New features in Opera 11

• Extensions allow you to add new functionality to Opera easily.
• Tab stacking helps you keep your tabs organized.
• Pinned tabs now take up less space and are neatly grouped to the left of your tabs.
• Visual mouse gestures help you learn how to control Opera with mouse movements.
• An enhanced address field makes it easy to stay safe on the Web.
• Mail panel upgrades give you greater control over your email in Opera.
• Search predictions from Google harness the power of Opera's integrated search.
• A new bookmarks bar gives you easy access to your bookmarks and replaces the personal bar.
• Speed improvements bring Opera ahead of other browsers in many benchmarks.
  HTML5 server-sent events and Web Sockets enhance Opera's support for new web standards.
• Auto-update now makes sure you have the latest extensions and Opera Unite apps.
• You can now set plug-ins to load only on demand to significantly speed up browsing.
• Opera's installer is smaller and streamlined for a faster, easier installation.

Organize GMail for in-process, follow-up

With combination of features in GMail, we may organize mails for in-progress or follow-up tasks as following ideas.

1. Tag & query
• Use label(s) (see Smart-Terms blog) or define a certain type in super stars (such as orange-guillemet).
• Then define either a section in multiple inboxes or a query in quick links.
2. Use Tasks

Process

• Set rule to yourself when to review these mails of in-progress/follow-up – regularly.
• Once done, don’t forget to remove label/star or task off.
• Further action may be to move/(re)label to done.
• Should we retain mails of in-progress/follow-up in inbox or move off?
• Ans: It depends on your concept whether pending mails in inbox means “not done/complete yet” or “not respond yet”.

Windows-logo keyboard shortcuts

+ key	Function
(none)	Open/close Start menu
Pause	Display System Properties dialog box.
D	Display the Desktop.
M	Minimize all windows. ¤ +Shift-M = restore.
E	Open Windows Explorer = Computer.
F	Find: search for file or folder. ¤ +Ctrl-F = Find computers.
L	Lock computer (also to switch users).
R	Open Run dialog box.
T	Cycle through programs on Taskbar. ¤ +Tab = Cycle using Aero Frip 3-D.
number	Start, or switch to if already running, the program pinned to the Taskbar. +Shift-number = Start new instance. +Ctrl-number = Switch to the last active window. +Alt-number = Open Jump List.
Ctrl-B	Switch to the program displaying message in notification area.
Spacebar	Preview Desktop.
Up/Down	Maximize/minimize window.
Left/Right	Maximize window to left/right side of the screen.
Home	Minimize all but the active window.
Shift-Up	Stretch window vertically (to top & bottom of screen).
Shift-Left/Right	Move window from one monitor to another.
P	Choose presentation display mode.
G	Cycle through gadgets.
U	Open Ease of Access Center.
X	Open Windows Mobility Center.
F1	Open Help & Support.

From: Windows |Help & Support; "Keyboard shortcuts"

Also see: Microsoft; Q126449 "Keyboard shortcuts for Windows" (article# 126449)

Google account's alternate email

Alternate email address that we've specified to Google/GMail account for password-recovery purpose, can also be used to signed in Google's services.

We cannot longer use it to create/sign-up another Google account; system will say: "There's already a Google Account associated with this email address. Please sign in; or, if you forgot your password, reset it now."

Pending features in new GDocs document editor

The new Google Docs graduates | Monday, June 14, 2010

..... Beginning today and rolling out over the next couple of weeks, all new documents will be created using the new documents editor. Docs already created using the older editor will remain there. We will be sharing more information on how to move those documents to the new version soon.

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Looking for these features to be maturely implemented before switching to new GDocs document editor.

1. TOC (table of contents)
• 6/w3) See it available but still so plain.
2. Footnote and comment: new UI looks better, but it doesn't fit XGA screen yet.
• Footnote is placed on the left and requires at least 1200-pixel wide to get displayed properly (horizontal scroll-bar can scroll right but not left!).  A reference is that currently netbook PCs standardise screen size to 1024x600.
3. Default font and size: can be set to other than Arial-11pt?
4. Table editing: rich features as previous version
5. Web clipboard: the capability to paste table from spreadsheet.
6. Support Thai language: currently it does not wrap text properly.

