Google adds new 'Confidential mode' to Gmail on Android to help you protect the sensitive data you share.

Technology makes life a whole lot easier when it comes to sharing data. But it's not without risk. Google is kind-of well aware of that and is introducing a new 'Confidential mode' in Gmail on Android. A new mode that will give users more control on the data they share with others.

Google has started rolling out 'Confidential mode' worldwide and to start using it, bring up the compose email window in Gmail. Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen and choose 'Confidential Mode'. Set an expiration between 1 day to 5 years. Once 'Confidential Mode' is activated, Gmail will prevent the receiver from copying, forwarding, and printing the email and its attachments. However, the receiver can take a screenshot and photo of your emails and attachments. Google also warns about malicious programs on the receiver's device that may still be able to copy and edit the data you're sharing.

Gmail users can also choose for a passcode or SMS passcode be sent to the receiver. Google will handle that for you. Just send the email and the receiver will be notified of your intention to share an email with them. The receiver must sign in with a Google account to view the email and attachments in a browser with the expiration date at the top. The default expiration date is 1 week. Additionally, the sender can revoke access at any time in their own inbox.

'Confidential mode' is a useful feature when sharing data such as health records, business plan or a copy of your passport. While it's an additional layer of protection, bear in mind that it is not entirely fool-proof.

'Confidential Mode' is already being pushed out to users. Just be patient if you do not see it yet, it's on the way. IF you do not use Gmail, you can download it free in Google Play Store.

Gmail lets you reply to emails quickly with Smart Reply.

I'm a longtime user of Inbox by Gmail, another Gmail client by Google for both Android and iOS. One of my favorite features is Smart Reply, which comes in very handy when replying to emails on the phone while on the move. Google says that Smart Reply "already drives 12 percent of replies in Inbox on mobile." If you haven't made the move to Inbox, as from the today, you will be able to take advantage of Smart Reply in Gmail. 

This new feature will provide three responses based on the email you received, thus helping quickly and easily reply to emails. "Once you've selected one, you can send it immediately or edit your response starting with the Smart Reply text. Either way, you're saving time." As almost every Google app these days, Smart Reply relies on machine learning technology to give you the best responses the more you use it. Smart Reply for Gmail will start roll out in English first, followed by Spanish in the coming weeks.

Download or update Gmail in Google Play Store or Inbox by Gmail.

Google rolling out new video attachments preview feature to Gmail desktop.

Google has started rolling a nifty new feature for Gmail desktop that will allow users to preview video attachments without having to download and viewing them in a media player. The rollout started yesterday, March 16, and is expected to take up to 15 days before users start seeing the new feature in their Gmail Inbox. Google said in a blog post that "this feature uses the same Google infrastructure that powers YouTube, Google Drive, and other video streaming apps, so video is delivered at optimal quality and availability."

Obviously, there is no download link, but do check Gmail on your desktop and the video preview feature will eventually show up, provided you have emails with videos attached.

Source: Google

U.S. only: Send and request money right in the Gmail app on Android.

Why in the world would you use the Gmail app on your phone to send or request money? Because now your can. That's what the Gmail app on Android lets you do thanks to an update that is rolling out to U.S. based users only. According to Google, "sending money in Gmail is as easy as sending any other attachment. Just tap on the attachment icon and choose whether you want to send or request money". 

The recipients do not need to install a payment app on their devices and handle the transaction right in the email itself. This whole activity of sending or requesting money is free for all parties involved.

If you live in the U.S. check out the update in Google Play Store and use Gmail to send and receive money.

Inbox by Gmail gets direct share to frequently emailed contacts.

Direct Share is a feature that Google made available as an API recently that makes sharing stuff to individuals easier. Let me explain. Before Direct Share, the sharing experience on Android and other mobile platforms, consisted of tapping Share, then pick an app before selecting a person or group. With Direct Share, people you email the most or send messages to very often shows up first in the sharing options, right above the standard list of apps that we are accustomed to. Many apps in the store have already taken advantage of this API, namely WhatsApp and Outlook, at least on my device.

Google today released an update to Inbox by Gmail that includes the direct share feature for devices running Android Marshmallow and above. People that you email the most will now be listed at the top of the sharing list so you can quickly send them stuff without first opening the Inbox app. Again, a very nice feature that will likely find its way in other apps as well and may bring a crowd to the sharing list. Only time will tell.

Download the update for Inbox by Gmail in Google Play Store.

Google adds new snooze features to Inbox By Gmail.

I made Inbox by Gmail my favorite default email client on my Nexus 6 shortly after it was released and one of my favorite features that motivated the switch is email snoozing. When you thought that snoozing was limited to calendar events and reminders, Google brought it to the Inbox so you can be reminded to read it later because not all emails require your immediate attention. Originally Inbox By Gmail included 4 snoozes: Later today, Tomorrow, Next week and Someday. Two more snoozes have been added, bringing the total to 6 that Google hopes will help you save more time: Later this week and This weekend.

The second feature that improves the snoozing experience is the ability to snooze to specific weeekend days and these include Thursday - Friday, Friday - Saturday, Saturday - Sunday. These new options come in handy for those countriers where the weekend are not Saturdays and Sundays.

The update is already available in Google Play Store for you to download. Happy snoozing :-)

Google introduces Smart Reply in Inbox by Gmail.

