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Postbox 2.0 available now!
We've covered Postbox in the past, and I've been using it regularly since the beta. Version 2.0 was just officially released, and there's a lot to love in the latest incarnation of this Mail.app replacement. Postbox already had some great organization capabilities, including "Conversation" views for email threads, and "Topics" for tagging messages and quickly sorting them. With version 2.0, organization is faster and even easier, thanks to features like Quick Move and some new keyboard shortcuts. There's even a Quick Reply feature that lets you respond to a message from within the message or thread by hitting Shift+R (a lot like GMail). There are also keyboard shortcuts for navigating mailboxes and accounts without touching your mouse. The new Universal Inbox and Account Groups views make it easy to manage multiple accounts and multiple inboxes from one screen. Combined with the tab features of Postbox, you can effectively handle quite a few accounts with very little effort. There are also new "Focus" panes, where you can view To-Dos and filter by Has Attachment, Unread, Topics, Favorite Contacts, and Dates. For a full list of new features, check out the Feature List at the Postbox website. Postbox is free to try, and US$39.95 for a license. There's also a free version, Postbox Express, if you don't need all of the extra bells and whistles. There's even a Windows version available! Check it out (especially if you're a keyboard lover or running Mail.app with Mail Act-On or similar).
Gmail for Android updated, becomes Market app
We've always said the native Gmail app is one of the best parts of Android, and it just got even better: it now supports Priority Inbox, has a "show quoted text" button, and features a floating message actions toolbar like the browser-based mobile Gmail webapp. The bigger news, though, is that Google's releasing Gmail directly to Android Market, where it'll be a separate download that can be revved with new features independently of Android itself. That's a pretty great move, as anyone still waiting for a carrier-approved Froyo build can attest, but there's irony afoot: the new Gmail won't run on anything less than 2.2. Wah-wah.
What's new (and gorgeous) in iOS 4.2 beta
If you're as excited as I am about the iOS 4.2 beta being released, you probably spent the majority of Wednesday paging through all of the tech blogs and/or neglecting your responsibilities as an adult. For those of you who aren't able to experience Apple's latest firmware until November, I've rounded up all the tastiest morsels and topped them with a delicious set of screenshots. iOS 4.2 beta has some great new features for all three of the main touch devices, meaning that you can expect the following on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad come November: AirPlay: Demoed by Steve Jobs at the keynote on September 1st, AirPlay gives the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch the ability to stream music to the Airport Express and movies, photos, and music to the new Apple TV with the touch of a button. AirPrint: As wireless printing has been one of the most commonly requested features of the iPad since its launch, it's no surprise that Apple has once again put pressure on the netbook market by granting consumers' wishes for full over-the-air printing from Safari, Photos, Mail, and more (provided you have a printer that is part of the admittedly limited compatibility list). Your print queue can be managed from a new "Print Center" icon that appears in the multitasking bar. The biggest surprise? You'll be able to print from your iPhone and iPod touch, too. Changing fonts in the Notes app: In what designers and artists may hail as the greatest single advancement ever made on the platform, Apple has given users the option to change the font that the included Notes app displays. Your choices now include Apple's original "Marker Felt," the equally ugly "Chalkboard," and the wonderful, majestic king of typefaces known as "Helvetica." 'Find In Page' Search in Safari: A small but incredibly useful feature makes its debut on all devices in iOS 4.2 beta. 'Find In Page' appears below the Google Suggest search results when the user activates the search box, and it works quite similarly to Safari for Mac. Follow the gallery link below to get a closeup look at iOS 4.2, or click "Read More" to see the rest of iOS 4.2's new features that are specific to the iPad. %Gallery-102504%
Set up your own Priority Inbox with Apple's Mail
Last month, Google released Priority Inbox, a system that learns which messages are the most important to you and highlights them automatically over time. It's in beta right now and Google is slowly turning it on for its users. If you're tired of waiting, or if you use Apple's Mail and not Gmail, you'll appreciate this setup from Ben Brooks. Ben explains how a combination of rules acts as his "priority inbox" for Mail. He's got some basic rules in place, like one that identifies messages from Apple and one that files backups away. Others are more clever. For instance, he's written one that first notices if his work address is in the CC field, and then checks if his name appears in the message body. If not, it's highlighted red and stored away. That way, it's marked "less important" in Priority Inbox terms. Conversely, another rule searches for messages from people on a pre-defined "Important" list and flags them. Taken individually the rules are clever but not amazing. Combined, however, they make for an effective system. Go and read the whole post. [Via Shawn Blanc]
Apple adds demo video to MobileMe mail
