Google to launch Gmail labs: Allow you to test beta features

by Brad Linder Jun 5th 2008

Sure, Gmail's been in beta since is launched almost four years ago. But you know that Google has thoroughly tested the email service at this point. And before publicly rolling out any features, the company conducts thorough internal tests. But now Google is getting ready to let the general public get in on the action with the launch of Gmail Labs.

Here's how it works. Starting tonight at 6pm PST, you should notice a new tab in your Gmail settings marked "Labs." When you click that tab, you'll have the option of adding new beta services that have not yet been extensively tested. As of tonight, there should be about 13 new features, including:

A tool that lets you bookmark specific gmail messages
Superatars tool that lets you choose custom stars to label your mail
Mouse Gestures
See profile pictures in Gmail chat
An "email addict" option that lets you ban yourself from checking your email for 15 minutes

Right now all of the features will be created by Gmail engineers, but eventually Google may open the project so that third parties can create Gmail features that will be available to the general public. In the meantime, anyone can send feedback to the developers behind each add-on. Eventually the most popular add-ons will be added to Gmail.

[via WebWare and TechCrunch]

Tags: add-ons, beta, gmail, gmail-labs, google

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

egordin said 7:29PM on 6-05-2008

Oh PLEASE let there be signature floating! That would be wonderful!

Thanks for the notice!

egordin said 6:39PM on 6-05-2008

Whoohoo! Its in the Tech Crunch Article:

"Signature tweaks: Places your signature before the quoted text in a reply"

Sweet.

BlackCoffeeNoSugar said 7:29PM on 6-05-2008

If I ban myself from checking gmail, will my BlackBerry still work?

David Van (Cool Prizes Inc.) said 12:03AM on 6-06-2008

lmfao... ban yourself.... :P It's just 15 minutes... :P I doubt it though... Unless your using IMAP....

Josh said 12:16AM on 6-06-2008

Yeah, I haven't used the webmail client for a while now. Apple Mail is perfect for everything I use it for. Gmail as my domain, though.

Marco said 7:34AM on 6-06-2008

Anyone knows if its only for the original Gmail? It's enabled on my @gmail.com but not on my Apps account...

Meech! said 11:05AM on 6-06-2008

Too bad gmail's standard view loop-loads on Leopard... and the html view doesn't have the Lab tab.

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