Get GMail 2.0 (even if you're in the UK!)
This is really a post for UK (or other non-US) users of Gmail. Until last week I didn't realise Gmail 2.0 existed. It had passed me by a few month ago. It's partly because in the UK we don't have it! Our US friends got an upgrade but we didn't. Not suprising.
Anyway, last week I discovered that we can enjoy the delights of Gmail 2.0 too! All you need to do is go to 'Settings' and change your display language to 'US'. Save changes, reload and you'll see an 'Older version' link at the top right of your screen. That means you've got Gmail 2.0. Congrats.
What's new? Well the new Gmail adds new views, better sorting and searching and better filtering as well as a new look. Don't get too excited though, it's not massively different. But, perhaps best of all, you can run Greasemonkey scripts in your Firefox browser which will allow you to customise Gmail in oh-so-many ways including integrating Google Reader and Calendar into Gmail. You can also see in the screenshot above that I've got a 'Tasks' section in Gmail. That's courtesy of Remember The Milk which lets you integrate a task list into Gmail, Calendar and iGoogle (as well as other non-Google apps).
In summary, just make that little change, pretend you are from the US and get the upgrade.
Thanks for that tip. Brilliant!
From a grateful UK reader
Posted by: colin_w | 10/02/2008 at 16:52
No problem - happy to pass it on! I was just as grateful when I read it. I didn't even know Gmail 2.0 existed until a few week back - bit strange that Google hold it back from us?
Posted by: Dave Shaw | 10/02/2008 at 16:58
Hey Dave!
Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I look forward to reading with interest, I'll bookmark it! I signed up to gmail by invitation from a 'friend' on a web forum (I know, bad idea, have binned it since!) when it was inviation-only and not yet fully rolled out, and signed up to the US version anyway, so I automatically have Gmail 2.0 and any new versions.
Just thought I'd brag a bit, not that bragging about email providers is particularly great!
Do you remember "Isn't Tea Great?"...? Ahh, memories!
God bless, Chris :D
Posted by: Chris Wilson | 12/02/2008 at 11:43
Hey Dave!
Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I look forward to reading with interest, I'll bookmark it! I signed up to gmail by invitation from a 'friend' on a web forum (I know, bad idea, have binned it since!) when it was inviation-only and not yet fully rolled out, and signed up to the US version anyway, so I automatically have Gmail 2.0 and any new versions.
Just thought I'd brag a bit, not that bragging about email providers is particularly great!
Do you remember "Isn't Tea Great?"...? Ahh, memories!
God bless, Chris :D
Posted by: Chris Wilson | 12/02/2008 at 11:45
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the comment! Well done on finding the Gmail 2.0. I knew nothing about it till recently. Thanks for subscribing - pass it on!
I do remember 'Isn't Tea Great' - fond memories...
Posted by: | 12/02/2008 at 12:15