Chat and e-mail

Microsoft opens instant-messaging for all comers

In a move that would have been shocking a decade ago, Microsoft has made it possible for others' instant-messaging software to tap into its Windows Live Messenger.

Instant-messaging networks--the big ones are run by Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL--once were well-defended strongholds, and developers of third-party programs like Trillian had to work hard to reverse-engineer their inner workings. But whatever residual excitement IM possessed has faded as new communication methods such as Facebook and Twitter have seized the spotlight.

I'm inclined to blame the companies involved. Had they banded together on a standard, IM could have become a staple of … Read more

Gmail app updated with Scribbles, signatures

The Gmail app (free) for iOS received an update today adding useful features like signatures and a vacation responder system.

When the Gmail app came out not too long ago, Google said it was just getting started. Released today in the iTunes App Store, an update to the Gmail app adds a few new features that make the popular e-mail app even better.

Along with (what Google says are) numerous UI improvements and bug fixes, a few features were added that will be welcome additions for Gmail users. You'll now be able to create nested labels; similar to a … Read more

Google kills Knol, Wave, and others to focus operations

Google continued to kill off businesses today, as it streamlines operations, axing its would-be Wikipedia rival, Knol, and Wave, a real-time collaboration tool.

Earlier this year, Google Chief Executive Larry Page announced plans to shed businesses that didn't offer big opportunities in order for Google to focus on the ones that do. Along the way, the company has killed off Buzz, a social-networking attempt; Google Health, a personal health records service; and Google Desktop, a PC application that let users search for files and documents on their computers, among others.

The latest round of cuts, announced in a blog post … Read more

Google fixes Gmail iOS app but users still critical

Google's latest update to its Gmail iOS app fixes a glitch in the first version, but many users are still giving the app a collective thumbs-down over its limited functionality.

Released yesterday, the new 1.0.2 version of Gmail for iOS squashes the original bug that broke notifications and displayed an error message upon launch. The update also sizes images from HTML messages so that they properly fit the screen.

Users still running the original version are advised to uninstall or at least log out of it before installing the new version.

The app now launches smoothly without … Read more

ThinkUp 1.0: Reclaim your tweets and Facebook posts

Expert Labs has released version 1.0 of ThinkUp, a program that lets people archive, search, and analyze their activity on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

And if you ask me, this is a big deal.

ThinkUp, the free, open-source brainchild of programmer and Lifehacker founder Gina Trapani, keeps track of what you've done online. It extracts the data from the walled gardens that house more and more of people's digital lives then replants it in your own garden.

The app isn't simple to install, unfortunately. You need some server administration skills so you can host ThinkUp on … Read more

Regarding that iOS Gmail app: Google, do better

At Google, the bungling of the iOS GMail app launch goes deeper than the bugs the first, short-lived version of the app threw off when it was fired up. The app is unfortunately a typical product from Google's Mail group: It has most of the useful features you want, but it's missing the one or two you need. And it's designed for engineers. With fingers the size of pipettes.

Its competition is the e-mail app built into every iOS device. That app is by necessity general; it works on almost every e-mail back-end there is. It lacks … Read more

Looks like Google borked its first iPhone Gmail app

Hours after launching the hotly anticipated Gmail for iPhone app (and for all iOS devices), Google pulled the broken app from the Apple App store and apologized on Twitter.

"The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications," the tweet reads. "We have pulled the app to fix the problem. Sorry we messed up."

Google later followed up with an official statement:

Update: 11/2/11: Earlier today we launched a new Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately, it contained a bug which broke notifications and caused users to see an error message when first … Read more

Google unveils, then yanks, Gmail app for the iPhone

iPhone users with Gmail accounts may yet have a dedicated app to help them manage their mail.

Released today, the free Gmail iOS app is geared toward iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch owners. Though Gmail users can already access their mail via the Web, through a mobile site, and by setting up an account on their iOS device, the new app tries to borrow from all those sources to offer a host of useful features in one single shot.

But the debut proved rocky. Shortly after the launch, Google said it had yanked the app to deal with a bug:… Read more

Gmail's spiffy redesign: A quick primer

Gmail has received its first makeover in a while.

Offering users the ability to switch to the new look as of yesterday, Google has spruced up the design of its e-mail service and mixed in a few enhancements.

As described in Google's official blog, the conversation view has been revamped so that it's easier to scour through all of your e-mail threads. You can also now see photos of your contacts in the conversation thread, making it clearer who wrote what.

Gmail's revamped site will start to pop up for everyone soon, according to Google. But users … Read more