Google is rather interesting in that they typically seem to have very minimalist designs on their products and services, but then they’ll whip out the themes from people in the high end fashion world that couldn’t be any more the opposite. They’ve been doing it for a while with iGoogle (their personalized homepage), and today they’re doing it again with Google Chrome.
To be honest, most of these themes are a little too garish or a bit tacky, just like the first round of themes. But then again, I don’t think I’m exactly in the demographic for themes from Dolce & Gabbana, Kate Spade, and Oscar de la Renta. I’m also looking at them on the latest Chromium build for Mac where they are not exactly ready for the runway, as it were. The tab section with all of these new themes is basically impossible to read on the Mac version, which is forgivable since the Mac version is not officially here yet (which itself is less forgivable).
Chrome Themes are basically Google’s answer to Mozilla Labs’ Personas for the Firefox browser. But Mozilla has hundreds of these themes for Firefox, while Google only has a few dozen right now (though there are an impressive amount of Artists Themes). You can also create your own Persona, which you can’t currently do with Chrome Themes.
All that said, Personas does not currently have the all-important Dolce & Gabbana theme. I really, really wish I could embed this video below, but it’s disabled. Still, I think you should click on it because it perfectly captures the essence of these themes.
Great title, that is such a Samantha thing to say…
we are so like the sex and the city girls right now.
offtopic: Bruno, the movie, was so horrible and boring. The only redeeming scene was the making out scene with Milli Vanilli’s ‘presence’.
Saying he’s making out is not quite… accurate
Browser themes are so…. 2003.
Seriously, I mean who uses browser themes now a days? Why does google spends so much energy in such things when their mac version is not stable and extensions are not available as FF. How about giving Google Docs on Android first?
I’m guessing the Theming Dept. isn’t going to be the department putting Google Docs on Android – but it’s just a guess.
Try some Vivienne Westwood… the theme’s like restless Xanax, it can calm the angst.
“Why does google spends so much energy in such things…”
To get press coverage.
I do, my wife does, my neighbors do.
Wow, the Kid Robot theme is inappropriately fugly.
Some of these aren’t that bad. I’m a fan of Kid Robot, and their theme reflects their style. But I agree, Themes are so… 2003.
Ever tried minimalist?
Makes your browser even more googly
Vat is it about browza themes zat makes it zee NUMBA ONE leisure activity for fabulous tech companies at zee moment?!?
I must say that the theme “Tiësto” does look good on my pc.
I am a huge Tiësto fan.
OHEMGEE Like, totally….
They have a Pocoyo theme. My son will love it!
I rather like Jon Klassen’s simple and out of the way theme, but the rest of the lot… ich don’t think so.
“To be honest, most of these themes are a little too garish or a bit tacky, just like the first round of themes.”
Not unlike Marissa Mayer, who is responsible for these themes and wears these designers. Fun fact: MM’s favorite designer in the whole world is Oscar de la Renta, and she once paid an ungodly sum of money for the privilege of having lunch with him.