There are times where I find myself with a new email on my phone that requires an immediate answer, not necessarily a long reply, but a short one and these situation very often arises when I'm moving around in a crowded environment and makes typing very difficult. Enter Smart Reply in Inbox by Gmail.

In an update that will be made available later this week, users of Inbox by Gmail will be able to easily reply to messages on the go. Smart Reply will suggest three short responses based on the email you get. "And for those emails that require a bit more thought, it gives you a jump start so you can respond right away." How does it know which responses to propose? 

Here's what the blog post says about the background work that makes Smart Reply possible: "There's actually a lot going on behind the scenes to make Smart Reply work. Inbox uses machine learning to recognize emails that need responses and to generate the natural language responses on the fly. If you're interested in how Smart Reply works, including how researchers got machine learning to work on a data set that they never saw, you can read more about it on the Google Research Blog." 

Again, Smart Reply will be rolling out later this week to Android and iOS in English only for the time being.The blog post does not say anything about availability in other languages. If you haven't tried Inbox by Gmail yet, check it out in Google Play Store.

Source: Gmail blog

Gmail for Android lets you easily unsubscribe from email lists; blocking specific email addresses coming soon.

Google has made it easier for Gmail users to unsubscribe from email lists in a few taps. This feature was already available in the web version of Gmail and today Google is porting it to Gmail for Android. Gmail users will be able to unsubscribe to "eligible bulk mailing lists" in the settings of the email. 

In a blog post on the official Gmail blog, Google also announced a new email blocking feature which will roll out to Android in the coming weeks. This feature has for now been made available for Gmail on the web and will let Gmail users block specific emails. Of course, this can be reversed in Gmail settings. 

Check out the full blog post on Gmail official blog and download the update on Google Play Store. 

Google makes Gmail more secure with encrypted HTTPS connection.

Google today announced that it is reinforcing Gmail security in response to events that involved the NSA last year. The post on Google official blog does not mention Snowden and the NSA, but does refer to "last summer's revelations". So what exactly did Google do to make Gmail more secure?

First, it is important to note that Gmail always was secure since its launch with HTTPS implemented and made it the default in 2010 with a switch to turn it off. Today's change means that no eavesdropping is, according to Google, possible on your emails between your device and Google's servers. This protection is even applied when users are connected to public WiFi. And there's more.

Google made it a point to protect user's emails as they move between Google's own servers worldwide. A wise move considering the global uproar caused by Mr. Snowden's revelation last year. We may now rest assured that our emails are safe from prying eyes. Until the NSA finds a way to snoop in again ;-)

Source: Google official blog.

Gmail app update automatically show images in emails.

Google published an update for its Gmail app that enables the automatic display of images in emails. Some do get annoyed by the fact that they have to wait for images to download and while for others it is a means to save money because image downloads can indeed take its toll on data plans. The latter group need not worry because even if Google made the auto-download of images a default, they also added a switch in the settings to turn it off. 

Go into the settings by tapping the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the app. Then tap your email address and scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Images. You'll see two options there: Always show and Ask before showing. 

The update also includes some other nice features like the ability to set a vacation responder right on your device. In case you're wondering what that is, it's the equivalent of the Out Of Office. Check out the log below for additional features:

What's New

● Images now show automatically

● Set up your vacation responder in Settings

● Send or download attachments of any type, including documents, PDFs, zip files

● (Android 4.3+) Attach multiple files at once

● (Android 4.4) Print emails and attachments

● Enhanced performance for low memory devices

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and up.

Download/update the Gmail app in Google Play Store.

Today's app update: Gmail, Google Search, Evernote, Adobe Reader, Barcode Scanner...

Quite a few updates on my Galaxy Nexus this morning. Two Google apps update are the most noteworthy with Gmail getting the Delete button back as a default. For some reason, the folks at Google thought users had no need of the Delete button to delete their emails.

Gmail

What's in this version:

• Delete and archive actions appear by default - control this in Settings
• Tap sender images to select multiple emails in the conversation list
• Bug fixes
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and up


Google Search

What's new:
For Android 4.1+ (Jelly Bean)
• Information about shows you're watching on your internet-connected TV (US only).
• Saved offers when nearby a redemption location
• New voice action: play music from your phone or the Play Store
.

Evernote

• Fixes sync issue
• Reduces app size



Adobe Reader

What's in this version:

10.6.1
• Critical bug fixes for Forms
• Fix for font size issue in Reflow mode




Barcode Scanner

What's in this version:

Android 2.3.3 or later is required now.
The Holo theme is enabled on Android 3 and later.
The barcode scanning rectangle has been enlarged slightly on some devices.
The chosen preview size has changed on some devices, in order to accommodate the space taken by the soft navigation bar.

Manage new "Gmails" right from the notification center.

With the update published today in Google Play, owners of Android devices running version 4.1 or higher will be able to manage new emails in the notification center without the need to open the Gmail app. Productivity obsessed will like this feature. 

While this feature applies only to Android 4.1 and up, owners of Android 4.0 and up are getting faster and offline search plus bug fixes and improvements. Android 2.2 and up gets new labels API for third party developers.

The update should be waiting for your action in the notification are on your device. If not, download from Google Play.