Google gives Chrome a shine with the launch of 29 themes

Google on Tuesday launched a gallery of 29 themes for Google Chrome.

Many had been pestering Google to add themes support even though Chrome employs a Spartan user interface without much acreage for artistry. Last week's developer version of Chrome added a "Get themes" button in the Options dialog box and now Google has flipped the switch to activate the web page that button points to.

Google now offers a gallery of themes for its Chrome browser (photo credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

The collection of themes includes Legal Pad, Star Gazing, Transparent, Dots and Pencil Sketch. One monochromatic theme called Minimal downloads nearly instantly but Grass, at 1.3MB, takes more time.

Google's Grass theme (photo credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Why are they so large? Themes can come with a background image that shows on Chrome's new-tab page that offers a much greater chance for expressiveness, especially since that page is the default when Chrome launches. That could help Google with its attempt to recruit artists to supply their own themes, as some have done with the iGoogle customisable homepage.

Mozilla, on the other hand, has its own skinning technology in the works for Firefox, a plug-in called Personas that launched on Mozilla Labs in March. That head start, coupled with its vastly larger and more engaged external audience, gives it a big lead over Chrome when it comes to getting gussied up.

Mozilla Labs announced Monday that Firefox now has 20,000 Personas, with 10,000 of them arriving in the last 10 weeks.

Original article: Google launches Chrome gallery from CNET News.com