Google ready to roll out revamped Gmail service

By Jeremy C. Owens via MercuryNews.com

Google announced a new look and updated features Tuesday for Gmail, its popular web-based email offering.

The most obvious change for Gmail users will be the appearance of the inbox in "Conversation" view, which will include the email sender or recipient's profile picture beside the email if available. It will also have a more stripped-down appearance, Google User Experience Designer Jason Cornwell announced in a blog post Tuesday morning.

The search function within Gmail will offer more options, with advanced filtering features available from the standard drop-down box at the top of the inbox. The left panel of the inbox, which includes contacts available for instant-messaging, will be more customizable for users, Cornwell said.

Gmail's appearance will also change, but offer customizable design elements as well. Users will be able to vary the spacing on the page depending on what device they are using, allowing for a better view on the variety of mobile devices users now access the service. Google has also introduced new themes to the service, which add backgrounds and affiliated icons, with a series of high-reolution photos from istockphoto.

The changes will appear "soon," Cornwell said, but users can voluntarily switch to the new look later this week, when they will see a link offering the chance to "Switch to the new look" at the bottom right of their inbox screen.