Gmail’s big redesign helps you spend less time in your inbox

We probably don’t need to tell you that Gmail has become the email service of choice for innumerable people since it first went live in 2004. New features have been added at a steady clip ever since, but we haven’t really seen a big redesign since 2011, though you could consider the addition of inbox tabs in 2013 a significant change, too. Whispers started cropping up earlier this month of another considerable overhaul, which Google is formally revealing today. What’s immediately obvious is the new flatter, cleaner look intended to bring Gmail more in line with Google’s Material Design principles — the web version of Calendar got similar treatment last year. The bulk of what’s new here, though, is a swathe of features designed to make Gmail a more productive place for business users. But the updates apply to Gmail as a whole, so there’s plenty for the personal user to play around with, too.

Features for everyone

There are several features in the big Gmail update everyone is likely to appreciate. In general, managing your inbox should get a lot easier thanks to new action buttons for individual emails. Usually you’d have to either go into an email or click the left tickbox to deal with it. Now all you have to do is hover over an email and buttons for deleting, archiving and snoozing will appear on the righthand side. Similarly, attachments are historically something you’ve had to go into an email to see. Little buttons Google calls “chips” now show up beneath the subject line of emails with attachments, allowing you to open them up from the main inbox screen. All of the above shortcuts are only available in certain viewing modes, mind, and you’ll pick which one of these you prefer when you load up the new Gmail for the first time. You’re likely familiar with the different ‘display densities’ Gmail offers, so be aware that if you want to continue seeing as many emails as humanly possible on the one screen, you’ll have to forego these new features.

Smart Reply has been available in the Gmail mobile apps (and others) for a while, and now they’re coming to the web. That means a canned response to your brother’s BBQ save-the-date along the lines of “Sounds good!” will be just one click away. There’s also a new ‘assisted unsubscribe’ feature that’ll notice if you’re getting weekly promotional blasts you never read. When the next one lands, it’ll appear alongside a little card that lets you quickly take yourself off the list without digging into the email’s small print to find the link. This will show up in the mobile apps too, and is actually one of the tools making the transition from Google Inbox — the client the company tends to use as a testbed for experimental features.

Google

Gmail already flags emails that are blatant phishing attempts or seem pretty sketchy in general, but this feature is ditching all subtlety. Open one of these up and you’ll now see a huge red banner that is your cue to immediately delete the thing and move on.

By far the biggest change to the overall look of Gmail is a new side panel off to the right that lets you load up other Google apps alongside your inbox. You can, for example, see your calendar in that panel, meaning you don’t have to switch tabs to add an event you’ve just received an email about. Or maybe you want to add a note to Google Keep or your Tasks list. If you haven’t used Tasks before, it’s a very simple to-do list app integrated into Gmail. This is finally getting a visual refresh, moving away from the basic plain text look to something more fitting of the decade. Dedicated iOS and Android apps for Tasks are also being launched to make it more useful when you’re away from your laptop.

Using the side panel does mean losing some screen real estate to accommodate your calendar or what have you, but to make up for that you can now hide the left side rail to temporarily declutter. While the side panel sounds great for all types of use cases, the idea is Gmail’s third-party add-ons — the majority of which are geared towards enterprise — will be particularly handy in this new spot next to your inbox. The side panel will become a feature common to several Google apps in the future, so eventually you’ll be able to have, say, a G Doc sitting next to a Slide presentation.

Down to business

Just as there are aspects of the big Gmail update that’ll be useful for all, there are some new features geared specifically towards G Suite enterprise accounts. In the one camp are those intended to boost productivity, like the option to temporarily suspend all but the most important of push notifications. Google’s secret sauce will figure out when an email is urgent and let you know; otherwise, radio silence. This should be especially useful on mobile, stopping you getting distracted every 10 seconds by a company-wide thread about the Friday drinks location.

