GMail Labs Features Graduate/Retire

Labs started out with just 13 features but grew rapidly. As users choose to adopt or ignore Labs features, Google engineers could track the popularity of each feature. As features became popular, they would graduate and become a standard part of Gmail's functionality. Sadly, though, Labs that are not widely adopted are retired. This past week, Google has graduated six and retired five.

First, lets talk about the sad stuff. Google has retired the Muzzle, Fixed Width Font, Email Addict, Location in Signature, and Random Signature Labs. Now, the good stuff. Google has graduated the Search Autocomplete, Go To Label, Forgotten Attachment Detector, YouTube Previews, Custom Label Colors, and Vacation Dates Labs.

Search Autocomplete and Go To Label

Start typing a query in Gmail's search box (English only for now), and Gmail will suggests terms for users - contact names,  labels, and advanced search operators.

Forgotten Attachment Detector

This is a problem that  have frequently: open up a blank email, type the recipient's names, create a cleaver subject, and dive right into the message. After the send button is hit comes the realization that you forgot to attach a document you references in the email. An easily solvable problem with a second email and an apology for forgetting it in the first place. Not anymore. This little Lab will remind you if you have forgotten an attachment so long as you have mentioned the fact that there should be an attachment to the email, Google will remind you to add the attachment before you send it.

YouTube Previews

This is a pretty simple but useful Lab. It simply allows you to watch YouTube videos right within an email to save you the time of having to load YouTube in a new browser window.

Custom Label Colors

Again, a simple but useful tool. This allows you to create custom color schemes for Labels, to increase customization.

Vacation Dates

If you've ever used the vacation auto-response tool, you may know that it is pretty easy to forget to turn off the auto-response. You've just had a nice relaxing vacation and you come home to way more emails than you want to read and your mind goes straight to furry. This Lab makes your return home a little bit easier. It'll shut off the auto-response for you based on a date that you set when you write create your message.

Keep an eye out for these Labs features to be making their way into your everyday Gmail experience.