• On TechRepublic: Why VISTA HATERS will love Windows 7
January 14, 2009 3:27 PM PST

Send+archive combo button economizes Gmail

by Stephen Shankland
(Credit: Google)

Google has added a Gmail Labs option that lets people send and archive their e-mail at the same time.

The send function is obvious, but for those unfamiliar with Gmail, the archive is a potentially giant repository of all messages that aren't in your inbox or deleted. Stuffing a message there is a good way to file it; it's still available through search or by clicking on any label you attached to it, and if somebody replies to it, the conversation thread pops back into your inbox.

I switched this on the moment I heard about it. First, it saves a click of the mouse, or in my case, a keyboard shortcut. And second, unlike some Gmail commands (labeling a photo with a keyboard command, for example), this one doesn't leave me in some keyboard-inaccessible mode in which the browser's attention focused on some inappropriate window. Last, I want conversations archived more often than not, and the new button takes care of it during a convenient moment.

"In the coming weeks, I'm planning to add undo support, so if you accidentally archived a thread, you can easily get it back into your inbox," said engineering manager Pal Takacsi in a blog post about the feature.

The send-and-archive button illustrates the power of Gmail Labs, which lets people try out the features they like without burdening others with their interface changes. So far there are 33 options available.

Gmail Labs also lets Google better test the new features, of course, and add the good ones to the regular version, though no features have "graduated" yet to the production version. Superstars and pictures in chat are the two top features so far, though they're older and have had more time to catch on.

Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank.
Recent posts from Webware
Firefox 3.5 and the potential of Web typography
Sites that help you lodge complaints
Google App Engine misfires
Microsoft: Bing needs to improve when news breaks
Google finally sued by makers of Finally Fast
Google Toolbar for IE speaks your language
Bing brings out the tweets
Google Search optimized for a mess of phones
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (7 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by Hunnter2k3 January 14, 2009 4:53 PM PST
This is one of the features of Gmail that i love most.
Quite a few very useful features in labs.

I wouldn't mind some more icons for Stars, though.
It is such a handy feature, and could be so much more if there was a larger library of icons, or even custom icons.
Reply to this comment
by Sporlo January 14, 2009 5:21 PM PST
I'm just wondering how this feature is helpful...
Do a lot of people find archiving emails in the "Sent Mail" section helpful?
When I send someone an email, it just put a copy in the Sent Mail section and nothing comes up in my inbox, and I never see it again unless someone replies to it.

Replies welcome (well, encouraged actually).
Reply to this comment
by plasticorange January 15, 2009 6:18 AM PST
im thinking the same thing!
by finncox23 March 22, 2009 3:22 PM PDT
I'm in the same boat.......I would like someone smarter/more informed than me to weight in on this.
by finncox23 March 22, 2009 3:23 PM PDT
Well, apparently I can't spell......I meant "weigh" in on this.
by moonrise January 14, 2009 5:21 PM PST
First smilies in email and now this! I like this feature very much. I just keep admiring Gmail more and more.
Reply to this comment
by AndrewRich January 14, 2009 10:27 PM PST
Also added as soon as I first read about it. Brilliant addition.
Reply to this comment
(7 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

About Webware

Say No to boxed software! The future of applications is online delivery and access. Software is passé. Webware is the new way to get things done.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Webware topics

Making sense of Windows 7 upgrades

faq The basics and the fine print on Microsoft's options for those eyeing the next operating system from Redmond.
• Full Windows 7 coverage

Road Trip 2009: Big Sky Country

CNET News reporter Daniel Terdiman takes his car full of gadgets to the Rockies and the Great Plains in search of tech, science, nature, and more.
• America's Fortress: Cheyenne Mountain

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right