Looks as if there might be a nationwide GMAIL outage affecting not only Gmail but also Gmail via Apps for Domains (which I use for my company). The error message returned is a “Temporary Error 502″. I have seen numerous reports via Twitter and Friendfeed of other users not being able to access Gmail. So if you can’t get in at the moment - you’re not alone - use https://mail.google.com/mail/h/ to read your emails via the html interface - unfortunately you won’t be able to reply.
Update: 8-11-08 6:20 pm EST - Gmail appears to be returning to service after an approximate one hour outage for nearly everyone.

Google Temporary Error 502 - Announcements and Alerts

All of my email accounts are with Google. At work I use Google Apps for Domains full time for corporate email (Note: Unfortunately this trick doesn’t seem to work yet for domains). Gmail is a great solution for me due to the large amount of free storage space as well as the ability to search all past emails from any web connected computer. However anyone who uses Gmail full time has probably encountered a roadblock where the IT department blocks free email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. If you try to log in from a corporate computer you may have been greeted with a DENIED message. Lifehacker has a set of instructions on how to use the iGoogle web page and the GMAIL gadget to setup and read your Gmail - even in places where it might normally be blocked.

lifehacker

The ability to receive your email in real time on a mobile device is referred to as Push Email. The Blackberry devices rode to fame based on an ability to instantly alert you to incoming emails. The iPhone 2.0 now allows for push email - but it has to be from Yahoo, MS Exchange or your address@me.com (MobileMe) email account. Unfortunately I’m a Google Apps for Domains user. All of my email comes in via Gmail. Which until now was not capable of being pushed to an iPhone (strangely enough it WILL push to a Blackberry). Here’s a neat trick for simulating push email on your iPhone. Forward all your email out of Gmail to your address@me.com email (where it is pushed to your iPhone). Then on your iPhone — set your SMTP server (which handles outgoing email) to smtp.gmail.com. Presto! Instant push Gmail. All of your outgoing email retains your email address and appears to come from you! Read more about the details of setting this up at the link below. Update: I used this method for about three days and I’ve since switched back to IMAP because I was going crazy trying to move email to the trash in my GMAIL account. Using the push method here does not automatically delete messages on your GMAIL account while the native GMAIL IMAP support syncs folders.

David Berube’s Blog - HOW TO: Get Push Gmail on Your iPhone 2.0 With MobileMe

According to the Google Blog, shortly all Gmail accounts will have a new feature that enables the account owner to see exactly where their mail account is logged in and available from. One of the things I love about my Gmail is that it remembers my email login making it easy to check mail in just a few keystrokes. Unfortunately I’m very nervous when I’m at a public computer like I was on Friday at the Apple store in New York. If I forget to log off — the person who uses the computer next will have full access to all my company email. Starting soon (it will take a while for all Gmail accounts to have this feature) - you’ll see a link at the bottom of your Gmail (right underneath where the system shows you your storage space). It will say “This account is open in x other locations. Last account activity: x hours ago”. Then you’ll have an option to see the details and if you want to close out all other sessions.

Gmail Blog - Remote sign out and info to help you protect your Gmail account

The latest version of the Better GMAIL add-on for Firefox has been released. While there are a lot of improvements to this free utility, the one that I like the most is the addition of a great new skin (Gmail Redesigned) that totally changes the appearance of my GMAIL.

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