Getting Notified of New Gmail Messages

As convenient as Gmail is, it can be even more convenient if you're automatically notified when you receive new messages in your inbox. There are two ways to do thisvia the Gmail Notifier program, or via the Google Toolbar.

Using the Gmail Notifier

Gmail Notifier is a utility that displays an icon in your system tray when you have new Gmail messages, like the one in Figure 21.33. It can even display the subjects, senders, and snippets from those messages, all without you having to go to the Gmail site.

Figure 21.33. The Gmail Notifier icon (on the far left) and pop-up info about an inbox message.

To download and install Gmail Notifier, go to mail.google.com/mail/help/notifier/ and click the Download Gmail Notifier button. Versions are available for Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS 10.3.9+ (including Tiger).

Once the Gmail Notifier is installed, it checks your Gmail inbox for any unread messages. If unread messages are found, it displays an icon in your computer's system tray, at the bottom of your screen. You can right-click this icon to do the following:

• View Inbox (opens a new browser window and goes to your Gmail inbox on the Web)

• Check Mail Now (rechecks your inbox for new messages)

• Tell Me Again (displays info about unread inbox messages in a pop-up window above the system tray)

• Options (configures the utility)

• About (displays version number and other info)

Using the Google Toolbar

Alternatively, if you have the Google Toolbar installed, you can view unread messages by clicking the down arrow next to the Gmail button, as shown in Figure 21.34. To open a new browser window and go directly to your Gmail inbox on the Web, just click the main Gmail button.

Figure 21.34. Viewing new Gmail messages from the Google Toolbar.