Picasa Web Albums Link Within Gmail

Some of you may have noticed that Google has recently inserted a Picasa Web Albums link within Gmail.

 

For those of you unfamiliar Picasa Web Albums, its basically Google's photo social network where users can view and comment on each others pictures (and download them as well). Sort of like Flickr, except it is owned by Google instead of Yahoo.

Although this will make it easier to access your photo's while checking your email, this latest addition is a distant second to a Firefox hack by Matthew Parker (allowing users to insert photo directly from their album). 

Sharing Your Images (Via Email)

One of the unique things about Picasa is that it presents seven ways for a person to show their pictures towards their friends. (there is an eighth way, but you have to become "a little geeky" in order to accomplish it).

Note: This is a seven part series, and I'll start with the simple ways and end on the more complex.

The first (and perhaps easiest) way to share your images is via email. Once you have selected your picture, simply click on the Email button near the bottom of your screen.



Next a screen should pop up, asking you which method you want to choose to send your email.



If you are a fan of Bill Gates, Microsoft Outlook is available for you to use. Since Gmail is better (in my opinion, so if you differ don't hate me) I am going to cover that method below. You can also use your Picasa Mail (which basically is your Hello screen name) but I'll cover that one later.

(Update: Picasa mail covered below, scroll down).

Next, Picasa will ask you to log into your Gmail account. Depending on your internet speed it may take a little while for it to go through.



After logging into your Gmail, Picasa will automatically attach the photo to your message.



After typing out your message (and the email address on who to send it to) simply click Send (which is not highlighted in the photo above, but will be once you start typing.). 

Update: For those of you who choose to select Picasa Mail, it basically sends the photos through the email address you signed up with via Hello.

Picasa Web Albums Via Gmail Skins

 

I previously posted about my surprise at seeing a link towards Picasa Web Albums within my Gmail account. After testing this out in several browsers, it became clear that this was only appearing within Firefox.

I was able to narrow it down to a Firefox extension called Gmail Skins which enables you to post emoticons, images, and even change your Gmail background.

You need Firefox in order to use it, so if you are an IE fan, I pity you right now. 

Picasa Web Albums In Gmail?

Update Three: Apparently people are not noticing the updates below, so I'll post this up here. This is NOT a roll out by Google or Picasa but rather a Firefox hack. See this post for details.

(Note: Hopefully next week I'll be able to post some tips about Picasa, instead of the randomness that I find within it).

I am not sure if everyone is seeing this, but after signing up with Picasa Web Albums, I came across this in my Gmail account.



If you look closely, you can see the Picasa symbol underneath. I have no clue why it appeared here, (as I had no photo's in the email that I recall) but after clicking on it I soon received a link towards my photo albums asking me if I wanted to send photo's to my friend.



This is interesting as Picasa Web Albums is similar to Flickr.com (owned by Yahoo) in the affect that it allows you to comment, rate, etc. In order for you to access it, you need a Google Account (which Gmail creates by default).

Perhaps the search engine giant is tying all of its features together to create a Google portal after all. ;) 

Update: Corrected image html links.

Update Two: I finally discovered where everyone is coming from!

This is not a new feature from Picasa but rather a Gmail Skins hack. Please visit this post for details.

Sorry for the fuss.