Google: Your bridge from Outlook to any smartphone's calendar

I love Outlook. Don't judge; I'm not alone. It's an outstanding tool for handling e-mail and my calendar. But what if you want to view your Outlook calendar when away from your desktop? I've found Google Calendar Sync is an awesome solution.

I know there's Microsoft Exchange that many companies use for syncing Outlook to other devices. I've never been in an organization that used it. Instead, my life of syncing Outlook to a phone started years ago when I'd use Microsoft ActiveSync to have Outlook talk to my Windows Mobile phone.

Oh, those were the days. Then along came the iPhone, and iTunes took over, allowing me to sync my Outlook calendar to my iPhone. But, I had to remember to plug-in my phone to do this. Meanwhile, what about syncing to the Web? And syncing to Android? And these days, syncing to Windows Phone?

Google Calendar Sync is the solution to all of these issues, at least if you use Windows. I dearly wish Google would support the Mac with this, and I'll revisit that wish at the end.
Google Calendar Sync is a lightweight program you install that automatically syncs whatever is on your Outlook calendar to your  Google Calendar account (you'll need to create a Google Calendar account, if you don't already have one). You can sync one-way, to send only stuff on your Outlook calendar to Google or vice-versa. Sync two-way if you want calendar entries made in either place to flow back-and-forth.

Outlook to iPhone
Once Outlook is talking to Google Calendar, life is beautiful for the smartphone user. Let's start with the iPhone (and this works for the iPad, as well). Go to "Settings," then "Mail, Contacts, Calendar," then choose "Add Account." You'll see Gmail as one of the options listed.

Select Gmail, providing your Google information as required. After the account is set up, you'll see it listed within "Mail, Contacts, Calendars." Select it, then be sure you've toggled the "Calendars" link to "On." Once that's done, voila! Now you've channeled your Outlook calendar through the cloud to Google and back down to your iPhone.

Outlook to Android
With Android, it's a similar process. From the "Settings" menu (which most Android phones should have), look for something like "Accounts & Sync." Click "Add an account," then select "Google" and enter your details. 

When done, go back to "Accounts & Sync" and select the Google account that's associated with your Google Calendar. Click on it, then make sure you've ticked the "Sync Calendar" option. That's it. Now Outlook is talking to Android, via Google.

Of course, with Android, you'll almost certainly already have a Google account listed in "Accounts & Sync." You need one to use most Android devices. If so, just make sure that you've created a Google Calendar account that's linked to that account, and you're set. This also works for Android tablets, too.

Outlook to Windows Phone
With Windows Phone, it's the same familiar process. Go to "Settings." Select "Email+Accounts." Select "Add An Account," and then choose "Google." Enter your Google account details. After it has been added, go back to "Email+Accounts" and select the Google account. Then be sure you've ticked the "Calendar" box.

Outlook to the Web
That covers getting your Outlook calendar from your desktop to your devices. A byproduct of this is that you also have a Web-based version of your calendar. Just log into Google Calendar, and all your details are there.

If you're using Google Calendar Sync set to two-way, you can even make changes to your web-based calendar and have them flow back to your desktop.

Outlook to the Mac's iCal
The fun's not over. My desktop computer runs Outlook 2010 for Windows 7, but on the road, I travel with a MacBook Air. Can I flow my Outlook calendar to that? You bet!

Open "System Preferences," then "Mail, Contacts & Calendars." Add your Google account. When that's done, be sure to have selected the "Calendars" tick box for your account. Now your Outlook calendar will flow through Google into iCal.

Left out, Outlook for the Mac
Unfortunately, I don't like iCal. I prefer -- surprise -- Outlook 2011 for the Mac. Sadly, Google doesn't make Google Calendar Sync for the Mac. That really sucks. I'll be following up with Google about whether we'll ever see this happen.
As for Microsoft, nothing seems to have changed from late 2010, when Microsoft warned that for anyone looking to sync with Web-based calendars, "Outlook for Mac may not be ideal." The support page on syncing Outlook For Mac still offers no help. The "Sync Services" option in Outlook For Mac, despite saying it can sync Outlook data with iCal, doesn't seem to do with the calendar.
As with Google, I'll be following up with Microsoft about this. In the meantime, my solution is to run Windows 7 using VMware Fusion on my MacBook Air, then run Outlook For Windows within that. Then if I'm on a long trip, and I really need to interact with my Outlook calendar a lot, I've got a solution.
Got a better solution or great calendar sync tip? Please share below!

