How to Send Faster Replies in Gmail

Ever feel like you're typing the same e-mail replies over and over? If you're a Gmail user, you can use Google Labs' new Canned Responses feature to automate some of those replies, potentially saving considerable time.

To enable Canned Responses (which Labs cheekily refers to as "e-mail for the truly lazy"), fire up Gmail, click Settings, and then click Labs. Scroll down a bit until you find Canned Responses, click the Enable button, then click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Now, after clicking Reply in an e-mail, you'll see a Canned Responses menu. Gmail doesn't start you off with any, so you'll have to add new ones yourself. (My suggestion: "I'm on it, boss.") You can also take advantage of Gmail's Filters feature to set up automated canned responses to mail based on keywords, senders, and so on.

Neat feature, though a little confusing: I don't understand why the Canned Responses menu shows options like "Open" and "Save" -- neither of which seemed to do anything. In other words, I had trouble getting it to work. If you have better luck, hit the Comments and enlighten me. [via TechCrunch]