Using Gmail on a Mac? Then you may already know about Mailplane — if not, and you’re looking for an email client to use with Gmail, Mailplane is worth a look. The standalone software integrates seamlessly with multiple Gmail accounts and can make email wrangling far less of a chore. Version 2.1 is fresh out of beta and adds useful features like support of offline Gmail using Gears and image insertion within the text of your mail. Don’t forget that Google recently added a feature allowing you to tame your offline email — you can specify which folders appear offline and how much of that mail you really want to tote around. Also included in this release is support for multiple rich text email signatures.

Mailplane is $24.95, although this upgrade is free to all Mailplane 2.0 users and there is a free 30-day trial available. Still not sure what this setup adds over Gmail in a browser? Have a look at the two-minute walk-through for a better idea. Although I prefer a browser over most third-party apps, Mailplane is one of the few exceptions in my personal toolbox.

After spending a few minutes with it, I see that it supports Google Calendar as well. Lifehacker mentions that all of the mobile Google sites and services should work with this implementation, but I’m only getting the Calendar functions to work right now. Maybe my app has a flat and ran out of AIR? Regardless, it does work for Tasks so chalk this up as an option to running tasks in a browser .

I’m a sucker for nearly every kind of data synchronization tool on the planet — case in point: today’s news of Mozilla’s Weave Sync add-on beta for browser data. So when I read on Lifehacker that Microsoft updated their SyncToy power tool to version 2.1, I had to share the details. SyncToy generally does one thing, but it does it well: it replicates files and folders from one place into another. Using Echo mode, you replicate files on the left to files on the right, while the Synchronize mode syncs data in both directions. A third mode, Contribute, copies from left to right, but doesn’t delete any data.

Version 2.1 of the free tool doesn’t add much new functionality, but does include new features:

• Better Performance: The speed of file copy operations is significantly increased across the board.
• Improved Robustness: Much more resilient to transient network and file system errors and better error reporting which pin-points which file the sync failed on in case there’s a fatal error that stops the sync.
• Folder pair configuration backup: Folder pair configuration is automatically backed up under %localappdata%\microsoft\synctoy\2.0. User can replace SyncToyDirPairs.bin with the backup copy to resolve last saved configuration.
• Fixed the data corruption issue when using SyncToy with NAS drives.
• Fixed the issue that prevented uploading files to SharePoint when using SyncToy 2.0.
• Fixed the issue that prevented delete changes from being synchronized when the sync option is set to “Echo”
• Fixed the UI issue where reported file time were off by the difference between local time and UTC when destination is a FAT volume.

The free SyncToy is avaialble directly from Microsoft and is supported on Windows XP, Vista and 7. I have it installed on my netbook and use it to keep audio files in sync between the Windows XP and Windows 7 partitions.

New in this first beta is more speed and relevance in the Awesome Bar, a simpler approach to getting started and incremental synchronization. Although I gravitate towards the Safari and Chrome browsers on my computers, I installed Firefox this morning and then added the Weave Sync add-on. Since I haven’t used Firefox in a long while, I asked Weave to replace the old data on the server with the fresher data from my current browser. All told, I think I spent 30 seconds configuring Weave. I then started typing a URL in the Awesome Bar and immediately saw the speed of the new Weave beta — as I typed the URL, the history of my prior visits to that URL and related URLs appeared instantaneously. And this was on a completely fresh installation of Firefox — most impressive! I had to sign in to the website I was looking for and Weave handled that as well.

My first impressions are very positive and the Mozilla team should be proud of their work to this point. It was a long time coming, but Weave is looking like a very solid web synchronization platform right now — it’s simple to use from and end-user perspective, it’s fast, and it helps replicate the web experience across many devices. And by many devices, I mean mobile devices too — Weave is meant for Fennec, which is Mozilla’s mobile version of Firefox for handsets and Internet Tablets. Think about that for a second: all of your bookmarks, cookies, passwords and more from the computer will be seamlessly available on a Nokia N900, for example.

