[Excel] Useful Print Setting For Excel

We are going to look at quite simple but really useful Excel Print Setting. 

How to print the grid line?

How to print the column and row header?

How to repeat rows in top of every page? Specially if you like to print the header row.

How to repeat column in every page? 

Answer for all these questions is... 

1# Open up the Excel Document you want to print. 

2# Go to 'File. 

3# Go to 'Page Setup'. 

4# Select the options, rows, columns you want to repeat as you want. 

Read more...

[Help] How to take a QBasic Screenshot

This questions has raised by Munsih. Do you know any way to take Screenshots of running QBasic program. 

Simplest Method I can think of is running QBasic Programs in Virtual Machine Environment and use Print Screen button or simple Screenshot program to take the screenshots. 

I have not tried taking screen shot of QBasic Programs before and If you know better way please share with us.

Read more...

Uninstall Windows XP Service Pack3 Failed

Installing Windows Service Pack 3 was pretty straight forward and completed sucessfully. However, couple of programs I needed to run did not like Windows XP Service Pack 3 that much. SAP B1 is one of them. I had no option other than to uninstall Windows Service Pack to get things running on. 

Microsoft Website gives out 4 methods to uninstall it in their support document How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer. For some reason first 3 methods did not work for me. It was checking the requirements but when it comes to the uninstalling part it terminate saying files missing. 

I was too lazy to go through the method 4 and install a Windows XP again. Again I was stuck when it comes to the serial number as I have been using it already and had to call up Microsoft and get a new key.  

Not the best method to solve the issue but a easier way to solve it. If you have important data it is always good to back it up before you perform new installation of OS or upgrade or downgrade process. 

I would like to hear how Windows Service Pack 3 is been treating you? 

Read more...

[Basic] Copy and Paste via Notepad

Copy and Paste is one of the simplest thing you can do in a computer. CTR+C or select the area, right click, copy and CTR+V or right click and paste. I wish I could have done it in real life as I can keep a copy of the things I love with me. Why note pad come in between copy and paste?

One of the thin I have notice is if you are directly copy and paste something from a rich text, HTML content it will copy lot of other stuff that you do not want. For example, text decorations, font type, background colour, html tags, hyper links and there can be so many other stuff that you do not want. If you paste directly to a place that support rich text or html it will bring all these with it. If it is your email pasted part will look different to your original email content. If it is your blog copy and pasted part will have different font type, colour to you blog theme.

Notepad is the simplest solution to this. Notepad is not supporting rich text or HTML content. So it will drop all these background information that you copied and paste only the text. Then Copy the text again from the notepad and paste it on the place you want the content to be. In that way you will not copy any background information to your new location.

So next time when you do a copy and paste from rich text or HTML remember this simple hack to use the notepad in between to copy and paste only the text not the other information. Read more...

[Template] Blogger Template

This is the first blogger template Crazzycool have developed using the Minima (Full option) template. There are couple of features added to the basic template and make it so easy to change according to your needs.

Options added to the template.

1# Adding the rollover buttons and search option (Google Custom Search) top of the page before the header.

2# Divide the header column to two sections

3# Divide the bottom part of the side bar to two section while the top of the side bar remains as one.

4# Make it easy to change the colour of the template by adding each area to the font and colour section.

5# Keep it simple as possible.

6# Add a Header Image and Button Images to blogger.

If you are interested to use this template or to developed the template drop a comment or message via contact us. We would like to give the template and help for free.

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How to Hack Windows 7

This is a too bad to be true, Windows 7 can be easily hacked and there is no fix for it.  

In HITBSecConf2009 Viping Kumar (Founder nvLabs.in) demonstrated how easily Windows 7 can be attacked via boot sectors using Vbootkit 2.0. 

He demonstrated

The use of Vbootkit in gaining access to a system without leaving traces. 

Leveraging normal programs to escalate system privileges. 

Running unsigned code in kernel. 

Worst part of this kind of attack (Bootkits) is almost impossible to detect. Simplest Process of VBootkit 2.0 is

Hook INT 13 ( for disk reads)

Keep on patching files as they load

Hook onto next stage

Repeat the above process, till we reach the kernel,

then sit and watch the system carefully

Good thing about this attack is that you need physical access to the machine at the start of the attack. Which minimise the risk level. Also if other have physical access to your computer, operating system cannot provide any security to your compute. This kind of attack can be driven to other operating systems as well. 

