For the past few years, Google has been offering a number of experimental tools within Gmail that modify the user experience. They’re also doing the same thing with Chrome.
In the Chrome omnibar, navigate to the following address:
about:labs
This will load up a page of experimental additions to Chrome.
But, as the labs page, states:
Google Chrome Labs is a testing ground for experimental features that aren’t quite ready for primetime. They may change, break or disappear at any time.
So for those of you that love to toy around with bleeding-edge stuff, this is worth checking out. Just don’t get to attached to them.
Brett Barner says
Have you tried the instant search in the toolbar yet. Wow. Looking forward to this hitting stable release.
Tom says
Not yet, but I’m looking forward to it – I dig instant search 🙂
sokkz says
I think it may be Windows-specific. I got a blank page with “about:labs” in Mac 10.6. Looked further into it, and most of these are Windows-only options. =(
Tom says
Surprising! Surely not for long..
sokkz says
I was thinking the same thing, so again I looked further into it. Apparently several of the features are available in Mac OS as core operating system features (or something similar). Oddly enough, it appears Google Labs is trying to bring Mac OS features to windows… using a browser? I can’t imagine the legal red tape they’ll have to duck in order to escape patent violations. I’m guessing it’s why some of these are still “Labs only” features. =)
Tom says
As long as it doesn’t hook into any of the core operating system functionality (which Google has done before) or breach any of the licenses of the software, I don’t think it’s a problem.