The MobileMe web app went down for scheduled maintenance last night, and returned this morning with an overview video. In about three minutes, it points out the features of the recently-redesigned Mail web app. Those who have been using it for a while won't find anything new in the video, but it's still a nice review. It starts by describing the different view options and how to enable each. Next the friendly Apple voice demonstrates how to create and apply rules, and finally moves on to several formatting options (another recently-introduced feature). Again, anyone who's been using the web app for the last few weeks won't find anything new, but it's still a well-done overview. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Blockbuster including games in its by-mail rentals
It's almost inspiring, the way that Blockbuster bravely marches on, despite such moves as boning Total Access and cutting back on its new movie purchases. And the latest bid for relevance? If you're receiving your, um, "blockbusters" via snail mail you'll soon be able to add your Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii games to the mix (and by "soon," we mean "now"). Ready to add the latest installment of Splinter Cell to your copy of The Bucket List? Well, you should probably get out of the house more. Or you can click the source link to get started. [Thanks, Kevin]
Gold Capped: How to calculate inscription costs and prices
Every week, Gold Capped brings you tips on how to make money on the auction house. This article from inscription specialist Steve Zamboni has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. With its myriad of materials and finished items, inscription can be one of the more complicated professions for a crafter who's trying to track his expenses and profits (or even to know if he's made a profit at all). Herb prices have changed dramatically over the past several months, dropping to record lows as farming bots proliferate and climbing just as dramatically during the ban wave that followed. After months of being spoiled by a market overflowing with cheap herbs, many players stopped paying attention to what they were paying to make each item. Now that herb prices are climbing, it's left a number of sellers scrambling to reprice their items and to take a closer look at what they're paying for their supplies.
Gold Capped Ask an Auctioneer: My first mailbag
Every week, Gold Capped (from Basil "Euripides" Berntsen) aims to educate players about how to make money on the auction house. For the inside line on crafting for disenchanting, transmutation, cross-faction arbitrage and more, check in every Wednesday. Also, feel free to email Basil any comments, questions or hate mail! I've gotten quite the mail bag of questions emailed to me. I'm going to select a few and answer them approximately whenever I feel like it. Remember when writing your question that if you want to remain anonymous, all you need to do is ask! The first question comes to us from Mahgo, from Dath'Remar (US): I am emailing your for some advice regarding making gold on the auction house. I have most professions at max level. I currently use Auctioneer to undercut when I am selling what I make. Do you have any advice or could you please point me for some help regarding niche markets, or how to tackle the whole market?
This week on The MMO Report
Casey Schreiner is taking a trip away from the states. Well, not really, but this week's edition of the MMO Report is bringing us over to games developed quite a distance away. Specifically, it's looking at TERA and possible subsidization by the Korean government, as well as Final Fantasy XIV's ongoing beta. Which is almost as good as a trip, if you're fond of either one of those games. If they're not quite your cup of tea, however, you can always enjoy Casey's look at the Blizzard back-and-forth on the Real ID fiasco, or the management changes for Star Trek Online and what it might mean for the future of the game. And of course, there's the usual dip inside of the mailbag, for those who just can't get enough of that mailbag action. Take a look past the cut for the video, and stay tuned every week for a new edition of the MMO Report from G4TV and Massively.
Aion server merge mail and warehouse policies explained
Wringing your hands over the possibility of losing your mail (or more importantly, your account warehouse items) during the upcoming Aion server merges? Fear not, as Andrew "Tamat" Beegle is here to soothe your concerns. Well, technically he's on the official Aion website, checking in with a post that explains the details of the forthcoming merges in regards to item and mail transfers. "All mail will transfer over to your new server, including attachments. However, to eliminate any likelihood of anything going wrong with your mail and attached items, read and delete your mail, and store attached items in your inventory," Tamat says. "All items will be saved in the account warehouse, but you will not be able to access any items that do not fit within the account warehouse's 16-slot limit. Any items exceeding 16 are still stored in the account warehouse, but will remain invisible until some items have been moved to another storage space, such as a character's cube or warehouse," he continues. Read all about it on NCsoft's official Aion website.
Mail access being considered for mobile app
In a recent forums thread, European CM Vaneras confirmed that in-game mail access is being considered for the armory mobile app. It is of course far from being confirmed -- but still, in theory, if it were implemented, it could be handy, allowing people on the go to transfer items between bank alts, manage consumable distribution between characters and more. Vaneras also said that Blizzard is always researching new potential additions to their web and mobile services as well, which actually piques my interest even more. I'd personally love to see guild chat and in-game chat channels added to the mobile and web services. If I could use a messenger program to stay hooked in to my guild and my friends list even when I'm not playing, I'd be willing to throw a few extra bucks a month Blizzard's way.
