Tag: Gmail

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Mobile Syrup

Generative AI features for Gmail already visible in latest app code

Just last week, Google announced it will soon add generative AI features to Gmail, and it looks like code for the new features is already starting to show up.

As found in the latest Android Gmail app ‘version 2023.03.05.515729449’ by 9to5Google, there’s code related to “Help me write feature,” which was also hinted at in last week’s announcement. 9to5Google even shared what the feature would look like after it was able to successfully activate the update’s UI element.

Upon tapping the ‘Help me write’ button, a text entry field appears at the bottom of the screen with a prompt asking the user to “Tell Gmail what to write for you.” If the prompt you give Gmail is too short, it will ask you to keep typing.

It’s currently possible to add text to this box, but support from Google’s end is non-existent, and no matter what the user types in, a preview or result is not generated.

The publication said that Google is also working on a “Refine my message” feature that would essentially polish a piece of text that you’ve already typed in to improve and clarify it.

When the AI has finished generating the text, users will either be able to insert what it generated or get another draft by tapping a “View another” option. Users would also be able to “thumbs up/thumbs down” the refined text.

It looks like those are the two features that Google is starting out with, but it did say that new generative-AI features will be rolled out to “trusted testers” throughout the year before rolling out the features widely to the public.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google to add generative AI features to Docs and Gmail

Google has announced that it’s bringing its generative AI models to its suite of Workspace products to allow users to “create, connect and collaborate like never before.”

Google will be bringing some new generative-AI features to “trusted testers” throughout the year before rolling out the features widely to the public. According to the company, these features will allow users to:

  1. draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize your Gmail
    brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs
  2. bring your creative vision to life with auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides
  3. go from raw data to insights and analysis via auto completion, formula generation, and contextual categorization in Sheets
  4. generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet
  5. enable workflows for getting things done in Chat

The first set of features will release for Google Docs and Gmail and aims to help people get started with writing.

Users will be able to give the AI a prompt and ask it to write an initial draft for it. “Whether you’re a busy HR professional who needs to create customized job descriptions, or a parent drafting the invitation for your child’s pirate-themed birthday party, Workspace saves you the time and effort of writing that first version. Simply type a topic you’d like to write about, and a draft will instantly be generated for you,” wrote Google.

Users will also be able to adjust the tone and style of the text depending on who it’s being sent to and its context.

The new experiences for Docs and Gmail are rolling out later this month, starting with English in the United States. From there, Google plans to collect feedback, refine the features, and make them more widely available to consumers, small businesses, enterprises and educational institutions in more countries and languages.

Image credit: Google

Source: Google

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s how to turn on Gmail’s new package tracking feature

If you need to track a lot of packages, a new Gmail feature might be right up your alley. Google’s popular email app now has a built-in package tracker, though for the moment, it seems you need to enable it manually.

9to5Google detailed the new feature and noted that Gmail should show a ‘Track your packages in Gmail’ card at the top of users’ inboxes when the feature rolled out. However, that card isn’t showing up for everyone, but the feature is still available for a bunch of people.

To enable it on Gmail for Android, you can head into Settings > Select your email address > Scroll to General > Tap ‘Package tracking’ to enable it. The process differs slightly for iOS users, who need to first switch to the Gmail account they want to enable the feature for, then head into Settings > Scroll to General > Tap ‘Data privacy’ > Toggle on ‘Package tracking.’

In my own testing, I was able to turn on package tracking on Gmail on my Pixel 7, but only for my personal accounts — my work Gmail account didn’t have the feature. Moreover, the toggle for Package tracking wasn’t present on Gmail on iOS.

Gmail’s package tracking feature in action | Image credit: 9to5Google

Once enabled, users should see a few things change in their Gmail app. First up, when browsing the inbox, emails with package tracking information should show an estimated delivery date in green text with a truck icon. Then when you open the email, you’ll see a card with more details about the package, including stages like ‘Order placed,’ ‘Shipped,’ and ‘Delivered.’ There are shortcuts to track the package or view the order details as well.

9to5 also notes Google plans to enhance the feature with proactive labels for delays as well as bring the email to the top of the inbox so it’s easier to spot. The package tracking feature will also make its way to Gmail on the web, but these changes will only arrive in the “coming months.”

