The latest developer build of Chrome now includes an official option to install themes into Google Chrome. It was reported earlier this week by Neowin that Google is preparing to launch a theme gallery. It looks like this has happened with the release of build 3.0.195.6.The option is offered under "Personal Stuff" and has the option to "Get Themes". Pressing the button redirects you to a webpage, that shows a whole array of new themes for Chrome.
Applying the theme is as simple as pressing the "Apply Theme" button below the chosen theme, and a ".crx" file is downloaded. A restart of Chrome is not required to apply the theme. To get this option, Chrome 3.0.195.6 must be installed, and you must be in the "Developer" build channel.
The release of this feature to the developer build channel indicates that a lot of work has been done, but there is still a lot to come. It seems to be very efficient and stable, and may progress to the main public builds in the near future.
Google Chrome is Google's flagship browser, based upon the Web Kit rendering engine, and touts the most minimal interface, and fastest browser start times.
I don't really like chrome to begin with
All that moan about themes please design your own and share!
OR KEEP USING THE DEFAULT THEME.
Maybe that's what the user prefers.
Thing is though it's just that the interface for Chrome sucks and these themes are making it even worse.
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000341.html
I wonder just how many used and actually liked it (except for the blind users out there)...
Mine killed my inner WebKit!
Pointless.
Pointless.
+1
You realize this isn't about the themes available, but that you can now create your own themes. I know, it is all very complicated world we live in, and most people here would never think about changing away from the Microsoft theme, but for others, you can now do it. So choice is a good thing, understand?
I don't even like any of the non-default firefox themes to be honest, though the new windows aero-esque ones do look nice
Yeah, I would have to agree with you there. However, I think that Chrome looks better in Vista and 7 than any other browser does using its default theme.
What options that you consider basic is Chrome currently missing?
Custom font rendering would be a good start. I personally hate viewing the web in anything except Calibri and Segoe UI.
If you want pretty, go to Apple. If you want usability, go to Google. If you want neither, go to Microsoft.
Wow, that wasn't fanboyish at all.
I love how people like you conveniently ignore the dominance that IE6 had when it first came out.
And how old is WindowBlinds now? I'm still waiting for some professional looking themes for that!
Not to mention, most of these are ugly as sin, and don't work with Windows 7 glass effects.
+1
Adblock+ and NoScript later!
Right???
Can't wait for extensions to appear. Chrome makes Firefox feel real sluggish...
Hopefully in the next few days, Chrome will release some good themes.
You all act like this is groundbreaking news, when really, it's basically just Personas for Firefox.
Want more examples of this newage skinning bull****? Check out Deviantart, and look for winamp skins from the last few months are so. All of them are the same classic skin with a different background.
Skinning used to be about design overhauling, making new lines, changing the overall look. A real theme is best exemplified by the many Windows XP Visual styles out there. THOSE are real themes.
Not this crap.
I gave it a try, but if you apply a theme and have more than 2 separate windows of chrome open (not just tabs), funny stuff happens. When I applied a theme, it worked. As soon as I went to change it again, back to the original (clicked the reset to original theme button), the other window steals my focus, Aero basic invokes and the close/max/min buttons get all screwy like there is a drawing problem. Similar to what happened when you tried to apply a theme to XP without a patched uxtheme.dll in place.
Of course, its a dev build, and its the first weve seen, so its gonna be buggy. I agree though, this is getting a little too common nowadays, lazy "theming".
What's the point of a single app theming system anyway? Do people actually like inconsistent UI's?
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.