Storyboard: Getting into the scene
So, I lied. While I had originally been planning on something different for this week's column, I had a new topic more or less thrown to my doorstep from Bio Break. It's all well and good to talk about roleplaying as if everyone has been doing it since small times, but there are plenty of players with a vague curiosity who have never tried it out. For them, roleplaying is like heroin, vaguely promising a good time while always seeming dangerous, with the failures so publicly visible that... You know, I'm dropping that analogy right now before it starts looking terrifyingly appropriate. The point is that people are interested who aren't sure quite where to start. Thus, we're taking this week to put together a few things that help make it just a little easier to get into the joy of roleplay without getting bored, unintentionally stepping on toes, or winding up as the butt of everyone's in-character jokes. We can be a catty bunch. But you can get started without drama or too many issues, and it's not as bad as you might think.
WoW Rookie: More tips, tricks and tidbits
New around here? We've got your back! See all our collected tips, tricks and how-to's for new players in the WoW Rookie Guide. Though I've been playing since open beta, there are still things that I stumble upon that I either didn't know or had forgotten. There are also many little conveniences that took me forever to figure out. So while these tips, tricks and tidbits say they are for rookies -- well, even long time veterans have a few holes in their knowledge of the workings of Azeroth. Lisa tackled some tips just a couple months ago, so I've scavenged in the comments there as well as in this guest breakfast topic. I am also going to touch on some subjects that come up a lot in the WoW.com guild, <It came from the Blog>. Built-in Talent Calculator If you, like me, have a tendency to click the wrong thing when choosing your talents, there is a way to set up a safety net. Just go to Game Menu (ESC), Interface, Features and click the Preview Talent Changes box. After that, you will be able to play with your talents a bit before accepting them.
The Light and How to Swing It: Wearing metal dresses
Every Sunday, Chase Christian of The Light and How to Swing It invites you to discuss the finer side of the paladin class: the holy specialization. This week, we discuss what's in store for our precious plate dresses in a post-mastery world. If you've been following along with Blizzard's release schedule for holy paladin information, it's clear that there are going to be some serious changes. Imagine if you rounded up the four healer classes of WoW side by side, in terms of playstyle and capability. I am certain that paladins would stand out in the lineup. Trying to normalize us into the universal healthcare -- I mean, universal healing system is going to be a difficult task. Because of this, it's not a surprise that the other three healer classes received their talent previews this week, while paladins are left wondering what's in store. The previews for the other classes show us that Blizzard intends to make nearly all caster gear come with spirit, while adding talents for the DPS casters to convert spirit to hit. I remember the complaints when healing power and spell damage were merged into spellpower, but I can say now that I think it was a great change. Not having to shard a piece of cloth gear with hit on it because none of the healers needed it will be a welcome change as well. All casters will be able to share gear with their fellow cloth/leather/mail wearers. The question is: Where does this leave holy paladins? We're still stuck sporting plate armor, and there are no other casters around to use the same gear.
UI changes in Apple's Mail beta
The surprise announcement of a beta version of Apple's browser-based MobleMe Mail has users curious about the service's future. While we await our invitations, we compared the only beta screenshot we've found to Mail's current appearance. Here's what we found, starting from the top. Toolbar The new toolbar is blue and features fewer icons. The Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, iDisk, Find and Settings icons currently on the far left have been replaced with a single MobileMe Cloud icon. Perhaps it produces a drop-down revealing the other services. It seems unlikely that Apple would release a public beta that's so incomplete so as not to include links to services beyond email, but it is a Mail beta, so Apple is likely focusing on the functioning of that service before providing links to the rest. Check out the gallery below for side-by-side screenshots. %Gallery-92975%
Apple issuing invitations for MobileMe Mail beta
An eagle-eyed reader spotted something new on his MobileMe account after the completed maintenance this evening -- an invitation to join a "mail beta" for MobileMe. What is this? We originally thought it could possibly be linked into the rumors that MobileMe may soon be free, but reader Beau quickly pointed us to a news post from Apple detailing a new MobileMe Mail beta application. Features include: The ability to have both widescreen and compact views. Rules to help keep mail organized on any device you use MobileMe. Note that any rules set up on the beta may override rules already in place on OS X Mail, so disable duplicate rules on your Mac before giving this a test drive. Single-click archiving of e-mail. Formatting toolbar including the ability to shorten long URLs. Improved performance for MobileMe Mail through me.com. SSL security no matter where you access your MobileMe Mail. The beta will work best with Safari 4, Firefox 3.6, and Internet Explorer 8. Additional information can be found on this support page. To get an invitation, sign into your MobileMe account through me.com and you'll see the invite in the bottom left corner. Please note that the beta is only available to English-language users of MobileMe at this time. Thanks to Moses for the tip!
