Five Fabulous Gmail Gadgets You Won't Find in Labs

Written by Sarah Perez / April 8, 2009 7:44 AM / 32 Comments

Since Google introduced "Gmail Labs" to the users of their popular, web-based email application, they've been adding new features constantly, all of which you can enable or disable with the click of a button. Some of those Labs features are "gadgets" - aka small widgets that you can add to your Gmail sidebar. A few of the top gadgets in Labs include things like Tasks, Google Calendar, and Google Docs. But did you know that there are a ton of other gadgets you can add, too? It's true, but you won't find them in Labs - you have to add them yourself by URL.

Before you can use any of the custom Gmail gadgets, you have to first enable a setting in Labs in order to use this feature. In Gmail, go to "Settings," then click on "Labs" and scroll to the bottom of the list. There, you'll see an option to "Add any gadget by URL." Enable this setting and then click "Save Changes."

Now head over to the "Gadgets" section in Settings. For any of the gadgets listed below, all you have to do is enter in (or even better, copy and paste) the gadget URL provided into the box. Click "Add" and you're finished!

Twitter Gadget

The Twitter Gadget is a recent favorite of ours. Once installed, it provides a box where you can update your status, check your friends' timeline, read your replies and direct messages, and view your favorites.

Gadget URL: http://www.twittergadget.com/gadget_gmail.xml

Google Map Search

Need to look up an address which was just emailed to you? The Google Map Search lets you do so without having to leave Gmail. Just enter the location in the box provided and click "Search."

Gadget URL: http://www.google.com/ig/modules/mapsearch.xml

Facebook Gadget

Can't get enough Facebook and aren't up to installing the Xoopit Gmail plugin? Another option is the Facebook gadget which lets you get your latest Facebook notifications, check on your friends' updates, view photos, and even perform Facebook searches right within the gadget itself. The first time you install it, you'll have to authenticate with Facebook to give the gadget permission to access your account.

Gadget URL: http://www.brianngo.net/ig/facebook.xml

FriendFeed Gadget

If you're more of a FriendFeeder than Facebooker (or maybe you're both), another gadget you'll probably like is the FriendFeed gadget. This one is a Google Gadget repurposed for Gmail and it just displays your Home Feed, nothing more. There are no settings to customize and the layout hasn't been configured specifically for the small size of the Gmail sidebar. However, it is scrollable and you can "like" and comment within the gadget. If you need your FriendFeed everywhere, it's not a bad option.

Gadget URL: http://friendfeed.com/embed/googlegadget/spec

Digg Gadget

The Digg gadget lets you check out Digg's top stories within your Gmail sidebar. You can choose to just see News, Videos, or Images, or you can view all the stories. You can also use the drop-down box to pick which sub-section of stories you're interested in seeing (Technology, Politics, Science, Gaming, etc.). If you scroll over to the right, the gadget lets you access your friends list and your settings, which is, by the way, the area where you'll need to enter in your Digg username.

Gadget URL: http://digg.com/goog/ig.xml

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few other gadgets you may find of use. These aren't our personal favorites, but perhaps they will be yours:

World Clock: http://gad.getpla.net/poly/clock.xml

Google Translate: http://www.google.com/ig/modules/dictionary.xml

Ask a Word (Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia): http://www.openinventions.com/spellcheck/openinventions_spellcheck.xml

Delicious Gadget: http://www.labpixies.com/campaigns/delicious/delicious.xml

MySpace Gadget: http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/100080069921643878012/myspace.xml

Flickr Gadget: http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/100080069921643878012/flickr.xml

Remember the Milk (Task List): http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/modules/googleig/rtm.xml

Bit.ly URL Shortner: http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/107368512201818821991/bitly-shortener.xml

Orkut Scrapbook: http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/105297062528314471242/doomer_orkut_scrapbook.xml

Wikipedia Search: http://www.google.com/ig/modules/wikipedia.xml

Google Calculator: http://calebegg.com/calc.xm

Currency Converter: http://www.ac-markets.com/forex/currencyconverter.xml

Quick Links to Google Services: http://blakewest.googlepages.com/googleservices.xml

Gmail supports iGoogle gadgets, too, so you can actually add any gadget you want. Just find your favorite gadget, click the "share this gadget" option, and then copy the URL that ends with ".xml." However, be aware that not all gadgets will look good when smashed into the Gmail sidebar.

Comments

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The Twitter and Facebook gadgets are must haves. I don't know how third party developers are beating the Gmail team on these features.

Posted by: Ms. Pixel | April 8, 2009 8:48 AM

Like the Twitter and Facebook gadgets as well, I just wish you could update your Facebook status with the gadget.

Posted by: Michael | April 8, 2009 9:02 AM

at gmail, vanilla version friendfeed gadget you mentioned on article is unreliable than "mini feed reader β" for perusing FF. at least from china, that is a case. in china where FF is generally readable through HTTPS protocol, on the gmail those contents at vanilla version gadget are not shown perhaps because aforementioned protocol problem.

Posted by: huixing | April 8, 2009 10:42 AM

Great twitter and facebook gadget!

Posted by: Cindy | April 8, 2009 1:05 PM

raivo pommer-www.google.ee
raimo1@hot.ee

EURO KRISIS

Der Kurs des Euro EURUS.FX1 hat sich am Mittwoch im Nachmittagshandel stabilisiert. Zuletzt wurden für die Gemeinschaftswährung 1,3242 US-Dollar gezahlt, nachdem der Euro im frühen Handel noch bis auf 1,3145 Dollar gefallen war. Die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) hatte den Referenzkurs am Mittag auf 1,3231 (Dienstag: 1,3255) Dollar festgesetzt. Der Dollar kostete damit 0,7558 (0,7544) Euro.

