Few days ago, Google has invited its Gmail users to test the recently added 13 new features. These services are accessible via “labs” function in the Gmail settings. The new features were added by Google engineers only, but Google is hoping to let other external programmers to add features to it through the same labs interface.

The new features include a quick-link tool that lets users bookmark their e-mails and then have one-click access to them through a link-box that appears in the left column. The “Superstars” feature lets users add custom star icons to label their mail. New features also include new keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures that let users make custom actions based on mouse movements. There is also a snake game newly added there.

“Any engineer can code a labs feature,” said Coleman, a Gmail product manager, “Once the code is written and mostly working, it’ll get into the next product build that goes to users. We’d like to get to a point where more people can build on this. That would require something with a different level of interface. We’re interested in making it possible of users and us to iterate on the product faster, so it’s something we’re interested in.”

Source: news.cnet.com