Google Freak: Gmail

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How To Add Google Friend Connect Social Gadgets to a Blogger Blogspot Blog

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Earlier, I thought that Blogger or Blogspot blogs could not have Google Friend Connect Social Gadgets added in because of the uploading restriction. Little had I known that the html files contain the required code that simply needs to be pasted into my blogger / blogspot template for verification and Google Friend Connect support.

Here is the guide on how to Add Google Friend Connect Social Gadgets to a Blogger Blogspot Blog!

For website owners all you need to do is upload the relay and canvas files to your web directory and "Voila!".

To get started you need these two accounts.

Blogspot/Blogger Blog Setup:

Login to Blogger
Click on Settings
Click on Layout
Click on Edit HTML
Find </body> (end of template)
Paste this: <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/script/rpc_relay.js"></script> before the </body> tag.

Friend Connect Setup

Click on Setup a New Site link.
Step 1: Enter your sites Title and URL
Step 2: Skip this step as we have already added the code into our template. (above)
Step 3: Click the Test to finalize setup button!
Step 4: Click on Get code to add the Members gadget to your site.
Follow the page to setup your gadget canvas styles and copy it to your blog
Click on finalize and you're ready to embed some social gadgets!

Thats it! Now you can go add these cool social gadgets and membership gadgets to allow users with a Google account to signup and login to your blogspot blog.

There is more!

Just like Disqus, etc, you can add Google Friend Connect comments for blogger posts!
A Ratings and Reviews Social gadget is also available for a site and for individual posts.
A Wall gadget can be added to your site for discussions and wall posts. (like Facebook without the video, audio and pics... for now!)

Many thanks to Frederic Fleche, who runs http://www.bioinformatics.fr/ and who helped me clean up this redundant code that you can remove at will.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/script/friendconnect.js"></script>

Each Gadget canvas template comes with this line of code even though the first canvas code you added already has it, in this case we added the code itself in the steps (see above). Keep the original one and remove the duplicates from your extra Google Friend Connect gadgets' canvasses.

Be sure to checkout the ratings and reviews gadgets as well as a general wall gadget, similar to a Facebook wall, for your site!

If you enjoyed this post or found it interesting please join my site using Google Friend Connect for more. You can also rate, review and comment on individual posts. Also, be sure to share this post with all your friends who have a Google / Gmail account and who might be interested in all things Google.

CrunchBase Information

Google Friend Connect

Information provided by CrunchBase

How To Get The New Google Toolbar 5 BETA Add-On For Firefox

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Image via CrunchBase
The new, improved Google Toolbar 5 (BETA) for Firefox comes as an add-on (.xpi). It has search suggestions as well as a history as you type in the search box. I also love using the Bookmarks button to easily save a page in my Google Bookmarks.

The Google Toolbar for Firefox allows me to set Gmail as default mail handler for 'mailto:' links which is super-handy!

Google PageRank is visible on the toolbar at every page you visit, which gives you a heads-up as to where the real activity is taking place.

You can add more buttons to the Google Toolbar, like a Google Blog Search, a Gmail and a Google Calendar button.

Furthermore, there is a send to button which allows you to send the page you're on, to Google Blogger, Gmail or by Google SMS.

Many more options like Google Docs, Google Image Search, Google Maps and Google Toolbar Layout settings are available via the Google Toolbar Settings and Options area.

Google has updated the PageRank of sites for the New Year so be sure to get the Google Toolbar and check if your favorite site's PR has increased or decreased.

"Take the power of Google with you anywhere on the Web"

Google Toolbar for Firefox
Download Firefox^® with Google Toolbar
Download Google Toolbar 5 BETA

How To Add RSS Feeds To Gmail Web Clips

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Image representing Gmail as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBaseGmail Web Clips can be modified to remove existing feeds that cycle through it, and you can also add your own RSS feeds to it!

Here is How To Add RSS Feeds To Gmail Web Clips

Click on Settings

Click on Web Clips

Click in the Search by topic or URL searchbox

Add RSS Feed URL or Search topic

Click the Search button / Press Enter

Click the Add button to Add the required feed

To Remove RSS Feeds from Gmail Web Clips just click on My Clips and click remove next to the one that you do not require anymore.

Now you can view your favorite feeds whilst reading your Gmail, thanks to Gmail Web Clips!

How To Auto Forward Gmail Messages to Another Email Account

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Image via CrunchBaseAutomatically forwarding your Gmail accounts can save you lots of login time that is often wasted when it comes to using aliases and email addresses.

Why not get all your other Gmail accounts' messages in one Gmail account?

Well... here's my How-To: Auto Forward Gmail Messages to Another Email Account

Open Gmail

Click Settings

Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP

Select Forward a copy of incoming mail to

Enter the email address in the box

Click the Save Changes button

Be sure to add a recognizable label to those incoming messages in the account you are forwarding to!

How To Enable Gmail Themes

Image by Chris1051 via FlickrEnabling themes in Gmail can be done by going to the settings menu and clicking on the themes tab. Here you will find a selection of funky new themes to pimp your Gmail with.

If you still cannot find it, here is how-to:

Open Gmail

Click Settings

Click Themes

Click a theme and you're done!

NB: Some Gmail themes change their looks according to the time of day. This requires a timezone setting to be added.

Personally, I am in love with the Planets Gmail theme. This theme changes according to the time as described above.

Enjoy your pimped up Gmail with themes!

How To Enable IMAP Access in Gmail

Enabling IMAP is also very simple in Gmail and can be found in the same area where we enabled POP, in the settings!

If you still cannot find it, here is how-to:

Open: Gmail

Click on: Settings

Click on: Forwarding and POP/IMAP

Select: Enable IMAP

Click: Save Changes

Done! Now go add your IMAP settings to your IMAP client and enjoy accessing your email with IMAP.

If you need recommended IMAP settings for specific Mail Clients or Wireless Devices, they can be found at the Supported IMAP client list.

How To Enable POP/POP3 Access for GMail

Enabling POP for Gmail is as simple as selecting one option in the settings area.

If you can't find it, try this quick how-to:

Open: Gmail

Click: Settings

Click: Forwarding and POP/IMAP

Select: Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on

Click: Save Changes

All done! Now you're ready to load up your favorite mail client or wireless device, and download your emails using POP/POP3 access!

If you need recommended settings for specific Mail Clients or Wireless Devices, they can be found at the Supported POP client list.