Of course, if you prefer using a third-party app for package tracking (or if you’re like me and primarily do all your package tracking in a work Gmail that doesn’t yet have the feature), you can keep on doing that.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google rolls out client-side encryption to some Gmail users in beta

Google is expanding client-side encryption (CSE) to Gmail on the web.

The feature allows sensitive data in emails, including attachments, to be unreadable by Google servers.

CSE is currently available in beta to customers using Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard.

For admin, the feature is off by default. Go to Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption to enable. End users can add CSE to messages by clicking the lock icon located in the recipients’ search bar.

Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Google Meet already have access to CSE. The feature is currently in beta on Google Calendar.

Eligible parties can apply to use the feature by January 20th, 2023.

Source: Google Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Gmail’s new Material UI look is being forced on everyone

Early in 2022, Google announced a new layout for Gmail that offered Chat, Meet and Spaces integration. This redesign has been rolling out to users in phases and was initially available on an opt-in basis.

Following this, in July, the Gmail integrated view was rolled out to all Chat users. With this in mind, if you turned off Chat on your account, you wouldn’t have this new Gmail. However, now, Google is making the layout standard for all users.

The Gmail design features Material You UI elements and offers an integrated view with Gmail, Chat, Spaces and Meet buttons on the left as the default layout. Personally, I like the change, as it gives me quick access to Spaces, Chat and Meet, tools I use a lot for work.

You can customize it to hide the Chat, Spaces and Meet options if you have no use for them. This will make Gmail look similar to the previous version, but you’ll still have the Material UI.

This update will start rolling out to all domains starting on November 29th.

Source: WorkSpace

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s refreshed Gmail interface arrives for more users

Google has been slowly rolling out its new Gmail design to desktop users over the last few weeks and months — now it’s headed to all Gmail users who have ‘Chat’ turned on.

As per Google (via Android Police), this is the latest stage of a rollout that began earlier this year. Google first announced the new design for Gmail in January, then made it available on an opt-in basis. In June, it released the new Gmail to desktop users on an opt-out basis, and now it’s going to arrive for all users with Chat. Anecdotally, the new Gmail briefly arrived on my personal Google account and has since vanished. I am not sure how or why.

Anyway, the new layout — if you’ve somehow managed to make it this long without seeing it — adds some nice Material You-style theming to Gmail, adds a sidebar for quickly jumping between Mail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet, adds conversation bubbles, and more.

Alongside the visual refresh, Google also detailed that it’s making Gmail search more powerful. In practice, that means you’ll see helpful new search ‘chips’ (those little suggestion bubbles you see popping up all through Google apps and Android), options to quickly narrow search results, and more.

On top of that, Google says it will enhance Gmail search with “contextual contact suggestions with intent matching for names and email addresses.” That should help improve the results when trying to find a contact in Gmail. Finally, Google’s enhancements will add personalized suggestions to search results based on how frequently users interact with a person in Gmail.

Google rounded things out with a promise that it will launch an improved Gmail experience for tablet users, better emoji, new accessibility features, and more.

Source: Google Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Your Gmail will sport a new and refreshed look in about 15 days

Back in February, Google rolled out a new Gmail layout that featured a subtle redesign and easier access to the company’s business and productivity-focused services like Chat, Spaces, and Meet. At that moment, access to the refreshed Gmail was only available to those who opt-in, but it seems like Google is rolling out the feature for all users now.

Now, instead of the new UI being available on an opt-in basis, it will be available to everyone, and those who’d rather stick to the old UI can opt-out.

The new UI lets users quickly switch between their inbox, important chat conversations, and meeting on Google Meet from one window, making it easier for users to “stay on top of what’s important and get work done faster in a single, focused location.”

While the old Gmail layout also featured Chat, Spaces and Meet in the left-aligned bar, the older look felt crammed, whereas the new UI gives the apps their own personal space.

Hovering over any of the apps will show a pop-up with your conversations on it, though if you’re not a fan of the new look, reverting back is as easy as going to the quick settings menu from the top right and clicking on “Go back to the original Gmail view.”

The feature started rolling out yesterday, June 28th, for both Rapid Release and Schedule Release users, and can potentially take over 15 days for the feature to be widely available. Also worth noting is that the new UI will not be available for Google Workspace Essentials customers.