If you’re using Firefox 3.5 or greater on more than one computer, I recommend taking a look at the Weave Sync add-on. It’s blazingly fast and highly useful. I’m not sure it’s enough to get me off of Google Chrome — which I still find faster, but is far less customizable — although I may give Firefox another shot in my day-to-day web work. After all, Mozilla just made it easy for me to switch — all of my personal browsing data is already in Firefox, so there’s no transition time involved.

Here’s a handy Ubuntu tweak that simulates one of my favorite Windows 7 features: Aero Snap. This is the user interface feature that automatically resizes application windows when you drag an app to edge of your workspace. Drag a window to the top and it snaps into a maximized view. Move an app to the left or right edge and it automatically resizes to take up half of your space. It’s one of those features that I originally thought I wouldn’t use, but I find that I hit a several times a day when using Windows 7. Like registry bloat, it grows on you.

Besides having a killer name, OMG! UBUNTU! has the specifics on how to enable this feature in Ubuntu. The directions look pretty straight-forward — you essentially need to enable Compiz and then tweak a few commands in the Compiz Config Settings Manager. The downsides? Lifehacker says you won’t be able to drag windows into other workspaces, which sort of makes sense since you’d be dragging beyond the edge of your primary workspace. And windows might get fluky on a secondary monitor. Neither of these would keep me from making the mod, but I don’t have Ubuntu on anything at the moment. My poor netbook is already dealing with a triple-boot environment with Windows XP, Windows 7 and Moblin. Adding Ubuntu would probably blow up the device.

I have demonstrated Parallels Desktop on the Mac that I use to run Windows 7 alongside OS X. A new version of Parallels Desktop, version 5, was released yesterday and among many new features offers better Snow Leopard and Windows 7 support. One of the new features of Parallels Desktop for Mac v.5 is the Crystal mode, which allows the Windows 7 environment to be “hidden” while running. In the video I demonstrate how this works, and show the ability to run Windows programs like Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer on the Mac desktop.

One of my mobile mantras — No. 4, actually — is to turn off wireless radios and work offline when I can. Solutions like Google’s Gears allows for that approach, but sometimes you don’t need your entire mailbox with you when you’re offline. Starting today, you get a little more control.

Google has now implemented a way to choose which mail you want to use offline with Gmail. Now you can tell Gears to only pull down mail from specific labels and from certain time periods. Only want your Inbox and two other labels from the past week? No problem. Once you have Gmail setup for offline use, just hit the Offline tab in Settings to pick and choose.

When it was known as FolderShare prior to its change to Live Sync, it was a must-have service for me — it offered one of the easiest and effective ways to sync data between multiple devices. The features are still pretty solid:

• Sync up to 20 folders with a maximum of 20,000 files each
• Folders can personal or shared with others
• Integration with Windows Live ID
• Integration with the Recycle Bin
• Remote file access to powered-on computers with the Live Sync software running.

Mac OS X 10.6.x users can grab the free software directly from Microsoft.

The original REDFLY I looked at paired with Windows Mobile phones to simply extend the display and keyboard. My evaluation proved to me that it was perfect for those times when I needed to do more extensive data entry, such as long email responses. It was also a good tool for working with spreadsheets and Word documents, something I wouldn’t even try on a phone.

The folks at Celio, makers of the REDFLY, have produced a version of the little laptop that work with some BlackBerry phones. There is a good fit with this REDFLY, given the focus of the BlackBerry on strong messaging features. I can see how the ability to connect the BlackBerry to a notebook-like device could be a good tool for those trying to travel as light as possible. I’ll soon know for certain, as the folks at Celio are sending over a REDFLY for me to try with the BlackBerry. That means you’ll soon know for certain too, as I will share that whole experience with you. Until then, refresh your memory of the REDFLY with the video overview I shot of the original version.

Google Chrome’s bookmark sync has come a long way since I last looked at it. The latest Windows beta build now offers bookmark sync, which by itself may not sound glamorous. But at the tail end of the video demonstration it gets a bit more interesting. If you have multiple computers signed in to Google, adding a bookmark on one computer adds it to the other in a near-real-time fashion. Google is leveraging the XMPP servers it uses for Google Talk to make the magic happen. That’s pretty clever since the first word in IM is “instant.”

