Gmail gives users 'Multiple Inboxes'

Google late Thursday unveiled a new Gmail Labs feature that allows users to have more than one inbox in their default Gmail view.

The new feature--called Multiple Inboxes--allows users to have multiple viewing panes open simultaneously without having to open another browser window. The upgrade gives users a quick view at important labels as well as saved searches.

Google software engineer Octavian "Vivi" Costache explained in a company blog post why he used his "20 percent time" to develop the feature:

I'm seriously into filters and labels. All the email I get related to Flash goes under my "flash" label, everything about paragliding goes under "flying," and they all skip my inbox because that's how I like to stay organized. But when new email arrives I have to switch to the "flash" label first, then click on "paragliding," etc. I wanted a way to see it all at once.

For those who use their Gmail accounts for multiple personal e-mail lists, as well as for work, this is a huge step up.

(Credit: Gmail Labs)

[lorcro2000]

Brilliant. This will save me considerable clicking around without cluttering up my view more than necessary. Gotta love Gmail.

[Hunnter2k3]

This is such a fantastic addition to the Gmail Labs!
Vivi is a god!

I will find much use in this.

Although the only problem i see with this is that you can't scroll down them while on the same page.
That would make it so much more useful.
The View All button is there, but it would be nice to see them all in one page.

[a_flores]

Reading this article twice and still do not know how to create a new inbox. Gives us simple steps to create new inbox.

[syzygic]

Enable the "Multiple Inboxes" on the Labs page (reached by clicking the little chemical beaker on the top of the page).
Save your settings, and then click on the 'Settings' link in the same vicinity of the Labs button.
There is not a "Multiple Inboxes" tab. Each 'pane' you create is just the first few results of the search you type into the corresponding text box.

The default seem to be is:starred and is:drafts but you can use labels (labels:myLabel) or any other search in place of those.

[syzygic]

I meant that there is 'now' a Multiple Inboxes tab.

[Celticboy17]

Windows Live Hotmail already does this, it has for months. You can sign in to multiple linked accounts at the same time through Windows Live Hotmail and check and send mail from multiple accouts using only one sign in.

[skillingssucks]

Not the same thing.

[skillingssucks]

The G-Men strike again!

[AndrewRich]

"Multiple Inboxes" is a pretty deceptive misnomer. It implies that more than one Gmail account can be open at once (in a single browser) but this is just multiple views into the same account.

[rucknrun]

I fell for that trick too. You can get around it with the filters. If you have multiple accounts being forwarded to one you can use the views that way.

[Eludium-Q36]

Little by little they're evolving to the Folder metaphor, and in 5-10 yrs they'll be as functional as MS Outlook was 5 yrs ago. Seriously, are GIGGLE programmers actually PROUD of re-discovering ancient technology ?!