Google Introduces Two Step Gmail Security

 Last year, Google made Gmail access via HTTPS protocol default for all account holders to add a security layer. Now, Google has introduced another security layer upgrade with an advanced opt-in feature dubbed 2-Step Verification. This 2-Step Verification feature requires using a specific code to sign in to the Gmail account. Google either calls you (only if you are in U.S., I suppose) to give that code or sends the code via SMS or generates it via a mobile app for Android, BlackBerry or iPhone device. Gmail finally gets a bank account like security feature for sign-in.

Gmail's 2-Step Verification advanced sign-in feature is optional and would be visible to all Google account holders at Manage Account page soon. This new security feature makes your Google account more secure and most importantly Gmail out of all Google services.

The 2-Step Verification stands for its name since it requires two major credentials: your Google account password and a six digit pass code obtained using phone. This requires the user to set up the opt-in 2-Step Verification feature from the Manage Account page. During the set-up process, you'll be required to enter your phone number and also create certain backup pass codes just in case you lose your phone or it gets stolen. After completing the 2-Step Verification setup, you ll land on to an additional page once you log into your Google account using your login ID and password.

To prevent third-party sign-in or someone sneaking into your account, make the best of 2-Step Verification. Yes, it does involve an additional extra step but it certainly secures your account. Google had been testing this feature with Google apps users and it would be available to all Google account holders over a period of time.

read more @ techtree

Google Cloud Print for Mobile, Gmail Now Live

Lets you send a print command, manage print jobs while on the move

Google has introduced Cloud Print beta service for mobile documents and Gmail mobile web app for English language users. With this opt-in service, users can get a print of any important document or email right from their smartphones or mobiles. Google Cloud Print beta for mobile Docs and Gmail will work only on HTML5 supporting phones. Google has started pushing this service en masse just after Apple made the AirPrint technology available to the iOS devices.

Cloud Print service was announced last year in April and Google initiated its inclusion in any application meant for web, desktop or mobile. With this Cloud based printing, users can rely on Google's cloud servers to manage the prints from the desktop or mobile. Check more at http://www.google.com/cloudprint.

Google Cloud Print for mobile documents and Gmail will let you can send a print command from anywhere and a print out of the document or email would be waiting for you when you reach the printer. Sorry, you'll have to buy auto-bots to fetch you the printouts.

Tyler Odean of Google Cloud Print Team noted, "Just open a document in Google Docs or an email in Gmail in your mobile browser and choose Print from the dropdown menu in the top right corner. You can also print certain kinds of email attachments (such as .pdf or .doc) by clicking the Print link that appears next to them."

At this moment, the Google Cloud Print service for mobile platforms works only on the HTML5 supporting mobile web browsers. That's because both mobile web apps, Google Docs and Gmail, have been tweaked with HTML5 richness. Apple devices running iOS 3.0 or higher and all Android phones with Android 2.1 or higher updates will be able to make the best of Cloud Print service.

Google Cloud Print service is already available through the latest beta of Google Chrome for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Vista while Mac and Linux support is expected soon.

Google Cloud Print service would compete with Apple AirPrint but the latter needs compatible printers. However, Google hasn't started rolling out this service to everyone. Initially, English speaking users for UR region would be getting it and eventually, it would be rolled out to other users.

via techtree