Google has added customizable backgrounds to Gmail, so you can finally set whatever picture you want as the background, the company announced today in a blog post.
Gmail has offered a small set of colorful backgrounds since the addition of themes in 2008. (I’ve been partial to the “Planets” and “Ninja” backgrounds myself.) But now Gmail users will be able to add whatever photos they want for the background of their e-mail accounts, creating a much more personal experience.
Google software engineer Greg Bullock writes on the Official Gmail Blog:
When we unveiled Gmail’s new look back in November, we introduced a number of new, beautiful HD themes. We also heard that many of you wanted to bring an even more personal touch by setting your own background. So over the next couple of days we are rolling out a new Custom themes section with two options, Light and Dark where you can do just that.
You can upload your own images directly, select from your Google+ photos or simply paste any image URL. Or, if you don’t have a particular image in mind, you can browse our searchable Featured Photos section to find one that speaks to you. With so many great options, it may be hard to choose, so to get a sense of the images available, try searching for ‘hdr scenery’ or ‘bokeh wallpaper’ in the Featured tab.
No word on whether or not Google Apps users will also get personal backgrounds, but we’ve contacted Google to find out.
Check out the personal backgrounds in action in the video below:
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