Know GMail more

• Although GMail copies whole history when reply, it rather assumes that we retain only necessary part relevant to latest corresponding.  That's why the copy is called "quoted text" and placed before ending signature.
• Given standard image sizes in GMail (small, medium, large, original) may not fit. But we can drag image boundary-handle to resize manually.
• Signature, as defined in Settings, will be coloured in gray when sent. 
• There may be a myth amonb beginners that  new recipient can see older mails in conversation thread, it is not true.
• Deleted mails are retained in trash for 30 days.  Therefore:-
  • Treat [Delete] as rather "pending deletion".  If we think a mail can be deleted if there's no issue after a while (i.e., 30 days), then we can delete it from day 1.
  • If we think a mail must be deleted now (e.g., for some private/confidential reason), we have to "double delete": go to Trash and [Delete forever] it again too.
• Apart from "Forward" function when you respond at the end of mail/thread, there's also another "Forward all (messsages of this thread)" function listed on the right.
• A useful function is "Recent conversations" (context menu when point to contact name: sender or chat) when we are going to call/talk to that person that it may recall a few more to discuss altogether with our tentative topic(s) in mind.

Lotus-Notes mail rule for auto-forwarded mail from GMail

When an email X is sent from A to B who uses GMail, and B sets filter to auto-forward to C; envelope-address of X will still show A as sender.  However, C cannot define mail rule that sender is A!

Reason
As X is coming from Internet (GMail), there will be field "SMTPOriginator".  And in this case the fields 'SMTPOriginator' = B and 'From' = A; and 'Sender' in mail rule will check field 'SMTPOriginator' instead: i.e., sender becomes B not A.

Time management matrix

Image via Wikipedia

of Stephen Covey's 7-Habits

Somewheres we can find the quadrant diagrammes

• Time management matrix: from Stephen Covey’s book “First Things First” - Paauwerfully Organized
  
• Two of charts - island94.org (Mar.05'10)
• How are you managing your time? - Psychology Today (May.25'08)

Additional styling in Google Chat & Buzz

Enclose text with star, underline, and dash for bold, italic, strikethrough respectively. But it can be incomplete when outer-enclosed with parentheses (e.g., text ... "quote *something* may not always _work_")

Does not work in GReader's comment.

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Also see:

• http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/thread?tid=4ae8955eed61736c&hl=en
• http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/thread?tid=20fc1deec529b4ff&hl=en

iGadget recommendation

Also: consider to enable Chat in iGoogle settings.

Google fundamentals

• Gmail: small preview of your inbox.
• Google Calendar: mini calendar and event list.
• Google Docs: list most-recently active documents
• To-do list -- either (or both) of:
• Simple/independent To-Do List.
• Google Tasks: if you've already utilised this service through Google mail and/or calendar.
• Sticky Note

Google more

• News -- either or both of:
• Google Reader: in case you've used this service.
• Google News: in case you don't experience much of RSS/ATOM yet.
• Compound gadget: useful when you want to collect some rare-used gadgets into one gadget box, giving you cleaner page.
• Google Translate: it may not give us perfect result, but a very-handy interim.

Social networking -- depending on what services are we using:

• Twitter: use AnyScreen
  
• Facebook
• FriendFeed
• Blogger: post message to your Blogger sites right from your homepage.

Miscellaneous

• Google Map Search: find places with Google Maps without leaving your homepage.
  

GCal practical guide

These are some suggestions for GCal usage considerably unique from other email systems.
This post is still under ongoing revision, any suggestion/feedback please leave as comment -- thank you :)

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Current limitations

Feature	Workaround
Ability to specify different time zone than local when schedule an event.	Do not complete an event at first time (e.g., add guests) but adjust it again using [1] additional time-zone in week view, or [2] labs feature "world clock".

How to add a shared calendar

Method	What sender does	What recipient does
HTML	Send link location obtained from [HTML] label.	Open the HTML link, the calendar is displayed as a read-only view. Click the button [+ Google Calendar] located at bottom-right corner.
ICAL	Send link location obtained from [ICAL] label (the link ends with ".ics").	At "Other calendars" widget, select [Add |Add by URL] command. Input the given ICAL link.
Calendar ID	Send calendar ID obtained from "Calendar Address" section.	Input the ID into "Add a coworker's calendar" field of "Other calendars" widget.

Remarks

1. [ICAL][HTML] labels and calendar ID are available at "Calendar Address" section in "Calendar Details" tab of "Calendar settings" of each particular calendar (pull-down menu after each calendar name, not "Settings" menu at the top panel of GCal's window.
2. "Other calendars" widget is next under "My calendar" list on the left pane of GCal window.
3. Each calendar can be individually renamed: i.e., a calendar can have different names among users.