Zunächst hatten schwächelnde Aktienmärkte den Euro belastet. "Als die Aktienkurse im Zuge der Bekanntgabe der ersten Ergebnisse für das erste Quartal 2009 ins Trudeln gerieten, nahm die Risikoaversion zu und schon ging es für den Euro abwärts", erklärten die Experten der HSH Nordbank die Kursentwicklung. "Möglicherweise hält das Protokoll der letzten Sitzung des geldpolitischen Ausschusses der US-Notenbank Fed noch etwas Neues bereit", so die HSH Nordbank und hofft auf eine Begründung für den Ankauf von 300 Milliarden Dollar an Staatsanleihen. Die Auswirkungen auf den Devisenmarkt sollten sich den Experten zufolge allerdings in Grenzen halten.

Devisenexperte Klaus Gölitz von M.M. Warburg verwies ebenfalls auf die Aktienmärkte als Impulsgeber. "Derzeit ist Euro/Dollar ein Spiegelbild des DAX und des Futures auf den Dow Jones . Mit der Erholung der Aktienmärkte ging es auch für den Euro wieder etwas nach oben", sagte Gölitz. Insgesamt sei die Grundstimmung aber relativ ruhig. Die Positionen auf dem Devisenmarkt seien seit dem G20-Gipfel relativ ausgewogen und die Volatilität sei vor dem langen Osterwochenende deutlich zurückgekommen.

Posted by: raivo pommer | April 8, 2009 2:08 PM

raivo pommer

Posted by: raivo pommer | April 8, 2009 3:04 PM

It's telling when MySpace barely registers beyond an honorable mention. I wonder how long it'll be until we look at Facebook / Gmail apps as passe'?

Posted by: Brandon J. Mendelson | April 8, 2009 5:24 PM

http://calebegg.com/calc.xm should be http://calebegg.com/calc.xml :) FYI

Posted by: Nathan Brauer | April 8, 2009 8:34 PM

seriously? fucking facebook and digg?

why you can't just pop open a tab and do that shit there?

what lame apps

Posted by: kok | April 9, 2009 3:29 AM

The Twitter one is not my style but I like the Facebook & MySpace ones..... Thanks.

Posted by: ChaCha Fance | April 9, 2009 11:37 AM

The Mini Feed Reader - RSS is a must have -

http://gad.getpla.net/feed/reader.xml

Posted by: L. Mohan Arun | April 10, 2009 4:11 AM

How interesting that only a iittle while ago I became curious to check out the sort of gadgets I might want to add as enabled by the GMail Labs option but despite perusing through pages of gadgets couldn't find anything compelling enough. So I then did a google search "what kind of gadgets can you add to gmail?" and voila, this marvelous article popped up on the page.

How's that for synchronicity?

Thanks for providing a great list of gadgets I was unable to find at google's very own gadget page

Posted by: msavoy | April 12, 2009 8:29 AM

this information is very useful

Posted by: eric | April 12, 2009 9:20 PM

This is Awesome! Why would you actually GO to Twitter when you have this?

Posted by: AMillionBucks | April 14, 2009 5:51 PM

super gadgets but how to install using those xml code

We heartily inviting to my blog http://funevil.blogspot.com/ For Funny Stuff

Posted by: Rajehs Kumar Chekuri | April 15, 2009 5:50 AM

Good list of gadgets. Will have to try a few when I get home.

Posted by: Jordan | April 15, 2009 8:45 AM

How does Google have the money for this? Does anyone know where the funds come from? Outlook is also catching up to google. They have amazing add-ons. has anyone tried Outlook Track-It? It's a followup email reminder that comes via a plugin toolbar. I ditched Facebook for this. It helps immensely.

Posted by: Chad | April 15, 2009 5:44 PM

Wow, the facebook and twitter gadgets are must haves. Love the Gmail Labs feature. Why open three tabs when you can view everything within one tab? Awesome. Well done google and the third party developers.

Posted by: virtual online worlds for kids | April 15, 2009 7:44 PM

RRW comments feature is really not working well lately, rejects a lot of comments for no reason.
I like the FB and Twitter gadgets. Could use some tweaking - scroll bars take up way too much space. But a nice add nonetheless. It would be nice if Gmail would allow dynamic resizing of gadgets via a handle or popup bubble. Thanks for the tip!

Posted by: www.thegeniusfiles.com | April 18, 2009 11:53 PM

Chad - I tried Outlook Track-It as well, and I do love it. I always forget to reply. So, as far as GTD goes, a reply reminder sets me up pretty nicely. Great addon!

Posted by: Bacarli | May 5, 2009 10:04 AM

Facebook gadget does not work for me.

Posted by: fgb | May 30, 2009 12:47 AM

thanks for articles
your articles is very good

Posted by: sohbet | May 30, 2009 4:05 PM

How about a mini Google Reader widget in ur mail box, where you can check the latest updates from ur feeds and email them to freinds and family instantly?

Posted by: Web Hosting Reviews ! | July 2, 2009 12:24 AM

TWITTER?? Why would anyone even WNAT Twitter PERIOD? All it really is is SPAM that one signs up to receives yet who really cares?

Posted by: lisa | July 21, 2009 2:21 PM

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Maria

http://memory1gb.com

Posted by: Maria | July 23, 2009 8:52 PM

I just can't seem to KEEP the "mail icon" it keeps leaving...???

Posted by: samm | August 17, 2009 4:20 PM

thanks for the useful links

Posted by: Ball Bearings | September 8, 2009 11:46 PM

Like the Twitter and Facebook gadgets as well, I just wish you could update your Facebook status with the gadget.

Posted by: ugg | September 10, 2009 2:06 AM