Nudging is another new, automated feature that should more or less eliminate the need to constantly revisit the bottom of your inbox or sent folder. Google’s algorithms will detect emails that look like they need replying to, but that you might not have thought about in a few days. Gmail will ‘nudge’ these emails to the top of your inbox and add a little note reminding you to think about replying. Similarly, if you’ve sent an email that has gone unanswered, this will be flagged so you can send a follow-up if you need to.

Possibly the best news of all, at least for anyone that’s tried to catch up on emails on a plane using the clunky Gmail Offline Chrome extension, is native offline support. Your Gmail tab now syncs the last 90 days of activity, so take your laptop offline and that same tab should work as normal. Naturally, you can’t send or receive emails, but you can manage your inbox and queue up replies for when you’re next in WiFi range.

Making Gmail a more secure place to operate is another big push in this update. There’s a new “Confidential mode” for emails a sender doesn’t want permanently sitting in your inbox. The sender can set an expiration date for any sensitive comms, or manually self-destruct them whenever — these emails are also stored in the sender’s Gmail account, not in some other random part of Google’s cloud. The sender can even enable two-factor authentication, meaning the recipient must request an access code via SMS before they can access the contents (this is in case an inbox is potentially already compromised).

In addition, these emails will have special rights management controls, effectively disabling the recipient’s ability to copy, forward, download or print an email. This won’t stop someone that really wants to leak sensitive information. They could always just take a screenshot, or snap a picture of an email on their phone, but it adds a bit more friction Google hopes will prevent accidents (an unintended forward, for example) and deter those that will give up when they realize they can’t easily print a sensitive email in a few clicks.

Say when

There’s a lot of moving parts to this update, not all of which you’ll start seeing immediately. Your Gmail mobile apps will need to update, for example, and certain smart features like assisted unsubscribe will need a while to figure out what constitutes spam before offering the quick out. Confidential mode will be available in a few weeks, and if you’re a G Suite user, your administrator will be responsible for flipping the switch on your account.

The core redesign is live for everyone worldwide as of today, though, so just head into the settings menu to opt-in by hitting that “Try the new Gmail” button. In the coming months, Google plans to run in-app promotions to encourage people to make the move manually, before eventually enabling it by default and retiring the old Gmail forever.

Opera’s ‘Flow’ keeps its new mobile and desktop browsers synced

Opera continues to lag behind Chrome and its other rivals, but it’s not out of the browser game just yet. The company has launched a brand new mobile browser, an updated one for desktop and a way to keep them synced and connected even without logging in. Its new mobile browser called Opera Touch was specifically designed to be used with one hand, so you can do searches and browse websites even if you’re holding onto a subway strap or carrying a baby with the other.

When you launch the browser, the keyboard’s already up and the cursor’s already blinking on the address bar — all you need to do is start typing what you want to search for. Opera also made sure you can access its key features with one thumb, including the new Fast Action Button (gloriously nicknamed FAB) at the bottom of the screen, which gives you a way to quickly switch between the most recent tabs and the search function.

If you want a seamless way to connect your phone and PC browsers, though, Touch’s most useful offering is a new feature called “Flow.” According to Opera, 69 percent of smartphone users don’t use their browsers’ syncing features, because doing so typically requires you to log in and follow a set of steps. You’d only need to set up Flow once: after you update to the latest version of Opera on your desktop, simply activate the feature and scan the QR code that pops up with the Touch browser. Once that’s done, anything you add to Flow — any website, page, video, and so on and so forth — on one device will be accessible on the other. And, yes, the feature is end-to-end encrypted.

Opera is holding a live online launch on its website right now (April 25th, 4AM ET). But you can also watch videos featuring the new browsers below:

Source: Opera

How to Float Notes Over Application Windows in macOS

In the Notes app in macOS, it’s possible to float individual notes over other windows so that they stay visible regardless of which application is active.

This makes for a convenient way to reference an existing note while writing an essay or report, for example. It also comes in useful if you want to take notes when researching something online. Keep reading to learn how it’s done.