How to respond meeting invitation

Decline meeting with some comment:  Do either of:-

• Reply "No" with note.
• Use [Email guests] to notify participants first before respond "No".
• Reply the email copy of the meeting invitation (in GMail). 

GMail practical guide

These are some suggestions for GMail usage considerably unique from other email systems.

Also, purple colour denotes featrues that we would avoid when send out to people in other email systems!

 This blog is still under ongoing revision, any suggestion/feedback please leave as comment -- thank you :)

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To correspond mail

1. Determine whether we'd rather revise the subject, or add our reply into conversation thread of the original subject.
2. Decide history's header either reply or forward form:
1. Reply:  There's only "On {date/time}, {sender} wrote:" with history quoted (with vertical line on left margin), but GMail preloads To/CC to the new mail.
2. Forward:  Mail header is retained so that new recipients are clear that previously what was subject (if modified, or we can delete it off if subject is unchanged) and who were addressed.
3. Consider to remove unnecessary quoted history
1. Unless we forward to new recipients, whole history is already in conversation thread.
• Alternatively, forward necessary history to new recipients first.  Then we can now send another mail as reply to both old & new recipients with specific context.
2. With recipients already existing in conversation thread, partial history quoting may be still useful as short reference: i.e., what context we are replying about.
• [writer's opinion: So, that's why default form of reply has whole history preloaded but as in-line quoted text (blank beginning / quoted history / ending signature), in order to let us remove unnecessary portions off from reply.] 

To utilise conversation thread

• Prerequisite for the first sender: define subject wisely.  Avoid specifying date or release such as "tomorrow", "this Friday", "week of Feb.15'10", "version 1.23.4" -- unless we really mean that specific event.
• Keep reviewing To/CC lists.
• A thread can have various people groups addressed.  They can see whole thread inequally. 
• Use contact group and reduce addressing unnecessary individuals, to utilise mute function.
• Maintain thread by not changing subject. 
• Instead of adding word such as "update", "revise", "additional info" to original subject; rather put it at first line of new message.  It will be displayed in snippet next to subject in mail-list view.
• Reply/forward with only necessary portion quoted history: such as to quote part in responding, or when include new recipients.
• Look for utilising [Reply by chat] feature.  Notice that it's not only for chatting back to sender, but can be sender chats to recipient (such as to follow up; in case there's only single one in To list) too.
• Even when compose new mail, reconsider whether it can be a reply or supplement of any existing thread.
• It is possible that we copy mail of a thread (reply/forward, select all, copy) and put into (paste) new mail of another thread.  By this way we can leave some/redundant threads of same topic and keep better one ongoing.

However, also consider to split to new thread (edit subject to define new one) when:-

• Conversation becomes so deviated from origin.
• Original subject is poorly specified or is not designed to be series.
• Mixing various people groups becomes so sensitive: e.g., a series of quality reports distributed among various suppliers/customers.

Is beginning "Dear ...," line practical?

• When responding to a conversation thread, it may be unnecessary to be such formal and better utilise snippet's text.
• However, GMail display mail header poorly (both its one-line and show-details formats).  So, at first time introducing the topic, sender should consider to add Dear/CC scope in mail body (so recipient needn't click [show details] to determine his/her involvement).

Use shortcuts & function keys
Somewhere I've ever learned that GMail is not designed for beauty but efficiency.  Learning keyboard shortcuts (to enable in settings) and function keys, it solves several requirements than requesting additional buttons or UI enhancement (richer UI features, slower performance).

Remember, we have ten fingers with full keyboard, not only mouse.

Want to ...	Do this ...	Remark
Go to top/bottom of long page (such as long expand-all conversation)	Ctrl-Home/End	Someones request that command zone (above conversation) stays available while scrolling.
Scroll up/down quicker	PgUp/PgDn	Instead of rolling mouse-wheel.
Go to next/previous message in thread	n (next), p (previous)	Don't waste eyes scanning top(beginning) of each message.
Go to next *inbox*	` (back-quote)	In case we enable "Multiple inboxes" feature. ** No excuse for ones who keep using old-poor implementation of Thai-keyboard switching }:)
Go to certain GMail folder/view	g ...	Check avialable choices from Help (?).
Go to view of a label	g l ...
Go to Search field	/
Go to Chat search-field	q
Go to somewhere but still in editing window/field	Esc	In editing area, pressing shortcut key just only inputs character into edited text.

