Google Drive Gmail Integration Allows for 10GB Attachments - PC Magazine

Isn't it annoying when you get an error on an email you tried to send because the attachment is too large? Good news â€" Google just tweaked its Gmail service to allow you to email much bigger files.

The Web giant on Tuesday announced that it is integrating its cloud storage service Google Drive into Gmail, a move that will let users insert and send files up to 10GB. To put it in perspective, that's 400 times larger than what you can send as a traditional attachment, Google said.

Launched in April, Google Drive is a cloud-based service wrapped around the company's Google Docs office suite. The file storage and synchronization service provides users with 5GB of free storage capacity, or $2.49 per additional 25GB of cloud storage.

Now, users will be able to insert files directly from Drive into an email without ever having to leave Gmail, Google said. To use the new feature, click on the Drive icon to the right of the paperclip when composing a message. Because files sent from Drive are stored in the cloud, all email recipients will have access to the most up-to-date version, Google said.

The feature is rolling out over the next few days. It is only available with Gmail's new compose format, which Google launched last month.

When attaching a file from Drive, Gmail will automatically check whether all recipients can access the file. When attempting to send a file that isn't shared with all recipients, you'll be prompted to change the sharing settings. This feature works similarly to Google's forgotten attachment detector, and will even work with Drive links that are pasted directly into emails.

"So whether it's photos from your recent camping trip, video footage from your brother's wedding, or a presentation to your boss, all your stuff is easy to find and easy to share with Drive and Gmail," Phil Sharp, Gmail product manager, wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

For more, see PCMag's full reviews of Google Drive and Google Drive for iPad.

For more from Angela, follow her on Twitter @amoscaritolo.

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