How to Float a Note in macOS

Launch the Notes app, located in your Mac’s Applications folder.
Click the Create a Note button, or click an existing note in the list on the left-hand panel.
In the Notes menu bar, select Window -> Float Selected Note.
The note will be automatically given its own window, which will remain above other open application windows. To turn off the floating behavior but retain the note’s separate window, simply click inside the note’s window and again select Window -> Float Selected Note to untick the option in the menu bar.

You can have as many note windows open as you want – just double-click each note in your Notes list and they’ll pop up separately on the screen. If you’ve selected several in the list by holding down the Command key, simply double-click one to open them all at once. You can then position them on the screen and control which ones float using the same menu bar option outlined above.

If you close Apple Notes, the number and position of your open note windows will be remembered the next time you launch the app, as well as which ones you’ve opted to float on top of other open windows. Just remember that your floating notes can’t share the same screen as another app that’s in fullscreen mode.

• How to Use Notes’ Pin and Table Features in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra

Related Roundup: macOS High SierraTag: Notes
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Could this easy-to-learn tactile typeface replace braille?

Braille, the tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, helps transform life for people who are unable to see. It allows them to read information in books and magazines and, thanks to technologies like refreshable braille displays, on computers. However, not everyone is able to learn braille. Originated in 1824, the language wasn’t designed for ease of use, but rather around the technological capabilities of the tools of its day.

Entrepreneur Andrew Chepaitis discovered just how difficult braille can be when his grandmother lost her vision and was unable to pick up the new language. Working with his mother, a student of human factors design, Chepaitis went on to develop a new font which, he claims, is significantly easier to learn. Rather than taking months at a time to learn, Chepaitis’ ELIA Frames font can reportedly be learned in just a few hours. According to Chepaitis, after 5 to 11 years of learning braille, readers have an average reading speed of 23 words per minute. With ELIA, a person can achieve 25 words per minute after just 60 hours of study.

“We customized the standard alphabet for tactile reading,” he told Digital Trends. “It is raised print, optimized for a specific use case. We set about applying best practices from the field of human factors design to the standard alphabet. But standard alphabet letters weren’t made for tactile reading, so we pushed the basic elements of each letter to the edges of a given space by using a frame. We then added the core elements of the letters to the interior of the frame, and iteratively tested letter designs to identify what is easiest to feel.”

Chepaitis said that his ELIA Frames font could be used to help the roughly 8.4 million people in the U.S. and 284 million people worldwide who have a visual impairment. The ELIA Frames font can be added to a computer font library like Times New Roman, Helvetica or Arial. Going forward, the plan is to develop a commercial printer thath can print ELIA Frames documents.

To raise money, the team is currently hosting a Kickstarter campaign. While we offer all our usual warnings about the risks of crowdfunding campaigns, if you do want to get involved, a $25 pledge will (hopefully) secure you an ELIA Frames silicone overlay for your keyboard. Larger amounts will get you a learning starter kit or classroom kit. Shipping is set for September 2018.

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Graphene-reinforced concrete offers a stronger, more durable option

Concrete isn’t the sexiest building material, made up of little more than cement, water, and rocks. It’s neither as strong as steel nor as flexible as wood, but without it our world would look a lot different. From sidewalks to skyscrapers, concrete plays a major role in construction, both inside and out.

Now, researchers from the University of Exeter have created a new concrete production technique that reinforces the material with graphene. In a study published this week in the journal Advanced Function Materials, the researchers describe how the composite material — which they’ve taken to calling GraphCrete — is at least two times as strong and four times more water-resistant than conventional concrete, and could make future construction more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“Nearly 10 percent of global carbon emissions are due to cement and concrete use,” Monica Craciun, professor of nanoscience at University of Exeter and co-author of the study, told Digital Trends. “We demonstrate a new perspective for reinforcing traditional concrete on the nanoscale level, which has great impact on its mechanical properties.”