What would Microsoft will do to prevent VbootKit attack before they release Windows7.

Source: HITBSecConf2009 - Dubai

Read more...

PC Vs MAC - What is the best?

This is nothing new but in the computer world you always have arguments ad campaigns from both Microsoft and Apple regarding this issue. First thing I do not understand is that is it a competition between Microsoft and Apple or PC and MAC. Even though it is called PC vs MAC it is more appropriate to call it as Microsoft Vs Apple. It is a competition with the two big brands and if you call it PC that does not mean it is only Microsoft.

What is the best? Microsoft or Apple? PC or MAC?

Windows is the best! NO Mac OS is much better than Windows! PC with Windows is cool and cheap! I am PC! I am MAC! Life without walls! MAC Vs PC!

This is just some of the things you hear every day. I like to work with a PC with Windows OS.

Why? MAC is much better than Windows and MAC has cute designs. It is always good for Microsoft and Apple to compare their products and increase the popularity.

When it comes to individuals it is just a matter of affordability, usability and your personal opinion. More than anything else for me it really matters how well I can operate, troubleshoot, customize and how well it suite for the requirements that changes every day. At the end of the day you will get what you have paid.

Whats is your preference? MAC or PC? MAC OS, Windows or anything else? I would like to hear your opinion.

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Gmail PowerPoint and TIFF file viewing

Too lazy to download Power Point (PPT) and TIFF files from Gmail? Now Gmail allows you to view them straight from the web browser without downloading them to the local computer. Next time when you receive a power point slide show you will have two options view and download from your Gmail.

Following file types have direct view facilities with Gmail.

PDF

PPT

TIFF

WORD can be open from Google Docs.

What else you would like to be added to this list?

Official Gmail Blog: PowerPoint and TIFF file viewing Read more...

[Windows] Install Windows XP on Server

Challenge: Install Windows XP on a server machine that originally dose not support Windows XP. 

                   Server Machine was HP ProLiant ML310 G4 Server                   

Problem: You cannot find the right drivers for Windows XP. In this case it could not find the                              Network card drivers. 

Result:    No Internet and cannot communicate with other computers in the Local area network.

Fix: Even though the drivers are not available in the original CD or the web page for the Server, there are drivers for all the versions of Windows if you search for individual component. 

If you check the product page you can find out the individual component and Google for the drivers for the component.  For example the network card is Broadcom NetXtreame Gigabite Ethernet and it will take you to the Broadcom website which has drivers for Windows XP and all the other OS.

You can always try this trick on refine your search to find what you want out of Internet. I would like to hear your stories.

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[Outlook] Outlook 2003 Startup

Outlook is one of the commonly use email client program in business world. However, I am not sure how many individuals use it. So lets start Outlook2003 from scratch. After successful installation when you run Outlook2003 for the first time it will take you through a configuration process.

Click 'Next' to go to next window.

If you have already using Outlook Express it might give a upgrade option which will upgrade old configurations to suite Outlook 2003. If there is not any old email program select 'Do not upgrade' and click 'Next'.

Next window you can decide whether you want to configure email account or not. Select 'Yes' and click 'Next' to configure email account.

Select the Server Type.

(What is? ) Microsoft Exchange Server

(What is? ) POP3 email server

(What is? ) IMAP email server

(What is? ) HTTP email server

Base on your requirements select the email server you required. If you have your own email server from a web hosting company they will provide you the server details you required for the configuration.

Gmail POP3 email Settings

Gmail IMAP Settings

Hotmail POP3 Settings (Microsoft Live)

After applying the configuration correctly click finish to exit from the process. Now Outlook2003 is ready to use. This is a very basic post and I am happy to see your problems and hacks related to outlook in the comments.

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Oracle and Sun Micro System - What is the next version of Java

Oracle Corp (ORCL.O) plans to buy Sun Micro systems Inc (JAVA.O) for more than $7 billion. Both are two main players in the computer world. 

How this going to affect the Oracle products and Sun Micro systems products? Specially Sun gives out many free services and one thing we cannot forget is JAVA. Are they going to be unchanged?

Anyway these kind of news always affect the share market.

Read more...

