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Google starts rolling out Gmail themes
The new option shows up in the Gmail settings menu, to the right of the Labs option. If you don't see a Themes tab in your settings, you're not crazy. Google has a tendency to roll out new features in phases, with some users getting the update before others.
Ashish Mohta at TechnoSpot is already seeing the new themes, and uploaded the images you see above. If you can't access the new themes yet, you might want to check out Gmail Redesigned, an unofficial theme that changes the appearance of Gmail when viewed in Firefox.
Update: It looks like these changes are rolling out quickly. Less than an hour after writing this post, the new themes tab showed up in my Gmail. Check out the gallery below for screenshots of some of the more unusual themes. OK, the Cold Shower theme isn't particularly unusual, but it's the one I plan to use as my default... for now.
Comments
19
Subscribe to commentsMysteriusNov 19th 2008 6:50PM
I highly doubt Google would make users view sponsored themes. Perhaps companies may choose to sponsor a theme, which users may choose to adopt, but forcing the entire page to become essentially a display ad would quickly wear users out. Given Google's focus on speed and usability in Gmail, to the point of shaving even fractions of a second if possible, I don't find anything that reduces usability likely.
As for the themes, who said all geniuses are good at art?
I think they look fine myself, but it's a matter of taste.
Perhaps later on they'll spend some more time and come up with themes that satisfy your sense of style.
XerloqNov 20th 2008 1:02AM
Surely someone who has themes can dissect the link for the benefit of us all!
ranovaNov 19th 2008 5:17PM
Yup my gmail has themes now. Looks much nicer than the old default :)
alexaDec 17th 2008 7:55AM
how did you get them i don't have them yet?
wreckerNov 19th 2008 5:21PM
Well, its been up on the Official Gmail Blog for 2 hours now, with more screenshots...
RGNov 19th 2008 5:47PM
The localized Planet theme looks really nice
ShannonNov 19th 2008 8:53PM
Under settings, my gmail doesn't have "Themes" can it be installed?
grlofthecityNov 19th 2008 8:53PM
IT'S ABOUT TIME! I'm quite thrilled with the themes and although I've always loved Gmail for its speed, reliability and features, the old default theme was pretty "blah." But that's speaking as a visual designer. It was certainly usable and clean, but I prefer a bit of eye candy now and then! ;)
notatoadNov 19th 2008 8:53PM
i seem to have a new "mark as read" button now in this update, rather than it being an option in the dropdown. nice
JoshuaNov 21st 2008 5:44AM
So Google is copying what AOL, Windows Live, and Yahoo! have been doing for years already? Well at least they finally got the themes going on.
BrianNov 20th 2008 8:13AM
i don't have the theme option.....
scperiNov 20th 2008 8:13AM
but I want it now!
chesamaNov 20th 2008 9:40AM
i tried to get the themes tab working manually, to take a poke around (and because my gmail redesigned skin has a few little quirks which make it hard to use in chat and such). i tried the usual suspects of query strings on the end of the gmail url to see if i could force the option, but....no :-(
Jash SayaniNov 20th 2008 12:36PM
I dont have it yet.... Anyways, I love the default theme, so its ok. Will check it in a week...
GenericNov 20th 2008 4:12PM
Me love ya...
ademNov 20th 2008 4:37PM
i don't have themes, it's annoying. more annoyingly, my co-worker has it, and he kept calling me a n00b all day... what did i do to deserve this?
tutanhamonNov 28th 2008 2:01PM
Look at Gmail Dynamic Themes Preview page - http://tutanhamon.com.ua/technovodstvo/gmail_themes/ that contains all possible (I hope) decoration styles for dynamic themes and weather conditions description as a bonus.
jarionDec 10th 2008 9:57PM
I can't get me a gmail theme and I really want it.
alphonso P4LJan 17th 2009 2:50PM
WOW....i heading over to there right now,
thats cool and i guess we should have seen it coming what with MSN's new easy to use look