While the new bookmark sync feature is welcome, it’s only part of the puzzle. Cookies, passwords, and more is what users will expect. Browser and search history are likely desirable bits of data too, but Google offers the option to provide the search history, regardless of browser.

I’d expect most of these additional sync points to be worked out in time for the Chrome OS — the platform is meant to power companion computers, and what better devices would benefit from an immersive browser sync experience?

Although Google didn’t mention this in their blog post, I noticed something interesting when I performed an initial sync: Google is also leveraging Google Docs for the bookmark data. The sync completion screen tipped me off, so of course I had to go look in my Google Docs account. Sure enough, there’s a folder structure there, complete with my shortcuts.

I can’t seem to do much with the bookmarks there — other than click them to go to a favorite site, that is. But I’m wondering if there will be a way to manage or add bookmarks from within Google Docs. It would be a simple way to get at or manipulate bookmarks on a computer that doesn’t have Chrome installed.

Want to use the bookmark sync feature? Grab the latest Windows beta of Chrome and get syncing!

Set up a comfortable home office. This sounds very basic but it is so important to the home work experience that it’s worth noting. A home office that works well doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be ergonomic and conducive to long work sessions. If you work in front of a computer like I do, the computer screen(s) simply must be at an ergonomic angle for viewing. This simple step can prevent a sore, rigid back and neck at the end of those long work days. It is also important to make sure the keyboard is at the proper height for long-term usage. In my case I have a desk with a proper keyboard slide-out tray, and that is incredibly important. Many people do their work on laptops, and it’s just as important to have the notebook at not only the proper height but also a good angle for typing.

Make sure your home office has very good lighting. We all like low, mood lighting but it’s not good for a working environment. I find an office with bright lights can keep my eyes focused on the task at hand, and prevent tired eyes at the end of a long work day.

No TV. Maybe I am just lacking discipline, but I cannot have a TV in my work space. It is too easy to fall into the “well, I am at home” trap and having a TV is killer for me. It’s too easy for me to set out to just catch the news on the TV and then get distracted. It is vitally important to treat working at home just like working in an office, and that usually doesn’t involve the TV.

Make a separate work zone. It is crucial for the home worker to keep work and home life separate. It can be very tough to do but is vitally important, especially if you have a family at home. If your work zone is in the middle of the living space, it’s too easy to slip into thinking about work when it’s not appropriate. It is also a good thing to keep distractions to a minimum when working. Keep it as separate as possible, even if it means setting up the home office in a corner somewhere.

Music can play a big role. I am a big music fan, so this might just be for me. I find one of the greatest advantages to working at home over working in an office is the ability to have music I like playing while I work. I have never been one to work well while wearing headphones. I need to crank up the tunes while I am working at the desk. I play it loud, too, as I find it sets the tone for the task at hand. I often play rock and roll, which sets an up-tempo cloud of music that helps me work away. For those times I am working on a more intricate article that requires rigid concentration, I’ll switch over to classical music or jazz. It will still be loud though, as I like to be immersed in the music, just like I immerse myself in the work. The music playing is the main reason I am not a fan of home workers sharing their work space with life partners. Crank up the volume is a must for me.

Software tools are key. Ask any craftsman what they need in a good tool and they will tell you the tool cannot get in the way of the task at hand. The very definition of a tool is something to make a given task easier. Home workers, especially those in front of a computer all day, can easily create a system that is constantly distracting. This should be avoided at all costs. Use only the software that is really needed to do the job. This insures there is less to get in the way, and most importantly that there is less to maintain. Spending a lot of time maintaining the system can be frustrating, and at the very least wastes a lot of time.

Ask others who do similar work what software tools they use. They are a good source of tips to find the best tools for the job. Even those who are well plugged into their particular scene can often find that a tool others are using works much better than the one they use. There are few things that can make as big an impact on getting the job done than finding a great new tool.

