Let’s put a smile on that Gmail
Google’s online email service, Gmail, has been rolling out new features left and right in its Gmail Labs area. These new features, which are opt-in for all Gmail users, range from very useful (Quick Links) to fairly absurd (Mail Goggles). Today, rather than create a new Gmail Labs features, the service has rolled out an update to the actual site: Emoticons.
We’re not just talking your typical run-of-the-mill smiley faces and frowning faces, either. We’re talking hardcore emoticons (can an emoticon be hardcore?). Nearly 200 of the tiny illustrations that can be inserted into email are now available, in a wide range of colors and sizes — and many of them move.
These are great for users who really want a more graphical way to say, “I love crab cake,” as I do in the screenshot at the top. You can now say so much in an email without saying anything at all. You may wonder if anyone actually uses them. If you do, you apparently aren’t on the same mailing lists from high school friends that I am. They will eat this up — like crab cakes.
You’ll also notice a interesting one below:
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About the Author, MG Siegler
MG Siegler writes about technology trends and new media for VentureBeat, with a focus on mobile topics, social elements and key news stories. Before that, MG wrote about technology on his blog, ParisLemon. Originally from Ohio, MG attended the University of Michigan where he studied film. He's previously lived in Los Angeles where he worked in Hollywood and in San Diego where he did web development. He now lives in San Francisco.