If your Gmail doesn’t look like the screenshots above, head to the quick setting menu on the top right and click on “Try out the new Gmail view.”

Image credit: Google 

Source: Google Via: AndroidPolice

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Mobile Syrup

Gmail users can now check how much storage they have on mobile

Gmail has long included a storage use indicator on its web app, but those using the Gmail app on mobile couldn’t easily see how much storage they were using. At least, not until now.

Both the Android and iOS Gmail apps now feature a storage use indicator in the account switcher menu. Users can access the menu by tapping their profile icon in the top-right corner of the app. Those with multiple Gmail accounts will see a list of their accounts here, along with the storage used by the current account.

The storage indicator features a cloud logo with Google’s signature colours and lists a percentage of storage used out of your total storage. Tapping the storage indicator will take you to a breakdown of storage showing how much is used by Google Photos, Gmail, Drive, and more. You can also access options to buy more storage or clean up your storage.

Unfortunately, it seems the storage indicator only shows up for Google One subscribers. It kinda makes sense, given that One is Google’s cloud storage platform. But considering Gmail accounts come with 15GB of free storage, it’d be helpful if non-subscribers could see their used storage too. Arguably, it’d be more helpful, since they have less storage and likely need to manage it more often.

Finally, given that Google’s account switcher menu seems to operate the same across its apps, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the storage indicator made its way to other apps. It’d make sense too — being able to quickly check your account storage in apps like Photos or Drive would be a smart addition.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

New Google feature lets you draft emails in Docs and send them with Gmail

Google Docs will soon let users draft emails and move them into Gmail with a click.

Docs users can type ‘@’ and select ‘Email draft’ from the context menu to start putting together an email. Once the draft is done, users can click the Gmail logo next to the draft to open their email and send the message.

It looks like a neat feature overall, although I wasn’t able to try it out myself. Google’s Workspace blog notes that the feature will roll out over 15 days starting March 15th for those on ‘Rapid Release’ domains, while people using ‘Scheduled Release’ domains will see the feature roll out over 15 days (or more) starting March 22nd.

It will be available to all Google Workspace customers, along with those on legacy G Suite Basic and Business plans.

The ability to draft emails in Docs and then send them with Gmail is part of Google’s “smart canvas” initiative, an effort to seamlessly weave its productivity services together. The search giant teased the email draft feature last month.

You can learn more about the feature here.

Source: Google Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Google to start rolling out new Gmail design for Workspace users in February

Starting in February, Google will finally start moving people over to a new Gmail layout featuring a subtle redesign and easier access to several of the company’s business-focused services like Chat, Spaces, and Meet.

The Gmail redesign has been a long time coming. Some of it was shown off alongside Google’s switch from G Suite to Workspace, although the final iteration appears to have leveraged some of the new Material You styling seen in the mobile Gmail app on Android. To be clear, it doesn’t appear that Gmail for desktop will change colours like Gmail on Android — just some of the design elements are present.

The biggest change is a new sidebar to the left of Gmail with several buttons for Compose, Mail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet. There also appears to be some profile pictures in the bottom-left corner, perhaps easy access to contacts you frequently message in Chat.

The new sidebar layout replaces the current Gmail sidebar, which is a messy combination of mail folders, Chat, and Spaces. I hate the current Gmail sidebar since I have an ever-growing list of folders I sort my mail into and opening Chat or Spaces just gets in the way. Although I’m looking forward to the new layout, many people may prefer the current layout since it lets you view all these services in one spot instead of having to cycle through different tabs in the new style.

Beyond new sidebar, there doesn’t seem to be much else that’s different aside from the light-grey backdrop around the inbox.

In a Workplace Updates post, Google said that users can opt-in to try the new layout on February 8th. Come April, Google will start enabling the new layout for users who haven’t opted-in, but an option to use the classic Gmail will be settings. However, Google will remove that option by the end of Q2 2022 and the new layout will become standard.

Finally, Google notes that the new layout will be available “to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers.”

The Verge reported that the change won’t be available to Workspace Essentials customers “at the moment” and that a Google spokesperson said the change would only be available to the listed account types, indicating non-paying Gmail users won’t get the new update.

Source: Google Via: The Verge