How to Play Games on Google Plus

                       As expected, Google didn’t delay much in releasing Games on their Social Web Project called Google+. Yes, Games have arrived on Google+ to engage more number of users and obviously to copy compete with Facebook Games Applications.Initially, 16 Games are on Google+ platform which includes popular Angry Birds, Bejeweled Blitz, Zynga Poker, Bubble Island, City of Wonders, Collapse Blast, Diamond Dash, Crime City, Dragon AGe lgeneds, Dragon of Atlantis, Edge World, Flood it, Monster World, Sudoku, Wild ones and Zombie Lanes.

How to Play Google Plus Games Applications

Like Google+ accounts, Games will also be rolled out gradually to everyone. To check where Google Plus Games is enabled for your account, login to your account and look for Games icon on Profile.

Click on Games Icon to start Gaming on Google+ with social buddies.
To start the play, each Game App requires permission to continue which enables Application to fetch some of your profile data, friends list and get privilege to post your Games scores on Google+ stream. I guess Facebook users know this thing very well.

In case, you don’t see that Games icon on your profile, there are no Google Plus Games Invites thing but just wait to get it!
Personally, I never played games even on Facebook so, inclusion of Google Plus Games won’t make a difference for people like me. Tried Angry Birds which is similar as we had in Google Chrome App store with only difference no more browser barrier. Crime City looked somewhat like Mafia wars on Facebook but maybe it is better or even worse than that. Leave your comments if you played it.



What am I waiting to see on Google Plus is Business Pages, Vanity URL and Applications not just games. And you?
Others, get ready to receive notifications and invitations to join your pal in his mafia family and win Gold mines in city.

How To Schedule Mails In Gmail: Send Email in Future

                 Even though social networking has taken over the use of E-mails, but there are a lot of tasks that can only be done with the use of e-mails like sending an application to your higher officials or simply remind someone or yourself by mailing and many other stuffs.
Now, the most used e-mail service is Gmail. But, What Gmail doesn’t support is Scheduling of Emails on a future date and time that you specify. Now, to get this support, you have to install a simple extension/add-on for your browser (Google Chrome or Mozilla firefox) called as Right Inbox.

Install and Setup Send Later on Gmail

All you have to do is, Go to their official site and install Right Inbox on your browser. After installation, restart is required in case of Firefox browser else just open your Gmail account in new tab. You will be greeted with the welcome message saying “Right Inbox for Gmail is ready!” and while composing message- You get a new button called “Send Later” in Gmail interface itself. 




Not only that but also when you click on the Send Later option while sending email you’ll see that you even have some predefined timeline with ability to choose your own specific date or timeline. Yes, you can choose from 1-4 Hours or say tomorrow morning or noon or simply specify timings to send Mail.



I hope that its quite easy to setup and get it to working. As of now, service is offered for free but soon, they might start charging you for using Send Later Gmail Services.

5 Essential Gmail Labs Feature That Should Be Enabled By Default

Fifty-two. That is the number of Features that are available in Gmail Labs to improve our experience in e-mail from Google. And we have everything from things that are merely aesthetic to others that are most useful and should be incorporated without selecting anything.
We will discuss five Gmail Lab Features that should be enabled by default, without having to go to turn them by hand. As in any selection, the choices have a subjective component. But based on my experience, I chose those I found most useful in day to day and I think they should be of general use.
Remember that to do so, you are going to Settings (click on gear button at the top right) and from there, you can click on Labs.

1. Undo sending

 

What it does : It gives us a second chance before finally sending the message. So if, we’re sending it to wrong recipient or need review of the message typed, we can always stop the sending before it occurs.
Why activate it : Have you sent that mail  to the wrong person? Unless you’re very confused, this feature usually not used. But when you do, you will realize how useful it is.

2. Reply to All by default

 

What it does : the name itself says. When we are in a conversation with several people, we need not expand the list to select reply to all, but this is the default and must choose from the list if we want to answer a single person.
Why activate it : To avoid typical of being in a conversation, To answer several threads and believing that one person has answered them all. For very little conversation between several people, once you test it, you realize how comfortable it is.

3. Preview Message (Sneak Peak)

 

What it does : Pressing the right mouse button in a message, it shows a window with the content without having to open it.
Why enable : Enables faster review what we get without having to open the message and then return to the inbox. Very useful especially for notifications and newsletters, to see if it’s worth reading them thoroughly enter or simply discarded. For discussions, we can move through all messages.

4. “Mark as read” Button

 

What it does : The option to mark a message as read without opening it is hidden within the ‘More’ button. This feature appears as a single button that appears at the time we select one or more messages.
Why activate it : Like everything else, depends on the method of work which each one and how much of notifications or receive messages. I at least get enough and this feature saves me a click and it makes me more comfortable the process of marking as read what they are simple notifications or newsletters that need answering.

