Gmail and GCal without distractions

Tim Gaden21 July 2006, 6:53 AM

The art of getting things done on your computer is without doubt a state of mind. It's so easy to waste time goofing around that only good mental discipline can save you. Having the right tools helps too. Two purpose-built browsers for Gmail and Gcal can help you to focus on the work in front of you and get it done.


gmail80px.jpgThe art of getting things done on your computer is mostly a state of mind. It's so easy to waste time goofing around that only good mental discipline can save you.

Having the right tools helps too. Two purpose-built browsers for Gmail and Gcal can help you to focus on the work in front of you and get it done.

Michael McCracken tells a story that repeats itself in front of computer screens all over the world:

Every time I check mail, I’m diving right into the world’s biggest time-sink. My email isn’t usually a waste of my time, but all the windows I’ve left floating around, my bookmarks bar, or a quick Google search are. These are the things that eat up afternoons, and webmail is a gateway to that distraction.

Not any more! For Windows users, BurgerBlog has written a distraction-free browser for Gmail and another for Gcal.

Both require .NET 2.0 or better and both give you just your email or just your appointments:

Gmail_distractionfree.jpg

Michael McCracken has written a Gmail-only browser for Mac users, based on the Apple's WebKit engine.

And Chip Cuccio has used the same engine to make a Mac-friendly one for GCal.

Not only do these browsers help you focus and save your time, they are free too.


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Jason:

I never really thought this was much of a distraction. No more than any other web enabled productivity application. Maybe that's the downfall of web-based apps.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mark Birbeck:

For a more generalised way of doing the same thing you can use the Sidewinder Web Application Viewer. More details are here, which has some screenshots of GCal and KoolIM running in Sidewinder, as well as links to further examples showing Technorati Mini and GMail.

All the best,

Mark Birbeck

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Ben:

You can still be distracted... I managed to get to google.com using links then just searched for a website.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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