Users of a desktop email client like Outlook or Thunderbird have long been used to using the email function built in many applications like Word, Windows Explorer, etc to attach files with ease. 
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for web based email like Gmail. You could make Gmail the default email client within the browser like you can do in Firefox. But, your Windows desktop applications don’t have any idea how to do it for Gmail. I came across gAttach on Madhur’s blog and tried it out.
What is gAttach?
gAttach is a small Windows application that lets you email using Gmail with or without attachments from almost any Windows application. Here are a gist of gAttach features
- Send email from any Windows application via Gmail
- Handles email – mailto links from all browsers and not just Firefox
- Works with Google Apps
- Uses HTTPS for added security
- Option to let gAttach remember your Gmail username/password for convenience or you can just login yourself
- Choose to launch Gmail after creating a draft message
- Choose to use basic HTML version or Rich Text version
- Option Load Gmail when you click on an email link
- Option to setup proxy server details
- Free for personal use
gAttach was a small 496K download and just took under 2 minutes to install. Once installed, you just use the Send to ‘Mail recipient’ function in your Windows Explorer right-click menu to attach files. Just be mind ful of the 20MB attachment size limit in Gmail.
Gmail Notifier can also make Gmail the default mail client for Windows and Mac but gAttach gives you the extra options mentioned here.
What about Linux?
gAttach is a Windows application. What if you wanted to make Gmail the default mail client in Linux? How-to Geek has this trick covered. Even though the post is on how to get it done on Ubuntu, it should work on other Linux distros as well.
Use Gmail without a Mouse
For a power Gmail user, some of the Gmail keyboard shortcuts are essential. For me, ‘#’ key is just invaluable to delete mails easily trying to keep up with the ‘zero inbox’ I try to follow. However, this post from official Gmail blog, nicely walks though on various keyboard shortcuts to use Gmail without a mouse. (tip: just type ? in Gmail to see various shortcuts)
Gmail users, what do you think? If you are using Yahoo or Hotmail, do you know of a similar way to do this?
[via Madhur Kapoor]
Popularity: 3% [?]
6. October 2008 at 11:55 am
This software is very useful indeed. I am power user for gmail.
kuanhoongs last blog post..Japan : Autumn Red Leaves (紅葉) 2008
6. October 2008 at 3:11 pm
i’m a big fan of keyboard shortcuts. haven’t been using them with gmail though. maybe i should.
koujis last blog post..haiku poem: nature (bird)
6. October 2008 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for the link love buddy
7. October 2008 at 7:57 am
thanks for giving link to gATTACH.
christmas tabletop treess last blog post..Mini Christmas Tree Lights
7. October 2008 at 5:42 pm
Awesome find! I love Gmail, and I think this little tool might fix the one thing I hate: no integration with Windows. Downloading it now!
Andrew. Virginia Lawyer.s last blog post..Can You Call Your Lawyer?
8. October 2008 at 7:39 am
awesome info..
gmail is rocks !!!
8. October 2008 at 11:20 am
Wow. I had no idea that this application even existed at all. This should be very helpful. Thanks for the find.
10. October 2008 at 2:32 am
I heard about this app from a friend. He has been using it for various stuff.
It can be really helpful for certain people.
Fahads last blog post..Top 10 Best Torrent Sites
11. October 2008 at 6:55 pm
Thanks for sharing this information. I had no idea that this application actually existed!
15. October 2008 at 4:12 pm
This product has provided a service which is quite useful to those who would want to attach through an application that is normally not as easy to use. Having a program associated with Google also tends to build it up a bit quicker.
Armen Shirvanians last blog post..Spoken/Written Words vs. Intent
4. March 2009 at 6:32 pm
Thanks !! very helpful post!