To do so, Craciun and her colleagues used graphene, the semi-metal that is often called a wonder material for its seemingly endless applications. In the recent research, a graphene concentrate was used to fortify concrete in its early formation, doubling its compressive strength and making it almost four times more water-resistant.

“What does this mean?” Craciun said. “You can use twice as less concrete per cubic-meter and still achieve the same strength. Or, alternatively, in areas of the world subject to flooding you can increase the life and durability of any building. In short, our graphene reinforced concrete can contribute to significant decrease in carbon emissions due to improved strength and durability.”

The increased strength and durability would also make GraphCrete desirable for developers who want to build bigger buildings.

Graphene is notorious for rarely making it out of the lab. However, Craciun is confident she and her team will find real-world applications for the research soon.

“We are currently exploring the business case for Graphene Nano Additives that can enhance the physical properties of composite materials,” she said, adding that they are looking for stakeholders interested in exploring business cases for their technologies.

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Amazon launches the Echo Spot in India, discounts all Echo devices in the process

The Echo Spot has an introductory price of ₹10,499 ($155), after which it will retail for ₹12,999 ($195).

Amazon introduced the Echo family in India at the end of last year, and the company is now launching the Echo Spot in the country. The Echo Spot has an introductory price of ₹10,499 ($155), after which it will retail for ₹12,999 ($195). The device offers the same great functionality as other Echo devices, but you also get a 2.5-inch screen that facilitates video calling.

The device itself is considerably smaller than the Echo, and there’s a front camera along with volume controls and a four-mic array. It comes with a 1.4-inch single speaker, and Amazon says that the screen makes it an ideal device for the nightstand — allowing you to easily view your calendar, get weather updates, and more.

The Echo Spot will be able to play videos from local news outlets like NDTV, Aaj Tak, Times Now and India Today, and you’ll even be able to view movie trailers from Prime Video. The device is also the ideal conduit for Alexa-to-Alexa calls, so if your friend or family member also has an Echo device, you’ll be able to conveniently call them using Alexa.

Amazon Echo Spot review

Like the rest of the Echo family, the Echo Spot is customized for the Indian market, and you’ll be able to watch cricket highlights on ESPNCricinfo, book a cab on Ola and view real-time updates directly on the screen, discover nearby restaurants with Zomato, and much more. Amazon has invested a lot of resources into localizing Alexa, and the virtual assistant has a lot of tricks up its sleeve.

These are the 10 best Alexa skills for India

If you’re interested, you can now pick up the Echo Spot for ₹10,499 in the country. If you’re making the purchase with an ICICI debit or credit card, you can get an additional cashback of ₹1,499, bringing the effective price down to just ₹9,000 ($135). That’s just $5 more than what the Echo Spot goes for on Amazon U.S., making it a stellar deal.

If you’re picking up two units, you’ll receive an additional ₹1,000 off, bringing the cost down to ₹19,998 (or ₹18,498 with your ICICI card). Amazon mentions that the discount is an introductory offer, and the cashback via ICICI bank is valid through May 31, so

See at Amazon

Amazon is also knocking down the price of other Echo devices, with the Echo Dot now available for ₹3,999 ($60). The Echo is on sale for ₹7,999 ($120), and while the Echo Plus still costs ₹14,999 ($225), you get a free Hue bulb.

See at Amazon

Hulu cancels Aaron Paul-starrer ‘The Path’

We’re afraid some of the Meyerism Movement’s unanswered secrets will forever remain a mystery, now that Hulu has chosen not to renew The Path. The streaming platform has canceled one of its most high-profile originals after three seasons — the third season started airing in January and concluded in late March — ending the Lane family’s journey as part of a controversial cult with a bloody past and a dangerous present. The series starred Aaron Paul (Jesse from Breaking Bad) as the Lane family patriarch who’s going through a crisis of faith, Michelle Monaghan as his wife born into the movement and Hugh Dancy as the charismatic cult leader.

