5 Cool Gmail Labs Features You Should Try

Gmail Labs is Gmail's playground of new features that you can use as long as you have an account. However, be aware that these experimental features may "change, break, or disappear at any time." So far, there were no reported incidents of any off these features causing major disasters on its users. But just in case you may encounter some problems while making use of the Labs features, simply visit this link so that you can turn them all off.

So first things first, you need to enable the Gmail Lab Features setting before you can get to experience some, if not most, of the great features it can give -- which we will be discussing a little further down below.

To start off, sign in to your Google or Gmail account, then go to the gear icon found at the upper-right hand corner of the page, and then select Settings. Click on the Labs tab among the menus on top. Now scroll down or search for the feature you would like to enable, then click the Save changes button button either at the very top or the very bottom of the list. So now you know where to find the Gmail Labs features and how to enable them, below are five top features that we recommend you should try:

1. Take Back a Message That You Have Accidentally Sent

By default, you have a 10-second window of opportunity to take back the action before the message will be actually sent. Now, you have an option to increase the window time to 30 seconds. In order for you to do this, you need to enable the Undo Send feature in Gmail Labs. From there, you can customize the message sending cancellation period to 30 seconds by going to the General tab in the settings, and then scrolling down to the Undo Send entry.

So how do you actually take back the message you sent? Right after you press the Send button, you will see an Undo link within a yellow box that will appear at the top of your inbox. Click it in time, and your message will not be sent. Gmail will reopen it as draft so you can get to fix your email. Gmail cannot (or at least does not) retrieve messages from a recipient's inbox once they're delivered but still unread, the way some email systems can do.

2. Find Out Your Unread Messages Count

With the official name of "Unread message icon," this feature appears overlaid on the Gmail logo on your browser's tab when enabled. Gmail makes it a habit to show you the number of unread messages in your inbox, as long as your Gmail page is loaded to the inbox view, and there is enough space on your tabs for the numbers to appear inside the parenthesis.

3. Preview Your Google Calendar Even While You're in the Mail View

Another awesome Gmail Labs feature removes the hassle of having to navigate to another tab to check your Google Calendar before replying to your email about your availability (for example, a meeting) -- this is the Google Calendar gadget.

The feature adds a mini calendar and scrollable list of appointments starting with the current day. Once you enable this feature, you will find your mini calendar on the left panel of your Gmail screen, where you have your folders, Gmail chat contacts, etc. If in case you're having problems seeing it, your left panel list may probably be too long. Simply click on the three dots found at the very bottom, and your Google Calendar gadget should appear.

4. Preview Messages

Now, Gmail Labs has also implemented the Preview Pane feature, just how it works in Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or your other email client. It's cleverly designed because you can easily toggle the preview mode on and off. Another good design on this feature is that it doesn't automatically preview a message if you haven't selected one yet, which could have caused that message to be marked as read.

5. Find Out Who's Using Google Chat on Android

If you enable this particular Gmail Labs feature, your chat friends who are signed in to Google via their Android mobile devices will be indicated with an Android robot icon, instead of the colored dot of Gmail or Google +. This way, you'll have a clearer idea why your friend, relative, or colleague is somehow ignoring your chat messages.

Which of these Gmail Labs features would you like to choose. Don't worry, there are more features you can choose from if you go visit the Labs tab of your Gmail or Google + account. You'll definitely want to enable a feature or two, which will certainly make your Gmail or Google + experience more enjoyable.

Create Disposable Emails in a Jiffy With MaskMe

Are you fed up with spam from websites that would ask you to register in order to view their content, and then later discover that they will give your info to other companies? If your answer is yes, then this might be the perfect time to use a disposable email. Courtesy of MaskMe, you now have a way to fight against these unwanted messages by creating a disposable email address in an instant. This service enables you to toggle forwarding abilities to your real email, while still protecting your info from being sold to unwanted companies.

MaskMe functions as a Chrome extension that will fill in a disposable email, or even your real one when you need it. Here's how to use the MaskMe service:

First, you need to install the MaskMe extension for Chrome. For the detailed instructions, follow the steps in this article.

MaskMe remembers which website you used a disposable email on, making it easy for you to log in. You will have to remember your password, unless if you're using MaskMe to manage your passwords as well. When the registration form loads on a website, click the email field and MaskMe will display a pop-up menu that allows you to select either a disposable email or your true email.

