After several years since the last time, Google has updated the graphics and functionality of its email service, Gmail, which is now the most used in the world. The renewed version of Gmail, which involves both the site and the applications for mobile phones and tablets, now offers many new features that can already be used (while others will arrive in the coming weeks) such as reserved mode, offline support, "snooze" mode of mail electronics and several other features that make Gmail smarter, safer and easier to use.
To find out what these new Gmail functions are and how to use them, you need to activate the new interface, which for the moment is only available on request on the website.
Before the final launch, in fact, it is possible to choose whether to continue with the old graphics or immediately activate the new Gmail even just to see and test it (at the moment, in fact, you can still go back to the old Gmail with a click).
To activate the new Gmail simply open the Mail.google.com site, then press the gear button of the settings at the top right and then press on the writing: " Try the new version of Gmail ".
The site is then reloaded with the new graphics and a mini initial wizard where you can choose the preferred type of display of the inbox : between default, normal and compact (the default is certainly the best one)
This choice can be changed later by pressing the gear wheel button at the top right and then clicking on the " Compact display " option.
First of all it can be seen that the general layout of the site has not changed in the new Gmail and all the elements can be found in their place.
The search bar, the Write button at the top left, the sidebar and the email lists are still there arranged in the same order on the new Gmail.
The second difference from the old Gmail are the buttons that appear by themselves when you hover over the various messages .
These buttons are the quick action buttons that allow you to delete, archive, postpone or mark as a message to be read, without having to open individual emails.
When you select a message, other possible actions appear at the top, such as the one to mark the message as spam, the one to move it, to assign labels and then other actions including creating the filter and adding a task.
Sending an e-mail, as explained, means making it disappear and receiving it again after a certain period of time chosen, with a new notification.
If you choose to view Gmail with default compactness, you can get direct access to attachments received with emails, without having to open messages.
Gmail, in fact, displays file attachments in the email list so you can open them directly without having to view the emails first.
From the point of view of the interface of the new Gmail site, there is a bar on the right with buttons that allow you to quickly open other services connected to Google mail such as the Calendar, Google Keep and Google Task .
The + button allows you to add additional components that integrate into Gmail, among those certified by Google itself.
The various buttons do not open new web pages, but display the tools within Gmail, so you can drag the messages inside them to quickly create appointments on the calendar or tasks on Google Task.
By pressing the button with three lines at the top left you can compact the column of labels which is then displayed in buttons and expands when you move the mouse over it.
Unfortunately, you will notice that the site is not actually optimized for small screens and how Gmail cuts some options if there is not enough space.
Another problem with the new design can be related to the colors, with the characters not really contrasting with the gray background.
This problem, however, is easily solved by pressing the gear button and then clicking on themes, choosing a different theme .
In particular, you can choose the black theme, to see the black background of Gmail.
You can also change the color of Gmail text in Settings> General
As for how the new Gmail works, there are some improvements that make it smarter and safer to use.
- The compose window now supports quick, computer-generated and click-to-send replies .
The replies are located at the bottom of the received message.
You can customize or add to the reply.
- Potentially risky emails are immediately highlighted in the email list to improve security against phishing
- It is possible to cite contacts to insert them directly in copy in the CC field .
To quote a contact you must write the + sign and select the name or email address from the list that appears automatically.
- It is possible to use GMail offline to synchronize and save emails on PC, without external extensions and with native support of the new site.
- Confidential mode in Gmail to send secure messages to set an expiration date or revoke an email sent.
after a certain period of time, the recipient will no longer be able to forward, download or copy the contents of the email.
You can also include a password to open the message.
Other features that have been announced and will be added to Gmail in the coming weeks (which we will certainly talk about again) are:
- Gmail will remember the emails you might want to reply in the Inbox, with a yellow text next to the message that says something like: " Received X days ago, you want to reply"> - High priority notifications on mobile
- Additional support to make unsubscribing from newsletters even easier.
READ ALSO: Complete guide to Gmail to get started and become experts in Google Mail