[Windows XP] How to change system language

Changing the system language is some what tricky in Windows XP. You will face this problem if you get a computer from another country which already set up the system language to some thing else than what you use.

#1 Change the language settings from Control Panel

Go to Control Panel
Double click Regional and language options
In all three tabs change the Language to language you prefer
Restart the computer

Most of the time this will not work.

#2 Install Windows XP from scratch.

Backup the content if there is any important data and reinstall the windows XP and the system language should be back to normal. Read more...

Domain Parking and Making Money

#1 What is Domain Parking?

Domain parking is a simple process to redirect unused domain names to a default page hosted by domain registrar. Most of the time the default  page will display relevant advertisements and share the revenue with the domain owner. Domain parking has become a simple and effective way to make money out of your unused domain names.  

#2 Why you should park domains?

Following is the couple of reasons that I can think of why you should park your domains. 

   Bought a new domain and still developing the idea

   Stopped a web service been provided but still there is time to expire the domain.

   Buying large number of domain names as a investment

   

In any of the above situations you can use the domain parking service and make some money while you sleep.  

#3 Where can you park domains?

Normally most of the domain registrars provide the facility to park domains and they share the revenue with domain owner. Couple of best domain parking services I have been using Google AdSense for Domain and Sedo.co.uk. 

#4 Optimize Parked Domains

How can you make more money out of parked domains? Simplest answer is optimize it. However domain parking services have strict rules for optimizing parked domains. Revenue is base on how many clicks on the sponsored links. More visitors more clicks you would get. More clicks more money you would gain. Similar to Google AdSense.

Most of the cases parked domains are not allowed to

       link with other websites to bring traffic

       join in any sort of advertising programs to bring traffic

       give links in mass email outs

       ask other to click on sponsored links

Always traffic need to be coming from natural sources. Best situation you would make good money out of domain parking is when you park a used domain which is getting traffic from various sources. The domain name it self is optimized to bring traffic would generate fare bit of traffic. 

Domain parking service provide option to provide couple of key words related to the domain. The keyword should be selected carefully as it will play major role in converting the visitor to click on a sponsored link. Most of the time visitor who typed the URL is looking for the similar key words and if visitor sees the similar link or related search then chances are high to click on a ad. 

Some provide domain parking templates and choose the best suitable template to suit the keyword and domain name. 

Always think domain parking is there to bring some extra money from unused domains. Do not spend lot of time on making big money out of domain parking. If your domain name itself can bring traffic you will always make good money out of domain parking

Read more...

New in Gmail Labs: Suggest more recipients

Do you have a large contact list in your Gmail? Is it hard to select the recipients? How many times you have missed important people when you send group email?

New Gmail lab feature will sugest you recipients while composing messages. This is what Gmail has to say about this new Lab feature.

"Once you've enabled it from the Labs tab under Settings, you'll see suggested recipients while composing messages. Gmail will suggest people you might want to include based on the groups of people you email most often. So if you always email your mom, dad, and sister together, and you start composing a message to your mom and dad, Gmail will suggest adding your sister. Enter at least two recipients and any suggestions will show up like this:"

Official Gmail Blog: New in Labs: Suggest more recipients Read more...

Blogger Template Hack - How to upload Image

Normally it is a quite simple process to upload image to your website if you have FTP or File upload access to the server that host your website. Blogger does not support uploading external files or images. List of possible way to upload an image to blogger template.

1. Have your own web server with FTP or File uploading facility.

This is not a good option for someone who just started blogging or cannot afford or do not have a own web server. If you are planing to rent a server that can be done at a very low cost. 

Upload image to your server ( your blog is not host in this server) and give a link to the image.

 

2. Upload Images to Free Image server. (Best Solution)

Picasa Web Album is the best place to upload your images. Blogger is using Picasa is the default image hosting for blog post images. Upload the background images and button images to Picasa Web Album and provide the link to that file. It is free and reliable.

On the right hand side you can find the image link details and how to embed the image to a website information. Another option is to change the size of the image from a drop down menu.

Simply copy the Link to the CSS background property. There couple of more free image hosting services out there. 

Read more...

Blogger Template Hacks - Change the colours and fonts easily

As I mentioned in the previous post I was going through the blogger blog templates to do some changes. This is something I have notice in the templates.

