Of total Gmail users, over 70% may say that they are using Gmail because it is always improving and providing better services.

Other that in-browser chatting, document editing, organizing and sharing calendars, the addition on Google Labs has made Gmail more beneficial for users such as me. With extra functionality, it has made Gmail more personal.

It is important to note that the list of add-ons for Gmail Labs is always changing – things can be added and removed without notice. I personally have been using Gmail Labs since it came out in 2008, and have never seen one of the features disappear, but Google reserves the right to do so if they decide.

With that said, what aspects of Gmail Labs are worth noting to the average user? When scanning a growing list of 50 or so Gmail extensions, what might most users find essential? I’ve taken some time to consider these questions and want to suggest three Gmail Labs extensions that I think you’ll love.

Note: To enable Gmail Labs, navigate to Settings > Labs within your Gmail. Simply select a feature from the list of labs by clicking enable and then save changes at the bottom of the page. If Labs ever malfunctions and prevents your mail from loading, use this link to disable Labs.

Navbar Drag and Drop

“Allows you to reorder the items in your navbar using drag and drop.”

Sounds relatively simple, right? This Gmail extension lets the user decide where those widget-looking boxes (like “chat” and “invite a friend”) on their sidebar in Gmail will go. To re-order a “widget” grab it by the bar at the top, and simply drag it somewhere else.

Face it, if you’ve just added a bunch of new Gmail Labs extensions you’re going to want some of them in different locations than where the all-knowing Gmail Labs placed them. It’s a fact of life. Embrace that desire with this useful extension.

Google Search

“Displays Google search results inside your mail window, letting you quickly find things and use them when you’re writing an email.”

This is another feature that most people tend to overlook. Once enabled, this extension appears as a small, unobtrusive Google Search box in the Gmail sidebar on the left. Searches in that box return results in a nice chatbox-style area at the bottom of the window.

When clicked on, results will open in a new window so that your email session is not disrupted. This may actually be the perfect extension for those of us that read emails which cause us to impulsively Google Search things.

Give this one a try—you won’t regret it.

Text Messaging in Chat (US phones only)

“Allows you to send and receive text messages (SMS) in Chat.”

Basically, this Gmail extension lets you text message other US cell phone users from your Gmail account in a chat-based style. To send a text message to a user, hover over their name in the Chat box, and under Video & More click Send SMS. From there it’s just a matter of inputting their number (which Gmail will remember for later use) and sending them a message. I’ve found a use for this on more than one occasion recently – it’s organized, handy, and free!

Gmail Beta icon

“Soothes the soul by putting the familiar beta sticker back on the Gmail logo”

If your Gmail inbox is anything like mine you’ve got features from Labs enabled, gadgets popping up all over the sidebar, and that strange feeling that something still isn’t right. Sometimes its helpful to have a reminder that if you’ve reached that point with your add-ons, your inbox is (whether you’d like to think so or not) mostly in a Beta state. That’s why Darren over at Google has created a Lab that changes the familiar Gmail logo back to the old one that many of us hardcore beta testers know and love.

As Gmail continues to evolve into more than just email for its users, Google continues to look for the public response to the changes they make. That’s why it is important to leave feedback – what do you want to see in the future of Gmail?

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