The Diamond trade gets destroyed in Runes of Magic
There's an understandable problem with selling game currency in subscription games, where it's generally considered verboten for good reason. While some subscription games will sell you things in addition to the monthly fee, there's a general sense that you should earn your advantages. But in free-to-play games that have a cash shop allowing players to purchase items directly... well, the very idea of gold selling seems kind of silly. But it can happen, and Runes of Magic has experienced a bit of a problem of late with the trade of Diamonds (their cash shop currency) for gold. The game has traditionally treated the currencies as interchangeable insofar as players with lots of Diamonds and not enough gold could sell their excess to other players. Unfortunately, the current spate of RMT activities have called for draconian measures: they've taken away the ability to trade Diamonds for gold. They've also temporarily removed the ability to send gold through the mail. The official announcement stresses that this is a temporary measure to combat unacceptable behavior. While less gold spam is a good thing, fewer features are a negative, so this new is a mixed bag for Runes of Magic players.
Blockbuster details new Games By Mail rental system
Yesterday, we heard about beleaguered rental chain Blockbuster's attempt to yoink some of the video game rental market back from the hands of GameFly by implementing a new "Games By Mail" rental service. Today, we received more details: For an extra $7.99 plus tax on top of their standard monthly fees, Blockbuster Online subscribers will be able to rent one game at a time, which counts towards the total number of discs they're allowed to have out under their subscription plan. Fortunately, if you don't check out any games during the one-month billing period, you're not charged the extra eight bucks. For more details on the service -- which Blockbuster is currently testing in Cleveland, Ohio "with plans to expand this nationwide before the end of the year" -- check out the company's FAQ page.
MobileMe email aliases will be supported in iPhone OS 4
A reader has sent us a little tip that MobileMe email aliases are now supported in iPhone OS 4. Apple describes MobileMe email aliases as "nicknames" for your account. When you join MobileMe you have a primary user name/email address, but Apple also allows you to create five "nickname" aliases that you can send and receive email with. The advantage of this is that if you go to a site that requires you to register your email address to log in, but you're worried about getting spammed, you can create an email alias in MobileMe and use that new email alias as your email address. All emails sent to that alias show up in your primary account's inbox. If you suddenly start getting spammed, you can just delete the email alias and any emails sent to that old alias will not make it to your inbox. Aliases are also good for shopping sites or using as separate personal and professional email addresses. Since Apple introduced email aliases in MobileMe, you could always use them to send and receive email, but it had to be done in the Mac's desktop Mail client or on MobileMe's webmail site. It looks like you will also be able to send and receive emails from your MobileMe email addresses using the Mail app in iPhone OS 4.
iPhone OS 4.0: Unified inbox, threaded messaging and more
Apple announced today that the iPhone's Mail application is going to receive several new features as part of the iPhone OS 4.0 software to be released later this year (summer for iPhone/iPod touch and fall for iPad). The first big feature is the unified inbox. Finally, it will be possible to read all of your unread messages in one "pane" without having to navigate forwards/backwards between the many accounts on your device. As someone with 5 email accounts that I regularly check, this is a huge win. Multiple Exchange accounts means I can finally have both my work email (Exchange) and my personal email (Gmail) take advantage of Push functionality. Previously users were limited to using one Exchange account and unlimited IMAP accounts. This limitation has been removed. And there was much rejoicing. Additionally, fast inbox switching means it is easy and quick to focus in on a single mail account. Threaded messaging is another feature that has been asked for by many. If you have ever used Gmail's web client, then you are familiar with how this works. Essentially, messages that pertain to a single "chain" of emails (based on subject line) are grouped together. This greatly reduces a cluttered-feeling inbox and I recommend checking it out on your Mac using Mail.app by enabling the Threaded Messaging view. Now that the iPhone and iPad have become / are becoming huge winners in the productivity space, this next feature is going to be a welcome addition as well. The ability to open attachments with third-party apps is a great idea that I've only recently begun to feel as a regular need. I think this really helps to push the iPad towards true laptop-replacement status. That's all we've got so far on the new features in Mail coming with iPhone OS 4.0. Stay tuned as we continue to cover this monumental update to Apple's mobile operating platform.