The shuffle of having to log off, then back on to your Google account to open up Google services from different accounts, but in the same browser instance, is soon to be a thing of the past.
As noticed by the
Google Operating System blog, and later confirmed to CNET by a Google spokesperson, the company is in the process of rolling out a new feature that lets users
cycle through up to three of their registered Google accounts without having to re-identify their credentials. Even better, they'll be able to switch from one to another with a simple drop down menu.
The new option shows up in a user's Google
account settings.The new system, which was available on only 1 of 13 tested CNET employee Google accounts, requires opting in from a user's Google account management page. Once enabled, it provides quick account switching in Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Code, and Google's Sites products through the use of a drop-down menu that sits in the top right-hand corner of compatible Google sites. Two notable omissions are Google Docs and the recently opened Wave, which do not yet offer fast account switching.
One thing to note up front is that this solution does not truly enable users to be logged in to two different accounts at once, meaning you cannot be running two tabs of Gmail with a different account in the same browser instance. Google has gotten around this to some degree with its Google apps for your domain service, which can co-exist alongside the standard version of Gmail. The other option is to run a separate instance of that same browser that does not share that same set of cookies, like the private browsing modes found in Firefox, IE8, Chrome, Safari, and Opera.
The settings toggle and an explanation of what it does. enlarge