5. Background Send

 

What it does : Just give the command “send”, we return to the inbox without having to wait for the message is sent.
Why activate it : Again for saving time. Instead of waiting for an end to send the message, we can continue checking our inbox and answering other emails. This can be useful when attachment is taking long time to upload and you can’t leave the page even after pressing “Send” button.
These are my picks. I have enabled a few more, but I think these are the ones that should be incorporated as standard and recommended for everyone using Gmail. Yes, you can have your say if you want to name any other Gmail Lab Feature which I may have missed.

Draw Heart Shape in Google – Search Engine Fun

 

Google is not only a powerful search engine but also comes with lots of Fun oriented search results. In the past I have shared many Google Tricks and Funny search results

Just goto Google.com and type the following thing and search,
(sqrt(cos(x))*cos(200*x)+sqrt(abs(x))-0.7)*(4-x*x)^0.1, sqrt(9-x^2),-sqrt(9-x^2) from -4.5 to 4.5
See the fun. A Heart shape will appear in the Graph.

Make Free Phone Calls with Google Voice

       
Google Voice currently provides free PC-to-PC voice and video calling worldwide between users of the Google Voice and free outbound calls for users resident in the US. Incoming calls can be received on an optional Google Voice phone number in the US and on any additional phone numbers of the subscriber.

Other features available to users resident in the US include voicemail, call history, conference calling, call screening, call blocking, SMS text messaging, call forwarding (to your other phone numbers), and voicemail transcription via email or text message.

You don’t need to sign up for a phone number or a Gmail account to start using Google Voice to make free calls in the US from your PC. An optionalGoogle Voice phone number would allow anyone to call your home and/or mobile phones and your PC from their phone. Your PC needs to be turned on and you need to be signed into Gmail to receive calls on your PC.

The optional Gmail plug-in allows you to make and receive calls from your Gmailaccount (part of the Gmail Chat feature). It appears you can only make calls from your Google Voice account webpage (not receive calls) and manage the voicemail and alert messages. Messages and alerts can forward to any email address if desired.

Google Voice is not a substitute for a home or cell phone number and does not support 911 calls. I use it to integrate my cell phone and home phone calls without affecting either of those services.

Here's what I recommend:

1) Sign up for a Google Voice phone number in your area code while they are still available and free or you can use any area code and select an available number.

2) Sign up for a Google Voice account and configure settings, including your home and mobile numbers, and record your name, etc. You could start with the defaults and experiment.

3) Download and install the Google Talk browser plug-in for Gmail. It’s not obvious that this needs to be installed or where to find it but you can download it here: www.google.com/chat/voice

You could start using Google Voice by opening a Google Voice accountwithout a Google Voice phone number. This would allow you to make free calls to any US number from your computer with speaker and microphone, or a headset. No one could call you from a phone though because you don't have a number. They can call you from their PC using their Google Voice account or the Google Talk browser plug-in if they have Gmail.

I recommend getting a Google Voice phone number while they are currently available for free. You can use a different area code if most of your calls are from that area code for your Callers to save on long-distance charges. You can browse for an available number by area code search for numbers that contain certain digits that you desire. My Google Voice number has the same last four digits as my cell phone number to make it easy to remember.

The first time I called my Google Voice number I was surprised and impressed when my cell phone, home phone, and PC started ringing. Email messages and transcribed emails keep me informed about all me calls and voicemail messages. I put my Google Voice number on my business cards and my email signature block to start porting callers to my new number. Google Voice should help me to not miss incoming calls, whether I’m at home, work, or away.

View an Explanatory video from Google on YouTube.

See the Google Voice article on Wikipedia for a summary of features.

Learn more and sign up at www.google.com/voice.

From the Official Google Blog:

12/16/2011 01:57:00 PM

More free calls right from Gmail

Last year we introduced free domestic calling in Gmail within the U.S. and Canada, and we’re extending this free service for the whole year of 2012. We’re happy to help you keep in touch with those special people in your life, for free.

See All Live Webcams with a Google Trick

Here’s  a trick that will blow your mind. You can get access to all open public webcams through Google. There are many tricks by which one may get accessed to all the webcams running currently at a particular position and at particular time. However the Google Webcam trick seems to be one the easiest. Here are a simple few steps by which one may do the same.
Step 1: Log on google.com
Step 2: Type ‘inurl:/view.shtml’ as a query
Step 3: You may also try using intitle:”Live View / – AXIS” | inurl:view/view.shtml^ as a query.
Step 4: This would redirect you to a page with the home pages of these urls.
Step 5: The above query reveals the IP network webcams that have been indexed by Google. You can easily get access and locate those unprotected IP network cameras used that are released or leaked to the public internet insecure cameras by using Google.

Web Cam Image from Google Search

  
The world today has millions and millions of webcams and still more are popping out each minute. It is true to be said as the big business for every business. Even ordinary home owners these days have switched to the application of webcams in their houses. So, if you are using a webcam, encrypt the signal and protect yourself.