Below is how the MaskMe interface looks like:

Since MaskMe keeps a record of where you use disposable email addresses, it will be easy for you to toggle their forwarding capability via the extension. You can do this by clicking the extension icon on the toolbar, then select Masked Emails.

On the sample screenshot above, click the green Forwarding button next to the email you would like to toggle and it will be set as Blocked. You can also delete the email at any time by clicking on the small trash can icon located at the right side.

Neat iPhone 6 Rumored Features That's Perfect on the Business Side

The most anticipated next-gen iPhone from Apple, the iPhone 6, could possibly be the best business phone of the year. The smartphone, which is due to be released this coming fall, is expected to provide a faster processor and a bigger screen display than its predecessors. Not to mention it’s the only Apple handset to debut with iOS 8, which is the updated version of the company's mobile operating system that packs in new ways for your iPhone to interact with your desktop computer. And since Apple has not yet confirmed any rumors coming out on the Web, it's safe to say that the rumors of Apple's next flagship smartphone is a possibility and how it will play a significant role in the business side.

1. Bigger display

iPhone was introduced with a compact screen size of 3.5-inch (8.9 centimeters), and as of the moment, no iPhone has featured a screen display that goes beyond the 4 inches (10.2 cm) mark. The next iPhone is set to feature a much bigger display, and it's said to be coming out with a 4.7-inch (11.9 cm) screen, a significant increase in the screen size. It strikes a pretty good balance between productivity and portability, since bigger devices are not that portable because it's harder to use with one hand. This is considered to be an essential increase, though it would still be trailing behind 5-inch flagship phones with the likes of the Samsung S5 and the HTC M8 when it comes to screen size.

2. Faster processor

Apple's iPhone 5S still remains one of the fastest smartphones in the market since it was released last fall. Running on the company's A7 processor, it is the first 64-bit chip ever put in a smartphone. Reports claim that the upcoming iPhone 6 will come out with an even more powerful processor, the new 64-bit A8 CPU, making it the first iPhone running on a quad-core processor. However, a fast processor isn't everything in a business phone since most mid-range smartphones are fast enough to perform basic productivity tasks. But if you're goal is to achieve more production and perform multi-tasks smoothly, a phone with a faster processor will definitely win a businessman's heart.

3. Touch ID

With Apple's strictly monitored app store, the iOS is considered the safest of the major mobile platforms. iPhone 5's famous fingerprint scanner called Touch ID is still a nice security enhancement, and it's still rumored to be present in the iPhone 6. The Touch ID feature lets you quickly unlock your phone by placing one of your fingertips over the scanner, which is embedded in the iPhone's home button. The security benefit of it is that you can lock down your device without the need to type a password every time you turn on the screen. It's believed to be a reliable function in the iPhone 5S and is expected to return for the iPhone 6, along with some enhancements.

The biggest change with the Touch ID function is the ability to lock individual apps. Say for example with the Mint finance app, you can also use the fingerprint scanner to secure your data containing your spending and other financial information. Another rumor claims that Apple will cover the next Touch ID scanner with super-strong sapphire glass to ensure that the scanner's fingerprint-reading capabilities will be protected from scratches or damage.

4. iOS 8

One thing's for sure (so it's not really a rumor), iPhone 6 will be released with iOS 8, an upgrade of Apple's mobile operating system. The newest iOS version was announced this spring, and is scheduled to be released along with the newer models of the iPhone and iPad. Aside from the ehancements made on its interface, the new version also includes several upgrades that aim to increase productivity.

One of the enhancements in iOS 8 is the revamped notification system that lets you act on incoming messages and alerts in a jiffy. How does it work? Let's say you receive and email or text message, you no longer have to launch the messaging app in order to send a reply. Instead, you simply have to swipe down to display the keyboard, type in your message, and then hit Send. And you can do this without having to leave the app you're currently on. Sweet, right? Different actions are available depending upon the type of alert. The notifications drawer will also will also be supporting widgets for the first time, allowing you to check on stocks, view the weather, and see your reminders with a quick glance.

The Handoff must be the biggest addition to iOS 8, which enables you to connect the iPhone 6 to your desktop iMac or MacBook. The Handoff feature lets you switch between you mobile device and your desktop seamlessly. So if you're composing an email on your iPhone 6 but later on you decided to use a physical keyboard instead, simply click the Handoff icon on your desktop computer. Doing this will launch your Mail app and will import your in-progress email draft, so you can continue with your email composition on your desktop.