This hack will be useful to people who create Blogger templates. This will provide people who use your blog template user friendly way to change font, font colours and background colours as they want without accessing the HTML code.

After log in to Blogger account, under the Layout tab Font and Colours will provide you a easy interface to change font, font colour and background colour. When you create a template you can provide as many areas as you want.

How to add new property to the list.

This is a quite simple process and you just need to change CSS and add a new variable to the template as you required.

For example I am going to add background colour variable to column-wrapper(Side bar). Next time I will be able to select a different colour to my side bar without going to Edit HTML or figuring out the hex decimal code for the colour.

1. Go to Layout and then go to Edit Html.

2. Find the CSS for the column-wrapper.

3. Add the following line inside the column-wrapper.
background-color:$coloumnwrapperbgcolour;

background-color: is the CSS property for background.

$coloumnwrapperbgcolour; is the variable we will going to define next.

4. Scroll up until you find the place it defined the variables. Normally you can find it top of the page. Add the following line

<Variable name="coloumnwrapperbgcolour" description="Column Rapper Bg Colour"

type="color" default="#fff" value="#35556a">

Variable name should be same as the variable used in step 3

description you need provide a unique description to each variable you define. It need to be something you would understand later as this is going to be display in the list.

type in this case type will be color. If the variable is about font type would be font.

5. Click Save template. After it successfully updated go to Fonts and Colours.

Now you can easily update the Custom Blogger Bg Colour by just couple of clicks. You can apply it to other CSS properties you would think will be help.

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Google Image Search - Filter By Colours

Did you notice that Google image search has improve its intelligence. Now it is capable of identifying the image colour. You can filter the image result by colour. That means Google is capable of reading some information from the picture. Quite interesting option 

For example if you search for shirt, you can filter the search result by choosing one of the nine colours available. It is working. Try your self. 

Before Applying colour filter.

After Filtering Apply 

What do you guys think?

Read more...

[Trick] Promote your Blog via GMail

This is simple trick to promote your website or blog using one  of GMail Lab features. If you have a website  or blog I am pretty sure you are using a link to your blog or website. 

Tip: It is always effective to send out different links with your email to your Friends as they wont be boring seeing the same link all the time. 

Lets see how we can add a link to a random post from your blog or website to your email signature

Gmail Lab Feature: Random Signature, Signature tweaks

*Log in to your GMail account. 

*Go to the Gmail Lab Page.

*Find the Random Signature and Signature tweaks.

*Enable both labs.

*Click Save Changes and Gmail will reload. 

*Go to Settings 

*Go to General

*Under signature select the signature box and type you name and other information you would like to display in your email. 

*Then check the check box Append a random signature from feed and add the feed URL to your blog or website. 

* click "Save Changes"

This is add random links to your post with the title from your RSS feed. Simple but quite effective method to add a random link to your signature from your blog or web

Read more...

[Blogger] Few Blogger hacks you would love

During the  long week end thought of doing some changes to the blog. Went through couple of major changes and couple of minor changes. I thought of sharing the links and information regarding the changes.

List of changes done blogger blog

1.Add a logo to the blog

This is a quite simple and straight forward process if you already have a logo. 

*Log in to your blogger account 

*Go to Layout

*Go to Page Element

*Click on the Edit link on the Header

*Choose the logo file by clicking the browse button. 

 

*Under Placement you will have two option to keep the Title and the Description or Just the picture. If you are adding logo it is always better to use the second option "Instead of title and description.

 

2.Add a favicon 

Favicon play a major role when it comes to branding your blog. Tips for new blogger gave me a good guide for adding the favicon. 

Make sure you create a 16x16 pixel icon and upload your icon to picasa web  Album and then follow the instructions

 

3.Divide the blogger header in to two areas.

This is a quite interesting and bit risky part. As you can see you work on the html and css (template). It is always recommend to backup your template before you start splitting your header into two.

How To Split Your Blogs Header Into Two Widgets is a step by step guide explained clearly divide the blogger header into two areas where you can add two widgets by LawnyDesignz. 

4. Divide the side bar into two 

Create A 3 Column Blogger Template With 2 Right Columns from LawnyDesignz will provide you a better guidance and information through out this process. 

As you can see if you looking for great hacks tricks and tweks you can find many from  LawnyDesignz and Tips for new blogger blogs.

Read more...

[Basic] why do you need to zip a file?

