Gmail Chat Notification Sounds
Download Squad points out a problem in Gmail Chat: When you receive a new IM, since it is in a browser window, if you are in a different window or tab, you may miss it. There’s a new Firefox extension they link to, called Gmail Chat Alert, that can help by playing a sound when a new message is received.
I think it isn’t enough. The point of Gmail Chat is so that you don’t have to install new software. If you’re adding a Firefox extension, why not just install Google Talk, which is pretty light by itself? Yes, there are other good reasons why you’d want to stick with just the browser, but I think the notifications should stick to being browser-only. Why not a really tiny popup window that has notifications, and can sit, almost entirely invisible, anywhere on your screen?
I agree with this assessment. Google talk serves quite well and is very lightweight. In particular, having it in the sidebar is great.
Comment by Greg | May 9, 2006
I find that today gmail talk has sound notifications…
Comment by dudus | May 10, 2006
gmail now has a setting for using sound notifications.
Comment by sryo | May 11, 2006
Mine does sound automatically…maybe it is only like that on a Mac?
-Brandon Hopkins
Comment by Business Cards | May 16, 2006