Google Search is evolving rapidly into a service where you no longer need to search for information!

I was hosting a Q&A session at Google headquarters in Sydney a couple of weeks ago to launch the Google Apps For Education Community and the discussion turned towards Google search and what is next.  One of the Google employees made a statement that really caught my attention.  I am not sure how many people caught the significance of the statement or have thought much more about it since.

I can’t quote him word for word but this is pretty close.

Google is now not only delivering information that you ask for, but are developing the ability to give you information before you need it.

Up until now, the way we have interacted with Google search is that we have asked Google questions and it has delivered the answers.  Now Google can tell you what you need to know before you know you need it.

HERE’S HOW:

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We just sold out the Google Apps For Education Community Conference In Auckland this Saturday!

You can follow all the learning by following the #gafecommunity hashtag on Twitter and Google Plus.

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One of the most frequent questions I am asked by people who are transitioning from Outlook to Gmail is “How do you schedule an email in Gmail?”

At present there isn’t a built in feature in Gmail that enables you to schedule emails.  However there is an extension called Boomerang for Gmail that you can install that will allow you to schedule your emails, as well as do a number of other great things.

Schedule emails in Gmail

HOW TO GET BOOMERANG FOR GMAIL

Boomerang for Gmail works with Chrome, Safari and Firefox web browsers.

The first thing you need to do is go to www.boomeranggmail.com

Next you need to click the big red install button (see below)

Boomerang for Gmail

The Boomerang extension will now automatically install in your Gmail account.

I USE BOOMERANG FOR GMAIL TO DO 3 THINGS

1.schedule an email in Gmail

To do this:

1.  Click the compose button

2. Type your email

3. Click the red send later button (see below)

Send Later feature in boomerang for gmail

4.  Enter the day and time you would like your email to be delivered, and the rest is taken care of for you

2.  Take emails out of your inbox and then deliver them back again when you need to deal with them.  

I use this feature when someone sends me an email about a task that is not due or relevant for a couple of weeks.  Rather than labelling or filing the email and then having to find it, Boomerang for Gmail will deliver that email back to me when I need it.

3.  Remind you if someone hasn’t replied to one of your emails.

I love this feature!  When I send an email that needs a response, I ask Boomerang for Gmail to deliver the email back to me on a certain date if a response hasn’t been received.  This acts as the perfect reminder to follow-up the email.  BRILLIANT!!!

You can use Boomerang for Gmail up to 10 times a month for free, after that there is a small fee of to use this service.

Try it out and let me know what you think.

This info-graphic was posted on the Official Gmail Blog.

Gmail is just about to enter its 10th year, and has radically changed the way that hundreds of millions of people interact with their email.

Would would have thought nine years ago that email would look anything like it does today!

GmailClick on the image for a larger view

 

Just in case you’ve missed the announcement and the ensuing outcry, Google Announced that Google Reader was being retired.

I have had a lot of emails asking what I would recommend as a Goggle Reader alternative.

Here is what I have decided to use:

Google reader alternative

 

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Play

In this Google Apps For Education Update we look at a range of new tools as well as discover which tools are being retired from the Google Apps toolbox next.

Google Apps Update

You can either listen to the audio version, watch the video or read the transcript below.

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Play

It’s been a while since I last posted an update.  I’ve been focussed on launching the Google Apps For Education Community.  The launch conferences are starting in just 2 weeks; very exciting!  In this short tip, I am going to show you two of my favourite Gmail Labs Features that allow me to easily preview my emails.

Gmail Labs

You can watch the short video below, listen to the audio version or read the transcript below.

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One of the developing technologies I have my eye on (pun intended) is Google Glasses.

Google are within a year of releasing the Google Glasses project where you will have access to technology right before your eyes.

Google Glasses

The vision behind Google Glasses was to free your hands and your eyes, so people weren’t walking around looking down.

To see how Google Glasses work watch this short video

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In the previous post, I mentioned that we were working on the launch of a new partnership agreement where we are designing a Google Apps For Education Community.

Google apps for education events

To celebrate the launch of the community we are holding 3 Google Apps For Education events for teachers to attend.

If you prefer to watch a video rather than read text, scroll to the bottom of the page

The first event is for school administrators and I.T teachers overseeing Google Apps in their school.  This event will be held on the 26th of April in the conference room at the Google offices in Sydney

The second event is open to all teaching staff and will be held on the 27th of April at Gymea Technology High School

The third of the Google Apps For Education Events will be held on the 18th of May at Bucklands Beach Intermediate School in Auckland.

WHY ONLY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND?

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Play

Over the last couple of months we have been working on a new partnership idea with the Google Apps For Education Team where we would create a Google Apps for Education Community.

As I travel training teachers how to use Google Apps for Education, the most asked question was ‘What’s next?’

There are a select group of teachers who have the opportunity to be connected in the Google Certified Teacher Community, but apart from that there are no other Google endorsed options available for school staff to come together and share ideas, best practices and have their questions answered.

Google Apps For Education Community

THE GOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO:

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