Looks like many Gmail users (including Google Apps users) are having trouble accessing their email.  The workaround again is to connect via IMAP through a desktop client like Thunderbird, Apple Mail or Outlook.

You can check status updates on Gmail over at Google’s AppStatus page http://status.google.com

9:29 AM

We’re aware of a problem with Google Mail affecting a small subset of users. The affected users are unable to access Google Mail, but we’ve provided a workaround below. We will provide an update by September 24, 2009 10:29:00 AM UTC-5 detailing when we expect to resolve the problem. Please note that this resolution time is an estimate and may change.

You can access Gmail via IMAP

Unfortunately for Google, this downtime is not making them look good.  They had another outage in early September just after they finished their, “Going Google” nationwide billboard campaign.  There was another outage in late winter and one last fall.

I still think using Google Apps for domain email is a good bet because their downtime has been small compared to most small businesses who do email internally.  I wonder if this outage is only affecting the users of the free Gmail service and the Standard version of Google Apps (also free).  The premier version of Google Apps guarantees 99.9% email uptime.  This will cost you $50 per year per user in your organization and comes with additional space, expanded support from Google and some features not available in the Standard version.

Check the status of Gmail here http://www.google.com/appsstatus

Workaround

The web interface is down by you can still access your Gmail through a desktop client like Outlook Thunderbird, Apple Mail.

How to setup POP or IMAP for your Gmail

IMAP is much better because it stays in sync with Google’s server vs POP which pulls down your email and does not leave a copy on the server.

Previous Downtime

I blogged about Gmail being down last August and there have been reports of sporadic downtime for Gmail every few months but none lasting very long.

I consider a “significant” outage anything that lasts over 1 hour.  This outage lasted just under 2 hours.

Bad for Business

This time Google Apps is down too and this clearly won’t sit well with business owners who recently made the switch to Google Apps after their big nationwide campaign, Google At Work.  I’m calling my customers who have Google Apps to let them know about the downtime.

Status

Resolved!

I’m looking for a conference sponsor for the upcoming BlogHer Conference and I want to promote your company!

I will be attending BlogHer ’09 in Chicago at the end of the week.  BlogHer is a gathering of women who blog on all sorts of things and this is the 5th year!

Your Market Is Out There

photo credit: jdlasica

I know women who enjoy technology, gadgets and web 2.0 apps.  We don’t need everything to be pink.  We want to buy technology we enjoy using, fits our lifestyle and that make us feel (and look) smart!

Being a geek, I’m most happy in my element of solving problems and helping people.  I smile when people thank me and say, “Adria, when you explain it, things make so much more sense!”.  I put in time to learn new technology, talk with developers and work to stay active in the technology community.

I’ve always enjoyed wearing my Firefox t-shirt and having people comment on it because they recognize it as an awesome browser!

How I Will Pitch You At BlogHer

photo credit: journeyscoffee

I offer a unique opportunity.  For thousands of years, we’ve told stories around campfires.  The same holds true today where people end up buying things once they hear that personal story of how it adds value to someone’s life.

I will tell your story through one to one conversations with attendees

Forget “live blogging” and banner ads on sites.  I will make authentic and lasting connections with people that leave them thinking about your products long after they’ve have flown home.  Get your Google Analytics ready to track the hits from BlogHer!

Want to know more details of how I would position your t-shirts, screenshot software and business cards in conversations I have with other women bloggers at BlogHer?

Contact me and we’ll discuss it in detail.

I’m a good investment to promote your company because:

• I’m quite effective in persuading people to embrace new technology
• I attended WordCamp Chicago and Blogging While Brown in June 2009
• I explain things in terms that people understand and feel comfortable with
• People on Twitter thank me a lot for my help, suggestions and links
• I understand how technologies work together in a variety of businesses
• I understand hardware, desktop software, web apps and mobile devices
• I have 10 years of IT experience with several certifications
• I do a live, online, weekly technology show at AskAdria.com
• I have a sincere passion to help empower people through technology
• I’m learning how to sell things I believe in
• My “About” page is chocked full of information on my deeds to make the world a better place

Website Traffic Stats for Unique Visitors In The Last 6 Months To This Blog

(Google Analytics reports available upon request)

• July 4,257
• June 8,727
• May 1,677
• April 2,365
• March 8,689
• February 1,509

Recent Public Speaking Sample

Women Venture – St. Paul, MN
Panel “Women In Technology”
7/9/2009

ThinkGeek: Cool stuff for your desk and geeky t-shirts

Click here to view the embedded video.

