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Google just added IMAP support to GMail a few days ago. My personal account was upgraded but I am still waiting for my Google for your domain account to upgrade. Right after I installed leopard, I setup my Apple Mail to connect to my Gmail account using IMAP (setup instructions)

[If you can't see the video, click here]

The good thing about this setup is that my tasks and notes are synced with my gmail account. It is not a perfect sync, since they just show up as messages in my “All Mail” folder labeled with Apple-specific labels.

One thing that bothered me, is the constant sync message that keeps popping up as I worked on notes and/or tasks. I am not sure what’s going on here… any ideas?

I have always used Microsoft Outlook on my PC because everything is integrated in one place, calendar, tasks, email, contacts and notes. Initially, I contemplated moving over to an all-apple (and Gmail) solution, but until they figure out all these sync messages and when Gmail adds true support for tasks and notes, I am going to have to wait. Plus, Entourage 2008 beta is looking really good(screenshots).

[updated]

Here is a quick video that shows you how to properly associate your trash, spam, drafts and sent folders with the correct Gmail folders when using IMAP

[If you can't see the video, click here]

Question: why isn’t Apple Mail called iMail?

While using a service to host files for sharing is almost necessary for many Internet users today, it can be a major pain–you may lose quality if your files get compressed; things may get disorganized; you may want to share several files at once, but don’t want to send out several links for each one; the list goes on. But using TechSmith Screencast may eradicate some of these annoyances.

Screencast’s file hosting service is designed specifically for file sharing. Once you sign up and upload a few files you can organize them by storing them in folders or playlists. You can then define who you want to share a file with and send them invites. If you want to send several files you can share an entire folder. When you’re ready to delete your files you can delete them one by one or delete a folder and all its contents. You can also delete a playlist without deleting the files associated with it.

With Screencast your files won’t be compressed, encoded, or altered in any way. Your files will only be shared with the people you want to share them with, and you can share media for portable devices or allow people to subscribe to your content via an RSS or iTunes feed.

Screencast offers three levels of subscription–a Basic account provides 25 GB of storage and bandwidth at $6.95/month; a Plus account provides 50 GB of storage and bandwidth at $12.95/month; a Premium account provides 100 GB of storage and bandwidth at $24.95/month. If you purchase your account by the year you’ll save 17%. The 60 day trial account is free and provides 200 MB of storage and 1 GB of bandwidth.

Screencast definitely seems to be better than the average file hosting service, which is why it comes at a cost. If you use Camtasia Studio or Jing you can upload files directly to Screencast from those programs. Plus, TechSmith will extend its users’ trial Screencast accounts for the duration of the Jing Project. Sign up for Screencast at www.screencast.com.

Read about the Jing Project here.

So you already share your files using TechSmith Screencast, but you wish you could do more with it? Well you could buy TechSmith SnagIt to capture screen images and Camtasia Studio to capture screen videos; or you could just use Jing, which does either in a few easy steps.

To use Jing you first have to download and install it. Whenever you’re ready to do a screen capture, run it and select what you want to share. Decide whether you want to capture an image or a video and Jing will capture whatever you have selected. After you’re done you can edit and preview your capture before saving or sharing it. You will be asked to log-in to or create a Screencast account and the URL of the file will be saved to your Clipboard once the file is uploaded. You can then share it with whomever you want.

I see Jing being very helpful to people who make tutorials, as it removes several of the steps involved in making a tutorial manually. Plus, since editing tools have been built in, a video tutorial can be shared instantly.

While Jing is a TechSmith project, they’re not exactly sure what to call it yet. It’s a concept that will be further developed based on the feedback received from users. It is currently free to use, making it a great alternative to SnagIt and Camtasia Studio, and users will be granted free trial extensions with Screencast for the duration of the Jing Project. Knowing all that, I definitely say that Jing is win. Get it at www.jingproject.com.

Read about Screencast here.