5. NFC Support

For years, Android phones have already been supporting the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and now there are also reports that Apple will also be getting on board with the iPhone 6. NFC enables smartphones to communicate wirelessly with other computers and mobile devices when the machines are in close range. Having this function on your phone gives you the ability to transfer files between devices with a quick tap, or even send a document to the printer from your iPhone 6. So how does it benefit small businesses? It lets users send and receive money via NFC, providing quick and easy transactions.

Things You Can Still Do on a Lock Windows Phone 8.1

Setting a password or PIN code lock on your Windows Phone not only adds extra protection but also helps you avoid making accidental phone calls. But, do you know that there are things you can still do with your Windows Phone even if it is locked? Check out the list of things you can still do with your locked phone below:

Things You Can Still Do on a Locked Windows Phone 8.1

Emergency Calls

You can still make an emergency call even if your Windows Phone is locked with a password. All you need to do is to 

swipe up from the lock screen until you see the keypad. From there, tap emergency call, and then dial the emergency phone number for your locale.

Ringer Control

You can adjust the ringer volume from your lock screen to avoid having your phone ring at the most inopportune time, like when you are in a meeting or in a movie theater. To adjust the ringer volume, press the Power button, then press up or down on the Volume buttons to bring up the volume bar. From there, you can do any of the following:

• Turn off ringer using the Volume down button (-)
• Turn on Silent Mode
• Turn on Vibrate Mode

Silence Calls

You can silence an incoming call and turn off the screen by pressing the Power button.

Phone Calls

You can answer or ignore an incoming call from the lock screen. If you want to answer the call, simply swipe up and tap Answer. If you do not want to accept the incoming call, swipe up and tap Ignore to send the call to voicemail.

Action Center

You can access the Action Center from the lock screen by swiping down from the top of your Windows phone's screen. From the Action Center, you can do the following:

• Turn Wi-Fi on or off
• Turn Bluetooth on or off
• Turn Airplane Mode on or off
• Enable Rotation Lock
• Display notifications

To display notifications in Action Center when your phone is locked, go to Settings > notifications + actions, and then check the Show notifications in action center when my phone is locked box. From there, you can select the quick actions and notifications you want to appear in Action Center.

Camera

If you configured your Windows Phone to wake up when the Camera button is pressed, you will be able to activate the Camera function without having to unlock your phone. To configure your phone to wake up when the Camera button is pressed, follow the steps below:

1.     Go to the App list, then tap Photos.

2.     Tap the More icon (...), then tap Settings.

3.     Check the Press and hold camera button to wake up the phone box.

Music and Podcasts

You do not need to unlock your phone to listen to music and podcasts. All you need to do is to press the Power button to rewind, fast forward, pause, or play whatever you are listening to right from your phone's lock screen.

Date, Time, and Appointments

You can use your lock screen to see the current date and time. You can also have a quick view of your next appointment if you use your calendar as your detailed status notification. To do this, go to Settings > Lock screen. Under Choose an app to show detailed status, select Calendar.

Cortana and Speech

If you allow Cortana or Speech above the lock screen, you will be able to do the following:

• If Cortana is turned on, press and hold the Search button so Cortana will begin listening. From there, you can make phone calls, send text messages, set alarms and reminders, take notes, add and update calendar appointments, search the web, etc.
• If Cortana is turned off or not available in your location, press and hold the Search button to bring up Speech. You can use Speech to call or text a contact when your phone is locked.

While You're Busy

If you have been busy and have not taken a call or checked your phone for a while, you can look at the quick status notifications at the bottom of your lock screen to check the text messages, missed calls, emails, voicemails, etc. that have arrived since the last time you have used your Windows phone. You can also view a detailed status notification with a summary of a calendar event, email, text message, missed call, or other app notification.

How to Delete All Content on Camera Roll in Windows Phone 8.1

It is very important to always have sufficient memory space on your smartphones. One way to free up precious memory space is by deleting photos and videos. However, it is quite taxing to delete one photo and video at a time. To quickly delete all photos and videos on your camera roll in your Windows Phone 8.1, check out the steps below:

Delete All Content on Camera Roll in Windows Phone 8.1

First, go to Photos, and then swipe to the left for albums.

Now press and hold the Camera Roll tile until a menu appears, and then tap delete contents.

Finally, confirm your selection by tapping delete.

That's it! Your Camera Roll is now empty.