<<I recently discovered some little-known ways to use your Gmail address that can give you greater control over your inbox and save you some time and headache. When you choose a Gmail address, you actually get more than just "yourusernamegmail.com." Here are two different ways you can modify your Gmail address and still get your mail:>>

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/2-hidden-ways-to-get-more-from-your.html

I know it isn't new.

I can't believe that an Associate Product Marketing Manager only recently discovered these tricks. Seriously.

Please don't tell anyone, but I really don't like the official Gmail blog. It could be much more interesting, but I think those who actually develop Gmail don't post there.

I think they've conducted test to estimate the consequence of X% of users using these tricks on their servers/infrastructures so they can promote them. I just guess they do so everytime an interesting hacks is found by users.

Yeah Tony, it seems like they've had a lot of posts like this recently too, where they "just discovered" or just started using some feature that's been in Gmail for a while. It seems to just be a way to draw attention to features that have not really caught on or have gone unnoticed, but there's got to be a better way to do that than these fake-sounding posts. For example:

"Even though I've worked on the Gmail team for about six months and have been a fan for years, I continue to notice new things in the product all the time. Like the other day, when out of curiosity, I checked out my spam folder to see what kind of bank scams or enlargement pills were being filtered from my innocent eyes, and I noticed something below the search box. Was that really a recipe for spicy SPAM kabobs?"
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/del-eat-your-spam.html

"I just started using a feature that further helps me quickly prioritize my email. When enabled, "personal level indicators" put arrows next to messages in your inbox so you can tell if an email was addressed to you, a group, or a mailing list that you're on."
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/arrow-indicators-reveal-who-actually.html