Now Where Was I? Gmail Labs Adds Location to Signatures
Location is the feature du jour at Google as of late. First they released, Latitude, a new location sharing service. Now, the Gmail team has announced a new Labs feature that allows you to automatically append your location information to your signature.
Why would you want to do this? Maybe you want to highlight your jetsetting lifestyle. Maybe you want to remind the recipient that you're in a different time zone. Or you might just want to use it as a mnemonic device for searching sent email based on the location from where it was sent.
If you want to try it, don't forget that it takes two steps to activate the feature. First, go to Labs and enable the feature. Then, go to your signature settings and check "Append your location to the signature."
Bear in mind, it's a Labs feature, so it's not without foibles. The location, for example, is based on IP detection. So it may not be as accurate as you would like - like if the corporate IP address of the connection you're using is attributed to a different location. Want more accuracy? Install Gears so the location module can use wi-fi access points to hone in on your whereabouts.
Don't want that certain someone to know that you're not where you'd said you would be? Simply delete the location line before sending the message. (The signature and location are appended to the message when the composition window opens.)
VentureBeat and its readers were wondering why Google didn't tie this feature to Latitude. We were, too. But we're guessing that - given that this was a Google 20% project - the two were on separate trajectories. Perhaps if "location in the signature" ever makes it out of Labs, it will leverage Latitude.
If you're into testing geolocation features - or letting people (and Google) know where you are - this could be the Gmail feature you've been waiting for.
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Not very bright ... didn't work for me (Timisoara, Romania)
You don't always want to let people know where you are answering their email. If you are out of the office on a vacation, your customers don't need to know.
Gmail has added support for sidebar gadgets to its experimental Labs section allowing users to add an agenda view of.
I have actually already have this feature in my email, and it is accurate 100% of the time and only appears when I want it to without changing any settings.
I just type in my location when I want it revealed. Admittedly adds 2-3 seconds to my emails.
- Gordon
San Mateo, CA
Rick, your sig as it reads now implies "either Portland or the US". Capitalization matters:-)
In my case, location based on IP would be about 30 miles from my actual location. So - I could use it to throw people off.
Could be useful I guess ... http://tinyurl.com/bsksuv
how about they add HTML signatures.. ffs
To add an HTML signature to use the Firefox extension href="http://blankcanvasweb.com/pages/detail/id_9/n_gmail_signatures/">Blank
Canvas Gmail signature
Not for Me!
Not very bright ... didn't work for me
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Coming soon: append your DNA sequence profile to your email. For the ultimate personal touch of authenticity.
This pretty interesting feature, For those that travel weekly. Would love to see this in outlook to bad I don't use gmail to often for work.
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I do not like just because of these technological features g mail
Gmail has added support for sidebar gadgets.
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Thanks for sharing
Would love to see this in outlook to bad I don't use gmail to often for work.
The function of Gmail is very strong,and the environment of the usage is very firm,so the gmail e-mail box is very popular with all the people besides the commercial gentleman.Being worth referring to,we should make full use of.
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