5 New Gmail Themes Now Available
Providing a better user experience, at least in Gmail’s case, is not all about making things go faster, and providing a high level of security – it is also about letting the user customize the way Gmail looks. For that reason the development team behind Google’s email client has rolled out 5 new Gmail themes.
Here’s a quick look at the 5 new Gmail themes that were just rolled out:
For those of you keeping track of such things, Google rolled out Gmail themes back in November 2008 ; before Gmail themes you had to rely on your own programming skills to come up with a Gmail skin. At the time Google rolled out some 30 Gmail themes. As Google’s Annie Chen explained at the time, “there's a shiny theme with chrome styling, another one that turns your inbox into a retro notepad, nature themes that change scenery over time, weather driven themes that can rain on your mailbox, and fun characters to keep you in good company.”
Then in September 2009 , Google rolled out another 3 Gmail themes (Orcas, High Score and Turf) and a theme called Random, which is not exactly a theme. What it does is mixes and matches colors from existing themes and comes up with something new.
If you don’t know how to activate a Gmail theme, here is what you have to do:
Step 1. Go to Gmail and login. If you do not have a Gmail account here’s how to create one.
Step 2. Look to the top right corner of the screen and locate the “Settings” link and click it. Now click the "Themes" tab (the last tab to the right).
Step 3. Select the theme you want.
You might be asked to provide your location before a Gmail is activated. If you click “Choose your own colors” you will have to go through the process of creating a custom theme.
Here’s a quick look at the 5 new Gmail themes that were just rolled out:
- Basic Black and Basic White – these two themes strip down Gmail’s interface “down to the bare bones” as software Engineer Manu Cornet put it.
- Android – this theme is based on the Google-developed Android operating system.
- Tree Tops – plenty of green and leaves all around. It’s like you are in the tree tops, hence the theme’s name.
- Marker – I have to say I quite like this one. It’s cute, and childish, and makes it seem like someone drew Gmail’s graphics with a marker.
For those of you keeping track of such things, Google rolled out Gmail themes back in November 2008 ; before Gmail themes you had to rely on your own programming skills to come up with a Gmail skin. At the time Google rolled out some 30 Gmail themes. As Google’s Annie Chen explained at the time, “there's a shiny theme with chrome styling, another one that turns your inbox into a retro notepad, nature themes that change scenery over time, weather driven themes that can rain on your mailbox, and fun characters to keep you in good company.”
Then in September 2009 , Google rolled out another 3 Gmail themes (Orcas, High Score and Turf) and a theme called Random, which is not exactly a theme. What it does is mixes and matches colors from existing themes and comes up with something new.
If you don’t know how to activate a Gmail theme, here is what you have to do:
Step 1. Go to Gmail and login. If you do not have a Gmail account here’s how to create one.
Step 2. Look to the top right corner of the screen and locate the “Settings” link and click it. Now click the "Themes" tab (the last tab to the right).
Step 3. Select the theme you want.
You might be asked to provide your location before a Gmail is activated. If you click “Choose your own colors” you will have to go through the process of creating a custom theme.
