If you live in the modern world, then there's a pretty good chance that you have both a Gmail account and a Dropbox (as well as a Netflix, a YouTube, a Facebook, a Twitter, a Pintrest, a Soundcloud, and the list probably goes on and on and on).
For those of you who live in Gmail and love using Dropbox, there's good news. Close work between the two companies has finally led to a significant update to Gmail. Now, Dropbox users will be able to access their Dropbox accounts directly from their Gmail, without having to navigate to a separate webpage or open a new tab in their browser.
What's This About Attachments?
Basically, Gmail is adding an option to bring up a Dropbox window (or panel) inside the same browser window as your email, using the updated Gmail sidebar, to allow you to save or attach files to/from your Dropbox. Being able to upload and share files directly to/from an email to/from Dropbox, and across various devices, clearly helps those who like to use multiple devices. But it can be even more helpful when your workflow includes an assistant, or co-counsel that is also plugged into these services.
For Gmail loving, Dropbox using lawyers, this change could perhaps be one of the most significant improvements to their workflow in some time. Even though this may only save a minute or two (or five at most), if you're using these programs already, the added feature will be a welcome time saver.
Speaking of Gmail and Timesavers ... Have You Tried "Smart Replies"?
For lawyers that like using all that Gmail has to offer and have to deal with a high volume of emails (particularly of the administrative kind like scheduling stuff), a tool released by Google last year, Smart Replies, might actually be able to help. Using machine learning, the app suggests replies (that it automatically generates) to the emails you receive. And if your that busy (or bored) that you're actually willing to give it a try, at the very least, it could provide for some unintentional comedy.
Related Resources:
- Can Google's New 'Tasks' App Help Lawyers Do Stuff? (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Gmail Is About to Get More Lawyer-User-Friendly (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Does Your Law Office Need a 3D Printer? (FindLaw's Technologist)