Keep a real work schedule. One of the biggest dangers for home workers is falling into a habit of losing a daily schedule. It’s nice to have flex-time, don’t get me wrong. But I find keeping a real work schedule not only keeps me focused on the work that needs doing, but it also puts me in the proper frame of mind for doing it. It is important to treat home work like a “real” job, because that’s exactly what it is. Sure it’s nice to be able to run a quick errand without asking the boss, but it’s also vital to treat the job like any other job. For me, that means a regular work schedule. It also sends out the proper message to coworkers and especially clients. I am here, and I’m working for you. I just happen to be doing it at home.

Dress the part. This is another way I make sure that I have the proper mindset for getting the job done. Sure, I can work in my PJs and robe all day, but I don’t. Dressing as I would for a real job, albeit a casual one, goes hand in hand with the schedule thing. It helps me feel that I am working a real job, and just as importantly it sends that same message to those I come in contact with during the day. It says “I am serious about this”, and that helps me get in the proper frame of mind for the work day.

Get out with people. A serious danger for home workers is the isolation that comes along with the territory. While many of us work well most of the time without the distractions that other people create, it is good to get out from time to time. It’s a good way to vary the work scene, too. There is a big, vital world outside the home office walls, and it’s a good idea to experience it occasionally. It can be as simple as spending the afternoon working in the coffee shop, or working in a library, or even spending a whole day working in a coworking environment. The key is to vary the surroundings, and encourage interaction with other people. Ideas come from many different places, but they invariably come from other people.

What is Smart Add? That’s the natural language method for task entry that the program properly translates into a real task. You can create tasks like “Pick up the milk tomorrow”, “Order stationery #work”, “Return books in 2 weeks @Library” and the program will intelligently make the proper entry into your task list. A good program just got better, and that’s always a good thing.

RTM for the iPhone requires a Pro account, and that is currently $25 for a one year subscription. The Pro account opens up the ability to use RTM on the iPhone, Android phones and more.

To mod the time, simply run type regedit in your Start menu to run the registry editor. Note: although this is a very minor change, it always makes sense to backup your registry before making any changes. You never know what might get hosed up and a backup can save the day.

Once you have the registry editor open, just navigate to the key path above. Look for and double-click on DesktopLivePreviewHoverTime, which should show the default value of 500. Here you can edit the Aero Peek delay time in terms of milliseconds: 1000 would be one second, 0 would be instant, etc… Not only will your live thumbnails appear faster — or slower, if you want — but the Show Desktop function in the far right of the Taskbar will follow the same time delay.

Earlier this summer, James took a look at reMail for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. The $4.99 application puts Apple’s mobile Mail app to shame when it comes to searching for information. With reMail, you get full text searches of emails even while offline. reMail intelligently stores messages and attachments without taking up too much space, and no email can hide from its search capabilities — at least not any that I’ve been looking for. You can also configure the app to store mail from only certain folders in order to save space and cut down on the initial synchronization time.

Version 2.5 of reMail (App Store link) just hit the App Store, and I grabbed the update. The biggest feature change I see so far — support for multiple email accounts. Up to now, all I could do was use reMail for either my work mail or my personal mail. Now I can use it to search across both accounts, or any new ones that I might add. I highly recommend taking a look at this app. If $4.99 sounds too steep for you to try, you can grab the free version that supports Gmail only (App Store link). The full version supports Gmail and any other IMAP mail solution, including Microsoft Exchange mail accounts.

The CZ & D utility makes it a breeze to tag a batch of Google Docs for conversion to the desired format (MS Office, Open Office, PDF, etc.). The converted files are then zipped up into a single compressed file for downloading to the user’s computer.  I have been wishing for an easy way to grab my docs from the cloud, and this looks like a good way to do that.

The customization involves the panel on the left side, produced mostly via the free Geektool utility. Geektool lets Mac users put virtually anything on the desktop, with live refreshing. I have (from top to bottom):

• Time
• Date
• Monthly calendar
• Accuweather stratus (not Geektool)
• Remember the Milk task list

All of the Geektool customizations refresh automatically at defined intervals in the background. The RTM task list is not interactive, it is just for reference. It is pulled from the RSS feed that RTM creates for each user. What do you think? You like?