Gmail Users Can Now View YouTube Videos From Within Gmail

Google just doesn't stop. New in Labs this week are several added features that let users access YouTube, Picasa, Flickr, and Yelp content without the need to open a separate window, tab, or link.I would bet most of us have sent a link to a funny video posted on YouTube to a friend, colleague, or family member. In order to watch it, receivers of that link need to click on it to open up the YouTube page. Same goes for content shared from Picasa Web albums, Flickr, or Yelp.

Several weeks ago, Google added the ability to preview YouTube videos within its GChat feature. Now, it has taken this function to its logical conclusion: Users can watch YouTube videos directly within Gmail. Nice.

Vishal Kasera, software engineer, writes, "We picked stuff that often shows up in e-mail: YouTube videos, Picasa and Flickr links, and Yelp reviews. Turn on Picasa previews from the Labs tab under Settings, and rather than having to click on a Picasa album link to see the photos it contains, you can see photos right in the message itself." Same goes for YouTube, Flickr, and Yelp.

This means you don't have to open a separate window or tab to watch YouTube videos that people share with you. You don't have to leave your Gmail at all. Very convenient.