheet data.

For more information and an illustrated Quick Start, visit the Google Docs Blog posting Filter your data in spreadsheets.

Cosmetic Changes to Gmail, Docs, Sites, and Contacts

There's a slightly new look to the top menu bar of Google Gmail, Docs, and Sites in Google Apps for Education. The navigation links at the top left corner of the page are now more button-like. And the top right links for getting to Settings, Help, etc. have been rolled under a gear icon.


In Gmail, the left menu has been "cleaned up" to make it easier to get to Contacts and Tasks. You can also hide the Contacts and Tasks buttons by clicking the "-" sign to the right of "Mail". And now there's a more prominent "Compose Mail" button. This results in a smaller header area that put the first message in you Inbox about 16 pixels higher on the screen than before.

For more information, visit:  http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/updates-to-contacts-and-slightly-new.html

New Look to Google Docs List

There's a new look and feel to the Google Docs document list. This update includes: 

• More filters such as "type" and "visibility state" to narrow your searches
  
• Priority sorting as in Gmail has been added as option
  
• Preview panel to the right to see a thumbnail preview and sharing settings for the document 

For more information, visit the posting A refresh to the Documents List on the Google Docs Blog.

Desktop Notifications for Emails and Chat Messages

If you use the Google Chrome browser, you can now enable desktop email and chat notifications. See more details here.