Zip is a simple and common process to reduce the size of a files or collection of file. As a result of the zip it will create a new file smaller than the original file or the total size of the files. When you zip a large file it reduced up to 80% of size of the original file size. However some of graphic files can be compressed to only a few,because it's already used compression. Also compression is not highly effective for small files.

Simple steps to zip a file using Microsoft windows XP (or Windows Vista) standard Zip File
1. Right click on the folder which you need to zip
You can select a group of files you need to zip and right click as well.
2. select "send to" and click on "Compressed (zipped) Folder.
3. then you can see the new zip file with the same filename.zip

steps to unzip a file
1. right click on the file which you want to unzip and select extract or extract here.
2. then you can see the extracted file with the same name.

advantages of zipping files.
1.when you email a file it reduces the time to attach and transfer
2.when you download ,it will be faster
3.it will save your space of the hard disk
4.Easy to send a collection of files via email, ftp or through websites like yousendit as you only need to send one file instead of couple of files.

There are lot of free and paid software to compress files. What would be the best software to use. It depends on your requirement.
For example if you are trying to send some files to your friend.

1. You need to consider about the compatibility.
That means if you used really good compression tool but if your friends does not have it your friend will not be able to unzip the file. You always need to use a standard (common) and better file compress tool to zip your files.

2. Mention the Software name and the link to download the software. So in any case your friend does not have the software he can install it.

If you are planning to archive your files and save space. Always better to use software that compress the files well and you need to make sure compression process did not corrupt your files. Before you delete the original file unzip the sipped files and randomly check the files are in good condition.

Softwares Available for Compress files

WinZip Download WinZip

WinRar Download WinRAR

What do you use to compressfiles?

Read more...

[Gmail] Save your Girl friend Use Gmail Sender Timezone Lab

Gmail Sender time zone lab feature helps you to see the email sender is reachable or not by simply enabling this new lab feature.

So this is the example Gmail blog is giving out

"Let's say your girlfriend sends you an angry email. It's mostly about how you behaved at the party last night and then left for a business trip without saying goodbye. You read it from the other side of the globe, jet-lagged after a 12 hour flight. You want to call and sort things out, but forget that it's now almost 3:00 am her time. After waking her up, things only get worse."

Do you think this lab feature is useful? If so better hurry up and enable it and avoid annoying phone calls to people at the other end.

Official Gmail Blog: New in Labs: Sender time zone Read more...

Real time Vs Non-real time web statistics

If you are running a website or blog web statistics play a big role measuring your success as well as planing the future of your blog or website. Most of the cases you might like to see the real time statics of your website. That is quite natural even though it can waste lot of your valuable time.

This problem can be solved by two simple web statistic programs. Non-real time web statics can easily tracked and analyse from Google Analytics. I do not have to describe more about it as there are lot of good tutorials as well as it is quite simple and easy to use tool for anyone.

When it come to real time we statistics only thing you need to know is how many users are using your website at any given time. Also it would be great to know which page they are in and where are they coming from. These statistics can be easily display on you website by using whosread.com Click on get you own counter and insert it in to your website or blog and it will start showing the real time statistics when ever you go to your website.

In that way check real-time statistics without wasting time. You can detect the sudden changes by using whosread.com and analyse the statistics by using the Google Analytics.

Read more...

What is Conflicker Worm

Simplest definition is it is a computer worm that can harm your computer and recently most of the anti virus companies warn about Conflicker worm. Before going in to more details you should download the simple Conflicker Worm removal tool from Symentic website and run a scan to check whether your machine is infected with the virus.

Three simple steps you should take to prevent any attack from Conflicker Worm.

1. Install a proper antivirus and anti-spyware software.

2. Update your antivirus and anti-spyware definition files to the latest available.

3. Update your Windows to the latest security patch.

Not only to prevent Conflicker worm but to prevent from any virus or worm these three steps will be a great practice.

Read more...

[LIST] Do you keep these softwares with you

Computers are making our lives simple and things easier. On the other hand computers add more complicated issues to your day today life in a different way.

Five type of software you should keep with you. 

