Smart move by Google. Allowing customization and providing multiple options via CSS is something that should be done standard on all SaaS apps. I'm shocked more apps don't offer it.
As I've found working on my product Cashboard - everyone is a design critic and everyone thinks they have a degree in color theory. I know that a lot more than most, being that the majority of Cashboard's customer base are designers. Moreover, I believe that people get used to a certain palette on their screen and are disoriented when presented with alternate color themes. Think about it this way... Any programmer worth their salt has a customized coding environment that usually includes custom syntax highlighting. I personally find it easier to code long hours with a dark background / light text. I get disoriented when I have to edit code on someone else's machine with a light background / black text. I believe often used utility programs like Gmail probably operate on similar visual principles. Since changing my gmail theme to a darker gutter / light content area I find that I'm able to scan my mail much more quickly. The crap that I don't use that often in the gutter (labels, chat) blends into the background and allows me to focus on it only when I need it. The mail jumps out at me more. -------------------- seth - subimage llc ----- http://sublog.subimage.com ----- Cashboard - Estimates, invoices, and time tracking software - for free! http://www.getcashboard.com ----- Substruct - Open source RoR e-commerce software. http://code.google.com/p/substruct/ On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 2:40 AM, Ryan O'Malley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What does everyone think about the new Gmail themes? > > Personally I'm not a fan - there's a lot of extra visual noise and the > contrast is poor on many of them. > > It's a shame there's no (working) option to opt out or switch to the old > version, which I find particularly strange considering it's the primary > email client for a lot of organisations. > > I understand that Google are supposedly trying to shake off Gmail's "nerd" > image but all of a sudden it feels a little like... MySpace. > > R > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
