How to integrate Gmail, Google contacts and Google calendar into Unity without Thunderbird or Evolution?

You can install Ubuntu’s New Web Apps Feature of Ubuntu 12.04 & 12.10. This will allow you to integrate your Gmail and Google Calender to the desktop, and make them first class citizen on your computer. This will allow for system notification pop-ups, HUD integration, and other Unity features. This is how to install it:

Open the Terminal and type these commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webapps/preview
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install unity-webapps-preview

Now log out and log back in for the change to take affect. The time next you visit Gmail or Google Calender on Firefox or Chromium, they will ask if you want to integrate with the desktop.

Here is some more reading on the subject:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/07/ubuntu-unveil-new-web-apps-feature-for-12-10

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/07/list-of-that-websites-support-unitys-new-web-apps-feature

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/07/how-to-install-ubuntus-new-web-apps-feature

Hope this helps!