WebProNews

Gmail is consistently rolling out new features for your emailing pleasure. Just a few months ago Gmail added some keyboard shortcuts and some new buttons to make labeling simpler. Today, Gmail is adding even more to their labeling arsenal.

In regards to email, are you a label or folder fan? Tell us.



New labels location

With the upgrade to Gmail you'll notice that your labels have a new home. Instead of your labels having their own section, now they've been grouped with your Inbox, Drafts, Chats and other "default" labels.

New label features

Gmail now only shows you the labels you use the most, and automatically hides the rest. If you ever find yourself needing a label that is hidden by Gmail just simply hit the "more" link to see the rest.

Gmail adds drag and drop

I do believe this is going to become one of my new favorite features of Gmail. It will allow me greater Inbox maintenance. Drag and drop essentially does the same thing as "Move to", with fewer steps. In addition to moving messages, you now have the ability to drag labels onto messages.



The best part about the labels is that with the new changes they're becoming more folder like... and we all know about folders vs. labels argument. In regards to folders vs. labels, Todd Jackson, Gmail Product Manger, told WebProNews the following...

"An interesting aspect of this launch is how it relates to the folders vs. labels question. We've always felt that labeling and searching are the easiest and most efficient methods for navigating email - yet we still had users who wanted folder-like functionality. This new version of Labels offers the best of both worlds, largely removing the need for a labels vs. folders debate."

With the new changes to the labels within Gmail this means the end of Right-side Labels. A post on the Gmail blog explains the reasoning for the early lab retirement...

"This is the first Labs feature we're retiring. (The idea behind Labs was always that things could break or disappear at any time or they might work so well that they become regular features. More on that soon...) Now that labels aren't in their own little box and take up much less space, moving them around the screen didn't seem as important. We realize quite a few of you used and liked Right-side Labels, so if you feel strapped for left nav screen real estate without it, try turning on Right-side Chat in Labs instead."

So, how do you feel about the new changes? Tell us.