http://www.google.com/gmail/help/whatsnew.html

What's new on Gmail?
Updated: 5-October 2004

Some features we know you've wanted (and one we should have had all along):

* Gmail Notifier
Want to know if you've got new mail? Let us do the checking so you don't have to. Find out when new messages arrive, and even see their subjects, senders and snippets, all without having to open a web browser.

* Search your contacts
With the new and improved Contacts list, search for a contact as easily as you would a message in Gmail. Add notes and phone numbers. View messages directly from the Contacts list. Stay in touch with the people in your life more easily than ever before.

* Automatic forwarding to another email account
We're testing a new feature that lets you forward new incoming messages to any email account you want. It's free during the test and you can set it up in seconds. Even set up filters to forward only some of your messages. It's your mail. Get it the way you want it.

* And finally... Save Drafts!
For when you can't find the right words, save drafts and find them later.

so maybe that's why I couldn't login, updates

I found that you must update the gmail notifier (if you were using the previous version) to get any email alerts.

Yea.. they have free forwarding for now. Though, they say that it is available only for now. Considering that ads are the only source of income, if they allow forwarding, dont know if they will be able to make money !

Has anyone seen or used the Atom link in their sidebar? I'd love to try it out, but I don't see it...

I don't think all users get that yet, I don't have it on my account either

What is it exactly?

Also, has anyone seen a program that will send a text message upon receiving new email? I might be able to write one myself but it probably wouldn't be as nice as something that someone else may have already written.

I WANT A MAILING LIST FUNCTION DAMN IT.

Want to create groupings of friends, etc to send mail to without having to pick them individually.