Extra Credit
I own 4 shirts from ThinkGeek: Geek code, I’m Tweeting This, Slide to Unlock and No I will Not Fix Your Computer
Video: How To Use A Crossover Adapter [ThinkGeek]
Video: How To Use An Ethernet Loopback Adapter [ThinkGeek]
Video: Thinkgeek BlogHer T-Shirt Pitch

Techsmith: Effortless screen captures and video recordings

Click here to view the embedded video.

Moo.com: Elegant and unique business cards

Click here to view the embedded video.

People Buy Things I Talk About

photo credit: thevoyager

Time and again, I’ve shared products and services with people.  I passionately explain the benefits (save time, save money, more professional) and people signup, buy and subscribe.

I’m quite passionate about:

• Gmail
• Timebridge
• Twitter
• Clicky web analytics
• Skype
• WordPress
• Open Source
• Harvest
• Western Digital hard drives
• Firefox
• OpenDNS
• Google
• Zendesk
• Flickr
• ThinkGeek t-shirts for women
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Dell computers
• Mozy online backups
• Keepass
• Drop.io
• 37Signals Highrise CRM
• Google Apps for your domain
• Lifehacker
• Apple iPhone
• and much more!

Who Are These People?

photo credit: thus

In an average month, I connect with a variety of people who are decision makers, influential people on the internet and regular folks looking to learn more about technology.  I am honest, patient and helpful with all because I keep in mind how much I would have appreciated help and guidance when I was still learning about technology.

• Business Owners
• Developers
• Company Founders
• DIY Folks figuring out technology
• Bloggers
• IT Folks
• Friends

Why I Picked You

All three companies provide products that help women authentically express their inner geek.  One of the most important ways to “show your geek” is to walk the walk.  I will be selecting one sponsor for the entire event so I can focus on delivering your message in strong and consistant way.
I’ve selected you 3 because:

• I enjoy your products
• Have detailed information share about my experience
• Understand the value you provide
• Can go into vivid detail about why I enjoy using your products
• Know that you’re the best in your markets
• Enjoy answering technical questions BlogHer attendees will have about your products

How To Sponsor Me

Pick Up The Phone
Call 612-246-4568 or drop me a line and we’ll discuss in detail how I plan to deliver your message.

Promote Your Sponsorship
A coupon code would be a great way to encourage attendees to followup as well as track the effectiveness of my efforts!

Prepare Your Schwag
Do you have good stuff for me to hand out? Let’s brainstorm on what items will get folks excited!

photo credit: Liz Henry

Why This Is Important To Me

Being a female in technology, I sometimes need to remind people that I’m just as capable as a guy.  I learned this from my hero, Valerie Aurora who is an outspoken Linux developer at Red Hat.  She taught me to stand up and speak up for myself in my career.

More About Blog Her

photo credit: happykatie

Excerpt from website:

Founded in February 2005 as a labor of love by three bloggers, BlogHer’s mission is to create opportunities for women who blog to pursue exposure, education, community and economic empowerment. Today BlogHer provides the number-one community for and guide to blogs by women, reaching more than ten million women each month via annual conferences, a Web hub, and an publishing syndicate of more than 2,700 qualified, contextually targeted blog affiliates.

Send a Canned Response as a Filter Option in Gmail

This means you can now setup filters so when you get an email from a particular person or with a certain subject, you can send them a reply automatically!

I’m sure Microsoft is so very jealous because Outlook has nothing like this! Microsoft Exchange, eat your heart out! Okay, back to the awesomeness of Google Gmail and Google Apps.

What You Need

Canned Responses need to be enabled so you can select it as a filter option

1. Go to Settings
   
   
2. Go to Labs
   
   

3. Enable Canned Responses
   
   

You can now send out auto replies like Merlin Mann does which provide helpful FAQ information or whatever your mind can dream up!

I could use this to say to Rochenhost, “I have received your notice. Please allow 4-6 hours for a reply.”. This is like vacation reply but much more powerful. You can choose who gets a reply and then you can create as many “canned responses” as you want.

Yes, if you’re not using Gmail or Google Apps for your email, you’re living in the dark ages while everyone else has electricity.

Looking To See if Twitter is Down?

Twitter had a hiccup again. Remember you can always check if Twitter is down at http://status.twitter.com

Everyone is googling for “Is Twitter Down” and finding this article I did on Gmail being down so I’ve updated it with the link to Twitter’s status page. I’m doing a live update of the Twitter dowtime.
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Gmail Was Down Today

Gmail had an outage today. Like the ones before, it seemed to be a “rolling outage” since accounts are not on the same servers, maybe not even in the same data centers.