Paul confirmed the news on Twitter, where he said:

Sad to say that The Path has ended. Can’t thank @hulu enough for making this happen for all of us. What a gift these past three years have been. To everyone who tuned in for these three beautiful season…thank you. We appreciate your love and support. Love and light. 👁

— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) April 24, 2018

The series’ creator, Jessica Goldberg, also said in a statement:

“While it’s sad that The Path is ending, I’m brimming with gratitude and pride. It was a gift to be able to tell challenging and emotional stories for three seasons in this very strange and unique world. The caliber of talent and passion everyone who worked on this show brought — from my partners Jason Katims and Michelle Lee, the execs at Hulu, the writers, actors, directors, designers, and crew — was something to behold, and for which I’m very thankful. Thanks Hulu and Universal Television for taking a shot on this show, it was a life changing experience.”

While Hulu didn’t reveal the reason for the cancellation, a study last year found that Hulu (and Amazon) originals just aren’t as in demand as Netflix’s shows. Hey, at least The Handmaid’s Tale is coming back for another season today, and with a number of Emmys and Golden Globes under its belt, it’s likely not going away anytime soon.

Source: Variety

Xbox One update can automatically put your TV in game mode

Starting today, Microsoft is rolling out its”Spring Update” for the Xbox One, but it isn’t done adding new features for the season. The update that all users will get over the next few days adds “auto low latency mode” which works with compatible TVs to make sure they’re in “game mode” when the console is connected to reduce any lag. If it’s hooked up to a PC display compatible with AMD’s FreeSync tech, then it will match the refresh rate and frame output to end stuttering and tearing. The One S and One X now support FreeSync 2 with HDR, as well as 1440p for monitors that deliver a resolution between 1080p and 4K Ultra HD.

This is also the patch that adds controller sharing via Mixer. Now streamers can let viewers take over their game remotely, using either a virtual control in the web browser or by plugging a controller into their PC and hopping on the sticks. Another much-needed fix is that pictures and videos shared to Twitter will play directly there, instead of posting a link to Xbox.com.

When it comes to audio, gamers can adjust the mix between streaming audio from SoundCloud or Spotify with in-game audio, right in the guide that pops out from the side when they hit the Xbox button on a controller. System sounds finally support spatial audio for people with surround sound, and the Narrator volume can be adjusted independently of the system volume.

Those aren’t the only fixes arriving right now, but Microsoft is already testing a new batch for next month. The May update that recently went out to Insiders adds an option for high refresh rate 120Hz output at 1080p or 1440p. Also, it upgrades the “Pinning” option that has been with Xbox One from the start by allowing gamers to create custom groups of games or apps, similar to the way the PlayStation 4 UI works. The accessories app and parental controls are getting a facelift, and now that gamers can share clips directly to Twitter, they’ll also be able to Trim them directly in the guide before uploading.

Source: Xbox Wire (1), (2)

Google Play Music might be killed off this year in favor of YouTube Remix

Users are said to be forced off Play Music by the end of the year.

Right now, the state of Google’s music streaming services is a bit of a mess. Google Play Music is the company’s most notable player, but you can also listen to tunes and watch music videos via YouTube Red. If you’re on mobile, you can separately download the YouTube Music app that also comes with a Play Music/YouTube Red subscription. This jumble of services isn’t the easiest to understand, and to fix this, Google might replace them with YouTube Remix.

This is a rumor that first popped up back in December, but according to a new report from Droid Life, it’s said that Google will shut down Play Music following the launch of YouTube Remix. It’s unknown how quickly the domino effect will happen, but users will reportedly be forced off of Play Music by the end of the year.

It’s unclear at this time if playlists, liked songs, and saved local files will transfer over to YouTube Remix, but I’ve got to imagine Google’s got some sort of system in place for making the transition as seamless as possible.

If YouTube Remix replaces Play Music, what’ll happen to YouTube Red?

YouTube began signing deals with record labels for Remix towards the end of 2017, and just before this year’s SXSW, a representative from the company confirmed the service was in the works but wouldn’t launch in March (which it clearly didn’t).

