Use IE 8 to Access Multiple Gmail Accounts
Here's a little-known advantage to using Internet Explorer 8: It lets you access multiple Gmail accounts simultaneously and independently.
This is accomplished via the New Session option, which makes it possible to log onto Web sites that track your identity across different tabs--like Gmail.
In Firefox, for instance, you can't have multiple Gmail accounts open in multiple tabs or Windows. If you sign into a second one, you'll get signed out of the first one when you try to do anything.
Here's how to take advantage of this IE8 perk:
1. Run Internet Explorer 8 and open Gmail. Make sure the Remember Me option is unchecked when you sign in.
2. Press Alt-F, I, and then hit Enter. This will open a new Internet Explorer session (which for all intents and purposes is the same as a new IE window).
3. Open Gmail and sign into your second account, again making sure to uncheck Remember Me.
That's all there is to it! This should work with other Webmail accounts and services that don't like multiple sessions running simultaneously.
I know it's not a perfect solution, especially if you prefer Gmail to remember your username and password from one session to the next. Here's hoping Microsoft will further tweak IE's New Session feature to support this option.
PC World
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
On Twitter now
internet explorer
Powered by TwitterOn Twitter now
internet explorer
Brian Proffitt
Microsoft/Novell: Breaking Down the Coupon Numbers
Esther Schindler
Drupal's Dries Buytaert on Building the Next Drupal
Tom Henderson
Top Ten General Operating Systems Rants
pasmith
PS3 motion controller delayed; goes up against Project Natal
sjvn
Neolithic Windows security hole alive and well in Windows 7
claird
Perl source code comparison makes for good reading
mikelgan
Cell phones don't create stress or interrupt much
Sandra Henry-Stocker
How to: The Unix Interview
Where Google Chrome security fails: the password
I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
- Dann
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
- Ubuntu advances: Why Ubuntu server installations will surge in 2010
- Social media marketing: How to make friends with benefits
- More...
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.






