In a first, Google is opening up its testing process by calling on tens of millions of Gmail users to put new features of the service through their paces.
Gmail Labs has launched 13 settings for users to play around with and tell engineers directly what they think of them.
The new developments, which are only available in the UK and the US, show up as a red tab at the top of the page.
Gmail product manager Keith Coleman says: "This marks a big change in the way the company does product development."
Generally speaking products are tested internally on Google staff for weeks if not for months and then refined before being released to the public.
Never before has the firm opened up the testing process and brought in outsiders on such a large scale. Smaller scaled usability tests have been done with invited visitors.
Mr Coleman says: "We want to take the next step and let Gmail users help us do that refinement." More...
See also: Romans flee Google Street View car!!! WTF!
And this: Google's new office in Zurich. Pretty cool! Don't they ever work?
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