Gmail Turf + Chrome Grass themes = yuck

Google lets you use the Gmail's Turf theme with Chrome's Grass theme. Don't.

(Credit: Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Google is clearly proud of its environmental ethos and likes to show it off through its products, but there can be too much of a good thing.

Mostly in an attempt to gross people out, I tried adding the new Turf theme for Gmail while using the Grass theme for Chrome (download Google Chrome).

Nobody ever accused me of having much in the way of taste, but even I can tell it's pretty awful. The eyestrain alone is headache-inducing.

What's the worst combination you can think of? High Score on Legal Pad? And what happens when you add in operating system themes?

[stubbyns]

Seems an exaggeration, it's not that bad ;)

[lissie52]

I love Google, but I have to agree with Stephen. It is hard on the eyes. I am not a techie by the way.

[eadeguzman]

Why does it matter if you're not a techie or not?

I don't think it's that bad either... It's easy on my eyes... It's similar to a Sepia effect... just brighter I guess... But that's just me...

Mr. Shankland, your articles are usually very informative... this one's all about nothing... and saying "yuck" is a bit rude... not your usual style. Well, what wrong with having fund once in a while, right? Hmmm...

[jaguar717]

Too much of a good thing?

How bout too much of a tacky fad and its accompanying buzz words?

[keeeemal]

Finally, someone sees it. Google needs to pay some decent designers.

[xilonic]

There is an open UI engineer position - someone please apply for it, Google products are all function and no style.

[gabeheim]

So is an AK-47, yet if you were in a wet or dusty environment and needed something that works without breaking down and little training/maintenance, you'll pick that over the more technologically advanced M-16 (which says: We've got the tech to make this and you don't, so go ahead and drool. Which the soviets did). Now, if only google can keep their routers up when they update them...

[rich12313]

Only people in this day and age relate themes of browsers to high powered automatic weapons....

[PhaseDMA]

rich12313 - While I would agree it's a strange comparison it is in fact a accurate one.

[jchanski21]

It is a bit too much of the same thing, but since when is grass... gross?

[L33tLuXX0rz]

I was never a fan of "grass" themes. It just seems odd that one would want to display grass all over their computer screen when they can just look out of a window or something.

[gsmiller88]

At least you don't have to trim it I guess.

[HlLLARY CLITON]

I like the idea of it, I think the grass blades are too big

[smonoco]

Looks better than i expected it to

[eltoro2827]

Google products= Yuck

[Lennron]

DID YOU JUST SAY SOMETHING BAD ABOUT A COMPANY OTHER THAN MICROSOFT!?!?! OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!!!!

[pendevous27]

Typical low brained individual without providing any arguements whatsoever. :)

[calculatorwatch]

haha yeah that is pretty terrible, grass themes are just a horrible idea in general, the baseball theme in chrome is even worse

on the flip side i really like the gmail tea house with the chrome zen spring theme

[tektaktyks]

by stubbyns September 4, 2009 7:31 AM PDT
Seems an exaggeration, it's not that bad ;)
exactly,if its so bad why do u waste time writing about it?

[Police_States_of_America]

i wouldnt use it, but it looks unique so points for that. this seems like a silly article.

[b0nstio]

Dude I don't like your beard much but it's a matter of personal preference isn't it? I am using this particular combo and find it perfectly pleasant.

This does seem like a pretty poor article IMHO.

[omnichad]

Slow news day?

[eadeguzman]

Exactly.

[ClearIssue]

try the Green them for Chrome with the Grass theme for Gmail. You will see the difference and why gmail grass theme is cool!!

[TV James]

I thought I was coming to news.com.

[SlimGem]

I hate mowing the yard. Get rid of the grass!

[kiwispouse]

green is my favourite colour :-P~~

[exactlyy]

one gotta be a cow or sheep to love this grass theme . only one word, UGLY just like the rest of chrome themes .

[R_Parson]

So gmail and chrome have themes. Big deal. We knew that some time ago. Are we going to have to hear about the aesthetics of each one? Individual themes: Not news. Interesting/new extensions: News.