Nonetheless (and vice versa), apart from keyboard shortcuts, there are several command shortcuts too.

Want to ...	Do this ...
Find recent conversations of a person	Move mouse over the name in mail header.  When person profile box pops up, choose: [Video & more |Recent conversations] Also same method with name in chat list.
Move to label	Drag instead of open/select(x), [move to] ...; given that the label is not hidden.
Go to a label of currently-opened mail/conversation	Click at the label listed next to subject line at the top of page.

Et-cetera

• As long as currently there's no option to remove (detach) attachment yet, do not keep its downloaded copy.  Simply use and delete it off (from local hard-disc).  Note that, anyway, it is retained in Recycle Bin until we empty it.

Know GCal more

These are some characteristics of Google Calendar considerably unique from other calendaring systems.

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Not only primary calendar, we can schedule meeting through other calendars too.

Meeting owner is also a guest in the list.  When meeting owner changes response to "No", it is not meeting cancellation.  To cancel a meeting event, this procedure is suggested:

1. Enter the meeting item (edit event details).
2. At Guests list, choose "Email guests" to inform cancellation.
3. Next, click [Delete] button at the top line of calendar form

In case we also show other people's calendars and have schedules in common (either via meeting responding or copy-to-my-calendar), so far there's no solution to avoid redundant displaying.  At least there is a reason: we can edit our own instances.

The note next to response in a meeting, when input, is shown under our name in Guests list.  It is not for corresponding.

Meeting notification to inbox is just an email copy in addition to calendar item itself, with ability to respond and link to the event item.

• It helps for people who don't open calendar regularly.
• It can be used for replying as email.
• It can be deleted with no effect to the event item in calendar.

We can reply "No" to a meeting but leave it stay in calendar: i.e., different from "Remove".  Turn setting "Show events you have declined" on.

To subscribe a Google Calendar indirectly shared through group/public

If a calendar is shared to individuals, it will be displayed in My/Other-calendars widgets (in left pane of calendar window) automatically.  However, this is not true when it is shared to public or groups (GoogleApps Contacts, GoogleGroups).

In settings of each calendar (from menu button at the end of each calendar), there is "calendar address" section showing 3 types of links: XML, ICAL, and HTML.  Note that intention of HTML link is to obtain the public URL to view a read-only version of the calendar without signing in to Google Calendar.  It is not to add the calendar into My/Other-calendars list.

Given that we are member of group to which the calendar is shared, here is how to add the calendar into our My/Other-calendars list.

1. Obtain the ICAL link from searching, calendar owner or existing member (e.g., via email or chat).
2. Follow "subscribe" procedure:  At the bottom of the calendar list on the left, click the Add down-arrow button and select Add by URL.  Then input the ICAL link.

Google & Lotus-Notes: calendar-item characteristics & differences

This is situation when an organisation has these 2 email systems running.

	Google Calendar	Lotus-Notes calendar
Showing on calendar	Item is always posted to GCal as '?' mark (looked similar to 'Maybe' response).  We respond 'No' or choose 'Remove' to remove it from GCal.	Item only arrives Inbox and optionally displayed in 'New Notices' pane.  We respond 'accept' or 'add' to get it displayed on calendar.
Colouring	GCal supports multiple calendars and colouring is assigned to each calendar.	LN can only see calendars of others, but neither see altogether simultaneously nor can create multiple calendars in addition to own one.  Colouring is assigned to calendar types (meeting, appointment, anniversary, reminder, to-do)
Participant list	Has option to add guest by any participant.	Has To/CC/BCC classification.
Calendar-item instance between mail & calendar systems	Separate: Deleting the instance in GMail does not effect one in GCal and vice versa.  However, we can respond in either GMail or GCal.	Same: calendar is another view the mail database so that we see same-single instance.  We do not delete it from inbox but manually remove it away (possibly to other folder), or set option (in Tools |Preferences) to remove meeting invitations from inbox after responded.
Item's content	See body of LN-cal item contains .ics attachment (as common as normal Internet email).	See body of GCal item as: "View your event at http://www.google.com/calendar/..."

Also:

• Sender & participants name formatting:  In same system, it can look up its "address book" so that we'll see as full-name written (ex., "John Smith").  Whereas each side will see ones from each other system as Internet-email format (ex., john.smith@company.com).
• Response to GCal invitation via LN can have error such as nonexistent parent document, (field) incorrect data type for operator or @Function.