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Gmail Launching Themes!

Written on 19th November 2008 32 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.

We’ve just found out a few lucky Gmail users have noticed a themes tab arrive on their settings!

If this is the case, it’s an incredible step away from the plain ol’ Gmail we’ve all got used to…!

Part of me loves the fact that Google releases these features gradually, makes them optional and often by surprise. Another part of me, however, says “give me them now!!” :)

Apparently the url to access them is http://mail.google.com/mail/#settings/themes – if anyone managed to get access to them, please let us know in the comments.

**Update**

The official Gmail blog have put a post announcing the news with screenshots of various themes which you can see below. I quote:

Gmail fans have been building unofficial extensions to spice up their inboxes for a while, but up til now themes haven’t been an integral part of Gmail. We wanted to go beyond simple color customization, so out of the 30 odd themes we’re launching today, 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.

Via Techcrunch

32 Comments »

About the author: Based in London, Zee is Editor in Chief at The Next Web and Principal at online marketing and new media agency WeDoCreative . A prominent tech blogger, he is also a design & marketing connoisseur, social media devotee & web application fanatic.

32 comments/trackbacks to “Gmail Launching Themes!”

Feb 19, 2009: Gmail now lets you create your own custom theme! - The Next Web
[...] long ago we announced the arrival of themes in Gmail, whilst Google App users still wait for them, Gmail users can now [...]

By Prisqua on Nov 19, 2008

I cant see it in my account :(
I never liked Gmail because of the boring interface.

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By kbdrmr47 on November 20th, 2008:
Well, it’s nice that SOME people get new themes. The ONLY thing I hate about gmail is that it is boring. And I’ve been a gmail user forever-I used it when you had to be invited to gmail. When is Google going to let everyone have themes?!?

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By Chelsea on Nov 19, 2008

This is totally amazing! I’m on the “Tree” theme, and it goes along with the weather and time of day. The other themes are pretty cool, too. It looks so much better than the default theme!

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By Amy on Nov 19, 2008

I already changed my theme to “shiny”. I love it.

My co-worker doesn’t have the tab and, well, frankly, I’m feeling special. I have invited her in to see how cool my gmail is.

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By Lily on Nov 19, 2008

I absolutely love it!

I’m addicted to the Candy theme… I hope that it is available to others soon. my friend is totally envious… how dorky is that?

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By om Prakash gupta on November 20th, 2008:
I can’t find it in my setting please tell me how can active my theme. There is no tab in my setting as THEME. Where I find it please it.

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By SukiSmooth on Nov 20, 2008

I am so loving it. I also feel special. My co-worker does not have it :) My theme is Planets. I can’t wait to apply it to my other 2 Gmails.

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By Zee M Kane on Nov 20, 2008

I can’t wait to try it out…i’m still waiting. But i’m on Google apps so it could be a while…

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By McFini on Nov 20, 2008

Pretty nifty stuff. Ninja ftw! Of course, if someone could make Pirate-Ninja theme, that’d be even better!!!

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By df on Nov 20, 2008

lol i almost got into an argument because i was raving about it and noone else could find it! i love these themes! Ninja is my favorite and so is candy! I check gmail incessantly and this is not going to help curb that habit.

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By su2 on Nov 20, 2008

i’m using the cherry blossom theme, but all the themes are so cool. i guess i was the first to get it out of my friends. so they haven’t seen it yet.

i love all the small changes google keeps adding.

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By Jacob on Nov 20, 2008

Even the “basic color” themes are excellently pieced together. My friends are all green with envy. With Google adding Video chat last week and themes this week, they’re simply putting all other email/communication offerings to shame.

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By Ivan on Nov 20, 2008

I totally have access to it! Heck yes!!

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By Saurabh on Nov 20, 2008

Its a very good interactive feature from google.
But i am getting this option on only one of my gmail account which is a new one compared to my old account.

How to get this option on the other account of mine.

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By Carlos Cardoso on Nov 20, 2008

Hello there. I confirm that the url to access settings is
http://mail.google.com/mail/?s.....ngs/themes. I’m using the theme Brilhante (portuguese translation of shinning or blinking lol, don’t know the correct word), and i’m loving it

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By Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten on Nov 20, 2008

I don’t see them yet. Feel SOOOO left out…

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By perry yu on Nov 20, 2008

Got it in only one of my Gmail accounts only. I tried and I like the themes Shiny, Desk, Ninja, Cherry Blossom, Tree, Summer Ccean, Minimalist, Marina. Phantasea is the one theme that has to be customized by your city and country location, and it generates sunrise, sunset depending on the time of the day. Amazing! I entered a city on the other side of the globe to try this one out…. Too bad, my other accounts don’t get the theme tab yet, so I can’t set them to all the different themes that I like. :(

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By bonnie on Nov 20, 2008

i have the themes tab for one of my accounts but not for the other. it must be selective as alot of people dont have it but it sure is nice looking.

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By Amir on Nov 20, 2008

Very refreshing addition.

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By sarah on Nov 20, 2008

I’m kind of in love…

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By Stefanie on Nov 20, 2008

I am soooo jealous. Both my accounts don’t have theme tabs. Do you know when google is making them official?

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By dwi on Nov 20, 2008

i cant find in my account,,,
how can i get it??

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By Carlos Cardoso on November 20th, 2008:
You must wait till google activate it on your account. Not everyone got it yet. sorry mate

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By Deborah C on Nov 20, 2008

Yahoo!! Today my one Gmail account I use for work got the invite ..
But alas my personal one did not get the Themes Tab.
Go figure.
I used the beach one..nice!!!!

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By Gina on Nov 20, 2008

Is there a reason I only have 26 themes and they said they released 31?

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By marzstar on Nov 21, 2008

oooh i got this today!! i feel so special now- i assumed everyone got them too. guess not. i LOVE ninja, though Silver Lining is what i’m using.

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By Deborah C on Nov 21, 2008

I got mine on my second Gmail site today. Yea, Baby.
I have the full 31 also.

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By Keli on Nov 24, 2008

Something interesting to note – I use the same account at home and at work. When i’m on my computer at home I have the themes tab.. when i’m at work, I have no themes.

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By Deborah C on Nov 24, 2008

Responding to Keli..I wonder if it’s an issue with the Cookies. That is so bizarre.

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By fucku on Dec 11, 2008

nothing NINJA about it whoop T dooo

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By fucku on December 11th, 2008:
no shit more sheeple probably voted for OBUMMER…

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