If YouTube Remix will replace Play Music, does that mean YouTube Red will stick around? What about YouTube Music? I personally think Google’s best bet would be to kill off the YouTube Music app entirely and just house Play Music and YouTube Red’s offerings under the new YouTube Remix branding, but they could also choose to go an entirely different route. This is Google we’re talking about after all.

Google I/O is set to begin on Tuesday, May 8, and in my eyes, that’s as good a place as any for Google to officially unveil what it’s been working on.

Download: Google Play Music (while you still can)

The LG G7 will have an extra-tall 6.1-inch display that gets really, really bright

More than meets the eye.

In its way, LG is the most leak-friendly company in the world, mainly because as its phones meander towards a public announcement, it peppers the media with teases and press releases meant to keep the hoards satisfied.

To that end, the company has announced that the LG G7 ThinQ will have a 6.1-inch IPS LCD display that goes up to 1000 nits, which makes it the brightest panel using that technology we’ve seen to date. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 and S9 series can go beyond 1,000 nits, but only when in bright sunlight and can’t be specified by the user.

These screenshots prove that you’ll be able to disable the LG G7’s notch through software.

The G7’s display will also be taller than its predecessor’s, the LG G6, with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio — identical to the iPhone X — which accommodates the notch portion of the screen without sacrificing additional real estate. According to a pair of screenshots provided to Android Central, it appears you’ll be able to turn off the notch portion of the display and harmonize the top portion of the user interface.

LG says that in addition to the screen going really, really bright, it’s also 30% more power-efficient than the QHD+ panel of the LG G6, and will have a smaller bezel portion below the screen. Finally, the screen is able to reproduce 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, a stat prized for its accuracy and versatility when conveying photos and video. There will also be six explicit screen settings — Auto, Eco, Cinema, Sports, Game and Expert — to choose from.

Previous leaks have revealed that the LG G7 will have a Snapdragon 845, a dual camera setup, a notch, and a dedicated Google Assistant button.

It’s not clear when the LG G7 ThinQ will be announced, nor when it will become available around the world, but it shouldn’t be long now.

Press release:

New Super Bright Display Allows Stunning Display Quality While Lowering Power Consumption

LG’s upcoming premium smartphone, the LG G7 ThinQ, will be equipped with a brand new 6.1-inch display QHD+ (3120 x 1440 resolution) FullVision display that is rated at a maximum of 1,000 nit, making it the brightest and most vibrant display on the smartphone market today.

Powered by LG’s latest LCD technology Super Bright Display, the LG G7 ThinQ allows users the convenience of operating the phone in almost any lighting condition, notably under bright sunlight while reducing power consumption by as much as 30 percent than the LG G6.

Building on the well-received LG G6’s display-to-body ratio, the LG G7 ThinQ will be easy and comfortable to operate and hold in one hand, especially with the ergonomic and beautiful curved tempered glass. The previous 18:9 FullVision display of the LG G6 has also been enhanced on the LG G7 ThinQ with a new 19.5:9 FullVision screen ratio complemented by almost 50 percent slimmer bottom bezel than its predecessor.

Color tones on the LG G7 ThinQ will look rich and natural even under bright light courtesy of the newly developed Super Bright Display by LG that covers 100 percent of DCI-P3 color space. Additionally, the LG G7 ThinQ can automatically adapt to six screen color settings for different content such as Auto, Eco, Cinema, Sports, Game and Expert. Auto mode enables LG G7 ThinQ to automatically analyze current content, such as video, game, photo or web, and optimize display setting while reducing power consumption.

For power users that are looking for total control over their smartphone’s display, the LG G7 ThinQ allows users to fine-tune the screen by conveniently scrolling each RGB color level option while supporting modes are activated. LG has offered a similar feature with its camera in the past for shutterbugs, and it is doing the same for users desiring a higher-level degree of control with their displays.