1. Web Browser
         FireFox Portable Edition- Download FireFox Portable Edition 
         GhostZilla Browser (Invisible Browser)- Download GhostZilla / More Info
   
   
2. Operating System
         Slax (modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system) - Download Slax/More Info about Slax 
         Windows Bootable CD
         
   
3. Antivirus and AntiSpyware Program
          AVG Antivirus Software - Download AVG
          Ad-Aware Antispyware - Download Ad-Aware
   
   
4. Windows Password Recovery Software
         Windows XP Password Recovery CD - Download the Live CD/How to Recover Password
         Windows Vista Password Recovery CD - Download the Live CD/
   
   
5. System optimization, privacy and cleaning tool
          CCleaner - Download CCleaner

Download and keep a copy of the above free software in you USB memory stick and in CDs will come handy in many cases. Do you  keep any other free softwares? 

Read more...

[Hardware] How to check RAM Speed and Type

I am really poor in computer hardware side. I am too lazy to open up the machine and check what type of RAM (DDR/DDR2/DDR3) do my computer has and whats the Speed. These facts are really important when you really want to upgrade RAM. It should compatible with the motherboard and other Memory Cards you already use in your computer to make your upgrade effective.

One way of checking the RAM type, Model and the speed is to remove the cover of your computer and take the existing RAM module and take it to the shop or to note down the model number and the type which is printed on the module.

If you have the Motherboard manual that is another good place to check compatible RAM modules and upgrade limits. You can always refer to online manual by just Googling the model number of your computer. however, if you assemble your computer it will not have a model number you can refer to.

There is small piece of software that can be used to check more details about your motherboard and RAM. That is called cpuz. it is quite small program and you do not have to install it as it can be directly run from a external memory device.

Download cpuz version 1.50. Only thing you need to do is to double click and after couple of seconds it will show you all the details about your motherboard and the RM modules. You can use it to research a bit about it and figure out the best suite RAM module for you. Read more...

[Windows Error]The description for Event ID ( 7 ) in Source ( Disk ) cannot be found

Computer slows down and couple of programs such as Internet Explorer and Outlook start crashing most of the time. In the Event log it keeps on giving the following error.


Error
The description for Event ID ( 7 ) in Source ( Disk ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: \Device\Harddisk0\D.

It seems like the Hard Drive is having some issues such as bad sectors or it may die sooner.

First Step - Back up
Back up all the important information you have to a external device such as DVD, External Hard drive or a online storage.


Second Step - Hard drive error Checking
Right click on the Hard Drive that you are having issues with. Most of the case it will be the Hard Drive that Windows is installed. Select Properties and then go to Tools. Under Error Checking Press "Check Now" Button.


It will open a small windows.


Select Automatically Fix File System Errors and Scan for and attempt to recovery of bad sectors.
and then click start.


Most probably you will get the message saying


The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows file on the disk.


Click Yes so it will start when you restart your computer next time.


Restart the computer and it will start checking the file system. It may take some times.


I will update the result as it finish error checking.
(Update)
Acctually after the second step it fix the
"The description for Event ID ( 7 ) in Source ( Disk ) cannot be found" error.
Read more...

Gmail turns 5

Happy Birth Day Gmail!!! Thank you very much for keeping the inbox simple and providing all the complex tools and functionalities.

Five years ago yesterday, Gmail starting giving people a gig. What started as an internal tool for Google employees is now used by tens of millions of people around the world in 52 languages.

Official Gmail Blog: Gmail turns 5 Read more...

[New in Labs] Gmail search made easier (and lazier)

Gmail is always able to take the experience with emails to the next level. Sometimes it is just a small change that makes a big difference. Started with 1GB storage space for your emails and search facility to search your emails. They have added a small feature to search to make us bit lazier and easier. This is what Gmail has to say about their new feature.

"On the Gmail team, we believe finding the right email among thousands of messages can be as important as finding the right web page across the billions of web pages out there. So with the aim of making search in Gmail easier, we built a new experimental feature in Gmail Labs: Search Autocomplete. Turn on Search Autocomplete from the Labs tab under Gmail Settings, and you'll get suggestions as you type in the search box. One of the most popular searches in Gmail is for names or email addresses, so the first kind of suggestions you'll see are contacts. Some names are not easy to remember (my last name is an excellent example!) — with this new Labs feature you can just type a couple letters and select the desired contact from the drop down list. Easy and quick as that."

Official Gmail Blog: New in Labs: Gmail search made easier (and lazier) Read more...