Google Apps: Essential Labs Features

Within your Gmail interface there is the option to activate a number of special Google Labs features to enhance your user experience and everyday functionality. The following are the essential features we recommend you activate to ensure you get the most out of your new email platform.

1. Signature Tweaks
2. Forgotten Attachment Detector
3. Search Auto-complete
4. Inserting Images

Enabling Labs Features:

Please make sure Google Labs is activated by your Google Apps administrator; and if it isn't you can request it through the Enable IT support desk.

STEP 1: Open your Google Mail inbox online. You then need to click on "Settings" in the top right (next to Sign Out). Once the settings page is open you need to click on the "Labs" tab.

STEP 2: Scroll down the page and select enable for each of the labs features listed above. Ignore the others; I'll let you know some of the more advanced ones in the next section. Once you have selected all four features scroll to the top or bottom and click on "Save". The page should reload and now you can go back to your emails and test the new features.

Advanced Labs Features:

There are some great Labs features for more advanced users, or for users who require a little more from their email program. These are my favourites:

1. Multiple Inboxes - great for a quick visual of important emails that you need to follow up on.
2. Canned Responses - save and send pre written response messages
3. Offline - enable offline access of your emails through the Gmail interface.

There are also labs features for Calendar and other offering in the Google Apps suite. We encourage you to explore and discover new tools to make your Google Apps experience better.