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October 24, 2008 6:16 AM PDT

Gmail gets emoticons :-)

by Don Reisinger

The Gmail team, which recently announced Gmail for Mobile 2.0 and autoreplies, is at it again on Friday with the introduction of Gmail emoticons.

"The black-and-white days of text-based e-mails have had their day," Darren Lewis, Gmail engineer, said in a blog post. "Following the evolutionary path blazed by colored labels, we present, in all their technicolor glory, emoticons in your mail."

Emoticons have been available on Google Chat for quite some time, but this is the first time they've made an appearance on Gmail. Besides obvious gestures like smiling or winking, the new emoticons will enable users to input images of hugs and kisses instead of "XOXO" and pictures of drinks, cake, or exclamation points to help them get their points across better.

Although the announcement was made to add functionality to Gmail, Lewis did say that all the emoticons made available in this release that weren't already offered on Google Chat have been added "for your enjoyment."

Emoticons have been available on Google Chat for quite some time, but this is the first time they've made an appearance on Gmail. All the emoticons made available in this release that weren't already offered on Google Chat have been added.

Emoticons have been available on Google Chat for quite some time, but this is the first time they've made an appearance on Gmail. All the emoticons made available in this release that weren't already offered on Google Chat have been added.

(Credit: Google)

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

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by HlLLARY CLITON October 24, 2008 7:31 AM PDT
Blah....boring emoticons. You would think they could have been more unique
Reply to this comment
by Gundamdriver October 24, 2008 7:57 AM PDT
An upgrade version of emotions in GTalk?

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=34056
Reply to this comment
by lowie October 25, 2008 2:32 AM PDT
Make them a little bigger please. I am using a magnifying glass now!
I agree with hillary cliton.
Reply to this comment
by Apolune October 25, 2008 8:42 AM PDT
"Following the evolutionary path blazed by colored labels, we present, in all their technicolor glory, emoticons in your mail."
_________________________

One hopes Google will continue to follow, and add stationeries
Reply to this comment
by Torley October 27, 2008 6:11 AM PDT
Squint, and they look like little Lego blockheads. Cute.
Reply to this comment
by pendragonshaw October 27, 2008 12:33 PM PDT
THAT'S RIGHT, THEY SUCK. A LITTLE LARGER, A LITTLE MORE ORIGINAL, A LITTLE MORE OF EVERYTHING.
TO GMAIL===STOP FOLLOWING THE CROWD AND GET "ORIGINAL". SURPRISE US FOR A CHANGE.
YES. GMAIL IS FREE TO ME AND I GRACIOUSLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. AN OUTSTANDING MAIL SERVICE THAT I BELIEVE CANNOT BE BEAT. I DOUBT YOU'LL EVER SEE THIS, SO THAT MEANS I'VE SAID MY PEACE TO THE MASSES, TILL NEXT TIME . PENDRAGON.
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